The Ghost at Skeleton Rock by Franklin W. Dixon Read Free Book Online

I’m gettin’ outta here!” gasped one of the ruffians. Pulling loose from the fray, he turned and ran, with Tony after him.
    The baldheaded ringleader followed, with Frank at his heels. As the third hoodlum tried to join in the getaway, Joe dropped him with a flying tackle.
    But the leader and the other ruffian kicked off their pursuers and leaped into a car that was waiting for them on the road beyond the parking area. At the wheel was Shanley!
    Discouraged by this latest development, Frank and Tony went back to Joe, who was holding their prisoner. The fellow was bony and pinched-faced, and wore a cheap-looking pinstriped suit.
    â€œWe’re taking you to police headquarters,” Joe told him.
    The sullen man shifted uneasily, but kept quiet as the group headed for the taxi stand.
    â€œBy the way, fellows,” said Tony, “would you mind telling me what this is all about?”
    Frank gave him a quick account of the phony detective and the unexpected attack. “Thanks for coming to our rescue. You really saved the day!”
    â€œDitto!” put in Joe. “If it hadn’t been for you, we wouldn’t have this prisoner. By the way, Tony, you’d better go tell Jack Wayne what happened. We’ll be back soon.”
    â€œOkay,” Tony agreed. “But don’t let buster boy here pull any more fast ones!”
    As he headed back to the hangar, Frank and Joe hustled their prisoner into one of the waiting taxis.
    â€œPolice headquarters,” Frank directed the driver.
    A few minutes later the taxi pulled up in front of the brick building.
    The sergeant in charge led the Hardys and their prisoner into the office of Inspector Moon, a friend of Fenton Hardy. He greeted the boys warmly, then said to a detective, “Take this man into the interrogation room and get the facts.” Inspector Moon turned back to Frank and Joe. “Now give me the whole story.”
    The boys related everything that had happened at the airport terminal, including the way Shanley had led them into an ambush and then stolen the leather case.
    â€œWhat did Shanley look like?” the officer asked. As Frank gave a description of the man, the inspector frowned and shook his head. “That wasn’t Shanley.”
    â€œHe was impersonating him, you mean?” Frank asked. “We saw his detective’s license.”
    â€œSure, they were the real Shanley’s all right. His house was broken into last night and all his credentials stolen,” the inspector explained.
    Frank and Joe asked to read the report of the robbery, but found no clues of interest. In answer to Inspector Moon’s questions, they explained that they were helping their father on a case and described their brush with Hugo and Abdul at the wooded site.
    â€œI’ll put out a call for them right away,” Inspector Moon said. He picked up his phone and ordered that an alarm be sent to all radio cars.
    â€œOne thing I don’t understand is why that Latin American fellow at the airport slipped me the gloves and key,” said Joe, after the officer hung up. “Couldn’t he tell just by looking at me that I wasn’t the right guy?”
    â€œMaybe you do look like the right guy,” Inspector Moon pointed out.
    â€œWow! I never thought of that!”
    Despite the seriousness of the situation, Frank suddenly grinned. “Good night! My brother looking like some underworld character!” Then he sobered. “If this is some kind of a racket—like a theft ring for passing stolen goods—we now have a good description of one of the members.”
    â€œRight,” the inspector agreed. “I’ll pass the word around for the men to be on the lookout for a fellow answering Joe’s description.”
    â€œBut of the criminal type, please,” Joe pleaded.
    Just then the door of the interrogation room opened, and the plainclothesman came out with the