Hardy Boys Mysteries - 011 While The Clock Ticked by Franklin W. Dixon

Author:Franklin W. Dixon [Dixon, Franklin W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub

CHAPTER XTV

“while the clock ticks”

an office boy appeared at the door.

“Tell Balpert I want to see him,” said Mr, Dalrymple.

“Yes, sir.”

While they were awaiting the return of the clerk Mr. Dalrymple, evidently worried, said:

“I hope you boys are wrong. I can’t believe Sid Balpert could be mixed up in any affair like this. He’s been with me for years. I’m sure he’s honest.”

“Does he know you own the Purdy EstateT” Frank suggested.

“Yes, he knows that. He knows that I’ve been going there. He has heard me speak of the strange threats I’ve been getting. But it can’t be Sid.”

“We’ll see what he has to say for himself.”

Sid Balpert came into the office a few min-tttes later. He was evidently surprised at the summons.

“You sent for me, Mr. Dalrymple?”

“Yes. Sit down.”

iia

“While the Clock Ticks” 119

The clerk looked more surprised than ever but quietly obeyed. Mr. Dalrymple looked at him sternly.

“I’ve heard something about you, Balpert. 1 sincerely hope it isn’t true and I want to give you a chance to clear yourself.”

Balpert fumbled nervously at his necktie.

“Heard something about me, sir! What iwasit?”

“You know that I own the Purdy Estate, over in Bayport. You know I’ve been going there and that I have received threats against my life.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Why were you at that house the night before last!”

Sid Balpert looked frightened.

“I didn’t mean any harm, Mr. Dalrymple,” be said. “I-I assure you I didn’t think there was anything wrong in my going there. 1 didn’t know anyone had seen me.”

“Then you were there?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Why?” asked the banker ominously.

Sid Balpert cleared his throat. “Well, sir, as a matter of fact-I-I’ve always had an ambition to be a detective–—”

“You were playing detective?”

“Well-when you mentioned the threats you had received-I thought I might be able to 120 While the Clock Ticked

solve the mystery myself. It occurred to me that-well, I’ve had to work very hard for promotion-and I thought that if I solved tha mystery for you, I might be given a little better position in the bank.”

Mr. Dalrymple nodded. He was obviously relieved by this simple explanation of the clerk’s presence at the Purdy place.

“So that was it? You thought that if you took matters in your own hands and cleared up the mystery, you’d win promotion here in the bank?”

“That was my reason, sir. I’m afraid I didn’t get very far. I got into the house but I was no sooner inside than I heard a terrible scream, so I quit. Then someone chased me and I ran back to the dock, where I had my motorboat moored. I got away, but another boat chased me. I was badly frightened, I don’t mind saying.”

“Do you know who chased you?”

“Well, I imagine it must have been the per-eon who screamed.”

Mr. Dalrymple laughed.

“A case of mistaken identity all around,” he said. “These boys and the police chased you, Balpert. They thought you were a crook and you thought they were crooks.”

“I’m sorry, sir, if you thought I was mixed

“Willie the Clock Ticks” 121

np in anything wrong,” said Balpert, “but H was really trying to help you.

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