The Mystery of the Spiral Bridge Read Online Free PDF Page A

landed nimbly atop the next building.
    â€œAfter him!” Joe urged.
    Frank and Joe had to spring with all their might to equal the monkey man’s leap across the five-story-high chasm. In doing so, they both sprawled on the tar roof of the adjacent building. By the time the boys had pulled themselves up, the small man had slithered down the fire escape and jumped to the ground.
    Long before Frank and Joe had descended the iron ladder, their quarry was out of sight.
    â€œGreat horned toads!” said Frank, rubbing his bruised shoulder. “Who was that nut?”
    â€œJust somebody trying to knock us off,” Joe said angrily, and the boys hastened back to pursue their inquiry. The landlady now stood at the bottom of the front steps, having retrieved the trash can.
    â€œYou hurt?” she asked Frank.
    He nudged Joe, then replied, “I hope not, ma’am. But that was a close call. I could’ve been killed.”
    â€œYou won’t sue me or nothin’?” the woman said, wringing her fat hands.
    As if debating with himself, Frank did not reply. The woman grew more nervous by the second. Joe now looked her squarely in the eye.
    â€œWe won’t make any trouble for you, if you tell us about Matlack.”
    â€œOh, all right,” she said, unhappily beckoning the boys to step closer. “I don’t want nobody to hear what I’m tellin’ you,” she whispered. “And don’t you say I told you.”
    After Frank and Joe had promised not to betray her confidence, the woman admitted that Matlack and his sister had lived there. “They’re gone now,” she added, gesturing with her hands. “I can’t tell you nothin’ more.”
    â€œOkay,” Frank said. “Thanks.”
    The boys walked slowly down the street, conjecturing about the strange actions of the monkey man.
    â€œI bet he’s in cahoots with Matlack,” said Joe.
    â€œIt’s possible. Say, now that we know Matlack lived here,” Frank went on, “let’s question some of the other people on the block.”
    â€œOkay.”
    They entered what seemed to be primarily a hardware store, but which also contained a jumble of miscellaneous articles.
    â€œBoy, what a junk shop!” Joe murmured as they approached the short, squat man behind the counter. He peered gravely at the Hardys through thick-lensed glasses.
    â€œWe’re looking for a man named Matlack,” Frank said. “We understand he used to live in this neighborhood. Do you know anything about him?”
    The stout man stared unblinkingly at the Hardys, first at Frank, then at Joe, as if sizing them up. Then, suddenly, he broke into raucous laughter.
    â€œCan’t you answer our question?” asked Joe, annoyed.
    The man stopped laughing. “Are you kiddin’?” he said gruffly. “If you guys don’t want to buy nothin’, get out!”
    He stalked to the back and disappeared through a doorway. The Hardys shrugged and left.
    Joe grumbled, “He must have had raw meat for breakfast!”
    The boys continued down the street. Both were so engrossed in their quest they were unaware that two tough-looking youths were trailing them, until one roughly elbowed Frank.
    â€œMove over!” he snarled. “You own the whole street?”
    â€œExcuse us,” Frank said calmly.
    â€œOh, excuse us,” the youth echoed mockingly. “Hey, Spike! A couple of real polite country boys!”
    Joe turned on the pair, but his brother restrained him. “Come on, Joe. Let’s not waste our time. These two are spoiling for trouble.”
    The Hardys started on, but the second tough clamped a hand on Joe’s shoulder, spinning him around. This was too much for Joe. He seized his assailant, and with a flying mare sent him over his shoulder. The fellow landed on his back with a grunt. His pal, meanwhile, had tried to grapple with Frank, but his success was