Hardy Boys Mysteries - 018 The Twisted Claw by Franklin W. Dixon

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

CHAPTER XV

OH” THE HIGH SEAS

befobe Frank could follow Joe’s gaze, the thin man had seated himself somewhere in the crowd in front of them.

“Are you sure he is Pierre!” the elder Hardy lad whispered.

“Absolutely! I couldn’t forget that face!”

“We’ll wait and follow–—”

Frank was interrupted as a woman behind them leaned over. “Will you boys keep your tongues from a-waggin’!” she cackled.

Frank and Joe chuckled and lapsed into silence. The picture seemed hours long. Just before it ended, a figure in front of them arose.

“He’s going out, Joe! Come on!”

As the thin man whom Joe thought to be Pierre passed by them, the brothers silently got up and followed him out of the theatre.

“That’s our man, all right!” Frank said under his breath. “Thank goodness the street lights are dim in this place. He won’t be likely to see us!”

Pierre walked rapidly away from the diree—

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120 The Twisted Claw

tion of the river while the Hardy boys stole through the shadows of the deserted streets a block behind him. Soon they found themselves on the outskirts of the village where the houses were few and far apart.

“Do you suppose he’s going all the way to Woodsville?” Frank asked ironically.

“Maybe he likes exercise!” his brother laughed. “Look, he’s turning in somewhere!”

Pierre suddenly disappeared among the deep shadows ahead.

” We ‘11 have to hurry, Joe, or we ‘11 lose him!”

The boys quickened their pace, and a moment later found themselves in front of a large, rambling house, utterly in darkness. Just then they heard a click as the front door opened and shut again. A light suddenly appeared in the hallway, followed shortly by a second one in an upstairs window.

“Guess he’s going to bed,” said Frank. “Let’s figure out where this place is and come back tomorrow.”

“Sure as shooting he’s here to wait for the Black Parrot to dock, Frank!”

“Without a doubt.”

They retraced their steps, making a note of the street names as they proceeded. An hour later they were back in the hotel where a portly, middle-aged man was sitting at the desk in the lobby reading a newspaper.

On the High Seas 121

“Hello, boys!” called the man genially.

The brothers nodded and made a few casual remarks concerning the picture.

“By the way, Henri,” Frank asked, “do you know anybody around here named Pierre!

Tall, thin fellow with a hooked nose?”

“Pierre-Pierre,” repeated the proprietor. “Pierre what? There are lots of Pierres around here.” He gazed steadily at the boys for a moment. Then he went on,” Oh, Pierre Pierre, perhaps you mean! There’s a steamship agent named Pierre Pierre who lives on D ‘Arcy Street about two miles from here.”

Joe nodded vigorously. “That’s the man! Does he live in a big house?”

“Yes, as far as I can remember. Sort of a rambling old place. Want to get hold of him?”

Frank suppressed a smile. “There’s no particular hurry, Henri. We have some business to transact with him.”

The proprietor nodded. “I see. Well, you can probably get him at his house or else down at the docks in the day time.

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