CHAPTER VI

JOB DISAPPEAES

the chums searched everywhere but could find no trace of Joe's missing wallet.

"There's nothing to do but go on," said Frank at length. "Whatever else happens, we must find Dad's notes as soon as possible."

Sleep came with difficulty, and morning found them eager to be on their way.

"Just sixty miles to go," announced Frank over his bacon and eggs at breakfast.

"We ought to make it in an hour and a half," said Joe. "We'll find Mr. Perry, get Dad's notes, and be home tomorrow."

"In time for lunch," Chet hoped, plunging into his second helping of shredded wheat.

"We 'hope!" laughed Frank, little realizing as he said it what a futile desire that would be.

As the chums rode on, the mountains gradually fell behind, and tiny lagoons and inlets appeared over the terrain.

"Ocean's not far ahead," Frank observed. "According to the last sign post, Bailey's Landing is only ten miles away."

A little farther on they came to a fork in the road.

40

Joe Disappears 43

"Left turn to Bailey's, the sign says," Joe called out. "Better watch out for that bridge ahead. Looks a bit rickety."

Frank swung the car up onto the planking. Suddenly there was a splintering crash and the auto stopped abruptly, leaning at a precarious angle. The chums stared at one another, scarcely daring to breathe.

"Come on," said Frank at length. "We'd better get out pronto!"

"Carefully, you mean," Joe amended. "If one more plank gives way I've a feeling there won't be much left of us."

Gingerly the lads crawled from the car and jumped to the solid ground adjacent, heaving sighs of relief. The car, they could see, rested dangerously on its driveshaft with both rear wheels hanging below the splintered planking of the bridge structure.

'' A fine mess this is!" muttered Joe. '' Where are we going to get a derrick around here!"

"Somebody's coming," said Chet. "Maybe he'll pull us off."

A high-powered automobile rolled up to the bridge and stopped. The driver, a powerfully-built man with coarse features and iron-grey hair, leaned out.

"Go on!" he shouted impatiently. "Get out of the way! What's the idea?"

"The bridge just caved in under our car," Frank started to explain. "I wonder if you-----"

42 The Secret Warning

The roar of the engine in the other car interrupted him. Quickly the big machine was turned about and was off in the direction it had come. The chums' astonishment at this act rapidly turned into anger.

"Well, of all-" Frank bit his lip in exasperation.

"Nice sort of fellow!" snorted Joe. "I hope I meet him again some time. I'll give him a piece of my mind!"

Little did Joe realize how much he would regret that wish.

"I don't see any house around here," said Frank at length. "I guess we'll just have to stay around until somebody comes along."

"I hope all the travelers we meet aren't like the last one," commented Joe dryly.

"Too bad we didn't bring something to eat," remarked Chet, mournfully consulting his watch. "It's been a long while since our last meal."

'' Same old Chet!'' laughed Joe. '' No matter what happens, it's all right if there's food around!''

The fat lad was about to retort when the whine of a motor in the distance announced the approach of another car.

"Maybe this is the same fellow coming back," Chet suggested.

"By the looks of him, I hardly think he'd return," observed Joe. "No, it isn't," he added as the second auto swung into view around a bend. "It's of a different make."

Joe Disappears 43

A blue touring sedan came to a stop at the bridge and two well-dressed men stepped out.

"What's wrong? Have an accident?" one of them inquired pleasantly. He was tall and spare, with clean-cut features, and appeared to be in his early forties.

"The bridge gave way under our car," Frank explained.

"Well, now, look at that!" exclaimed the other. He was a short, plump man who appeared to be slightly older than his companion. "John, we'd better lend these young fellows a hand."

"We certainly will!" agreed the other heartily. "Let's have a look, Henry."

The two men accompanied the Hardys and Chet to the stranded auto and discussed ways and means of handling the situation.

"A few planks will be necessary, I think," said the plump stranger. "John, why don't you ride over to the mill and get 'em?"

When the man addressed as John had gone, his companion assisted the boys in unloading the car. This was a precarious task but one which the affable stranger declared to be necessary.

"Suppose you boys are going to Bailey's!" inquired the man casually as they worked.

"Well, yes-we were," laughed Frank.

"Oh, we'll get your car off all right," returned the other confidently. "Suppose you are going to watch us raise the Carona?"

44 The Secret Warning

"The Caronaf" Frank looked up expectantly.

"Say, that must be the job Mr. Perry came down here for!" exclaimed Joe.

