The Bombay Boomerang Read Online Free PDF Page A

was flecked with paint from the car, and it fitted into the deep dents on the hood. The wielder of the steel bar had pounded the new car into ruins!
    But why? Joe pointed to the side of the vehicle. There, written in spray paint, was the warning:
    GET OUT OF THE MERC RACKET
    â€œThese guys sure want us to get the message,” Frank commented. “Nothing subtle. Strong-arm all the way!”
    â€œNo wonder the women are in a tizzy,” Joe added. “We’d better go inside and see how they are.”
    When the women calmed down, Mrs. Jackson revealed that she had seen the vandal attacking her car with the steel bar. Her description matched the beefy fellow in the beret!
    Frank and Joe exchanged glances, then Frank turned to Mrs. Jackson. “If it’s any consolation to you,” he said, “this vandalism was not aimed at you. Whoever did it made a mistake. He was trying to scare us and thought he was wrecking one of our cars.”
    â€œBut why anyone would do a thing like that!”
    â€œIt has something to do with a new case our father is working on,” Joe explained.
    Mrs. Jackson shook her head. “It’s terrible. Simply terrible.”
    â€œHave you called the police?” Frank asked.
    â€œCertainly we have,” Aunt Gertrude put in.
    â€œThey were here before you arrived and surveyed the car. Then Chief Collig called and said you should get in touch with him in case you have any suspicions or clues.”
    Frank telephoned the chief to confirm that the vandals, no doubt, were the two men they had encountered earlier. He also told Collig about the warning.
    â€œI’ll alert all our men in the Bayport area to be on the lookout for those two,” Collig said. “Let me know if something new develops.”
    â€œSure thing,” Frank promised and hung up. Then he turned to Mrs. Jackson.
    â€œIs vandalism covered by your insurance?” he asked.
    â€œI don’t know. Oh, I hope it is!”
    â€œLet me have the number of your agent and I’ll find out,” Joe suggested.
    Mrs. Jackson pulled out a business card from her handbag. “We had the agent over just the other day. Here it is.”
    Joe phoned the man and learned that luckily the damage was covered. The news helped Mrs. Jackson to regain control over her nerves, and she left shortly afterward in a taxi.
    Frank and Joe discussed the latest event.
    â€œThose thugs are determined to get us out of the way,” Joe declared, “and they have no scruples about how they do it!”
    â€œWhen they realize that we won’t give up, they’ll undoubtedly use even more drastic methods,” Frank added.
    Aunt Gertrude had another fit of hysterics. “Attacked by brutes who think the Hardy family’s concerned about their old mercury! Why, I haven’t even heard the word since high school chemistry! Oh, why can’t Fenton leave crime to the police!”
    Frank and Joe were hoping their father would call that night. To their disappointment, the phone remained silent.
    â€œWhatever Baltimore dive he’s investigating,” Joe said, “he probably can’t get to a phone.”
    â€œMight make a suspect suspicious,” Frank agreed. Finally they turned in for the night.
    They were up early Tuesday morning to get ready for their trip. Aunt Gertrude had prepared breakfast and she fussed about their eating too fast. Meanwhile, their mother packed two overnight bags, just in case they had to stay over until the next day. “Don’t forget to call Jack Wayne,” she reminded them.
    Fenton Hardy’s pilot was at the airfield and had just finished his inspection of the plane.
    â€œEverything A-OK,” he told Joe over the phone. “We can leave as soon as you get here.”
    The boys decided it would be risky to leave their mother and aunt alone in the house with the thugs prowling around. They contacted their friends, who all agreed to take