Hardy Boys Mysteries - 014 The Hidden Harbour Mystery by Franklin W. Dixon

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

CHAPTER XIV

THE HIDDEN HARBOR CAMP

“WONDER what he is doing here?” queried Joe. “How did he know we were interested in this place?”

“Perhaps it was Ruel Rand who hired him to shadow us,” Frank suggested.

Heator was apparently a stranger at the spot. The boys watched him as he ascended the steps and rang the bell. When the door was opened there was a brief delay before he was allowed to enter. As soon as he had vanished into the house Frank hastened forward.

“Now it’s our turn to do a little spying,‘7 he said.

“Take care there isn’t a dog around here somewhere,” cautioned Chet.

The boys reached the veranda unmolested. Frank had an idea.

“Joe,” he said, “I’m going to peer through one of these windows and see if I can learn something about this fellow. In the meantime, you go back to the road and search his car, which is parked near the gate. See if you can find some papers-anything at all that will tell us his real business.”

“Sure,” said Joe, eager to do his brother’s bidding.

“If the fellow should leave the house and go back toward the road, I’ll hoot like an owl.”

“Be sure to hoot loud enough. I don’t want him to catch me going through his car.”

Joe hurried back across the grounds toward the highway, while Frank crawled softly up onto the porch and made his way toward the window which was nearest the front door of the house. Carefully, step by step, he edged forward. Chet, quaking for fear his friends might be discovered, stayed on guard to be on the alert in case anyone should come around from the rear of the building.

Through the window Frank could look into the dimly-lighted hall of the Rand homestead. And, wonder of wonders, the first person upon whom his eyes rested was Ruel Rand!

The tall, melancholy young man was listening to Mr. Heator who, with his portfolio open, was diligently carrying on his pretense of being an icebox salesman.

“You can’t afford to be without one,” he was saying. “Let me install a refrigerator in your home on trial. I’ll guarantee that you won’t let me take it away. Our terms are very reasonable—”

“I don’t want one, I tell you,” Rand interrupted testily. “I’ve got along without an electric refrigerator for years and I guess I can do so for a while yet.”

“Very well,” replied Mr. Heator, as he slowly started to replace his papers and catalogs into his portfolio. Frank could see that the fellow’s sharp eyes were taking in every detail of the hall as he spoke. “I do wish you would let me put the refrigerator in on trial, just the same. You’ll be under no obligation to us.”

“No,” said Rand shortly.

“Do you live here alone?”

“Yes.” Rand was becoming impatient. “I’m busy now,” he said. “Too busy to answer questions about my private affairs.”

“No offense, no offense,” said Heator cheerfully, as he prepared to leave.

“I’ll come around again some time. Maybe you’ll change your mind about the refrigerator.”

“You needn’t bother,” said Rand curtly.

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