The Clue of the Broken Blade Read Free Page B

received certificates attesting to the fact that they were qualified voiceprint operators.
    The boys’ plane landed at the Bayport airport at noon on Saturday. Chet Morton picked them up in his jalopy. It backfired as usual, sounding like a gang war in progress. When he pulled into the Hardy driveway, the uproar brought Aunt Gertrude to the front door.
    Fenton Hardy’s unmarried sister, who lived with the family, was tall and lean and had a heart as soft as a marshmallow under her decisive demeanor. She was also the best cook in Bayport, and that made her one of Chet’s favorite people.
    Aunt Gertrude showed how glad she was to see the boys back safely by making a flurry of dire predictions.
    â€œWell,” she declared as they carried their suitcases into the house, “you survived another trip in Chet’s mechanical monster, I see. You’ll all blow up in it yet, if you don’t get yourselves stabbed at that fencing school first. Or killed by robbers like those in Somerville.”
    â€œHow’d you hear about that, Aunt Gertrude?” Frank asked.
    â€œThe Somerville police phoned your father. He and your mother got away on their vacation, incidentally, so there will be only the three of us for lunch. Unless you’ve invited guests.”
    She looked pointedly at Chet, who sniffed the aroma of freshly made chili coming from the kitchen. He grinned. “I’m available if you’re looking for somebody to invite.”
    â€œThen wash up and hurry,” Aunt Gertrude commanded. “Lunch is in ten minutes.”
    Shortly before three that afternoon Frank and Joe were on their way to the Russo School of Fencing.
    â€œYou know,” Frank said, “I’ve been thinking about the maestro’s problem. I wonder if we couldn’t give him a hand in finding the missing piece of that saber.”
    Joe grinned. “You just want to have a little vacation on the West Coast!”
    â€œWell, if he has any idea at all of the area where the saber was broken, it might be a good idea!”
    They parked the car and went inside. Biff, Tony, and Phil came in a few moments later.
    Russo beckoned to the Hardys while the others were changing to fencing suits. “I’ll have to leave tomorrow for Switzerland,” he announced. “Are you boys still willing to keep the school open for me?”
    â€œMr. Russo,” Frank began, “I’m sure the others can handle that. How would you like my brother and me to find the Adalante?”
    â€œHow do you expect to do that?”
    â€œWe thought if you had any clue at all—”
    Russo shook his head. “I just don’t know. All I can tell you is there’s an old recluse named Miguel Jimenez who lives in the delta region of northern California. He is supposed to know the details of my grandfather’s duel and also where the tip end of the broken sword was found.”
    â€œHaven’t you asked him about it?” Frank put in.
    â€œHe refuses to talk to me,” the fencing master said. “I don’t know why.” He scratched his head and looked thoughtfully at the boys.
    â€œIf I paid your fare to California, perhaps you could get the old man to tell you!”
    â€œWhat’s his address?” Joe inquired.
    â€œI don’t know. I only met him once in Stockton. He lives near there on a houseboat.”
    After some discussion, the Hardys decided to leave for California on Monday.
    â€œYou’ll find that my grandfather was well known in that area,” Russo said. “There’s a book in the Stockton Public Library about him. His name was Giovanni Russo, and he was one of the richest men in the delta at the time he died. He made his fortune from the extensive vineyard he owned there.”
    â€œOkay, maestro,” Joe said with a grin. “You just hired yourself a couple of detectives.”
    Russo smiled. “Good luck,” he said. “And now