The Mystery Of Cabin Island Part 2

Frank asked, "The detectives you mentioned - do they work for you all the time?"

"Yes, I have engaged these two private investigators for quite a while, but for a different reason. They are searching for a priceless collection of antique medals which were stolen from my wall safe two years ago."

"Athletic medals?" Joe asked.

"Oh, no. These were commemorative medals from many lands, made by the world's finest craftsmen.

They had been presented by kings and potentates to those who had served with greatness in war and peace."

"An odd hobby," Frank commented.

"And expensive. That's why I'm still continuing the search privately. The police have all but given up."

Upon further questioning by Frank and Joe, Mr Jefferson revealed that his collection comprised twelve medals, kept in a handsome rosewood box. "And when you open it, what a dazzling sight!" the man went on. "Some are set with gems, which sparkle in the burnished metal. And apart from their great beauty, what stories behind each of those medals!" He sighed deeply.

Joe asked, "Could they have been fenced somewhere - or perhaps sold to a disreputable coin dealer?"

"I think not," came the reply. "My collection was so famous, any dealer would recognize the pieces." He added that all the important dealers knew about the theft.

The Hardys were more fascinated than ever. "Did anything else unusual happen at the time your medals were taken, Mr Jefferson?" Frank asked.

"Amazing. How did you guess? As a matter of fact, something odd did occur then. One of my servants, the houseman John Paul Sparewell - dropped out of sight and nothing has been heard of him since."

"Quite a coincidence," Joe said. "You think Sparewell may be the thief?"

"I don't like to suspect anyone without proof," Mr Jefferson replied. "But at this point, the detectives and I feel that he probably is. Indeed, it's a most baffling crime. However, you boys aren't to concern yourselves with it."

"But there may be some connection between the missing medals and your grandson's disappearance,"

Frank suggested.

"The only connection is Johnny's silly notions," Mr Jefferson a.s.serted. "I suppose it was because he heard the detectives discussing the theft of the medals so often at the house here. The boy began to think he could solve the mystery, and started seeing clues everywhere. Ridiculous."

"Then Johnny may be working on the case right now!" Joe exclaimed. "Perhaps that's his secret mission."

"You could be right." Mr Jefferson looked very despondent. "And who knows what harm may come to him! Johnny can be stubborn. When he sets his mind on something, he doesn't give up easily."

The old man sighed wearily and the Hardys felt that further questions might be unwise.

"We must get back now," Frank announced. "Thanks again for your invitation, Mr Jefferson."

Their host smiled wanly, crossed the room, and opened the drawer of a small, ornate table. From it he took a key which he handed to Frank. "Have a fine vacation, all of you!"

"We'll do our best to find Johnny," Joe added, "and let you know of our progress."

They all shook hands, then the boys retrieved their coats and said goodbye.

As the brothers drove away from the Jefferson home, Joe turned to Frank, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "A big a.s.signment!" he declared.

"Just the kind we like!" Frank grinned. "One thing I have a hunch about Johnny is not in Texas! At least, not now. If he doesn't want to be found, he'd never let on where he really is."

"You're probably right," Joe conceded. "Wow! I wish it were the day after Christmas!"

Frank drove silently for a few minutes, seemingly intent on threading his way through the pre-holiday traffic. But Joe guessed from his brother's expression that the mystery was in Frank's thoughts.

"Give you a penny for 'em," Joe said with a grin.

Frank smiled. "I've been thinking about Mr Jefferson's idea that there are no dangerous individuals involved in this case. I don't agree."

"Why not?" Joe looked puzzled and frowned.

"Joe, two years ago a man disappeared, probably because of those medals. Now a boy who was interested in them is gone. Then Hanleigh turns up, trying to force Mr Jefferson to sell the island."

"I see what you mean. Sounds like the old case is still plenty hot."

Frank nodded. "And with a priceless treasure at stake, we'd better watch out for danger."

CHAPTER IV.

A Christmas Visitor As the Hardys drove on towards the bay area, they continued to discuss the missing boy.

