The Sign of the Crooked Arrow Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Chet’s a pretty good pupil, but quite a load! We were just working on a movement against the back.”
    â€œWe know a couple of judo holds,” Frank said, “but that last one you used on Chet was a beauty!”
    â€œIt’s easy enough, if you’re fast,” Russ replied. “Here, I’ll show you how it goes.”
    Frank stepped forward and the man showed him the fundamentals of the hold, taking each step slowly.
    â€œNow try it on me,” he said.
    Hardly were the words out of his mouth when the husky Russ went zooming through the air like a rocket.
    â€œHey!” he shouted to Frank. “I’m the instructor, remember?”
    They laughed, and the judo expert showed them a variety of other holds. Then he said good-by.
    After Russ had left, the boys gathered on the spacious porch. Frank and Joe quickly told Chet about their baffling case and of the attack on their father.
    â€œShot by an arrow!” Chet exclaimed, and added, “Gosh, I’m sure sorry, fellows.”
    â€œWe’ll have to postpone our camping trip,” Joe announced.
    â€œOh, sure, I understand.”
    Presently the telephone rang, and Mrs. Morton called, “It’s for you, Frank.”
    He went inside, spoke a few words, and came back to the porch.
    â€œIt was Slow Mo,” he said to Joe. “He’s dug up some new info and wants to see us.”
    â€œHow’d he know you were here?” Chet asked.
    â€œAunt Gertrude told him,” Frank explained. “We’d better go.”
    Frank and Joe drove off to Pleasantville. As they stopped in front of the garage, Slow Mo ambled out to meet them.
    â€œMore funny business goin’ on around here,” he announced.
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œSome smart aleck tried to take that car last night,” he replied. “But I fooled him.”
    â€œHow?” Joe asked.
    Slow Mo scratched his whiskers and grinned. “Well, he got in a window, but when he tried to open the garage doors my burglar alarm went off and scared him away!”
    â€œGood for you!” Frank said. “I didn’t know you had an alarm.”
    â€œOh, I didn’t till a few days ago,” Slow Mo replied. He looked a little sheepish. “Never thought of it until all this trouble started over the black sedan.”
    The boys exchanged grins, then the three went into the garage and looked around. The mystery car was halfway across the floor. The intruder evidently had moved it before trying to open the garage doors.
    â€œDid you find any clues?” Frank queried.
    â€œNothin‘,” Slow Mo said, “’cept the fellow must be a chicken farmer.”
    â€œWhat makes you think that?” Joe asked.
    â€œHe left a feather on the seat of the car,” Slow Mo replied. He reached an oily hand into his pocket and drew out a smudged white feather.
    â€œBoy!” Joe exclaimed. “What a clue!”
    â€œA clue?” Slow Mo looked puzzled. “Never thought of that.”
    Frank and Joe thanked Slow Mo for the information and headed back to Bayport.
    â€œI think we have something here,” Frank remarked. “This feather sure looks like the ones on the arrow that wounded Dad.”
    After parking in front of police headquarters, the boys hurried inside. The chief was not there, but the sergeant in charge let them examine the arrow again. Frank compared the feathers.
    â€œLook, Joe!” he said excitedly. “They match!”
    â€œThen the guy who dropped this at Slow Mo’s may be the one who shot Dad!” Joe exclaimed. “We’ve got to find him!”
    At the mention of Mr. Hardy, the sergeant pricked up his ears. “Too bad about that latest news,” he declared. “I know how you must feel.”
    â€œToo bad about what?” Frank asked quickly.
    â€œHaven’t you heard?” the officer asked in surprise. “The arrow that shot your father