The mysterious guest 6 page

"Hardy? Why bother about him? He's no good. He is out of town."

The other man said something which the boys could not catch.

"Good detective?" snapped North impatiently. "I don't believe it. Why, even those Chinese robbed his place. Why pay him for his work?"

Orrin North evidently realized just then that he had been speaking too loudly for he lowered his voice and the pair resumed their conversation in tones that were inaudible to the Hardy boys. After a while they turned their attention to the ball game.

By common consent Frank and Joe withdrew.

" I don't think we'd better talk to Mr. North today," decided Frank.

"Not until we learn more about him," agreed Joe. "I never did trust that fellow, anyway."

CHAPTEE XVI

THE STRANGE SPY

More than ever now the Hardy boys were convinced that they must take the lead if they were to protect their father's interests. The fragment of conversation they had overheard at the ball park had not tended to increase their confidence in Orrin North. When they returned home that afternoon they went eagerly to the mail-box in the hope that a letter might have arrived from their parents. But they were disappointed.

"We'll just have to carry on until he comes back," said Frank. "We're working in the dark, worse luck."

"I think we were wise in leaving the ball park. If North knew we were out there this afternoon he might suspect that we had overheard him."

"We're on our guard against him now. I think it would be a good idea to see him, just the same, as we had planned."

"We might get some information," agreed Joe. "What do you say we go out tonight?"

"All right with me. Let's go up first and see how Tom Wat is getting along. He must be lonesome."

They went upstairs. In the hallway they met Nurse Cody.

"How is Aunt Gertrude?" they inquired.

"Not much better but she's certainly no worse," said Mrs. Cody. "Best and quiet is all she needs. Her nerves are all upset, poor thing. And I'm not surprised. I'm beginning to wonder if my own nerves are all that they should be."

"Why is that?" asked Frank.

Nurse Cody frowned and pointed to the ceiling.

"Noises!"

"Why–what sort of noises?" said Joe.

"Queer noises. Just as if someone was prowling around up there."

"How could there be anyone upstairs?" laughed Frank, ill at ease lest Nurse Cody should take it into her head to investigate. "Did you go up and look around?"

"Not me!" replied the nurse promptly. ''My job is to attend to my patient. But I'm sure I've heard noises up there this afternoon. Not a sound did I hear all morning but this afternoon I've had a queer feelin' that there's somebody up there."

"In that case," said Joe, "we'll go up ourselves. If there's a burglar in the house we’ll rout him out."

"Now do be careful!" she urged nervously.

"Don't worry," they assured her. "We'll look after ourselves."

They went on up to the third floor. In his room they found Tom Wat lying on his bed, fast asleep. He had taken off the girl's clothes and was now in his ordinary attire. He awakened when they entered the room.

"Whatamalla?" he whispered.

"Everything is fine," replied Frank quietly. "How are you getting along?"

"Good. Velly quiet."

"Better be careful when you're walking around up here. The nurse heard you. Take your shoes off and walk in your sock feet. Hungry?"

"Not yet."

"We'll smuggle some food up at supper time."

"You see Louie Fong?" asked the Chinaman anxiously.

"No, we haven't seen him. Don't worry about Louie Fong. You're quite safe here."

They went downstairs again.

"No burglars up there," they assured Mrs. Cody truthfully. "You can set your mind at jest."

"Well, I'm glad to hear it," replied the good woman. "It must have been my imagination but I was sure I heard somebody movin' about. You couldn't get me to go up there for a million dollars."

The boys were glad to hear that, although they did not say so. It meant that Tom Wat was safe from discovery.

That evening they were permitted to see Aunt Gertrude for a few minutes. She still looked pale and tired but she had rested well during the day and the lads were satisfied that it was only a matter of time before she would be up and about once more.

"I'm sure it's very good of you to get a nurse to look after your old aunt," she told them gratefully. "You're good boys, in spite of all the scoldings that I've given you. Well," she amended with a faint smile, "maybe you're good because of the scoldings."

"I guess we deserved them, Aunt Gertrude," said Frank with a smile. "If there's anything more we can do to make you comfortable, be sure to let us know."

"I'm being well looked after. Now, lads, run along and play."

Aunt Gertrude could never rid herself of an idea that her nephews were about six and seven years of age respectively.

When they left their relative they were at a loss as to what to do next. They chafed at any delay in reaching the solution of the strange mystery in which they had become involved, and yet every move they made seemed to entangle matters more than ever. Joe was firmly of the opinion that they should still seek their interview with Orrin North.

"He doesn't know we suspect him," Joe pointed out. "If he is working against Dad we ought to keep an eye on the situation."

