Hardy Boys Mystery Series by 36

Author:36 [36]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 2010-08-23T01:11:35.852000+00:00

CHAPTER XV

An Alias

bowden's unexpected question caught Joe off guard. Instead of giving a counter query

which might have netted the boys some valuable information, he asked bluntly, "One of the

stolen cutlasses?"

Joe's thoughtless remark made Frank wince, and his brother immediately realized his

mistake. Their father certainly would not approve of such careless detective work! If Bowden

had anything to hide concerning the stolen cutlasses, he now was forewarned.

"Stolen? No, of course not," the man said flatly.

"Then what cutlass are you talking about?"

"Forget it."

Joe, annoyed at his own blunder and Bowden's reluctance to talk, said grimly, "Mr.

Bowden, we can't have you playing hide-and-seek with facts and still do a good sleuthing

job for you."

117

118 The Secret of Pirates' Hill

The man smiled patronizingly. "No need for you to get hot under the collar. Gorman's

hipped on finding a miniature cutlass-says it's a lost heirloom or something of the sort. He

puts the question to any new acquaintance."

The Hardys felt this was an unlikely story. "Are you sure?" Frank asked.

"Positive. But he may pretend it's a real one just for effect. Gorman's not given to telling

the truth."

Frank and Joe suppressed smiles at this remark. Neither was Bowden noted for

sticking to the facts!

The boys left shortly, saying they planned to continue their search for the cannon.

Bowden waved good-by from the motel entrance, urging them to speed up their work.

"I wish Dad would hurry back from Florida," Frank remarked, as they rode along. "This

case is getting knotty."

Joe nodded. "It sure is-as knotty as a pine board!"

Frank grinned. "I wish we could look through one of those knots and see the answer."

Then, after a few moments, he added thoughtfully, "Joe, this case had me baffled until just

now. But I believe I have the answer."

"What is it?"

"It might sound farfetched," Frank replied, as the car hummed closer to Bayport, "but the

comAn Alias 119

bination of cannons, cutlasses, and the story about the pirates' fight all lead in one

direction."

Joe smiled. "I get it. You mean hidden treasure."

"Right."

His brother's face broke into a wide grin. "If there's treasure around this territory, let's

locate it!" he said with enthusiasm.

"We'll have to dig up more clues, though, before we can dig up any treasure," Frank

said.

Since the boys had to go near their home to take the road to Pirates' Hill, Frank

suggested that they stop and see if there was a letter or phone message from Mr. Hardy. He

turned onto Elm Street and pulled into their driveway.

The Hardy telephone was ringing persistently as the brothers entered the house.

"Nobody's home," Frank said. "Grab it, Joe."

The boy picked up the instrument in the front hall. "Yes. This is Joe Hardy. . . . Who? I

didn't get the last name. . . . Oh, Smedick. Why do you want to see us, Mr. Smedick?" Joe

listened for a moment and added, "All right. Frank and I will come immediately."

Joe hung up and turned to his brother. "A guy with a strained voice, named A. B.

Smedick, wants to see us at the Bayport Hotel. Room 309. It has something to do with the

cannon mystery. Let's go!"

"Who is he?" Frank asked cautiously.

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