"Mr Jefferson appears to be very strict with his grandson," Joe observed. "I'm not surprised that Johnny wanted to go off and prove he's old enough to be on his own."

Frank frowned. "Could be. But he's also old enough to realize fully the grief he's causing his grandfather."

Upon reaching their boathouse, Frank parked behind a green car which the Hardys recognized as belonging to the Hoopers. Biff and Chet hopped out to greet their pals.

Joe and Biff unlocked both car boots, and they all looked over the gear each had brought. "It'll take some engineering to stow all this on the Seagull," Joe said with a groan.

"And don't forget, we have to leave some s.p.a.ce for food," Chet reminded him.

Biff scratched his head. "It's all necessary, including my snowshoes. Chet has his, too."

"You're lucky," Frank replied. "Ours gave out last winter and we haven't had the money to get new ones."

The four boys hauled their gear into the boathouse. The streamlined hull of the Seagull had been designed with plenty of s.p.a.ce for cargo. Nevertheless, they repacked it three times before they found places for everything. When they had finished, there remained only a few niches for boxes of food.

"That took at least an hour!" Biff exclaimed. "We'd better get going."

Joe locked the boathouse. The friends wished one another a Merry Christmas, and Frank called out, "See you on Sat.u.r.day!"

At dinner Frank and Joe told their family about Mr Jefferson's mysteries. Mr and Mrs Hardy and Aunt Gertrude expressed concern about Johnny and hoped the missing boy would be found soon.

Frank and Joe went upstairs early in the evening to wrap their gifts before going to bed. In the morning the brothers awakened soon after the sun was up.

"Merry Christmas!" Joe called.

"Same to you!" Frank shouted as he leaped out of bed. The boys dressed and ran downstairs.

"I can smell the turkey roasting already!" Joe exclaimed as he reached the bottom step.

Aunt Gertrude bustled out of the kitchen and scolded cheerfully, "I should hope you do! That gobbler weighs thirty pounds! Now, I've made pancakes and sausage, and I want you both to eat properly before the confusion begins. Oh, Merry Christmas!"

The boys ate the tasty breakfast with zest.

A Mrs Hardy looked at her sons. "Mr Jefferson was so kind to make your outing possible," she mused, "it's sad to think of him being alone on Christmas. Why don't we invite him to join us at dinner?"

Joe grinned and said, "Mother, that's a great idea!"

"I'll phone him!" Frank hurried off to make the call.

He returned shortly to announce that Mr Jefferson had accepted the invitation. "I said Joe and I would pick him up on our way back from church."

"Now for our presents!" Joe urged impatiently.

The Hardys went into the living-room where the lights and ornaments shone brilliantly on the tall Christmas tree. The boys were thrilled to discover that their mother had bought each of them a pair of snowshoes. Mr Hardy gave his sons a self-developing camera.

The brothers were overjoyed. "It's terrific! But what's this?" Joe asked, holding up an object that resembled a gunstock.

His father explained that the attachment was a gun-type mounting to use in conjunction with the camera's high-powered telescopic lens. "You should find it very useful for long-range shots," he added. "A number of private investigators have purchased them."

"Thanks!" they chorused, and Frank added, "We'll take it to Cabin Island."

From her sons Mrs Hardy received a colourful skirt and blouse set, Mr Hardy was the happy recipient of handmade doeskin slippers, and Aunt Gertrude beamed over a tan cardigan presented by her nephews.

As for Frank and Joe, they were amused to discover that each had given the other a handsome leather watchband. "I thought you'd like it, because it appealed to me," Joe explained with a wide grin.

"Same here," Frank replied.

"Time for you to open my presents," said Aunt Gertrude as she handed each nephew a brightly wrapped package. "Now you won't catch your death of cold on this foolish winter vacation!"

Joe opened his box first and drew out a pair of full-length red ski underwear! "Well-uh-thanks!" he managed to blurt out.

Frank's gift was the same. "Aunty, I can't wait to wear this!" he said, grinning. He unb.u.t.toned the bright crimson suit and pulled it on over his clothes. Joe did the same, and the boys clowned until even Aunt Gertrude was laughing hard.

