The Mystery Of The Chinese Junk Part 14

"Guess Chief Collig didn't have any others to spare," Joe remarked with a shrug.

The junk's owners went on and hurried to the boathouse where the Sleuth Sleuth was berthed. was berthed.

Within minutes the craft was kicking up a frothy wake in the moonlight as the group sped out the bay and neared Rocky Isle. It loomed up as a black ma.s.s on the horizon, with its lighthouse beacon sweeping the darkness at one-minute intervals. At the moment there was no sign of the blinking signals on the opposite side of the island.

"Maybe we've missed the senders," Frank said glumly to his boatmates. He was at the wheel of the Sleuth. Sleuth.

A second later a light suddenly gleamed from the western cliff!

"There it goes!" Joe exclaimed, watching intently so he could translate the message.

The light shone steadily for a few moments, then winked on and off rapidly. "That wasn't Morse code-or International!" Joe added tensely.

Jim Foy nodded. "It must be a secret one!" His companions agreed.

The light disappeared as they approached closer. Frank had fixed its approximate position in mind, and steered toward the jumbled ma.s.s of rock that sheered upward from the island's northern sh.o.r.e.

152 "It's starting again!" Biff exclaimed. Once, twice, three times the blinking signal stabbed the darkness. Still it made no sense to the boys.

"If only we can get close enough to see who's sending!" Joe muttered.

He broke off as the group became aware of the sudden drone of a powerful boat engine. The sound was coming from the direction of the island, but the boys could detect no running lights. Seconds later, they could make out the dim form of a large speedboat. It was zooming straight toward the Sleuth! Sleuth!

"It'll ram us broadside!" Chet cried.

"No, it won't!" Frank said grimly, setting his jaw.

He tooted the Sleuth's Sleuth's horn, which echoed back from the cliff. Still the darkened boat horn, which echoed back from the cliff. Still the darkened boat aimed for the boys. Frank turned the wheel to give the other craft plenty of room. It veered, still obstructing the Sleuth. Sleuth.

"That pilot's crazy!" Tony cried out, then yelled, "Look where you're going!"

The oncoming speedboat continued to change course whenever Frank did. Finally he decided on a daring move to outwit the person determined to crash into them.

Frank steeled his nerve and held course and speed as the other boat bore down on the Hardy craft. Then, at the very last second, he gunned 153 the Sleuth's Sleuth's engine and threw the wheel hard over! engine and threw the wheel hard over!

With an earsplitting din, the big powerboat hurtled past, missing them by inches 1 The Sleuth heeled crazily aport in its wake. heeled crazily aport in its wake.

Chet was trembling like a leaf. Biff, Tony, and Jim gave weak gasps of relief. Joe felt cold trickles of perspiration run down his back.

"Terrific, Frank! You rate a medal for fast thinking!" Joe called, as his brother sped on.

This time the speedboat did not come in pursuit.

"What was that guy's idea?" Biff asked. "In fact, there were two men in that boat.

Wonder who they were."

"I think they have something to do with the signaling and were trying to scare us away from Rocky Isle," Frank suggested.

"Then that's all the more reason for going there," Joe determined.

"I'll say," Tony broke in angrily. "How about our finding those guys and asking what their murderous scheme was all about?"

"Oh, no!" Chet spoke up. "I aim to stay in one piece now that they're gone. Let's just take a look at the cliff and call it quits."

"That seems wise," Jim Foy said softly.

Frank headed toward the cliff once more, watching intently for any sign of another attack. But the place was quiet.

154 Suddenly lights flashed again high up on the cliff. They seemed to be coming from some recessed ledge, just below the craggy outthrust of the cliff's overhanging brow. Then the signals blacked out abruptly.

"Slow down!" Joe called. "Think that speedboat could be luring us into a trap?"

"Maybe. Fellows, get out your flashlights and beam them around."

His companions did as directed. No boat or waiting figures showed up. The signaling had stopped. The boys held a hurried conference and concluded that by the time they could climb the cliff the mysterious signal sender would have vanished.

"Let's go home," Chet pleaded, yawning, but still sweeping the cliff with his light. "I-" The sleepy boy suddenly jumped up and cried out, "Hey, that looks like the entrance to a cave up there!"

