The Flickering Torch Mystery by Dixon Franklin W

Author:Dixon, Franklin W. [Dixon, Franklin W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Adventure, Children, Mystery, Young Adult, Crime, Thriller, Classic
ISBN: 9780006915720
Publisher: Armada
Published: 1942-12-31T23:00:00+00:00

The Flickering Torch Mystery

CHAPTER XVIII

A MTSTEKIOTJS APPOINTMENT

the Hardy boys hurried back to tell the director the bottle of pollen was missing. The man was not unduly disturbed.

“Probably the clerk put it on the wrong shelf. Or maybe someone needed the sample in a hurry and the clerk was off duty at the time, so the bottle went out without being entered in the records. I have some of the stuff in my private office, anyhow. Come along and I '11 let you have some of it.”

On the way Frank ventured an inquiry about Boots.

“An interesting character,” he remarked innocently. “We were working with him the first day we came here.”

“Oh yes-Boots. Very interesting fellow,” said the director. '' He was hired by us, because he knows a good deal about rice culture, and the information was valuable to us in our underwater farming."

“Where did he learn about rice?” asked Joe.

“He was shipwrecked on an island somewhere in the Orient, I believe. He's had quite a history. Bather gruff in his manner, but he's a good workman and honest.”

The Hardy boys were a little surprised by this high recommendation of Boots. As they waited for the director to locate the bottle, a figure passed beneath one of the open office windows. The fellow had been lurking there and had heard the entire conversation.

“Those two boys are gettin' awful smart,” he muttered as he went off.

“Here you are, my boy. Here's the horrible African lily pollen,” smiled the director, coming back with a tiny vial. '' Don't let any of it get on your clothes, or you'll both be as unpopular as a pair of polecats!''

Smiling, the boys thanked him and promised to take good care of the rare stuff. They were glad, nevertheless, that the director did not ask them why they wanted it.

“Just as soon as we finish work this afternoon,” resolved Frank, “we'll look up O'Brien and find out if this is what he smelled last night. And if it is------”

“If it is,” Joe declared, “I think we'll have a first-rate clue to that robbery. With Mr. Boots right in the middle of it, I don't care what the director says about him.”

When their day's work was over, the boys went directly to the garage where they had left their car to be repaired. They arrived, fully expecting that they would drive it away at once. The young mechanic in charge of the place at the moment astounded them by saying:

'' Your car ? It went out an hour ago.''

“Went out?” exclaimed Frank. “Why was that? We gave no one permission to use it.”

"But you sent your sister for it, didn't you? She came here and picked up the car. Said you told her to call for it.''

The Hardy boys were astounded.

“Sister!” cried Joe. “That's the first I've heard about her. We haven't a sister.”

Now the mechanic was worried. '' Gee whiz!'' he exclaimed. '' Do you mean to tell me I turned that car over to the wrong person? The girl said she was your sister.

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