Read Online The Sinister Signpost by Franklin W. Dixon - Free Book Online Page B

the Hardys. “They’ve agreed to wait till noon on Friday. I’m to receive further instructions then.”
    Frank jumped up. “That gives us two and a half days to find out who stole your horse.”
    â€œWe’ll get to work on it right away,” Mr. Hardy said.
    â€œI hope you’re successful,” Alden commented. “Fifty thousand dollars is a lot of money. But I’ll pay it if I have to.”
    The Hardys hurried home to Bayport. There the elder detective began going through his criminal files. “I’ll check to see if I have information on anyone whose specialty is horsenapping,” he said.
    Meanwhile, his sons hurried off to their crime lab and studied the photograph of Topnotch.
    â€œWhat are we looking for?” Joe inquired.
    â€œI thought we might find something in the picture that would help us identify the locality,” Frank replied.
    â€œSlim chance. Other than the horse, there’s nothing but a few bits of shrubbery.”
    â€œWait a minute! That’s it! Perhaps a botanist could tell us if the shrubs are indigenous to a particular region.”
    â€œLet’s call Mr. Scath, curator of the Howard Museum.”
    Frank rushed to the phone and dialed a number. Soon he had the curator on the line.
    â€œWe recently added a botanist to our staff,” Scath said. “His name is Mr. Ronald Clause. I’m sure he can be of help to you.”
    â€œWould it be possible to see him right away?” Frank asked. “It’s urgent.”
    â€œYes,” the curator assured him. “We’re about to close the museum for the day, but Mr. Clause plans to be here for a couple of hours to work on a new exhibit. I’ll tell him you’re coming.”
    The boys hurried to their car and drove to the museum, located in the northwestern section of Bayport. A lanky, scholarly-looking man admitted them.
    â€œI’m Mr. Clause,” he announced. “Mr. Scath said you wanted to see me.”
    The boys introduced themselves, then stated their business. They handed the botanist the photograph of Topnotch.
    â€œHm! The shrubs are a bit out of focus,” Clause muttered, “but I’ll see what I can do.”
    â€œWe realize you’re very busy,” Frank said. “However, we’re racing against time. We’d appreciate it if you could give us an answer as soon as possible.”
    â€œI’ll get to work on it right away,” the botanist answered. “Might take me a day or so. If I come up with something, I’ll call you.”
    The Hardys thanked him and left. As they drove back home, Frank’s thoughts returned to Alden’s son.
    â€œI’m still not convinced that Roger had nothing to do with the theft of Topnotch,” he remarked.
    â€œI’m not either,” Joe added. “Say, why don’t we shadow him tomorrow? If he is in with the crooks, he might try to contact them.”
    â€œWe’ve nothing to lose,” Frank agreed. “But it would be safer to have Roger shadowed by someone he doesn’t know. That eliminates us and Chet.”
    â€œWhat about Biff Hooper and Tony Prito?” Joe suggested. “They’ve done a good job of following suspects for us before.”
    â€œGood idea. Let’s call them when we get home.”
    Like Chet, Biff Hooper and Tony Prito were classmates of the boys at Bayport High. They always welcomed a chance to work with the Hardys on their cases.
    â€œWhat’s up?” Biff asked eagerly as he and Tony joined the Hardys in their crime lab. “From your telephone call, I’d say it was important.”
    â€œIt is,” Frank assured him. “And we need your help.”
    Tony Prito, a dark-haired, lively boy, declared, “Count me in!”
    Frank and Joe gave their friends a quick rundown on the case, then furnished them with a description of Roger.
    â€œWe’d like you to shadow him and give us