The Secret Of The Old Mill thb-3

by Franklin W. Dixon

  throttle wide open, once it was pushed there.

  The Hardys and Chet exchanged glances which meant: "The unknown enemy again?"

  The boys, however, did not mention their suspicions to the mechanic. Frank merely requested

  him to make the necessary repairs on the Sleuth. Then the trio walked back to the Hardys'

  boathouse.

  Several fishermen were standing at a nearby wharf. Frank and Joe asked them if they had seen

  anyone near the boathouse.

  "No," each one said.

  The three boys inspected the boathouse. Frank scrutinized the hasp on the door. "The Sleuth must have been tampered with while it was inside. Unless it was done last night while we were

  unconscious."

  There was no sign of the lock having been forced open, but near the edge of the loose hasp

  there were faint scratches.

  "Look!" Joe pointed. "Somebody tore the whole hasp off the door and then carefully put it back on."

  Frank looked grim. "I'm sure this was done by the same person who attacked us last night, and sent us the warnings."

  "You're right," said Joe. "This is what Dad would call sinister tactics."

  Again both brothers wondered with which case their enemy was connected. There seemed to

  be no answer to this tantalizing question which kept coming up again and again.

  Chet drove the Queen back to the Hardys', and the brothers rode their motorcycles. When they

  reached the house they went at once to the lab with the note Chet had found in his car.

  They dusted it for fingerprints but were disappointed again. There was not one trace of a print.

  The boys found, however, that the paper was the same as that used for the previous warnings.

  "Well," said Joe, "I vote we go on out to the mill."

  The boys went in the Queen. Chet had just brought his car to a stop on the dirt road when Joe

  called out, "There's Ken Blake trimming the grass over by the millrace. Now's our chance to talk to him."

  The three jumped out. Ken looked up, stared for a second, then threw his clippers to the

  ground. To the boys' surprise, he turned and ran away from them, along the stream.

  "Wait!" Frank yelled.

  Ken looked over his shoulder, but kept on running. Suddenly he tripped and stumbled. For a

  moment the boy teetered on the bank of the rushing stream. The next instant he lost his

  balance and fell headlong into the water!

  At once the Hardys and Chet dashed to the water's edge. Horrified, they saw that the force of

  the water was carrying the boy, obviously a poor swimmer, straight toward the plunging falls!

  CHAPTER XII

  An Interrupted Chase

  FRANK, quick as lightning, dashed to the mill-stream and plunged in after Ken Blake. The boy

  was being pulled relentlessly toward the waterfall. In another moment he would be swept over

  the brink of the dam!

  With strong strokes, Frank swam toward the struggling boy. Reaching out desperately, he

  managed to grasp Ken's shirt.

  Joe jumped in to assist Frank. The two boys were buffeted by the rushing water but between

  them they managed to drag Ken back from the falls.

  "Easy," Frank cautioned the frightened youth, "Relax. We'll have you out in a jiffy."

  Despite the weight of their clothes, the Hardys, both proficient at lifesaving techniques, soon worked Ken dose to the bank. Chet leaned over and helped haul him out of the water. Then

  Frank and Joe climbed out.

  To their relief, Ken, though white-faced and panting from exhaustion, seemed to be all right.

  The Hardys flopped to the ground to catch their breath.

  "That was a whale of a rescue!" Chet praised them.

  "You bet!" Ken gasped weakly, 'Thanks, fellows! You've saved my life!"

  "In a way it was our fault," Joe replied ruefully. "You wouldn't have fallen in if we hadn't come here. But why did you run away when you saw us?"

  Ken hesitated before answering. "Mr. Markel -the guard at the gatehouse-said you wanted to talk to me.

  He warned me about talking to outsiders, because of the strict security at Elekton."

  Joe nodded. "We understand, Ken. But," he added, "we have something important to ask you, and I don't think you will be going against company rules if you answer. Did anybody use your

  bike the night before last to deliver a message to our house?"

  "Your house?" Ken sounded surprised. "No. At least, not that I know of."

