Hardy Boys Mystery Series by 20

Author:20 [20]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 2010-08-22T23:30:26.320000+00:00

CHAPTER XIV

A FIGHT OK THE PLAINS

"all right, here we go," said Frank at length.

He threw the car into gear again and speeded up. At that instant the headlights went

out.

"Hey, what's happened, lad? We struck blind?" his cowboy companion exclaimed with a

start.

Frank fumbled with the switch but to no avail. Suddenly a pair of flickering lights

appeared in the distance.

"It's another machine!" yelled Weather-Eye. "Coming this way. It'11 hit us!"

A motor which was whining in the distance rapidly grew louder. Joe and the man who

was sitting beside him watched as a car shot around a bend in the road. Desperately Frank

put on speed and swerved into a field adjoining the highway. He was just in time. With a roar

the other vehicle whipped past them and disappeared.

"Whew!" the boy exclaimed. "That was a close one!"

"Too close, I'd say," Weather-Eye agreed. "Pussonly I'll stick to hosses. Much safer."

116

A Fight on the Plains 117

For an instant Frank wanted to turn around and give chase. Perhaps Joe was in the

other car! But obviously it was impossible to drive without lights. To attract attention he

banged his fist impatiently on the horn. Nothing happened.

"Weather-Eye, I guess we'll have to poke around this bus until we find out what's wrong.

Know anything about electricity?"

"Enough to leave it alone."

"With the aid of his flashlight Frank raised the hood and began fussing with various

gadgets inside the engine.

"Hi, ho, here's jest what I was prayin' for," Weather-Eye exclaimed. " A hoss!"

Frank looked up to see a white mare not far away. The cowboy tiptoed up to her and

held out his hand. '' See, lad, she's a friendly critter. She'd like as not-----"

Crack! A shot rang out in the night air not far distant. With a loud neigh the horse

galloped away, her hoofs thundering on the soft ground.

"Now, wouldn't ye know somebody'd come along and spoil everything?" Weather-Eye

moaned.

Frank was listening intently, but there was no further unusual sound. He turned back to

his job. So far he had not found the trouble with the lighting circuit. At length he uttered an

exclamation of disgust and summoned the cowboy.

118 The Mystery of the Flying Express

"We'll try driving on a little nearer that ranch house, Weather-Eye, and then we can walk

the rest of the way."

"Suits me, lad." He settled himself in the seat and began humming.

Frank swung the car back onto the road. It was hard work to keep from going into a

ditch, but soon the moon appeared and lighted their path. A short distance from the house

he suddenly sat up straight and stopped the machine.

"Weather-Eye, isn't that a man with a rifle sitting over there ?" he asked.

In the rays of the moon an open space on one side of the house could be seen easily. It

was here that Frank thought he could make out the figure of a man holding a gun.

Weather-Eye clucked his tongue. "Kinda seems as if yo 're right, lad. Looks like trouble

to me."

Frank hesitated a moment. Finally he turned to his companion. '' Come on, we '11 slip

up there on foot and investigate,'' he said.

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