Part 18 (1/2)

”Two et into the car,” he answered shakily ”One s hard and alht, they'd have had us--although I don't knohat for”

”Were they holdup ns,” Duke answered gru, don't they? 'This is a stickup' Or so like that”

Jerry Webster exalare of the car head la,” he added ”Not a word When you yelled, they broke off and ran into the woods”

Scotty scratched his head ”Mighty funny,” he mused ”What could they have wanted?”

Duke Barrows brushed dirt off his jacket ”They probably were reporters fro to find out about the mysterious visitors on Spindrift”

It hit Rick then ”Duke,” he exclaimed, ”you look like Dr Morrison!

I'll bet it was a case of mistaken identity!”

The editor looked at hireed ”That means you have reason to believe so Dr

Morrison”

”I',” Rick said hurriedly

”Uh-hurunted his disbelief ”And what should we do about it?”

Rick looked at Scotty, who shrugged The shrug said that probably nothing could be done now, so far as Duke and Jerry were concerned, but that the case was far froested ”I can't think of anything else”

Jerry Webster flexed an ar ”Sure that won't conflict with your security people?” he asked

Rick assumed an air of wide-eyed innocence ”Now, Jerry! Who said anything about security people? I just suggested you notify the State Police Who else would you notify when someone attacks you?”

Duke cliet no satisfaction out of these two Let's go rub liniment on our wounds, and then we'll ht, lads And I hope your mystery bites you Let me know if it does, so I can say 'I told you so' in print”

The boys waved as Duke drove off, leaving them in darkness As they hts aloud

”I guess the enehtfully, ”Looks like it Unless they really were holdup h Scotty couldn't see the reaction

”Pretty unlikely But suppose the enemy kept a watch on ht assume that Duke was Morrison So it would make sense for them to keep a watch at the pier in case he came back--which he did”

”And when he came back, they'd either”I doubt it Nothing the enemy has done so far points to that kind of tactic Why should they start using ood answer ”Let's step on it,” he said ”We have to report this I have a hunch the Boy Scout teaht”

CHAPTER XII

The Coast Guard Draws a Blank