  Joe went on, "Did you buy a pedal in Bridgeport to replace the one missing from your bike?"

  Ken again looked surprised. "Yes. It was gone yesterday morning when I came to work. I

  suspected someone must have used my bike and lost the pedal. When I couldn't find it around

  here, Mr. Markel sent me to Bridgeport to buy a new one."

  It was on the tip of Frank's tongue to ask the boy i£ he had seen any person in the area of the mill carrying a bow and arrow. But suddenly Mr. Markel and the maintenance man came

  dashing from the mill.

  "What's going on here?" the guard demanded, staring at the Hardys and Ken, who were still dripping wet.

  Briefly, Frank told the men what had happened. They thanked the brothers warmly for the

  rescue, and the maintenance man hustled Ken into the mill for dry clothes. He did not invite the Hardys inside.

  Frank and Joe turned to Mr. Markel, intending to question him. But before they could, a horn

  sounded and a shabby green panel truck approached the plant gate.

  The guard hurried over to admit the truck and it entered without stopping. Suddenly Joe

  grabbed Frank's arm. "Hey! That truck's unmarked-it looks like the one Tony described."

  The brothers peered after the vehicle, but by this time it was far into the grounds, and had

  turned out of sight behind one of the buildings.

  "I wonder," Joe said excitedly, "if the driver is the man who gave the Pritos the counterfeit bill!"

  The boys had noticed only that the driver wore a cap pulled low and sat slouched over the

  wheel.

  "If this truck's the same one, it may be connected with Elekton," Frank said tersely.

  Both Hardys, though uncomfortably wet, decided to stay and see what they could find out.

  They hailed Mr, Markel as he walked back from the Elekton gate.

  "Does that truck belong to Elekton?" Frank asked him.

  "No, it doesn't," the guard answered.

  "Do you know who does own it?" asked Joe.

  Mr. Markel shook his head regretfully, "Sorry, boys. I'm afraid I'm not allowed to give out such information. Excuse me, I have work to do." He turned and went back into the gatehouse.

  "Come on, fellows," Chet urged. "You'd better not hang around in those wet clothes."

  The Hardys, however, were determined to stay long enough to question Ken Blake further, if

  possible.

  "He'll probably be coming outside soon," said Joe. "Frank and I can dry out on the beach by the cave. It won't take long in this hot sun."

  Chet sighed, "Okay. And I know what I'm supposed to do-wait here and watch for Ken."

  Frank chuckled. "You're a mind reader."

  Chet took his post at the edge of the woods, and the Hardys hurried down to the river's edge.

  They spread their slacks and shirts on the sun-warmed rocks. In a short while the clothing was dry enough to put on.

  "Say, maybe we'll have time to investigate that tunnel before Chet calls us," Joe suggested eagerly.

  He and Frank started for the cave, but a second later Chet came running through the woods

  toward them.

  "Ken came out, but he's gone on an errand," he reported, and explained that the boy had rushed from the mill dressed in oversize dungarees and a r
ed shirt. "He was riding off on his bike when I caught up to him.

  I told Ken you wanted to see him, but he said he had to make a fast trip downtown and deliver

  an envelope to the Parker Building."

  "We'll catch him there," Frank decided.

  The three boys ran up the wooded slope and jumped into the Queen. They kept on the main

  road to Bayport, hoping to overtake Ken, but they did not pass him.

  "He must have taken another route," Joe said.

  At the Parker Building there were no parking spaces available, so Chet stopped his jalopy long enough to drop off Frank and Joe.

  "I'll keep circling the block until you come out," Chet called as he drove away.

  There was no sign of Ken's bicycle outside the building. The Hardys rushed into the lobby and

  immediately were met by a five-o'clock crowd of office workers streaming from the elevators.

  Frank and Joe made their way through the throng, but saw no sign of Ken.

  Joe had an idea. "Maybe he was making the delivery to Mr. Peters, the name I saw on the

  Manila envelope I picked up the other day. Let's see if Ken's still in his office."

