Hardy Boys Mysteries - 040 Mystery Of The Desert Giant by Franklin W. Dixon

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

CHAPTER XI

Stranded

“Bur why not?” Joe cried in amazement. “You have our visitors’ permits!”

“That will not be enough,” the inspector snapped coldly. “How do I know who you are?

Two young men in a large hurry to get over the border. It must be for some secret purpose-perhaps illegal-or you would wait for manana. You may be using the names Frank and Joe Hardy. It fits perfectly. We have been warned to expect you.”

“There must be some mistake,” Joe insisted.

In a flash Frank caught on. For the second time their enemies were trying to delay the young detectives by deliberately misleading the authorities!

“I can prove to you, Inspector,” he said, “that we’re on the level-that our names really are Frank and Joe Hardy.”

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94 Mystery of the Desert Giant

Frank took out his birth certificate and suggested that Joe get his.

“Here’s proof,” Frank said.

Startled, the inspector took the photostats that the boys held out. Doubtful, he frowned, read them, turned them over and over, and peered at their official seals.

“I cannot find anything wrong with these,” he admitted reluctantly.

“Of course not,” Frank said. “We’re not the ones trying to hide anything. We’re hunting for a missing man. We think he may be the victim of a gang of vicious criminals-probably the same ones who warned you about us. Who were they?”

The inspector gazed at the young sleuths for several seconds. Then apparently satisfied that they were honest, he said, “Two big, rough-looking fellows. Talked pretty tough. They told me they were private detectives. Showed me their credentials, too. Do you know them?”

“Ringer and Caesar I” Joe exclaimed to his brother. He turned back to the inspector.

“Those men probably are members of the gang we’re trying to find. They may have buddies in your country. If you don’t believe our story, call the police at Yuma. They’ll back us up.”

“I will,” the man agreed. “The chief of police there is a friend of mine.”

He placed the call and a few moments later said, “Carl? … This is your friend Sanchos.

Stranded 95

Something funny is happening here… .” Looking at Frank and Joe, he described them and gave their story.

Even from where they stood, the boys could hear the crackling voice on the other end of the wire. When the chief stopped talking, the inspector turned to them with a relieved look on his face.

“He says you are okay,” Sanchos told them. “The chief asked me to tell you the bellman has not been caught. Who is this bellman?”

Frank told him what little he knew.

“So sorry for all this trouble,” the inspector said. “Please to continue your journey.”

Frank and Joe grinned. “No hard feelings. But what about those two men? Which way were they crossing the border?” Joe asked.

“They were going to the United States.”

“Hm.” Frank considered, then said, “We’d better go on into Mexico, Joe.” His brother nodded, knowing that Frank meant they should continue their hunt for Grafton.

Under the fierce afternoon sun, the boys sent their boat on into the state of Sonora.

“I have a hunch,” said Joe, “that we’re getting hotter on the trail of this mystery.

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