"The trouble is," remarked Frank, "that we don't know the situation."

"It would certainly help if we knew why North employed Dad. After all, he might tell us. It will do no harm to ask. Let's go to Lakeside tonight and have a talk with him."

"I'm game. And let's take Tom Wat with us. The fresh air will do him good."

Nurse Cody went to bed early that evening, so the coast was clear. At about nine o'clock the boys went quietly upstairs, told Tom Wat that they were going to take him for a drive, and brought the young Chinaman down to the lower part of the house. It was after dark so they did not think it necessary for him to resume his disguise.

"Where you go?" asked Tom, when they went out to the garage and took their places in the roadster.

"We're going out to Lakeside to see Orrin North," Frank explained. "You won't have to get out of the car. No one will notice you."

Tom Wat frowned.

"Ollin No'th bad fella!" he said. "Me no likee."

"Why don't you like him?" asked Joe, hoping that Tom Wat might be able to throw some light on the ship owner's real character.

"No talkee," grunted Tom in his secretive manner. "No likee."

They could get no more out of him. He was not disposed to discuss the reasons for his dislike of Orrin North, but it was quite plain to the Hardy boys that he hated the man intensely.

Frank wondered why Tom Wat should have any reason for disliking North. Was it possible that the man had dealings with the Chinese of Bayport?

Reaching Lakeside, they drove toward Mr. North's office. The place was in darkness, but as they approached the driveway leading to a garage at the rear of the building a big touring car sped silently past the roadster.

Tom Wat leaned forward as the car went by. He uttered a little gasp and sank back, drawing his hat down over his face.

"What's the matter?" asked Frank.

For a moment the Chinaman did not answer. Then he whispered in a voice vibrant with fear:

"Louie Fonar."

"Louie Fong!" exclaimed Joe. "You couldn't see him."

"Louie Fong car."

Frank whistled. Louie Fong driving to the garage back of North's office late at night! This was more than suspicious. He drove on past the driveway and parked the roadster half way down the block.

"I think we'll look into this," he said quietly to his brother.

"Me no go," muttered Tom Wat.

''You stay here,'' they told him. ''We won't be long."

They went back up the street and slipped quietly into the shadows of the driveway. They could see the red tail-light of the car in the yard. There was a light in a rear window of North's office building. A moment later this light went out.

The Hardy boys crouched close beside the fence and watched. They heard footsteps crunching on the gravel and caught a glimpse of a dim figure pacing up and down near the garage. A moment later they heard a brusque, familiar voice.

"That you, Louie!"

The answer was inaudible, but they could hear a key grate in a lock, the screech of hinges as the garage door was opened. A light shone from the garage window. Through the glass they had a momentary glimpse of the evil, yellow face of Louie Fong. Then it vanished. They saw the red, square visage of Orrin North, who came over toward the window. A shade was pulled down.

Joe would have moved forward but Frank gripped his arm.

"Not yet," he whispered.

What business could have brought Orrin North and Louie Fong together for this secret and private night conference?

A moment later they were thankful that they had not moved out of their hiding place by the fence. They heard the quiet hum of an engine, then the faint slither of tires upon the pavement. A car, running without lights, slid up to the entrance of the driveway. It was like a phantom. Silently it came to a stop. A man stepped out, and the car was driven on past the gateway.

The newcomer moved quietly into the yard. He wore a long coat, the collar of which was turned up so as to conceal his features. His face was further hidden by the brim of a slouch hat drawn low upon his forehead.

Frank and Joe were breathless with excitement. Had they been seen? Was this a third member of the meeting? Had he spied them hiding by the fence?

The stranger came directly toward them.

For a moment they were positive that he must have seen them. But he passed by, head down, hands thrust into his coat pockets.

He did not go toward the door of the garage. Instead, he went to the back of Louie Fong's car. Here he knelt down and examined the number plate. Then, evidently satisfied, he strode off into the shadows.

The man was lost to sight but the boys could hear his footsteps as he cautiously crept along the side of the garage. Then they saw his shadow against the wall. He was crouching beneath the window.

"He didn't come here to meet them at all," whispered Joe.

"Shh! He's a spy."

Their own hopes of overhearing the interview between Louie Fong and Orrin North were destroyed. This unknown eavesdropper's appearance on the scene had complicated the mystery. Was he friend or foe? Chinaman or white man?

They crouched where they were and waited. The yard was in silence. Dimly they could see that dark, sinister figure beneath the window.

Then suddenly the garage door was flung open. A beam of brilliant light fell across the yard. Louie Fong stood on the threshold, peering out into the night!

CHAPTER XVII