The Stone Idol by Franklin W. Dixon Read Free Book Online Page B

that, Fenton Hardy hung up.
    â€œDad’s really being mysterious,” Frank observed. “I wonder where he is.”
    â€œProbably in Washington,” Joe said. “Anyway, we won’t be going back to New York for a while. What do you say we call Kimberley?”
    â€œGood idea. He must be wondering if we’ve found the idol. But it’s too late now. Let’s do it in the morning. ”
    After breakfast the following day, Joe phoned South American Antiquities in New York.
    â€œWhat have you found out?” Kimberley demanded. “Any progress to report?”
    â€œThat strange message you gave us was a clue,” Joe responded. “It showed us where to look for the idol—in a secret compartment. ”
    â€œOh?”
    â€œBehind a photo of the Andes in the outer office of your Santiago branch. A small panel slid back when we lifted the photo off the wall. The peg worked as an automatic control. ”
    â€œI’ve seen that compartment!” Kimberley thundered. “It was there when we rented the office.”
    â€œI know,” Joe said. “Mr. Bertrand told us most of the staff were aware of its existence.”
    â€œBut what about the idol. Was it there?”
    â€œIt sure was. We were about to take it out when your chauffeur ran up to us and grabbed it.”
    â€œJulio? Are you talking about Julio Santana?”
    â€œYes, sir. ”
    There was silence on the other end of the line. Finally Kimberley spoke again. “I can’t imagine that Julio is a thief. Do you know if—if he was the one who put the idol there in the first place?”
    â€œNo. But he could have done it,” Joe said. “Mr. Bertrand left to get ice when you were picking up your watch that night in the Santiago hotel. Santana could have sneaked into the room and removed the sculpture from your case with a duplicate key.”
    â€œThat must be it, then,” Kimberley said. “Where’s Santana now, in jail?”
    â€œNo,” Joe replied and reported what had happened in the mountain village.
    Kimberley grunted. “You let him escape? What kind of detectives are you? I’m going to ask my partner to call the police!”
    â€œWe wanted to suggest the same thing, sir,” Frank said evenly. “Our father needs us to help him on his case and we have to interrupt our activities here temporarily.”
    â€œTemporarily!” Kimberley sneered. “By the time you come back, I hope Santana will have been caught!”
    â€œSo do we,” Frank said politely.
    After the conversation ended, Frank spoke with Bertrand and explained that he and Joe were leaving Santiago to help their father.
    â€œWe’ll return as soon as we can to help find the idol if the police aren’t successful,” he promised.
    â€œOkay,” Bertrand said. “I’ll call the chief and tell him the whole story.”
    The Hardys packed their things, checked out of the hotel, and left for the airport. Suddenly, Frank had an idea. “We’re headed for Punta Arenas,” he said. “That’s where Santana once worked in the oil fields. Maybe he’s planning to go back there, take his old job, and lie low until the heat’s off and he can sell the idol!”
    â€œHe might even be on the same plane as we are,” Joe added excitedly. “He and the other fellow!”
    At the terminal, the brothers boarded their flight and took their seats. Holding magazines before their faces to conceal themselves, they pretended to read while furtively watching the passengers coming aboard. But they saw only strangers.
    The plane took off on a flight that lasted several hours. Finally Punta Arenas came into view. The Hardys could see oil rigs spotted around the oil fields. Incandescent flames flared atop tall towers and showed where superfluous gas was being burned off. Trucks were carrying barrels of oil down toward the port where tankers