"Besides they're two of my main stuntmen. I need them."
"Well..." Fraser considered.
Frank and Joe smiled at the chief. They knew that the film was important to Archie Fraser and the town of Newbridge.
"So far we've got nothing but circumstantial evidence tying them to the crime," Fraser said, nodding at the director. "So if you're willing to accept responsibility for them — "
"I'll keep a close eye on them at all times," Osserman assured him. "I promise."
The director turned to glare at the Hardy Boys. "Stop annoying the police chief. He doesn't have time for your antics. He's got enough on his hands just guarding the Newbridge jewels."
Frank raised an eyebrow. So Sy Osserman knows about the jewels, he thought. Maybe there was more going on than a simple case of sabotage!
Archie Fraser stood. "All right. I'm letting you fellows go. But if there's any more trouble, we'll be meeting again."
The chief escorted Osserman, Frank and Joe out to the director's waiting limousine. As the chauffeur pulled away, the director pushed a button to raise the soundproof glass.
He looked angrily at the Hardys. "I don't have time for these visits to the police station. What did you find out?"
Frank told him about their two visits to the airport. The news didn't please the director.
"So, all in all, you've got zilch," he said. "No evidence, no suspects — nothing but trouble."
The next day morale on the set was at an all-time low. People eyed one another suspiciously and all work went slowly. The main topics of conversation were the captain's accident and the possibility of sabotage.
When Frank and Joe entered the stuntmen's building they were surprised to see Sy Osserman and Ed Kemble in the lounge. Osserman raised his voice. "All stuntmen pull up chairs. I'm calling a meeting."
He looked around at the crew. "Because of yesterday's unfortunate accident, we need a new stunt chief. Therefore, I'm appointing Ed Kemble as the new stunt director."
Murmurs rippled through the audience. The dozen stunters seemed stunned, and clearly not everyone was pleased with the selection. Gil Driscoll seemed especially put off. His face turned red as he compressed his lips. "Politics," he griped. "I'm the best stuntman around, and they give the job to an actor."
But only Janet Wynn rose with an objection.
"Ed Kemble may be a star," she said. "But he doesn't have any experience running stunts."
Ed flashed her his famous smile.
"Janet's right," he said, stepping forward. "I've never been a stunt director. But I was a stuntman before I became an actor. I'm still in the union, and I've seen some of the greatest stunts in movie history. I can handle the job."
"I appreciate how Ed volunteered to take on this huge responsibility." Osserman slapped the actor on the back. "He's got some great ideas."
"Thanks, Sy," Ed said modestly, his eyes dropping down for just a moment.
He looked back at the team. "Now, our first task will be arranging for two major nighttime stunts. We have a high jump off the side of a building. And we have the flaming car flying over the side of the cliff."
"That's two more accidents waiting to happen," Gil growled.
Ed smiled at him. "I hope not, because I'm going to do the leap from the building."
He nodded at Janet. "The script calls for you, portraying Kitt Macklin, to join me. However, if you feel you need some time off — "
Janet shook her head. "No, I'll jump," she said. "It's my job. I can handle it."
"That's the spirit." Ed proudly raised a clenched fist. "Now we need someone to drive the burning car by the cliff."
Slowly his eyes scanned the team.
"Keep your fingers crossed," Joe whispered to his brother.
"Frank," Ed Kemble decided. "You look the most like Burke, and the camera may move in close."
Frank swallowed hard. He turned to look at Joe and shrugged. "See?" Joe scolded him. "You didn't have your fingers crossed."
After the meeting, the team got busy preparing for the evening's stunts. Frank and Joe
"Well..." Fraser considered.
Frank and Joe smiled at the chief. They knew that the film was important to Archie Fraser and the town of Newbridge.
"So far we've got nothing but circumstantial evidence tying them to the crime," Fraser said, nodding at the director. "So if you're willing to accept responsibility for them — "
"I'll keep a close eye on them at all times," Osserman assured him. "I promise."
The director turned to glare at the Hardy Boys. "Stop annoying the police chief. He doesn't have time for your antics. He's got enough on his hands just guarding the Newbridge jewels."
Frank raised an eyebrow. So Sy Osserman knows about the jewels, he thought. Maybe there was more going on than a simple case of sabotage!
Archie Fraser stood. "All right. I'm letting you fellows go. But if there's any more trouble, we'll be meeting again."
The chief escorted Osserman, Frank and Joe out to the director's waiting limousine. As the chauffeur pulled away, the director pushed a button to raise the soundproof glass.
He looked angrily at the Hardys. "I don't have time for these visits to the police station. What did you find out?"
Frank told him about their two visits to the airport. The news didn't please the director.
"So, all in all, you've got zilch," he said. "No evidence, no suspects — nothing but trouble."
The next day morale on the set was at an all-time low. People eyed one another suspiciously and all work went slowly. The main topics of conversation were the captain's accident and the possibility of sabotage.
When Frank and Joe entered the stuntmen's building they were surprised to see Sy Osserman and Ed Kemble in the lounge. Osserman raised his voice. "All stuntmen pull up chairs. I'm calling a meeting."
He looked around at the crew. "Because of yesterday's unfortunate accident, we need a new stunt chief. Therefore, I'm appointing Ed Kemble as the new stunt director."
Murmurs rippled through the audience. The dozen stunters seemed stunned, and clearly not everyone was pleased with the selection. Gil Driscoll seemed especially put off. His face turned red as he compressed his lips. "Politics," he griped. "I'm the best stuntman around, and they give the job to an actor."
But only Janet Wynn rose with an objection.
"Ed Kemble may be a star," she said. "But he doesn't have any experience running stunts."
Ed flashed her his famous smile.
"Janet's right," he said, stepping forward. "I've never been a stunt director. But I was a stuntman before I became an actor. I'm still in the union, and I've seen some of the greatest stunts in movie history. I can handle the job."
"I appreciate how Ed volunteered to take on this huge responsibility." Osserman slapped the actor on the back. "He's got some great ideas."
"Thanks, Sy," Ed said modestly, his eyes dropping down for just a moment.
He looked back at the team. "Now, our first task will be arranging for two major nighttime stunts. We have a high jump off the side of a building. And we have the flaming car flying over the side of the cliff."
"That's two more accidents waiting to happen," Gil growled.
Ed smiled at him. "I hope not, because I'm going to do the leap from the building."
He nodded at Janet. "The script calls for you, portraying Kitt Macklin, to join me. However, if you feel you need some time off — "
Janet shook her head. "No, I'll jump," she said. "It's my job. I can handle it."
"That's the spirit." Ed proudly raised a clenched fist. "Now we need someone to drive the burning car by the cliff."
Slowly his eyes scanned the team.
"Keep your fingers crossed," Joe whispered to his brother.
"Frank," Ed Kemble decided. "You look the most like Burke, and the camera may move in close."
Frank swallowed hard. He turned to look at Joe and shrugged. "See?" Joe scolded him. "You didn't have your fingers crossed."
After the meeting, the team got busy preparing for the evening's stunts. Frank and Joe
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