  The boys ran their eyes down the building directory, but Mr. Peters was not listed. The brothers questioned the elevator starter, who replied that so far as he knew, no one by the name of

  Peters had an office in the building.

  Joe asked the starter, "Did you notice a boy wearing dungarees and a bright-red shirt in the lobby a few minutes ago?"

  "Sure," was the prompt reply. "Just before the five-o'clock rush started. I saw the boy come in and give an envelope to a man waiting in the corner over there. The man took the envelope

  and they both left right away."

  "I guess he must be Mr. Peters," Frank said.

  "Could be," the starter agreed. "I didn't recognize him."

  As the Hardys hurried outside, Joe said, "Well, we got crossed up on that one. Let's get back to the mill.

  Ken will have to drop off the bike."

  The brothers waited at the curb for Chet. In a few minutes the Queen pulled up. "All aboard!"

  Chet sang out. "Any luck?"

  "No."

  When Frank told Chet they were returning to the mill, their good-natured friend nodded. "It's fortunate I bought these sandwiches," he said, indicating a paper bag on the seat beside him. "I had a feeling we'd be late to supper."

  Joe snapped his fingers. "That reminds me. I'll stop and phone our families so they won't wait supper for us."

  After Joe had made the calls and they were on their way again, he told Frank and Chet that Mr.

  Hardy had left a message saying he would not be home until after ten o'clock.

  As the Queen went down the side road past the Elekton buildings, Frank thought, "If Dad is working for Elekton, he might be somewhere in the plant right this minute."

  The same possibility was running through Joe's mind. "Wonder if Dad is expecting a break in his secret case."

  As Chet neared the turn into the mill road, a green truck zoomed out directly in front of the

  Queen. Chet jammed on his brake, narrowly avoiding a collision. The truck swung around the

  jalopy at full speed and roared off toward the highway.

  "The green truck we saw before!" Joe exclaimed. "This time I got the license number, but couldn't see the driver's face."

  "Let's follow him!" Frank urged.

  Chet started back in pursuit. "That guy ought to be arrested for reckless driving!" he declared indignantly.

  The Hardys peered ahead as they turned right onto the main road, trying to keep the truck in

  sight.

  Suddenly the boys heard a tremendous bo-o-om and felt the car shake.

  "An explosion!" Joe cried out, turning his head. "Look!"

  Against the sky a brilliant flash and billows of smoke came from the direction of Elekton.

  Another explosion followed.

  "The plant's blowing up!" Joe gasped.

  CHAPTER XIII

  Sudden Suspicion

  THE roar of the explosion and the sight of smoke and flames stunned the three boys for a

  moment. Chet stepped on the brake so fast that his passengers hit the dashboard.

  "Take it easy!" urged Frank, although he was as excited as Chet.

  All thoughts of chasing the mysterious green truck were erased from the Hardys' minds.

  "Let's get as close as possible," Frank said tersely, as Chet headed the car back toward the plant. "I'd like to know what-"

  Frank broke off as a series of explosions occurred. The brothers sat forward tensely.

  As the Queen drew near the main entrance, the boys could see that the flames and smoke were

  pouring from a single building at the northeast corner.

  "It's one of the labs, I think," said Frank.

  Quickly Chet pulled over and parked, and the boys hopped out of the jalopy. The series of

  explosive sounds had died away, but the damage appeared to be extensive. Most of the

  windows in the steel-and-concrete building had been blown out by the force of the blast.

  Smoke and flames were pouring out of the blackened spaces where the windows had been. As

  the boys ran toward the front, the roof of the west wing caved in. The rush of oxygen provided fuel for a new surge of flames that reached toward the sky.

  "Lucky this happened after closing time," Chet murmured, staring wide-eyed at the fire. "There might have been a lot of injuries."

  "I hope no one was inside." Joe exchanged worried glances with his brother. Both shared the same concern. It was for their father.

  "I wish we could find out whether or not Dad's at Elekton," Frank whispered to Joe.