When Frank and Joe drove up to the Jefferson home later, the elderly man greeted them with "Merry Christmas, boys!" But there was an agitated ring in his voice.

"Has anything happened, Mr Jefferson?" Frank asked quickly.

The reply was startling. "This morning I found a package on the doorstep. It's a present from Johnny."

The old man held up the gift card bearing his grandson's name. "This is Johnny's printing."

The Hardys were astounded. "Is there any clue to where it came from?" Joe asked.

"There's no postmark, so the package wasn't mailed," Mr Jefferson answered, "and none of my neighbours lives close enough to have seen the person who left it, but there is a clue in the gift itself."

From the hall table he took a round box and opened it.

"A can of plum pudding!" exclaimed Joe.

"My favourite dessert," said Mr Jefferson. "But this is the significant thing," he added, pointing to a cl.u.s.ter of fir cones tied clumsily onto the can with red ribbon. "These are blue spruce cones and Cabin Island has many trees of that variety. More than ever, I feel sure my boy is - or was - there."

"Perhaps your housekeeper could tell us when and haw the parcel was delivered," Frank suggested.

"No," Mr Jefferson replied. "Mrs Morley is away on a week's vacation."

Mr Jefferson donned his coat and locked the house. Then the three got into the car and Frank started for home. On the way he tried to rea.s.sure the distraught man. "Perhaps the gift is a sign that Johnny plans to come home soon. He probably wanted to get back into your good graces before returning."

Mr Jefferson frowned. "That boy won't be back as long as he has the detective bug."

Mr and Mrs Hardy and Aunt Gertrude welcomed their guest warmly, and he soon appeared to relax and enjoy the holiday atmosphere.

By the time Frank and Joe drove their visitor home that evening, he was smiling. As Frank brought the convertible to a stop in front of the Jefferson house, Joe said, "Sir, I have a strong feeling that Johnny is in this area. Will you describe him in detail?"

"I'll do better than that. Come into the house and I'll give you a recent snapshot."

The Hardy boys followed Mr Jefferson up the path. He unlocked the door, stepped into the hall, turned on the light, then cried out in alarm.

Frank and Joe gasped. Furniture had been overturned and drawers hung open, their contents scrambled and strewn about the floor. The antique wall ornaments had been ruthlessly torn down.

The three hurried into the living-room. It, too, was completely disordered. The thick rug was littered with articles that had been in drawers or displayed on shelves. The rich red draperies hung at crazy angles, and one of the crystal chandeliers had been shattered.

Mr Jefferson's face was white and his hands trembled. Frank suggested anxiously, "You'd better sit down, sir. Joe and I will see if the person who did this is still on the premises."

"No, I'll be all right. I have some valuable antiques I must check on immediately. You boys look about."

The Hardys soon discovered that entry had been made by jemmying the rear door. They made a thorough tour of the house and circled the grounds. Although the moon shone brilliantly, the young sleuths could find no clue to the marauder.

"There isn't even a footprint." Joe sighed as he and Frank entered the house again. "Whoever it was evidently went right around the path to the back!"

Mr Jefferson reported that nothing . was missing, although many valuable objects had been broken. He handed Frank a snapshot of a tall, well-built boy. "Here is the picture of Johnny."

Frank placed the photograph in his wallet. "You had better report this damage to the police, Mr Jefferson," he advised.

When the elderly man left the room to telephone, Joe murmured, "I know it sounds crazy, but - do you think that possibly Johnny is mixed up in this?"

"No," Frank replied promptly, "I can't believe he's that kind."

A short time later Lieutenant Daley of the Bayport Police Department arrived. He inspected the damage, took fingerprints, and then questioned the Hardys and Mr Jefferson. The officer left, saying headquarters would notify them if any clues to the vandal turned up.

The brothers went to bed as soon as they had told their father about the incident. "We'd better get to sleep p.r.o.nto if we're going to start early tomorrow," Joe said.