The Pentagon Spy Read Online Free PDF Page A

last to escape. He railed furiously at Chet’s clumsiness in barging into the pole.
    â€œWhat Chet did wasn’t as bad as auctioning stolen property!” Frank interjected.
    â€œEverything that I handle is legitimate!” Korbo snapped.
    â€œWhat about that weather vane called the Galloping Rider?”
    â€œThere were no weather vanes at this auction. Look for yourself.” Korbo took a list from his pocket and handed it to Frank, who checked the “W” entries.
    â€œWagon, warming pan, washing machine, wheel-barrow, writing desk,” Frank read. “No weather vane. I guess we owe you an apology, Mr. Korbo.”
    â€œBut the weather vane was in the tent!” Joe protested. He explained how he had found it and how the stranger had snatched it away from him.
    â€œI don’t know anything about a weather vane or that man you’re talking about,” Korbo said, “but I do know who knocked the tent down.” He pointed an accusing finger at Chet, who turned red with embarrassment.
    â€œWe’ll put it up again,” Frank offered. Korbo accepted the suggestion with a curt nod, and the boys set to work.
    Wriggling back under the canvas, they reached the center of the tent, where they found the pole tilted at an angle but still attached to the roof. They took hold of the support, straining to get enough leverage, then gradually eased it into an upright position and wedged the base against the ground where it had been. Then, with the help of some other young people, they righted the chairs and tightened the guy ropes outside.
    The auction resumed while the Bayporters drove on toward the Hammerley farm.
    â€œMaybe that guy stole the weather vane and hid it in the tent for some reason,” Joe observed. “He might have come back to pick it up on the sly, but we got there first.”
    â€œThat would explain why it was stashed behind the table,” Frank agreed.
    A sign loomed ahead of them in the distance:
    HAMMERLEY HOMESTEAD
    Frank turned a few feet beyond it and drove toward the big house. A barn with a tall silo attached to it stood behind the place, and moving in the wind atop the barn was the copper-colored figure of an eagle perched on an arrow.
    â€œ The Flashing Arrow!” Joe pointed.
    Frank nodded. “And it’s up to us to see it stays where it is.” He parked in front of the house and the three went up to the front door. Chet punched the bell. Hammerley appeared and smiled happily when he saw his callers. Frank introduced Chet as the friend who would be on the case with them.
    Hammerley was pleased. “An extra member always strengthens the team,” he said. He was surprised when Joe told him about the Galloping Rider. “You mean the thieves were about to auction it off?” the farmer thundered.
    â€œMr. Korbo didn’t even have it on his list,” Frank explained. “He didn’t know how it got there or who took it.”
    Hammerley sighed. “Too bad you couldn’t catch the man who ran off with it. Well, let’s go over to the barn and I’ll show you my prized possession on the roof.”
    He led the way through the yard. The boys saw hired hands dumping corn from a truck onto a conveyor belt leading into the silo. Some distance away, a line of horses looking out from their stalls indicated the building where the livestock were kept. Chickens clucked in a coop nearby, and a hawk wheeled in the sky overhead.
    Hammerley stopped in front of the barn. “This is where I keep the hay, feed, and farm implements,” he informed his visitors.
    Looking up, the boys saw a hex sign over the front door. It was a bright red pentagram in a white square, which was inside a black circle.
    â€œThe original owner put the hex sign there to protect the barn,” Hammerley explained.
    â€œWouldn’t it also protect the Flashing Arrow?” Frank queried.
    Hammerley scowled. “Maybe, but some hexes