His friends stared at the spot on which the beam of his flashlight was trained. "Oh, man, am I ever going spelunking in there! . . . No, not tonight," Chet added quickly as he saw the look of amazement on the other boys' faces.

Since there seemed to be no reason for remaining longer, Frank headed the Sleuth Sleuth toward Bay-port. Conversation revolved around the lights and the cave. "There might be a connection," Chet offered.

155 "And," Biff drawled, "those signals might just be on the level and have something to do with the Coast Guard."

Joe grinned. "More likely those phony coast-guardmen."

The Sleuth Sleuth plowed on. As it came in sight of the plowed on. As it came in sight of the Hai Hau, Hai Hau, Jim Foy cried out, "Good Jim Foy cried out, "Good nightl What's up?"

The dock's floodlight illumined a strange scene. Figures could be seen in wild commotion on the junk's fore-and afterdecks!

Frank brought the Sleuth Sleuth to the dock in a hurry and leaped out. to the dock in a hurry and leaped out.

"It's the Chinesel" Tony cried out, as he and the others raced aboard the Hai Hau. Hai Hau.

In the junk's stern, George Ti-Ming was exchanging fisticuffs with two other Chinese, while Officer Con Riley fought to separate them. The Hardys recognized Ti-Ming's opponents as two of the men who had wanted to buy the Hai Hau Hai Hau in Staten Island. in Staten Island.

Up forward, another hand-to-hand battle was going on. Frank made out the huge figure of Chin Gok locked in combat with two smaller adversaries. The face of one was contorted with pain. Detective Sm.u.f.f was trying to pry them apart, and in doing so, was catching the brunt of their blows.

Frank waded into the fray on the foredeck. He yanked Chin Gok around by one arm and dealt 156 him a smas.h.i.+ng right to the jaw. Chin Gok's eyes went gla.s.sy and he reeled back against the cabin wall.

Tony, meanwhile, had shot a short, jarring left chop to the ribs of another of the battlers, who had not yet recovered from the surprise of this new and unexpected intervention. Jim's fists, too, were dealing out equal punishment to the other Chinese.

Joe, Biff, and Chet were busy with the fighters in the stern sheets. Within minutes, the battle of the Hai Hau Hai Hau had been brought under control and all six of the bruised and panting had been brought under control and all six of the bruised and panting Chinese were only too willing to subside.

"What was this fracas all about? And why here on the Hai Hau?" Hai Hau?" Frank demanded. Frank demanded.

Sm.u.f.f and Riley looked shamefaced, and the latter said, "This guy"-he pointed to Ti-Ming - "came aboard to look around with a couple of friends. I didn't see any harm in that."

"Riley's telling you right," Sm.u.f.f spoke up. "Then these other guys arrived with the same story. First thing we knew a fight started."

At that moment a police car raced up to the pier. Chief Collig and two other officers stepped out and raced onto the junk.

"It's all right, Chief," Sm.u.f.f spoke up. "Riley and I have the situation under control. Pretty bad fight."

The chief looked hard at his men and said that 157 a bystander had telephoned headquarters about the fight. To the Chinese, Chief Collig said: "You're all under arrest. Do you want to talk here or down at headquarters?"

Chin Gok and his two henchmen sullenly made it plain they would talk neither place. But Ti-Ming said he welcomed the chance to clear himself.

"I am not guilty of any lawbreaking," he began. "I am a private detective. I go from place to place to get evidence on smuggling."

Frank and Joe were thunderstruck. A detective! And he solved smuggling cases I Would Ti-Ming's story clear up the mystery of the Chinese junk?

CHAPTER XVIII.

Legend of Treasure.

To verify his story, Ti-Ming produced a New York private detective's license and several letters from Hong Kong. They identified not only him without a doubt, but the friends with him as well.

"Why didn't you tell the police all this when you came here?" Chief Collig demanded, "Because I was not yet sure whether the Hai Hau Hai Hau was the stolen junk I was looking for; was the stolen junk I was looking for; whether Chin Gok's gang or someone else had smuggled goods into this country on it; and whether he had learned of a certain secret hidden aboard the junk. Until I was, I thought it wiser to keep my true ident.i.ty under cover."

Ti-Ming explained that six junks similar to the Hai Hau Hai Hau had been stolen in Hong Kong, had been stolen in Hong Kong, probably by Chin Gok, painted, and given new figureheads and names. It was thought they had been s.h.i.+pped to various ports of the world, all with 158.

