CHAPTER IV

A SCBEAM IN THE WOODS

"But, officer------"

The detective silenced Frank with a brusque wave of his hand. "Sorry, young fellow, but there's the evidence," he said sharply. "We'll have to ask you to go back to the Inn."

The uniformed policeman took the wheel, and a few moments later they turned back into the driveway at Mountain Inn. On the veranda stood the old man, obviously expecting them.

"Ha!" he snorted as they rolled to a stop. "Caught the scoundrels, did you? Good!" He rubbed his hands together like an old miser about to count his money.

The boys were ushered quickly into the hotel manager's office, Mr. Suttonwood clumping along behind them.

"Frank! Did you see what I saw?" whispered Joe excitedly as the chums were seating themselves.

"No. What?"

"Bock and Simon! Standing there watching us from a corner of the lobby!''

Before Frank could say anything in reply the detective held up his hand for silence.

20

A Scream in the "Woods 27

"All right, Mr. Suttonwood," he snapped. '' Let's hear your story. Make it short, please.''

The old man rasped out the incident of the night before, declaring that the Hardys had stolen his cane and hidden it in their car.

"They must have known about the trick handle and the money in it," he added, glaring at the lads.

"What about it, young fellow?" the detective demanded, turning to Frank. "What's your name, anyhow?"

"Hardy. Frank Hardy. This is my brother Joe, and that's Chet Morton. We're from Bayport."

The detective eyed the lad in surprise. "Hardy? From Bayport? Belated to Fenton Hardy, the detective ?''

"He's my father."

For an instant the officer stared skeptically at Frank. Then his stern face relaxed into a broad grin.

"For goodness' sake! Put 'er there, young fellow!'' He held out his hand enthusiastically. "I know your father well!"

Mr. Suttonwood rose and tottered noisily toward the door. "While you're all doing your chatting," he sneered, "I'll go out and pay the reward for the capture of these-these bandits."

"Just a minute," interrupted the detective. "Who's getting the reward?"

"Two chaps out in the lobby named Bock

28 The Secret Warning

and Simon. Thanks to them, I found out about these young scamps stealing my cane!"

When the old man had stomped out the detective turned to the boys. "Tell me, Frank Hardy," he urged sympathetically, "how did you boys get into this mess?"

Frank related the events of the evening before, concluding with a mention of their previous meetings with Bock and Simon.

"I shouldn't be surprised, Detective Jones," Joe blurted out, "if those fellows deliberately planted that cane in our car. It's a cinch somebody did."

4' Sure,'' broke in Chet. '' They probably did it as a practical joke. They look like the kind who would."

"Practical joke nothing!" decided Joe.

The detective pursed his lips. "I'm inclined to agree with you, now that I know who you lads are," he admitted. "I think I'd better have a talk with those chaps in the lobby. Wait here a few minutes."

He returned a quarter of an hour later, frowning.

"I'm suspicious about this Bock and his friend Simon. I don't like their looks nor the way they talk. But there's no real evidence against them just now. We '11 see what happens later. In the meantime you boys run along. Fenton Hardy's sons certainly aren't thieves, no matter what anybody says!''

The chums thanked the man warmly and went

A Scream in the Woods 29

outside. To their surprise Bock and Simon were waiting for them.

"Golly!" muttered Chet as they approached. "Those fellows are like bad pennies; they turn up everywhere!"

"Oh, so the cops let you go!" snorted Bock as the chums came up to their car. "What do you think of that, Pete?"

"Well, the cops ain't the only fellows who catch people," Simon echoed. "Maybe these wise Hardys and that fat fellow there '11 get into trouble with somebody else who won't let 'em go so quick."

Had it not been for Frank's restraining hand, Joe would have lunged at one or the other of the ruffians.

"Never mind them," his brother whispered. "We've far more important things to do right now."

"All right, Frank," muttered his brother with a show of disappointment. "But I think it's just about time we told these fellows a few things!"

As the ruffians moved off the three chums once more headed their car toward their distant destination. An hour or so later Frank switched off the engine and coasted to a stop alongside a roadside lunch-wagon.

"About time we ate!" Chet grumbled, quickly brightening as the smell of hamburgers was wafted to them. "Come on, boys. Onions on mine!"

30 The Secret Warning

Lunch progressed rapidly, for the Hardy brothers were eager to get started and make up for time lost on the road. However, it became evident within a very few minutes after the last hamburger had disappeared that any driving | was out of the question for the time being.

"I'm so sleepy I could drop off right here," Chet yawned. "We got up too early."

"You're right," Joe agreed. "Let's go over to the patch of woods and have a quick snooze."

"I hate to say so, but I think the idea's a good one," Frank declared, so with Joe and Chet hanging onto the running board he nosed the car into a narrow lane leading into a clump of trees.

"There's a clearing over there," signalled Chet.

"Trust you to find us a soft place where we can lie down!" laughed Joe.

"Might as well be comfortable," grinned the stout lad. "Too bad we didn't bring some sandwiches-we could have supper here."

Frank groaned. "Golly, Chet, how can you talk about supper after eating those hamburgers !''

"Speaking of supper," said Joe, "I think we ought to be in Bailey's Landing by that time."

"We should," agreed the older Hardy lad. "We'll rest here ten or fifteen minutes and then start out. Chet can sleep in the car if he's still tired."

A Scream in the Woods 31

Their chum had already dozed off and within a few minutes the others likewise were slumbering. Suddenly Frank awoke with a start.

'' Get out! Get out!" a voice was screeching.

The boy stared about him. Except for hia chums sprawled out on the ground beside him, no one else was in sight.

"Hey! Get out of there!" rasped the voice again.

Frank rose to his feet in alarm. "Joel Chet! Wake up!"

"What's the matter?" mumbled the former.

"Somebody's shouting at us. I just heard a voice yelling 'Get out'!"

Suddenly there was a blood-curdling scream. Joe and Chet sprang to their feet.

"Golly, Frank, where's it coming fromT" gasped the stout lad.

"Look!" shouted Joe, pointing into the thicket.

The bent figure of an old woman, her white hair streaming out behind, could be seen darting through the underbrush not far from the clearing. A second later the strange apparition had vanished.

'' Wait!'' yelled Frank to the woman. '' Wait I We'll help you! Come on, Joe-Chet!"

As the three boys crossed the edge of the clearing the mysterious screech rang out again.

"Leave her alone! Leave her alone!" it warned shrilly.