  At this point, the boys heard the scream of sirens. Soon fire trucks and police cars from Bayport pulled up at the front gate. The Hardys saw Chief Collig in the first police car. They rushed up to him and he asked how they happened to be there.

  "Sleuthing," Frank answered simply. Without going into detail, he added, "Joe and I aren't sure, but we have a hunch Dad may have been-or still is-here at Elekton. All right if we go into the grounds and look around?" he asked eagerly. "And take Chet?"

  The officer agreed.

  By this time the guard had opened the wide gate, and the fire apparatus rushed in. Some of the police officers followed, while others took positions along the road and directed traffic so it would not block the path of emergency vehicles.

  As the boys rode inside with the chief, Joe asked him, "Any idea what caused the explosion?"

  "Not yet. Hard to tell until the firemen can get inside the building."

  When they reached the burning structure, Chief Collig began directing police operations, and

  checking with the firemen. As soon as they seemed to have the flames under control, the

  firemen entered the laboratory building to look for any possible victims of the explosions.

  The Hardys and Chet, meanwhile, had searched the outdoors area for Mr. Hardy, but did not

  see the detective.

  "Maybe we were wrong about Dad's coming here," Joe said to his brother, more hopeful than before.

  "Dad probably wouldn't have been in the lab."

  The brothers went back to Chief Collig, who told them he had not seen Fenton Hardy. Just then

  the fire chief came up to the group.

  "I'll bet this fire was no accident," he reported grimly to Collig. "The same thing happened in Indiana about two months ago-and that was sabotage!"

  Frank and Joe stared at each other. "Sabotage!" Joe whispered.

  A startling thought flashed into Frank's mind, and, drawing his brother aside, he exclaimed,

  "Remember what we overheard Dad say on the phone? 'The same eight-and-one pattern. I'll be there.'"

  "And two months equal about eight weeks," Joe added excitedly. "That might have been the saboteurs'

  time schedule
Dad was referring to! So maybe the explosion at Elekton was set for today!"

  Frank's apprehension about his father returned full force. "Joe," he said tensely, "Dad might have been

  inside the lab building trying to stop the saboteurs!"

  Deeply disturbed, the Hardys pleaded with Chief Collig for permission to enter the building and search for their father.

  "I can tell you're worried, boys," the officer said sympathetically. "But it's still too risky for me to let you go inside. It'll be some time before we're sure there's no danger of further

  explosions."

  "I know," Frank agreed. "But what if Dad is in there and badly hurt?"

  The police chief did his best to reassure the brothers. "Your father would never forgive me if I let you risk your lives," he added. "I suggest that you go on home and cheer up your mother in case she has the same fears you do. I promise if I see your dad I'll call you, or ask him to."

  The boys realized that their old friend was right, and slowly walked away. Frank and Joe looked back once at the blackened building, outlined against the twilight sky. Wisps of smoke still

  curled from the torn-out windows. It was a gloomy, silent trio that drove to the Hardy home in the Queen.

  Frank and Joe decided not to tell their mother or aunt of their fear, or to give any hint of their suspicions.

  When the boys entered the living room, both women gave sighs of relief. They had heard the

  explosions and the subsequent news flashes about it.

  Aunt Gertrude looked at the boys sharply. "By the way, where have you three been all this time? I was afraid that you might have been near Elekton's."

  Frank, Joe, and Chet admitted that they had been. "You know we couldn't miss a chance to find out what the excitement was about," Joe said teasingly, then added with an assurance he was far from feeling, "Don't worry. The fire was pretty much under control when we left."

  To change the subject, Frank said cheerfully, "I sure am hungry. Let's dig into those sandwiches you bought, Chet!"

  "Good ideal" Joe agreed.

  "Are you sure you don't want me to fix you something hot to eat?" Mrs. Hardy asked.

  "Thanks, Mother, but we'll have enough." Frank smiled.

  Chet called his family to let them know where he was, then the three boys sat down in the

  kitchen and halfheartedly munched the sandwiches. Aunt Gertrude bustled in and served them