"You're right," smiled the stranger. "Do you know him? He's one of our best divers."

"We met him the other day in Bayport," Frank replied. "Are you-do you-work for his company, too?"

The plump man nodded. "I'm Henry Crux. The other man is my brother John. Here he comes now with the planks.''

"Golly!" commented Chet.

Joe uttered a subdued exclamation. "You own the company, don't you, Mr. Crux?"

"Yes, my brother and I own it. As soon as we get your car off the bridge we'll take you to the Landing and show you some real deep-sea diving."

Needless to say, the chums were delighted at their sudden good fortune. An hour later, when the car had been dragged undamaged from the bridge, their anticipation knew no bounds. After a short and rough ride with the Cruxes in the lead, they drew up in the parking lot of the Bailey Yacht Club.

"Perry's resting at his hotel," said John Crux as the boys came over to his car. "You can see him later this afternoon. In the meantime we'll show you around."

The Carona, once a large, expensive pleasure yacht, now lay in seventy feet of water with her side partly ripped out bj an explosion. The

Joe Disappears 45

chums were taken in the company's barge to the spot where the yacht had sunk about half a mile offshore. During most of the afternoon they watched the divers at work through a telescopic device especially designed for the purpose.

John and Henry Crux took turns explaining things to them as the undersea work proceeded. In the course of a few hours the boys had learned much about the intricacies and dangers of deep-sea diving, and of the great skill required to perform such work successfully.

"Now I'm surer than ever that I want to keep my feet on dry land!" exclaimed Chet. "Look at that fellow down there. He's walking right into the hole in the boat's side. Not for me!"

The boys watched, fascinated. Suddenly there was a hail from a small motorboat approaching the scene.

"Hello! Coming aboard the barge!" rang out a stentorian voice.

"Frank! It's Mr. Perry coming aboard!" exclaimed the younger Hardy lad as the motorboat hovered alongside.

"Hello, there!" rang out the words again as its long, lanky owner climbed up onto the after-deck. '' Of all things-the Hardys!''

"Mr. Perry!" exclaimed Frank. "We've been waiting for you all afternoon!"

"Well, here I am, all ready for a bath! It's my shift below, you see. Pretty long job ahead

46 The Secret Warning

of us, I'm afraid. The old Corona's pretty well water-soaked.''

While Perry was dressing in the heavy diving suit, he chatted amiably with the boys, hinting that he might be able to arrange for them to go down with him some time in the future.

"We'd like nothing better, Mr. Perry!" Joe exclaimed, while Chet backed away unenthusiastically.

"But Mr. Perry," broke in Frank, "we really came to get Dad's suit. He has some important papers in one of the pockets."

"I didn't look in the pockets!" exclaimed the diver. "The suit's at the tailor's now. I'm having a torn place mended before returning the clothes to your father with my apologies."

Frank glanced at his watch. "It's just about closing time now," he said. "I think we can make it if we hurry."

'' Sorry I can't come with you,'' Perry apologized. "Jack'11 take you to shore in the motorboat." He motioned toward a sailor.

The chums thanked John and Henry Crux for their assistance at the bridge and their hospitality during the afternoon. Then they excused themselves hurriedly.

"Walters' Tailor Shop!" called the diver as they departed. "Eight on the main street."

Back at the landing the trio jumped into their car. Following directions given them by John Crux, they arrived at the little hamlet of Bailey fifteen minutes later.

Joe Disappears 47

"There's the shop," said Joe. "Right on the corner."

Frank pulled to a stop and the boys raced to the door only to find it locked.

"Look, Frank, there's smoke in there!" exclaimed Joe suddenly.

The boys pressed their faces against the glass door. "You're right!" yelled Frank. "And Dad's suit is in there! Quick! Let's break in!"

Joe already had his foot poised, and a second later swung it heavily against the glass. There was an ear-shattering crash. Simultaneously a burst of flame issued from the rear of the shop. Before the boys had advanced a foot the whole interior was afire.

"Look out!" yelled Chet. "Cleaning fluids -they'll explode!"

Disregarding his chum's warning, Joe lowered his head into his coat and charged toward the rear of the store.

"I must get those papers," he cried.

"Come back!" screamed Frank. "Joe!"

There was a sudden terrific explosion. Frank and Chet were hurled to the sidewalk. The shop was instantly a raging inferno. Dazed though he was, the older Hardy knew that his brother never could emerge alive.

From down the street there came the whine and clang of a fire apparatus.