Part 11 (1/2)

”Why, you joker,” Frank threatened.

”Hey!” Chet moaned. ”Maybe Simon has just run off with our money, and won't bring us any clothes!”

This remark made all the boys glum. But at last Simon's tall form could be seen approaching from the town. In his arms the mute boy carried a huge package wrapped in brown paper.

Eager hands reached from the car to s.n.a.t.c.h the package and change from the astonished Simon. Flying fingers ripped open the paper and tugged at the clothing inside.

”Keep watch, Simon. Warn us if anybody comes,” ordered Joe.

In a few minutes three fully-clothed boys joined Simon on the sidewalk. All wore identical blue dungarees, red flannel s.h.i.+rts, checkered socks, and black 43 shoes.

”Jumpin” goldfis.h.!.+” complained Chet. ”We look like a comedy team on television!”

Simon grinned and from under his right arm produced a package containing three extra s.h.i.+rts.

129 He threw them into the rear seat, as the boys looked relieved.

While Frank and Joe merely laughed at each other's singed hair and eyebrows, Chet said, ”Breakfast before anything else!”

Customers in Forestburg's chief diner peered in amus.e.m.e.nt over their morning coffee as the door opened. First came three boys, all wearing red s.h.i.+rts and blue dungarees, with their hair and eyebrows partly singed away. Then came a tall, gangling boy with trousers too short and a wild shock of hair.

Disregarding the curious stares, the four were soon putting away vast quant.i.ties of griddlecakes.

”Must be some of them carnival fellas,” muttered one man to his neighbor.

”Looks like somebody ran a blowtorch over those three!”

”Who's the other one-the wild man of Borneo?” returned his companion.

But Frank, Joe, Chet, and Simon ate heartily, still ignoring the customers'

stares. While Simon and Chet worked on a third helping of griddle-cakes and cocoa, the Hardys consulted briefly in whispers.

”Think we ought to try to reach Dad?” Joe asked his brother, ”and tell him our suspicions about the fire?”

Frank, after a moment's reflection, decided against this. ”Dad has enough on his hands, and he'd probably drop everything and come rus.h.i.+ng 130 over. Let's wait till we have proof to give him.”

Joe then proposed, ”How about seeing Webber before we try Elizabeth Donner?”

”Right,” Frank approved. ”But we'd better report to Sheriff Ecker first.”

The face of the lawman became grave as he heard of the boys' narrow escape. He agreed to keep the matter quiet until the culprits' ident.i.ty could be established beyond a doubt.

”Something funny's going on out at Black Hollow, all right,” he admitted at last. ”I'll send some men out there right away. We'll look over the wreckage and take casts of the footprints. I've sort of neglected you fellows, but this is serious business. I'll drop everything and get on to it. Where are you headed now?”

Frank shot his brother a quick warning look.

”We have to pick up a few things. That fire cleaned us out.”

Sheriff Ecker and two members of his force started off to Black Hollow to investigate the fire. They took Simon and Mystery with them.

”I've arranged for Simon to take care of Mystery until we get back,” Chet announced when the three were back in the car again. ”Especially since we don't know where we'll be sleeping tonight!”

The boys then made straight for the building in which they had seen Wyckoff Webber's office. Frank parked and the three companions climbed 131 the office building stairs. A small gray-haired woman, with a sharp nose, answered their knock.

”Are you Mr. Webber's secretary?” Joe asked her.

”Secretary indeed! Him with a secretary. He's too miserly,” the woman snorted.

”I just drop off his mail. I can tell you he's out of town for a few days, if that's what you want to know!”

”Thank you,” said Frank, and the boys trudged down the steps to the street.

”Now let's try to find Elizabeth Donner,” declared Frank, leading the way back to the courthouse.

As he had hoped, the courthouse had a stack of telephone books for the towns some distance around.

”Everybody take a book,” he directed. ”Look up Miss Elizabeth Donner.”

Less than ten minutes of silent work brought a sharp exclamation from Joe.

44 ”Here she is-Miss Elizabeth Donner, with an address in Brook-wood!”

The boys made sure there were no other women with the same name, then went to their car. After consulting a road map, the three chums set out for Brookwood, where they hoped to find out more about the strange Donner brothers!

CHAPTER XVI.

The First Find shortly before noon the yellow convertible rolled along the quiet main street of Brookwood. Large, pleasant white houses with wide lawns and lovely shade trees stood on either side.

”A nice old town,” Frank commented, then added, ”Fellows, let's be careful with Miss Donner, and not make the same mistake we did with Colonel Thunder.”

”How do you mean?” queried Chet.

”We insulted his family pride. These Donners are touchy people. If we aren't careful of what we say, we won't learn anything.”

”True,” Joe agreed, ”and maybe we can find out a little about Elizabeth from somebody here in town before we call on her. Then we can say we met her attractive brother while searching the woods for a man believed lost.”

133 ”Attractive!” snorted Chet.

”Okay, Chet,” said Frank. ”I'd like to know what this town thinks of Elizabeth, too. And here's the place to learn something.”

Before Joe and Chet could protest, Frank had pulled up before one of the old town houses which had been converted into a business establishment.

” 'Blue Willow Tearoom,' ” Chet read from a sign outside. ”Oh, no I We're not eating in a tearoom. They wouldn't serve hot dogs, and that's what I want.

Most of their customers are probably fussy old ladies on diets.”