The Mystery of the Spiral Bridge by Franklin W. Dixon Page B

we’re going fishing in Canada, or something like that.”
    â€œI hope we can fool them, but let’s not count our chickens too soon,” Frank said as they drove into the garage.
    So exuberant were the two boys that they dashed through the kitchen and raced upstairs to their father’s study. Frank closed the door, winked at his brother, and mustered up his most doleful voice.
    â€œJoe,” he said, “this case is too much for us. I think we should quit and let the police handle everything.”
    With a mocking expression, Joe jabbed his finger over the back of his shoulder toward the bug on the ceiling. “Right, Frank. We know when we’re licked.”
    Just then there was a quiet knock at the door. When Joe opened it, Mrs. Hardy beckoned them into the hall and down the stairs. In the living room she whispered, “You two came in so fast, I couldn’t tell you.”
    â€œTell us what?” queried Frank, noting his mother’s look of alarm.
    â€œCome, I’ll show you.
    Aunt Gertrude joined them. She, too, seemed fearful.
    â€œOh, do be careful, Frank and Joe,” Miss Hardy said in a strained voice.
    Joe scratched his head. “What’s this all about?”
    Mrs. Hardy walked into the kitchen, picked up a flashlight from the table, and led her sons into the side yard. She played the beam up the house. Her sons gasped. A light nylon rope, looped around the chimney top, ran past an attic window to within a foot of the ground.
    â€œGertrude and I noticed it when we came home from the hospital,” Mrs. Hardy explained.
    â€œGreat gophers!” Joe exclaimed. “Somebody climbed up there!” In a moment the boys were bounding through the kitchen, into the hall, up the stairs and into the attic. Frank turned on the switch and the attic was flooded with light. The Hardys took one look and groaned. The radio transmitter was gone!
    The trickers had been tricked!
    Joe hastened to the window near the chimney and looked out. The nylon rope dangled only inches away from the sill.
    â€œThe monkey man!” Frank exclaimed.
    The boys looked at each other, sick with fury over the way they had been outmaneuvered. Suddenly there was a crash, followed by a tinkling of glass.
    â€œIt’s downstairs,” Frank said. “Come on!”
    The boys ran to the first floor. They arrived in the living room to find Aunt Gertrude and Mrs. Hardy standing motionless, their faces registering shock.
    â€œWhat happened? What—”
    Joe pointed to the living-room window, which had a large, jagged hole in the center. The boys’ gaze traveled to the rug, on which lay a large ball bearing with a paper wrapped loosely around it.
    Aunt Gertrude found her voice. “Thieves! Criminals! Murderers!” she cried shrilly.
    Frank snatched up the paper, and with hearts pounding, he and Joe read the message: “Wise guys stay in Bayport.” It was signed with the three-looped letter M.

CHAPTER X
    Monkey on a String
    THE latest threat from the Hardys’ enemies only served to stiffen the boys’ resolve. Frank and Joe quietly left the house and stealthily searched the grounds. But they discovered no clue to the missile hurler.
    Frank stopped at the dangling nylon rope and yanked it hard. It was firmly fastened around the chimney.
    â€œThe fellow must be great with a lariat,” said Joe. “Wonder why he left it here.”
    Frank had a theory. If the intruder had been surprised by Mrs. Hardy and Aunt Gertrude, he might have shinned down a drainpipe on the other side of the house.
    â€œWithout time to unfasten and take his rope,” Joe added.
    â€œRight.”
    The boys had a whispered conference.
    â€œOkay!” Joe said. “Let’s try it!”
    They confided their reasons for the Kentucky trip to their mother and Aunt Gertrude. The women, although apprehensive, did not oppose the idea.
    â€œWe found your father better this