159 smuggled goods aboard. One of these boats belonged to a friend of Ti-Ming's.

"In Hong Kong," the Chinese detective went on, "a story was told by a workman that on one of the junks an ancient clue to a great fortune could be found. This workman was injured and before dying told this much but could never finish the story. So far as known, no one has learned the secret."

Ti-Ming smiled. "Naturally my friend hoped the secret was hidden in his boat."

"What is the fortune?" Joe asked eagerly.

Ti-Ming did not reply.

"You needn't answer that question now," Col-lig said. "Go on with your story."

The detective bowed slightly. "My friend heard that a s.h.i.+pment of boats had gone from Hong Kong to New York and asked me to investigate. The Hai Hau Hai Hau was the only used junk was the only used junk among them, and I am sure from certain features and other marks that it is my friend's boat.

To avoid confusion and publicity, I offered to buy it. When these honorable boys refused to sell, I followed them to Bayport and tried to continue my search without their suspecting me.

But they are very wise young men."

Despite the compliment to them, the Hardys and their friends exchanged worried glances. "Then it is true we bought stolen property!" Frank remarked solemnly.

160 "I am afraid so," Ti-Ming replied. But smiling, he added, "The rightful owner authorized me, after I notified him of my find, to say that you may keep the Hai Hau Hai Hau until fall, but in the until fall, but in the meantime I am to be permitted to continue my hunt for the clue to the fortune."

The Hardys looked toward Chief Collig, who gave the Chinese a quick answer. "You may search only with a police escort, Mr. Ti-Ming, and anything you find will be kept by me until we have further proof of owners.h.i.+p."

Ti-Ming nodded. "That is very fair. And now, if you will excuse me, my friends and I will say good evening to you gentlemen. I will return in the morning, when I will search for the valuable clue to the fortune."

Chin Gok and his two henchmen glared in hate after the departing Chinese. Still refusing to admit anything, they were led off to the Bayport jail. Chief Collig asked Frank and Joe to follow. Surprised and wondering, they said good night to their friends and followed in the convertible.

At police headquarters Chief Collig attempted once more to make his prisoners talk.

But he was unable to extract any information from the three men.

"Empty their pockets," he ordered a guard.

Aside from knives carried by two of the men, nothing incriminating was found until they 161 searched Chin Gok. A turnout of his pockets revealed a blue amber tiger gem!

Joe pounced on it. "Chief! This is like the jewels in the cuff links!"

Collig's eyes narrowed. "So you were the man who threw Frank Hardy down the clothes chute! All right, speak up! What have you got to say for yourself?"

Chin Gok's long face twisted into a sneer, but he said nothing.

"Okay, if they won't talk, lock 'em all up!" Collig growled. "Chin Gok, we'll hold you for a.s.sault on Frank Hardy. The others will be charged with disturbing the peace while we make a further investigation."

After the three Chinese had been led away, Chief Collig took the brothers into his office.

"Get ready for a bombsh.e.l.l," he said. "Dr. Mont-rose has disappeared!"

"What!"

"After you gave us the tip on him, my men went to call on him. When they found his office locked, we became suspicious and broke in. Everything but the heavy furniture was gone."

Joe whistled, and Frank said, "Yes, go on. Then you went to his house?"

"Right away. Same thing there." Collig smiled. "I guess you boys broke the case of a fake-doctor thief."

162 "You mean there weren't two men working together?" Joe exclaimed.

Chief Collig rubbed his chin. "On that score I'm not sure. Montrose may have returned to the victim's houses himself and stolen their securities, or he may have had a pal take them."

"Chin Gok, perhaps?" Frank suggested.

The chief shrugged. "I hadn't thought of that until the cuff-link angle came up. The point now is to find Dr. Montrose. Well, boys, thanks for your help. And if you get any leads, let me know."

"We sure will," Frank promised and with a grin added, "If Chin Gok talks, call us, please."

"I'll do that. By the way, I never did get in touch with your father. He was always out."

The Hardys left for home, conversing on the way about each detail of the mystery. "I'm beginning to reconstruct things this way," said Frank. "When Dr. Montrose left our house, after Aunt Gertrude was getting sleepy, he slipped the lock on the front door. He took Mrs.