Book 2, Ch. 7

The House on the Cliff

Chapter 7: The Hidden Trail

 

 

 

 

As soon as they are up the next day, Frank and Joe rush down to the waterfront to find Pretzel Pete. When Pete hears the brothers are looking for their dad, he soon has them hidden in a warehouse, eating pretzels. He passes them a tip about Ali Singh, an East Indian sailor who is thought to be a smuggler! Pete reports that Ali Singh has come ashore for a secret meeting with his gang, supposedly in a deserted farmhouse on Hillcrest. Where Hillcrest is, Pete has no idea.

 

 

With many thanks, Frank and Joe rush off on their motorcycles to the shore road. They pass many roads, but no Hillcrest, until they see a car emerge from the woods. Sure enough, going into the woods is a road marked Hillcrest! Excitedly they discover a farmhouse, but it is completely empty, from the tiny cellar to the loft on top. At last the detectives discover a piece of torn cloth marked Polo! Hoping that their father has escaped, Frank and Joe bike to the police station. Their old friend Chief Collig examines the scrap of cloth and identifies it. It is torn from a towel from the Marco Polo, a passenger ship that docks in Bayport!

 

 

By now, the whole town has heard that Fenton Hardy is missing, and Mrs. Hardy is beside herself. The next morning, the whole family is surprised by a young man who knocks on the door and announces that he may be able to help them find Mr. Hardy!

Book 2, Ch. 6

The House on the Cliff

Chapter 6: The Strange Message

 

 

 

 

The three Hardys race to their car to pursue the four kidnappers and Jones, but they are too late. Dejected, they return to say goodbye to the Kanes. The next morning, Fenton Hardy is off on the case before the brothers get up. Frank and Joe begin to wonder if maybe the Pollitt place is tied in with the smugglers ring. They decide to wait until Wednesday, the day that summer vacation begins! If their father has not returned, they will begin to investigate their hunch. However, on Tuesday afternoon, they find their mother very worried by a note she has received in the mail, signed by her husband. The note informs her that he will not be home for several days. However, it does not contain the secret sign they have agreed he will always include with his signature. Frank and Joe are alarmed. Did someone forge the note? Has their father been captured? Fenton Hardy could be in danger!

Book 2, Ch. 5

The House on the Cliff

Chapter 5: Pretzel Pete

 

 

 

 

Mr. and Mrs. Hardy finally convince the eager detectives to quickly eat their supper before going to question Jones. Meanwhile Mr. Hardy receives a call that another drug shipment has arrived at a warehouse in Indiana with half the shipment stolen! The package passed through Bayport but nothing was suspected until it was opened at the warehouse. However, one of Mr. Hardy’s food vendor contacts down on the waterfront, aptly named Pretzel Pete, reports that Snattman has been in the area. Mr. Hardy also goes on to explain to Frank and Joe that the nephew who is heir to the Pollitt place is actually a wanted criminal himself! Chances are he will not turn up to claim the house. Even more anxious to question Jones, the brothers set off with their father for the Kane farmhouse. It is completely dark! Alarmed, the three venture into the house, only to find the kitchen wrecked, and the Kanes sitting in the living room --- bound and gagged! They are soon free. The angry farmer and his wife report that Jones has been kidnapped!

Book 2, Ch. 4

The House on the Cliff

Chapter 4: The Rescue

Quickly the four boys dash to the rescue! Joe and Biff plunge into the surf to swim to the drowning man, while Frank and Chet commandeer an old rowboat. In a desperate effort, Joe dives for the victim, and at last he is pulled into the boat! Quickly rowing back to shore, the four detectives carry him to a nearby farmhouse, where he is revived by friendly Farmer Kane and his wife. The patient wakes up for a moment, only to announce that he does not want the police called, and that his name is Bill Jones!

Out in the living room, the boys gobble up Mrs. Kane’s delightful lemon pie, as they discuss the fact that Bill Jones is obviously a false name. Mr. Kane reveals that he knew Felix Pollitt, the owner of the old Pollitt place. Pollitt had a nephew who should inherit the dilapidated mansion. Mrs. Kane adds that recent visitors have reported moans and groans coming from the old house. She believes it’s all a prank! As the Hardy brothers finally return home, dropping off their tired friends, they agree that they will check out the mysterious Pollitt noises once again. Mr. Hardy is impressed by their hard work and wonders if “Jones” is a smuggler who was being chased by another smuggler. The boys excitedly jump from their chairs, eager to go and question Jones before he gets away!

Book 2, Ch. 3

The House on the Cliff

Chapter 3: Landslide!

Thanks to the tools Chet pulls out of his pocket, the boys are soon able to get the motorcycle running again. Still no clue to the thief! Heading for home, they are ready for a break from the excitement, but it is not to be. Just as Joe rounds a curve on the rocky hillside, he hears an ominous noise behind him. Look out! A landslide is pouring down the hillside onto Frank and Chet! The two riders emerge shaken and bruised from their dusty bath. Getting back on the bikes, the tired detectives are distracted yet again – in the distance across the ocean to their left, they spot two racing speedboats. To their astonishment, the man in the second boat hurls something into the boat in front. Seconds later, the first boat blows up, hurling the occupant into the water! As the second boat races away, the stranded swimmer struggles to stay afloat!