Authors: Franklin W. Dixon

The Missing Chums (16 page)

BOOK: The Missing Chums

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“Stark and Pops got in there, somehow,” Joe said. “They didn't come past us. There must be another entrance out here.”

Hastily, in the gathering twilight, the boys examined the irregular face of the bluff. Suddenly Frank pointed to a big dark crack in the rock. As they neared it, a man's figure loomed in the opening.

Without hesitation the three boys hurled themselves on the man and bore him to the ground. He hit with a thud, the fight knocked out of him.

“It's Nick Glaser,” Joe whispered as Jerry whipped off the man's belt and bound his arms securely with it.

“Okay,” Jerry replied, “I'll watch him. Don't worry, he won't get away.”

The Hardys slipped into the dark crack from which the man had emerged. Snapping out his flashlight, Frank groped forward as fast as he dared. Soon he could make out the yellow glare of the rescuers' flashlights, and the backs of Pops and Fritz Stark, standing behind Biff and Chet!

“For the last time, I tell you throw down your guns,” Stark ordered, “if you don't want these kids hurt!”

Without pausing, Frank and Joe charged forward. Together they let drive with two bruising tackles. The legs of the criminals buckled underneath them. The revolvers flew from their hands and the men landed, dazed, on the floor of the cave. The police and seamen were upon them in a second.

“Frank! Joe!” cried Chet, overjoyed. As soon as his hands were untied, the stout boy grabbed his pals and hugged them in his excitement.

“O-of! Hey, don't crush us!” Joe protested, laughing.

“We thought you'd never find us in this place!” Biff put in, rubbing his chafed wrists.

“We were plenty worried ourselves,” Frank admitted.

“They took us to Shantytown first in Stark's car.” Chet spilled out the story. “Were they mad when they found out we weren't you and Joe!”

“But they were afraid to let us go,” Biff went on, “so they took away our costumes and brought us here in a small boat.”

“On the way, they threw our masks overboard,” Chet said, “hoping you'd think we drowned.”

“We found yours,” Frank told him. “Because it was made of rubber,” Biff put in. “Mine was only paper, so it was lost.”

“And the day we got here, Pops went for the postcards,” Chet continued. “Fritz Stark dictated what we had to write.”

“We told them you wouldn't be fooled,” Biff added, “but Pops took the cards back to Northport and mailed âem, anyhow.”

“We found out a lot,” Chet continued. “This outfit is part of a national ring of bank robbers. Duke, Moran, and Glaser were sent first to âcase' the banks around here and decided on Bayport.”

“Do you know where the loot is?” Joe asked.

“Right here, I'll bet!” Chet pointed at his feet. “I noticed loose earth the first day.”

Immediately Frank and Joe, aided by the two policemen, began to scoop away the earth with pocketknives and their bare hands. In a few minutes they had dragged out the canvas sacks filled with money!

“Now, one more thing,” Joe said. “Let's search for the rest of the Yokohama radios.”

“They're right over here,” Biff volunteered, and led the others to a shadowy corner of the cave where an opened crate stood. “Chet and I have been tied up next to them all the time. Those crooks were sure mad at Suttonâsaid it was his fault they only dared sell three.”

“Jerry has the last member of the gang outside, Chief Collig,” Frank concluded. “Once you hand-cuff him, we can all go back home.”

Lieutenant Parker said he would take charge of the stolen boat and return the craft to its owner. A seaman was assigned to bring in the
Napoli.

The evening shadows were lengthening as the rest of the party boarded the cutter. First of all, Frank told Jerry and Joe about Tony. They were relieved he had not been seriously injured. By the time the boat entered the wide mouth of the bay, the harbor lights were twinkling.

News of the capture had been radioed ahead, so the Morton and Hooper families were on the pier to embrace their sons. Fenton Hardy, too, came forward to congratulate Frank and Joe and their chums.

“A fine job,” he said. “And you'll be glad to hear,” he went on, “that the bank robbery ring has been put out of business nationally as well as locally. The leader's arrest this afternoon at a secret hideout in California clinched matters.”

A cheer arose from the whole group. Nodding modestly, Mr. Hardy explained, “The robbers we rounded up here talked, hoping for clemency, so that made the job simple.”

When Mr. Hardy finished speaking, Collig boomed out, “I congratulate you, boys. You solved three mysteries at once. And you even helped us round up two crooked dockmen.”

For a moment the Hardys were silent, wondering how soon another case might come their way. They were to find out in the near future while
Hunting for Hidden Gold.

“There's one question I'd like to have answered,” Joe said, coming back to the present. “Who were Stark and Moran waiting for on the pier the night Dad trailed them?”

“For Pops,” Lieutenant Daley replied. “He was supposed to meet them there in a small boat and help pull off another theftâthis time valuable radios from Germany.”

Pat Muster chortled. “But the weather was uncertain and the big, bold bandit said he was afraid to make the trip!”

Frank spoke up. “One last question. Why was Pops called Pops, anyhow?”

“Because he drinks soda pop all the time,” replied Chet. “His favorite is some stuff named Fizzle.”

“I wonder,” said Joe with a grin, “if he'll be served any Fizzle in jaill”