The Hooded Hawk Mystery Part 12

"First, I know nothing about any smuggling of my countrymen into the United States. I-I did join the group that was planning a kidnaping. But you must believe me-I did not know until too late that Prince Tava was to be the victim. I thought it was a rich Indian businessman, who would never miss the money."

"Prince or businessman, it was a criminal act," the police chief said severely. "Just what was your part in it?"

"A very small one," Ragu insisted. "I ran errands. Once I took a letter from a man that came to our ship. He told me to deliver it to the Bayport Hotel."

"What was the name of the man who came to the Daisy K?" Daisy K?" Chief Collig broke in. Chief Collig broke in.

136.

137 "I do not know his name," Ragu said emphatically. "The man at the hotel was called Mr.

Louis."

Delhi and the police chief glanced at the Hardys for some sign as to whether this name was familiar to them. Frank nodded, remembering the mysterious "L" mentioned in the note one of the pigeons carried.

"How did you expect to get paid for the job, if you didn't know the name of the man who hired you?" Frank asked Ragu.

"He promised to pay me with a ruby ring. It was left in a secret place," Ragu replied.

"The only time I wore it was when I came to your house to take the falcon. After that, I was afraid and sold the ring. You know about that."

Frank confirmed this, then Joe asked, "Who hired you to steal our falcon?"

"I don't know that, either," Ragu persisted. "1 got a phone call at my rooming house. An unfamiliar voice said if I could steal the falcon, I would receive another ruby in payment. I tried twice but failed."

"What part do the pigeons play in this racket?" Frank asked Ragu.

"They carry messages, but I don't know where they go. And I don't know what the notes say."

Chief Collig turned to Mr. Delhi and asked him if he had any further questions. The maharajah's cousin said he had none.

Frank spoke up. "Ragu, tell us about Captain 138 Flont and his activities. He's more than a fishing boat captain, isn't he?"

Ragu bit his lip. He looked at Mr. Delhi, then settled back on his cot.

"I don't know much about Captain Flont," he said. "I've only worked for him a short time."

All further questioning Ragu answered with a shrug. No amount of persuasion would unlock the first mate's lips. It was evident, as Kane had learned, that the crew of the Daisy K Daisy K was afraid of their captain.

"I guess we've found out all we can tonight," said Chief Collig as the visitors left the cell.

"After the stenographer types up that statement and Ragu signs it, there'll be plenty of evidence to present to the grand jury."

"I suggest," said Mr. Delhi, "that since Ragu recognized me, he have no visitors."

"Don't worry about that, sir," Collig said. "There are certain procedures that will have to be taken care of and that will require at least forty-eight hours."

On the way back to the Hardy home Mr. Delhi was silent, but just before they turned into the Hardy driveway, he asked, "How will you boys proceed now? When Captain Flont hears of Ragu's arrest he may make trouble."

"We'll have to take that chance," Joe replied. Then he snapped his fingers. "Frank, what say you 139 and I disguise ourselves as elderly sportsmen and join a fishing party on the Daisy K Daisy K for for a day?"

"You mean to do some detecting?"

"Right."

Joe decided to take the falcon indoors for the night. Ragu's arrest might mean trouble, as Mr. Delhi had suggested. At any rate, the smugglers would be doubly determined to get the falcon. Frank agreed that the hawk should be given extra protection.

Mr. Delhi followed the boys through the kitchen door and into the living room where Mrs.

Hardy and Aunt Gertrude were reading.

While Joe took the hawk to his room, Frank presented their visitor to the women. The boys' mother smilingly said, "Mr. Delhi, it's much too late for you to start back for Washington. We should like to have you spend the night with us."

"I'm grateful for your thoughtfulness," the Indian n.o.bleman declared. "Thank you. I will accept."

Aunt Gertrude left the room but returned in a few minutes with a tray containing cookies, coffee, and milk. Mr. Delhi smiled and said: "This is what you Americans call a midnight snack, is it not?"

"Even when it's served at ten o'clock," Mrs. Hardy said, her eyes twinkling.

By eleven o'clock the boys and their visitor found it impossible to keep from yawning, despite the in140 teresting conversation on the differences in customs between India and the United States. Mrs. Hardy suggested that they retire if they wished.

"I shall wait for my husband," she said. "He'll reach here about midnight."

The boys were pleased to hear that their father was coming and would have liked to talk to him as soon as he arrived. But they were very sleepy, and also they had to rise early for the fishing trip.

Kissing their mother and Aunt Gertrude good night, they laughingly reminded Mrs. Hardy to set the burglar alarm, then escorted their visitor to the guest room. The brothers provided him with pajamas, robe, and slippers.

The robe and pajamas looked as if they would be about the right size. But Frank and Joe could not help laughing at the expression of consternation on the Indian's face when he tried on the slippers.

Mr. Delhi chuckled. "I am afraid I shall-how do you say it?- swim swim in these!" in these!"

This remark brought fresh gales of laughter from the boys, and Frank said, grinning, "Joe, I never knew you had such big feet!"

"What do you mean?" Joe replied with mock indignation. "Those are an extra pair I got from your closet!"

Still laughing, the three said good night and within half an hour Frank and Joe were sound asleep. But some time later, Frank awoke with a The hooded figure froze, blinded by the glare.

