The Mystery of the Spiral Bridge (16 page)

Standing among the captured gangsters was the bellman from the Eagle Hotel. He readily admitted eavesdropping on the boys and conking Tony. The Hardys and Chet related to the police what the baron had told them of his activities. Lieutenant Murphy stepped forward and praised the boys for their clever sleuthing.

“You've made a big catch,” he added, indicating the baron. “That's really Gerald Thurston, master of disguises! He was the ‘cousin' who had visited Yancy in the hospital.”

Joe whistled. “I'll say! Intern, housebreaker, and bum!”

Thurston glared balefully at the Hardys but said nothing. Frank, Joe, Chet, and Tony were also congratulated by Angan. “The road crew owes you a lot,” he said gratefully, and Willy agreed vigorously.

The next day the boys flew back to Bayport. When Frank and Joe reached home they found their father resting in his room.

“Dad!” said Joe. “It's great to see you looking better!”

“Terrific job, fellows!” Mr. Hardy said.

Frank beamed. “Thanks. I'm glad we could pinch-hit for you. But we're still puzzled about a few things.”

The boys took seats near Mr. Hardy's bed and the detective told his story. Before setting out for Kentucky, he had pulled two cards and dossiers from his files, Matlack's and Thurston's. When the baron had found Mr. Hardy's brief case, he discovered the records inside. He had promptly flown to Bayport, gone to Radley's home and stolen Matlack's card, knowing that Frank and Joe would check their father's duplicate file. Mr. Hardy smiled at his sons.

“When your pursuit of Matlack ended in the Queens graveyard,” he said, “Thurston figured you'd be discouraged and give up the case.”

“Hey!” exclaimed Frank. “Now I get it!” He hurried into his father's study and opened the files to the T's. Thurston's card was gone, and there was a memorandum in its place saying, “I suspect Matlack or Thurston, but because of his M.O. I think Thurston is our man.”

Frank burst into his father's room, waving the card. “Dad, what a terrific deduction!”

Mr. Hardy explained that Thurston had written him threatening letters while in prison. “When he was released, I suspected he'd make trouble for me if he ever had a chance.”

“He sure did!” Joe said grimly.

Frank asked his father how he had escaped from the dungeon in the spiral bridge.

“Willy Teeple helped me at great risk to himself,” said the detective. “One day the gang left Willy as lookout at the bridge. He unlocked my handcuffs and assisted me to the road, where Mr. Teeple gave me a ride to Boonton. Willy put the handcuffs on me again so the baron would not suspect him of defecting.”

Frank and Joe, pleased that the mystery was solved, wondered if another as exciting would come their way. They were soon to find out when challenged by
The Secret Agent on Flight 101.

At this point, footsteps were heard on the stairs and into the room trooped Mr. Prito with Tony, Chet, Biff, and Phil.

Everyone cheered when Mr. Prito announced that since the Kentucky wilderness would be opened up by the completion of his road project, plans had been made to develop the natural bridge as a main tourist attraction of the proposed park.

Joe grinned. “You still going to open up a hot-dog stand down there, Chet?”

The chunky boy groaned. “No more spiral bridges for me. I'm going to stick to something safe, like shot-putting!”