The Pentagon Spy by Franklin W. Dixon Read Free Book Online Page A

the world is he?” Frank said worriedly as he put on the light and looked around the loft. “He wouldn’t leave without letting us know!”
    â€œMaybe the thieves got to him while we were gone,” Chet said nervously.
    â€œIt’s possible,” Frank replied somberly. “We were in the basement long enough that they could have hustled him down the stairs without our knowing it! If so, I’d better get on their trail. You stay here, Chet, while I run outside and see if I can find out what happened!”
    Frank was heading for the door when a dark shape loomed on the roof against the rising moon. The figure raised its arm as if to spring through the skylight!
    â€œFrank!” Chet quavered. “Don’t go!”
    Frank turned. “What’s up?”
    Speechlessly Chet pointed to the dark shape on the roof. As they stared, the figure swung down through the skylight into the loft. It was Joe!
    â€œI thought that owl we spotted might have knocked the weather vane off center,” he said. “So I went out to see before it tumbled down to the ground. What a windfall for the crooks that would have been! Did you find anything downstairs?”
    â€œNothing,” Frank reported. “Chet even checked out the silo.”
    Their rotund pal squirmed as Frank described the incident to Joe. “Knock it off, fellows, will you?” Chet pleaded.
    â€œDon’t worry, we know we can count on you,” Frank mollified him. “And now it’s your turn to stand guard.”
    Chet parked himself on the floor with his back to the wall, while the Hardys lay down to sleep. Squinting through the skylight, he could see dismal clouds scudding across the moon. A rising wind shook the shingles of the roof with a mournful sound. Chet shuddered and felt relieved that he was not alone in the darkness of the barn loft.
    The minutes slipped away slowly. Everything was still, and Chet began to nod. Soon a snore arose from his corner. Fast asleep, he did not hear a faint sound in the night sky that grew louder as it approached.
    Suddenly a terrific clatter erupted overhead, waking the three boys. The noise continued past the barn, started to die away, then came back with a thunderous roar that shook the building.
    Frank and Joe leaped to their feet and rushed over to the skylight. Chet dived under the pile of hay. The noise diminished once more, and the Hardys climbed onto the roof. In the moonlight, they could see a helicopter circling for another approach to the barn. Again the clatter became deafening.
    â€œWhat’s that chopper doing?” Frank shouted in consternation over the noise.
    â€œI don’t know!” Joe yelled back. “The pilot must be a complete fool! He’ll hit the barn!”
    The helicopter came directly toward them. Someone on the inside played out a cable on a winch. It dropped ten feet and swayed back and forth under the chopper, which hovered over the roof. Four curved prongs spread out at the end of the cable.
    â€œHe’s got a grappling hook at the end!” Frank shouted. “They’re after the Flashing Arrow!”
    The chopper moved slightly and the cable swung toward the weather vane. Then the grappling iron struck the copper eagle with a loud clang. It missed. The whirlybird passed over the barn with only feet to spare, flew off far enough to circle around, then started back toward the weather vane, lower than ever. Joe could see the painted legend on its side: JF333.
    The boys were scrambling up the roof in a frantic effort to reach the weather vane first. At the apex, they edged their way along the route they had taken with Morven during the day. It was even more dangerous in the darkness, but the boys gritted their teeth and pressed on as fast as they could, with Frank in the lead.
    As he approached the Flashing Arrow, the chopper came directly toward him. It was so near that he could see the face of the pilot at the window,