The Hooded Hawk Mystery Read Free Page A

his sports jacket. The boys buried the pigeon, then drove to the center of Bayport and parked close to Bickford’s Jewelry Store. While Joe stayed with the falcon, Frank and Chet went into the shop. The owner, Arthur Bickford, knew them well. He looked up and smiled.
    â€œWell, what brings you here?”
    Frank opened the handkerchief and revealed the two red stones. “We found these,” he said, “and we’d like you to tell us whether or not they’re genuine.”
    Bickford studied the gems for a moment, ran them through his fingers, then picked up his eyepiece. He peered at the stones one at a time, then marveled, “I’ve never seen more flawless rubies. They’re quite valuable. Where’d you get them?”
    Frank evaded the question but remarked, “If they’re so valuable, we’d better turn them over to the police.”
    The two boys thanked the jeweler and returned to the convertible. As Frank and Joe were discussing their great find, Chet reminded them that the rubies had been found on his farm.
    â€œThat’s right,” Joe admitted, “so it means you’ll have to help solve the mystery.”
    Chet winced at the thought of the work involved, but said, “Sure, and then I’ll get my share of the reward for the rubies.”
    Frank chuckled. “And you can use the money to treat us to dinner.”
    â€œOkay, okay,” Chet said with a grin. “Any time you say.”
    â€œLet’s make it right after we turn these gems over to Chief Collig,” Joe said. “Chet, will you stay here to mind the falcon?”
    The Hardys crossed the street to police headquarters, and five minutes later were seated in Chief Ezra Collig’s office.
    â€œWhat mystery have you boys turned up now?” the officer asked with a smile.
    Frank handed over the rubies. “Mr. Bickford told us these are valuable stones. Have you had a report of any robbery involving gems like these?”
    Chief Collig said he could not recall any, but would ask one of his detectives, and buzzed for him.
    â€œNothing like that has been reported missing,” the detective replied to Frank’s inquiry. “And we’d sure hear about such a theft from other departments.”
    The chief thanked him and the man withdrew. They talked about the stones and the carrier pigeon for some time but could come to no conclusions.
    The boys left the rubies with Chief Collig for safekeeping. When they rejoined Chet, they decided to forego his dinner treat for the time being and return home, since it was time to feed the hawk. Chet suggested that they let him off at his father’s real-estate office. Mr. Morton would drive him back to the farm.
    When Frank and Joe reached home their mother was setting the table for dinner. Mrs. Hardy was a small, slim woman with blond hair and sparkling blue eyes.
    â€œWhat a noble-looking bird!” she remarked. “Your aunt told me all about her.”
    Aunt Gertrude appeared from the kitchen just as Frank noticed there was a plate at his father’s place.
    â€œDad’s home from Washington!” he cried out.
    â€œHe’s in town all right,” Aunt Gertrude replied, adding with a frown, “And when he hears about that vicious hawk you boys have, he’s not going to like it.”
    â€œPerhaps he won’t mind when we tell him about the rubies our bird got for us,” Frank said, grinning.
    When the boys related the story, the women gasped in amazement.
    At Aunt Gertrude’s insistence, Frank and Joe took the falcon to the garage. They set up the block perch and put the falcon on it. The boys fed her some parrot seed, set the burglar alarm, and locked the door.
    Fenton Hardy arrived a few minutes later. He was a tall, dark, distinguished-looking man. His sons loved his keen sense of humor and admired his brilliant mind. Mr. Hardy’s preoccupied manner as the family sat down to dinner could