Read Online The Clue of the Broken Blade by Franklin W. Dixon - Free Book Online

replied. “I’ll be here at four-thirty, Madsen!”
    When they left the housing development site, the boys drove to the east end of the island to see if they could locate the second wine storage building shown on the parchment map.
    A number of homes had been erected in the area, but there was nothing resembling the storage place. The map had not been drawn to exact scale, so there was no way of telling precisely where it was located.
    â€œNo luck,” Frank said after a while, disappointed.
    â€œLet’s try the other one,” Joe suggested and drove to the north end of the island. This area

    Exhaust fumes poured through the window had not been built up because of its steep hills. But they could not find the exact site, and after driving up and down a few mountain roads, they gave up.
    â€œLet’s go somewhere for lunch,” Chet said plaintively. “You realize it’s after two o’clock?”
    Joe grinned. “You just can’t take all that sleuthing, Chet!”
    They found a roadside restaurant and stopped for sandwiches.
    When they had finished, Frank said, “Let’s try the county clerk. There ought to be some kind of record of the buildings on the property when it was sold by old Giovanni.”
    Stockton was the county seat of San Joaquin County. They drove back into town and went to the courthouse. When they walked up the steps, Joe stopped suddenly.
    â€œFrank—they’ll be closed. It’s Saturday.”
    â€œYou’re right. Well, since we’re here, let’s try anyway.”
    They were in luck. The county clerk was in to catch up on some work. He was a thin little man who wore glasses on the end of his nose. Frank showed him the parchment map and asked if there was a way to check if the other two wine storage buildings were still in existence.
    â€œSure,” the clerk replied. “They would be on the original plats when the island owner deeded it over to whoever bought it from him. I’ll start from there and go forward through subsequent property transfers.”
    He took the map and went into another room, while the boys settled into chairs. About ten minutes later he came back.
    Handing the map back to Frank, he said, “They’re still extant.”
    â€œWhere?” Frank asked eagerly.
    â€œWell, the one on the north part of the island is on a ski slope. It’s now used as a hilltop station, and belongs to Carson’s Lodge off Burns Mountain Road.”
    â€œWhat about the other one?” Joe asked.
    â€œThat’s been converted into a private home.”
    â€œWho owns it?”
    â€œI’m afraid I can’t tell you without the owner’s permission!”

CHAPTER X
    A Treacherous Fence
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    FRANK said, “Aren’t these public records?”
    â€œWell, yes,” the clerk admitted.
    â€œThen anyone has access to them,” Frank pointed out.
    Reluctantly the clerk said, “The home is owned by a movie scenario writer named Vincent Steele. The reason I didn’t want to tell you is that I happen to know him. He’s an absolute nut about privacy. Please don’t let on that I gave you this information. He might make trouble for me.”
    The boys assured him they would not tell Steele and the clerk gave them the address, which was 125 Port Street.
    Shortly before four-thirty they returned to the construction site. There was no sign of the bulldozer, but Harry Madsen, Jim Emory, and a small, sinewy man stood next to a car. To the boys’ surprise the wine storage building was still standing!
    â€œHow come this place hasn’t been razed?” Frank asked.
    â€œThe contractor phoned,” Emory answered. “He wants us to postpone the job till Monday.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œI don’t know. Some archaeologist is supposed to come and talk to Harry at six o’clock.”
    Madsen was impatient. “You ready?” he