035-The Clue In The Embers by Franklin W. Dixon

Author:Franklin W. Dixon [Dixon, Franklin W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-08-07T14:26:40+00:00

CHAPTER XIV

The Black Sheep

"help!" cried lola frantically. "My hair's on fire!" Desperately she beat her palms against her head, screaming in terror.

Ripping off his jacket, Frank flung it about her head, snuffing out the flame that

endangered the frightened girl. Leading her away from the roaring fireplace, he said reassuringly, "You're okay now. Some of your hair's singed a bit, but it gives you that carefree look!" he added lightly to calm her.

lola, though still shaky, managed a laugh. "It's one way of getting a new hair style," she replied gamely. "And thanks for the rescue."

Chet declared he was all right-aside from having the breath knocked out of him by his fall. The scare over, they all tried to figure out what had caused the blast. Had some explosive substance been sprayed on the kindling? Or had someone planted a crude bomb in the fireplace?

no

The Black Sheep 111

"If the latter is true," Frank thought, "then the salesman at Callie's was a spy!"

The girl ran to his side. "I told you! I'm the cause of this!" She quickly repeated her story of the salesman to the others.

"Did you mention fireplace Number Twelve to the man?" Frank asked.

"Yes, I did. Oh, dear!"

Frank put a hand on her shoulder. "Gallic, no real harm has been done, so forget it," he said soothingly.

A crowd quickly gathered and began to ask questions. Several wondered if it would be safe for them to use another fireplace.

"Where's the attendant?" Joe called out The worried, gray-haired man who had been laying another fire hurried over. Joe questioned him. "I didn't put anything but wood and paper in the fireplace," he said nervously.

"Was anyone near this spot while we were gone?" Joe asked him quietly.

The attendant scratched his head, then said a man with a mustache had offered to help him lay the fire in Number Twelve. "I told him I'd do it myself," the man continued. "He did hang around, though."

The Hardys did not voice aloud the suspicion that the salesman had told Torres or Valez the picnic plans. They merely assured the attendant that he was not to blame. The girls found another fire-112 The Clue in the Embers place, and Chet and Tony carried the baskets over to it.

"Joe," said Frank, "we'd better search the embers in Number Twelve. We might find a clue."

"Right."

Sprinkling a can of water over the still-burning wood, they raked through the damp remains for evidence.

"Here's something," Joe whispered. He handed Frank one of the mysterious arrowhead missiles! "This explains a lot. The arrowhead was intended for one of us!"

"We sure were lucky," Frank said grimly.

"Something went wrong with the way that fellow had the charge rigged up," Joe suggested. "Let's see if we can find out what." Carefully the boys continued examining the embers.

"Guess this is it," Frank said, pulling out a small metal container. "This homemade bomb had the charge and the missile in it."

"The bottom of the container melted and the arrowhead fell out before the charge went off," Joe continued, "which kept the missile from shooting out.

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