142 start. He glanced at the luminous dial of their alarm clock. It was almost two o'clock.

Joe awoke a moment later and called from his bed, "What's the matter? Is it time to get ready for the fishing trip already?"

"No, it's only two o'clock. But do you hear someone moving around downstairs?" Frank asked.

"No."

"An intruder couldn't be in the house," Frank mused. "Mother and Dad would have Set the burglar alarm before going to bed."

Joe left his bed and tiptoed across to the door. He opened it and listened for several seconds.

"Not a sound," he reported.

"That's good," Frank replied, stretching and relaxing again. "Now let's go back to sleep."

Joe closed the bedroom door, then walked over to the side window and opened it wider. As he did, he saw something move on the lawn.

"Psst-Frank! Come here quick!"

His brother was at his side in a second.

"What's up?" Frank asked.

"Someone's down at the edge of the lawn," Joe said. "Over by the hedge."

"Let's throw the spotlights on him," the older boy suggested.

The Hardy home had a bright spotlight under the eaves on each side of the house-a precaution occasioned by too many prowlers interested in the detectives' work. The lights were controlled from switches in the upper and lower halls.

"Okay," Joe agreed.

Frank dashed from the room to snap on the switch. Instantly the front lawn was flooded with light. Outlined against the hedge was a hooded figure with one arm raised above its head. In that position, it froze for a moment, evidently blinded by the glare.

"Looks as if he was going to throw something!" Frank whispered, rejoining his brother at the window.

Before Joe could make a reply, the strange figure hurled a large, round object straight toward the boys.

Involuntarily they stepped back, but the man missed his mark and the object crashed into a side window of the living room directly below them.

Instantly the burglar alarm clanged, then was drowned out in a deafening roar! The spotlights went out and the Hardy home shuddered on its foundation!

Frank and Joe were flung violently to the floor!

CHAPTER XIX.

Doubting a Friend dazed and puzzled by the explosion in their home, Joe Hardy picked himself up in the pitch-dark bedroom and groped about.

"Frank, you okay?" he asked.

There was no reply. Fearful, Joe felt around the floor for his brother but could not locate him. b.u.mping into the bureau which had been shifted out of place by the impact, Joe opened the top drawer and found a flashlight.

Its beam revealed Frank's unconscious form between the beds.

"His head must have hit the bedpost," Joe decided as he kneeled beside his brother.

Suddenly Frank stirred, opened his eyes, and tried to get to his feet.

"What? Where-?" he asked, falling back still dazed.

"Our house was bombed," Joe told him. "Are you all right now?"

144.

145 "Y-yes," Frank replied weakly, his right hand going to the back of his head. With Joe's a.s.sistance he got up. "How are the folks and Mr. Delhi?" he asked.

"I don't know. We'd better find out p.r.o.nto."

As he opened the door to the hall, a wave of acrid smoke rolled toward the boys.

Through it, Joe could see his father with a flashlight coming toward them.

"Is everybody all right?" Joe called.

"Your mother is. I don't know about the others. We'd better check."

Behind him, they could now see Mrs. Hardy and a moment later Aunt Gertrude's door flew open. Relieved that her family was safe, she pointed toward the guest-room door.

"There's your trouble!" she cried out. "If we weren't entertaining all kinds of strange visitors, things like this wouldn't happen. Respectable people have no no business getting business getting mixed up with such folks!" She began to sneeze and cough.

"You are right, Miss Hardy," said a voice through the smoke, which had begun to clear.

Mr. Delhi walked out of his room and came toward the group. "I am without doubt responsible for what has happened. Apparently my ident.i.ty is known to my enemies, regardless of our precautions last evening. From now on, I shall come out into the open and strike back at them myself. I cannot subject good people like yourselves to further danger. I am relieving you from the case at once. You have already 146 suffered a great deal in trying to help me and my country."

"Oh!" cried Aunt Gertrude. "Forgive me, sir. I didn't mean-"

Mr. Hardy looked first at his sister, then at their guest. "Mr. Delhi," he said, "we will see this thing through with you. We cannot bow out of a case-especially one that is so near a solution."

"And I don't believe," Joe spoke up, "that the bomb was thrown into our house because of you, Mr. Delhi. I saw the fellow aim it directly at Frank and me as we stood in our bedroom window."

Just then a voice at the foot of the stairs called, "Anyone up there hurt?"

They looked over the stair railing and in the beams from Mr. Hardy's flashlight saw the anxious face of the night patrolman on the Elm Street beat.

"Everyone's all right," the detective a.s.sured him. "We'll be right down."

He and the boys hurriedly put on robes and ran downstairs to investigate the damage to their house and to make sure a fire had not started. There was no sign of a blaze, but they were horrified at what they saw! Part of one wall in the living room gaped open and the room was a shambles.

By this time a crowd of neighbors had gathered. All of them offered their sympathy and the accommodations of their homes for as long as the Hardys wished to stay.

147 "Thank you," Mr. Hardy said to each one, "but since the damage is so extensive, I believe we'd better move to the Bayport Hotel. It looks as though it will be several weeks before our home will be habitable again."

Joe proposed to his father that he and Frank stay at the house to guard it from pilferers.

Mr. Hardy smiled. "You boys will be needed for sleuthing elsewhere," he told his sons.