The Missing Chums Read Online Free Page A

searchlights won’t pierce through this pea soup.”
    â€œTheir best bet is to crisscross the bay and perhaps close in on the robbers,” Joe added.
    â€œAnd for that a little boat is as good as a big one,” Frank said excitedly. “Joe, do you think the Sleuth is in good enough shape to take out?”
    â€œIt’s worth a try,” his brother assented.
    Chief Collig nodded approvingly. “The more boats we send out, the better our chances,” he said. “I’ll dispatch the police cruiser, too.”
    Frank and Joe swung onto their motorcycles and roared off the pier and along the Shore Road toward their boathouse as fast as they dared in the heavy fog.
    Guessing they were near the private docks, the boys pulled off the road and parked. Each took a flashlight from the carrier of his motorcycle.
    After a short walk they found their boathouse. Joe reached the small door and took out his key. He gave a cry.
    â€œThe lock’s broken off!”
    â€œWhat!” Frank exclaimed.
    He swung the door open and beamed his flashlight inside the building.
    The Sleuth was gone!

CHAPTER V
    Dancing Gorillas
    FOR A moment Frank and Joe stared at the empty boathouse unbelievingly. “I’ll bet the bank robbers stole the Sleuth!” Joe exploded.
    â€œIf they did,” Frank said with a grim smile, “they may be surprised. That rudder is only temporarily repaired. It won’t last long.”
    â€œLet’s go after them!” Joe urged. “We’ll call Tony to bring the Napoli.”
    â€œOkay,” Frank said. “He’ll be at Callie’s now.”
    The Hardys hurried to their motorcycles and headed back toward town. When they reached the piers, they stopped at a public telephone booth outside a warehouse. Joe dialed the call and returned after a short conversation.
    â€œTony will meet us at the Coast Guard station,” he reported to Frank. “Come on!”
    When the Hardys walked in they found that Chief Collig had turned the place into a temporary headquarters. He was questioning three bank tellers who had been brought there at the chief’s request. One teller was giving his account:
    â€œThe four men must have hidden in another part of the bank. Just after we closed tonight, the robbers rushed into the main room together. Three came to our cages and forced us at gun point to put all the money into their sacks, while the fourth went to the side door. Then they warned us to keep still, and backed out the door. Our vault custodian fired after their car, but had no luck.”
    â€œCan you describe just one of the gang?” Collig asked wearily. “Any one that sticks in your mind? Was he short or tall? Fat or skinny?”
    â€œI already told you,” the man said doggedly. “They were all the same size.”
    â€œBut blast it, man, that’s impossible!” the chief exploded. “I don’t have four identically built men on my whole force!”
    â€œThey were all the same size,” the teller repeated, growing sullen. “They wore masks.”
    Shaking his head, Chief Collig turned from the teller. His eyes fell on Frank and Joe. “Back so soon?” he asked, surprised.
    Frank told him about the stolen Sleuth. “The bank robbers used a speedboat for their getaway,” Joe added. “It might have been ours.”
    â€œHas the cutter had any luck on the bay?” Frank asked.
    â€œNothing yet,” the radio operator spoke up. “They’ve been calling in every ten minutes.”
    While Joe reported the theft of their boat to a Coast Guardman, Frank asked whether any dues had been found in the thieves’ car.
    â€œNot even a fingerprint,” was Chief Collig’s answer. “We checked on the vehicle, of course. It had been stolen in Northport.”
    Just then Tony Prito entered the crowded station, exclaiming, “It looks like a police convention outside, with all