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strangers.”
    â€œMay we keep the picture for a while?” Frank queried. “It might provide us with a clue.”
    â€œYou’re welcome to it,” Alden replied. He glanced at his watch. “I’d better get back to the plant. The thieves will surely call me again.”
    Mr. Hardy explained that Alden had had one of his drivers bring them to the library. He turned to the executive. “Why don’t you send him back to the plant? You and I can go along with the boys in their car.”
    â€œVery well,” Alden agreed.
    As they drove, Mr. Hardy urged his client to stall for more time. “Tell those crooks that you can’t get the ransom money until Friday morning,” he said.
    â€œI’ll try.” Alden sighed. “But I don’t want to endanger Topnotch any more than I have to.”
    Soon the plant came into view. As they drove toward the main gate, Alden’s experimental race car suddenly sped out of the driveway.
    â€œI didn’t give anyone permission to drive that car!” he shouted.
    Frank pressed down on the gas pedal and the convertible shot off in pursuit!

CHAPTER X
    Suspicious Rendezvous
    â€œTHAT racer is too fast for us!” Joe yelled. “We’ll never catch it.”
    â€œTurn onto that side road just ahead!” Alden ordered. “We might be able to head him off!”
    Frank followed instructions. It was a wild, bumpy ride and kept the occupants hanging on to their seats. After a couple of miles, the route led them back to the road along which their quarry was traveling.
    â€œThere’s the experimental car!” Mr. Hardy called excitedly as he peered out the rear window. “It’s about quarter of a mile behind us and coming fast!”
    Frank skillfully maneuvered his convertible to prevent the other driver from passing.
    â€œHang on!” he cried out. “I’m going to start slowing down!”
    As the Hardy car came to a stop, the other driver was forced to do the same.
    â€œGood work!” Alden exclaimed, and leaped out of the convertible. The Hardys followed.
    â€œRoger!” Joe exclaimed as a sandy-haired young man slowly emerged from the experimental dragster.
    Alden was furious. “What do you think you’re doing?” he demanded.
    â€œI—I was just taking your car for a little spin,” his son stammered.
    â€œWhy aren’t you working at the stable?” Alden fumed.
    â€œI took the afternoon off,” Roger replied.
    Alden glared at his son with a look that would melt ice. “You know my racer is a secret project. How dare you take it for a drive?”
    He turned to the Hardys. “I’ll meet you back at my office. I’m going to ride to the plant with Roger just to make sure he doesn’t get any more wild ideas.”
    The Hardys reached the office just as Alden finished reprimanding his son.
    â€œDon’t send me away to that lumber camp,” Roger was pleading.
    â€œI don’t see what else I can do with you,” his father replied. “I’m fed up with your shenanigans!”
    â€œBut I promise to stick with my job at the stable,” Roger replied, “and I won’t go near your experimental car again.”
    Alden rubbed his chin dubiously for a moment. “Well—all right,” he finally agreed. “But step out of line once more and off you go.”
    Roger thanked his father. Then he rushed past the Hardys and out of the office.
    At that instant the telephone rang. Alden picked it up. From his expression the Hardys knew it was another call from the thieves.
    â€œYes, I saw the photograph of Topnotch you placed in the book at the library,” Alden informed the stranger.... “Will I pay the ransom you demand? I suppose I’ll have to. But you must give me until Friday. It’ll take me that long to get such a large sum of money.”
    When the telephone conversation ended, Alden glanced at