The Missing Chums by Franklin W. Dixon Read Free Book Online Page B

Joe.
    â€œAnd here’s a chink. I’ll shine my light in while you look through the hole.”
    Joe watched the slender beam shift around the dark room. “Empty,” he declared, disappointed. “Let’s look for more of Chet’s or Biff’s belongings.” They searched the sand around the shanty, but found nothing.
    â€œLet’s hide in the deserted shack again,” Frank suggested. “If Sutton comes back with any of his pals, we may overhear something important.”
    Patiently the young detectives waited and watched, but their quarry did not return. Frank consulted his watch. “It’s almost midnight. Maybe—”
    â€œSh!” Joe interrupted. “Listen!”
    They heard footsteps and saw a dark figure approaching Sutton’s shanty. The stranger knocked several times. Finally a neighbor opened his door. “You lookin’ for Sutton?” he asked.
    â€œYes,” replied the unknown caller. “All I know is he went off in a car with a dark-haired fellow. I heard Sutton say he wouldn’t come back tonight.”
    Without a word the caller disappeared into the darkness. The door to the shack slammed shut.
    â€œThat’s that,” Frank said in disappointment. “Let’s go back to town and report to headquarters.”
    â€œYou bet. Frank, do you suppose Chet and Biff were here but have been taken away?”
    â€œIt’s a good guess.”
    The boys covered the mile of beach to their boat, quickly pulled off the improvised camouflage, and launched her. Frank headed down the coast toward Bayport and the Hardy boathouse. When the boys had debarked, they donned their street clothes again. Carrying their burlap bags, they emerged from the boathouse and mounted their motorcycles. It was well past midnight.
    When the Hardys reached police headquarters, they were amazed to see Chief Collig in his office. He looked tired and somewhat dejected.
    â€œI’ve been working night and day on the bank robbery case and the mystery of your friends,” he said. “I’m afraid that the boys have been kidnaped.”
    â€œThat’s what we fear,” Frank said. He showed the gorilla head mask and sleeve of Chet’s costume and told of the boys’ run-in with Sutton.
    â€œI’ll send men out there to make a thorough search,” Collig said.
    â€œWe’ll go with them!” Joe volunteered eagerly.
    â€œWe’d better not,” Frank countered. “Once the men at Shantytown see us with the police, we won’t be able to work under cover there.”
    Regretfully, Joe agreed.
    Chief Collig rose, strode around the desk, and clapped each of the young sleuths on the shoulder. “Thanks, boys! You’ve brought in the first two leads I’ve had on this case,” he said. “If we find Chet and Biff, I’ll call you at once.”
    Frank and Joe hurried home through the silent streets. When they let themselves into the house, they saw a light in Fenton Hardy’s upstairs study. Frank knocked.
    â€œCome in,” called the detective. When his sons entered, he pushed aside some papers on his desk. “What did you find out today?”
    He leaned back in his big leather chair and listened carefully as his sons gave an account of their day’s progress.
    When it was finished, their father said, “If Collig doesn’t find Chet and Biff in Shantytown tonight, and they were kidnaped, their parents should receive ransom notes soon.”
    â€œPerhaps they will come tomorrow,” Frank suggested. He turned to his father. “Do you think Chet and Biff’s disappearance could have anything to do with the bank robbery?”
    â€œIt’s possible.”
    â€œIn that case, maybe you’d let us give you a hand on the bank robbery case, Dad.”
    â€œAs a matter of fact,” the detective replied, “if Collig hadn’t offered you the Shantytown problem, I