The Secret Warning by Franklin W. Dixon Read Free Book Online Page B

you’re excused,” Frank said. “But get your trunks. We’re going to the beach.”
    â€œYou girls like to come?” Joe asked casually.
    â€œWe’d love to, but how can we?” said Callie. “We have to put our hair up for the party.”
    â€œWhat party?” Frank asked.
    â€œWhat party! This afternoon, at Biff Hooper’s. Don’t tell me you forgot!”
    The Hardys exchanged blank looks, then recalled Biff’s word-of-mouth invitation during a sandlot baseball game last Monday afternoon.
    The Hoopers were leaving Friday on a two-week vacation trip to California, so Biff had decided to have a going-away party on Thursday. The affair was to be an early barbecue supper, since he and his parents had to pack and prepare for a seven-o’clock take-off the next morning.
    â€œI guess we did forget,” Joe admitted. “We’ve been sort of busy.”
    â€œSure, sure, we know,” Iola said, dimpling. “Incidentally, Biff told us yesterday he has a surprise announcement to make at the party.”
    â€œAnnouncement about what?”
    Iola threw up her hands. “Don’t ask us. It all sounded very mysterious. Maybe he was just trying to whet our curiosity.”
    â€œJust as long as he doesn’t whet Chet’s appetite,” Joe needled.
    Everyone laughed and Chet went back into the house to get his swim trunks.
    The Hardys could hear the sound of a telephone ringing. A few moments later, as they were chatting with the girls, Mrs. Morton put her head out the back door.
    â€œFrank and Joe—”
    â€œYes, Mrs. Morton?”
    â€œYour aunt just phoned. She asked me to tell you that Mr. Scath from the museum called again —some man is on his way to the house to see you.”
    The boys jumped to their feet. “Did Aunt Gertrude say who he was?” Frank asked.
    â€œNo, but I guess it must be urgent. She advised you both to come home at once.”
    As they were thanking Chet’s mother for the information, Chet returned, holding a rolled towel under one arm. “What’s the matter?” he inquired plaintively. “Is the swim off?”
    â€œMaybe not,” said Frank. “Come on back to the house with us. We can whip over to the beach as soon as Joe and I talk to this visitor, whoever he is.”
    The three boys climbed into the convertible and sped back to the Hardy home at High and Elm streets, where they hurried into the kitchen.
    â€œWhat’s up, Aunty?” Joe inquired. “Did Mr. Scath tell you who’s coming to see us—or why?”
    Miss Hardy looked up from the pie dough she was rolling and pursed her lips. “He didn’t, and I’m sure I have no idea of the reason for his visit, since none of you has seen fit to take me into your confidence about this mystery.”
    The boys’ grins faded as the front doorbell rang. Frank and Joe hurried to answer it.
    The caller was a fat, balding, dark-complex-ioned man in a white silk suit. “Is this the Hardy residence?” he asked.
    â€œYes. Please come in,” Frank said.
    The man stepped inside and handed the boys an ornate visiting card, which read:
    Mehmet Zufar
Dealer in Middle Eastern
Antiquities and Objets d’Art
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    Cairo, Egypt
    Frank and Joe glanced at the card, then looked at each other excitedly. Their visitor was the owner of the golden Pharaoh’s head!

CHAPTER IX
    The Shattered Cat
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“I SHOULD like to see Mr. Fenton Hardy, the detective,” said the stout visitor.
    Joe found himself staring with fascination at the man’s tiny black mustache, which twirled upward at each end.
    â€œOur father’s out of town just now, working on a case,” Frank explained. “If you’ll have a chair and tell us why you came, perhaps we can help.”
    Mehmet Zufar glared irritably, but nonetheless seated himself in the living room. Plucking out a