Read Online What Happened at Midnight by Franklin W. Dixon - Free Book Online

window in the house and garage. There was no disturbance during the night.
    â€œWe’re safe so far,” Frank remarked at breakfast. “Maybe the police have caught Chris and the others. I’ll phone Chief Collig.”
    â€œSorry, Frank,” came the report from headquarters. “None of my men has picked up a clue.”
    Almost a week passed. Still there was no news. The kidnapper-smugglers had covered their tracks well.
    Joe had recovered from his experience and Frank’s injured leg had healed. The brothers were ready to continue their sleuthing. They asked Chet, Jerry, and Biff to help them.
    â€œGross and the others may sneak back to Bayport,” Frank prophesied. “They’ll get nervy soon and we may have a chance to trip them up.”
    â€œWhere do we go from here?” Biff asked.
    â€œA tour of the docks,” Frank answered, “to hunt for a whaler.”
    A long but wary search of Bayport’s busy waterfront yielded nothing. Finally all the boys went home.
    Frank and Joe found that Aunt Gertrude had been shopping. “Who is that new young man working in Bickford’s jewelry shop?” she asked abruptly.
    â€œI never saw a young man working in there,” Frank replied. “The only clerk I know of is elderly and he’s in the hospital right now.”
    â€œA young man, I said,” Aunt Gertrude repeated in a tone that did not invite contradiction. “A very suspicious-looking young man. He wasn’t there the last time I went in.”
    â€œHe’s new to me,” Joe remarked. “What happened?”
    â€œYou see this diamond pin I’m wearing?” Aunt Gertrude pointed to a small one on the shoulder of her dress. “Well, this clerk kept eying it while I was looking at some inexpensive watches.”
    â€œHe was probably just admiring it, Aunty,” Frank suggested.
    â€œAdmiring it, yes. With the thought of stealing it!” Aunt Gertrude was warming to her subject. “You can’t fool me about young men. Besides, I’ve seen that clerk somewhere before.”
    â€œWhere?” Joe asked.
    â€œI’m not sure, but I know I saw him.”
    â€œIs that all you have against the poor fellow?” Frank asked jokingly.
    â€œIt’s enough. Mark my words, that young jewelry clerk is bad. Next thing we hear of him he’ll be in the penitentiary for robbing his employer!”
    This dire prediction left the Hardy boys wondering. Aunt Gertrude’s intuition was amazing. They would drop into Bickford’s tomorrow and talk to the clerk.
    The following morning the boys decided to walk downtown. They made sure their mother and aunt would be at home to guard Mr. Wright’s invention.
    On the way Frank said, “I wonder why those smugglers operate in Bayport. Wouldn’t you think they’d pick one of the larger cities?”
    â€œPerhaps they are known in those places,” Joe suggested. “I wish I could have heard more when I listened to them in the cave—like where the diamonds and electronic stuff came from and where they make their headquarters.”
    Suddenly Joe gripped his brother’s arm. “Look!” he said tensely.
    He gestured toward a man walking on the other side of the relatively deserted street and Frank almost shouted with excitement. The man was tall and muscular, with a shock of fair hair protruding from beneath his hat. He was the person who had been at the airport—the one they now suspected might be part of the kidnap-smuggler gang.
    â€œI’ll bet his name is Chris!” Frank whispered.
    â€œLet’s trail him and see where he’s going.”
    â€œWe’d better cross the street. He may catch sight of us.”
    Excitedly the Hardys hurried to the opposite side and fell in behind the fair-haired man. “Chris,” apparently unaware that he was being followed, strode along at a rapid gait.
    â€œPerhaps he’s