Part 6 (1/2)
”I sure will,” grinned their one-time chum. ”Well, if this isn't a coincidence. I was just sitting here thinking about the Hardy boys, and the door opens and in they walk.''
'' What made you think about us ?” asked Joe.
”I was just on the point of going into Bayport to look you fellows up. I'm in a peck of trouble.''
”Trouble?”
”Plenty of it. And I want you to help me out.”
CHAPTER VIII.
THE COPPER WIRE.
”it's this way,” explained d.i.c.k Ames. ”Aa you know, when I left Bayport High, I went to engineering college. I've been lucky to get a summer job. It helps the old bank roll.”
”A job near here?” asked Frank.
'' Yes. A highway construction project. You must know about it.”
”We were over there just last night,” said Joe.
”It's a pretty good job, and naturally I'm eager to make good. But I've run into trouble.''
”Tell us about it,” Frank urged.
”I'm responsible for ordering and checking the materials we use in the construction work Ordinarily there isn't much to it. If a fellow is careful, and has a head for figures, he can handle that part of it easily enough-providing nothing goes wrong.”
”What has gone wrong!” inquired Joe.
”Plenty.” d.i.c.k Ames looked worried. ''We've been losing materials.”
Frank looked at his brother. The same thought was in their minds. They were remembering the case on which Fenton Hardy was Working-the case that involved the disappearance of materials on State and Federal projects.
”Do you mean supplies have been stolen?”
”I wish I knew,” said d.i.c.k Ames. ”All I know is that my books show certain materials received on the job. But my check-up figures don't tally. We need so much steel, for instance, when we have to build a culvert. My books show that we received the steel. But when we start to use the stuff, we find we have only half the amount we need.''
Frank whistled softly. ”That's serious.”
”You're dead right it's serious. It's bad for me, because I'm held responsible. I'm on the spot. If it keeps up, I'm not only in danger of losing my job--”
”But also of being suspected,” said Joe.
”Eight. The contractors may not believe I don't know anything about the missing materials.”
”Do you suspect any of the workmen?” Joe asked.
d.i.c.k sighed. He was plainly worried.
”I haven't a speck of evidence against anyone. As I say, I 'm not even certain the stuff is being stolen. There are one or two of the workmen I don't care for, but I can't prove anything against them.”
They heard the rumble of a heavy truck in the road outside the ice cream parlor. It pulled into view, slowed down, and came to a stop in front of the general store across the street.
The man at the wheel got out.
68 ”That's one of them now,” remarked d.i.c.k Ames, watching the driver who went into the store. '' Fellow named Hefty Cronin.''
”Hefty Cronin!” exclaimed Frank. ”I thought that driver looked familiar.''
”Do you know him?” asked d.i.c.k in surprise.
'' We know him,'' smiled Joe. '' Ban into him in Bayport the other day.''
”You mean he almost ran into us,” us,” corrected Frank. He told d.i.c.k about their experience corrected Frank. He told d.i.c.k about their experience with the burly truck driver.
”That sounds like Cronin all right. He's a rough character.” d.i.c.k frowned as he gazed out the window. ”I wonder what he is doing in the village with the truck at this time. It's after work hours.”
Frank slipped down off the stool on which he had been perched. ”Just on a hunch,” he said, ”I think we'll give Hefty's truck the once-over. Come on, Joe.''
”I'll go with you,” volunteered d.i.c.k.
”I think it would be better if you stay out of sight. If Cronin should come out of the store and see you looking through his truck, it might give him ideas. He'd know you suspect him, and if he's guilty, it would put him on his guard.”
'' You 're right.'' d.i.c.k sat down again. ” I '11 wait here until you come back.''
The Hardy boys slipped out of the ice cream parlor. Hefty Cronin was still in the general store. Through the big front window Frank 69 could see the man in conversation with the store owner, but the driver's broad back was turned to the street.
Frank and Joe made their way quickly to the truck. It appeared empty, however, except for a few burlap bags piled in one corner. Frank took another quick glance at the store window. Hefty had not turned around, so the boy pulled himself into the truck and pulled the burlap bags aside.
On the floor lay a large coil of copper wire. The boy covered it again with the burlap bags, and jumped down from the truck.
”Find anything?” asked Joe.
”A roll of wire. It might not mean anything, of course. He was buying wire when we saw him in Bayport, remember.”
'' It might mean something to d.i.c.k. Let's tell him.”
Hefty Cronin was still absorbed in conversation with the storekeeper. When the boys returned to the ice cream parlor, they were pretty sure neither man had seen them.
”Cronin isn't carrying much cargo tonight,” Frank said to d.i.c.k Ames. ”Just a big roll of copper wire.”
d.i.c.k looked astonished.
”Copper wire! What's he doing with material like that in his truck after hours?”
”Shouldn't he have it?”