The Masked Monkey Read Free Page B

been kidnapped. Criminals may be holding him prisoner right now!”
    Frank and Joe walked back to the guesthouse. “We’re fresh out of clues,” Joe commented.
    â€œMaybe we’ll come up with a theory after a little shut-eye,” Frank said.
    â€œThat is, if we can get any shut-eye. Whisperwood gives me the willies. It’s real spooky back here.”
    A high wind blew mournfully through the pines, and clouds scudded across the face of the moon. Granite Rock lay in deep shadows except for outcroppings of stone that resembled gigantic human figures trying to escape over the crest.
    Despite the uncanny atmosphere, the boys fell into a deep sleep. They were awakened by a loud splintering sound in the middle of the night. A missile had crashed through the picture window into their room!

CHAPTER III
Careless Talk
    â€œF RANK ! What on earth was that?” Joe asked, fumbling for the light switch.
    Frank had already jumped out of bed to the broken window. Bright moonlight gave him a clear view of the grounds. “No sign of the thrower,” he reported. “Whoever it was ducked out of sight.”
    Joe turned on the small lamp next to his bed and the two searched around the room for the missile.
    Joe reached under his bed. “Look,” he said. “It’s a golf ball!”
    â€œI suppose it’s a practical joke,” Frank said. “But I don’t think it’s very funny.”
    â€œWhom do we know who might toss a golf ball in our direction?” Joe asked, raising an eyebrow.
    â€œChet Morton, that’s who! Let’s collar him if we can.”
    After dressing quickly, they hurried down thestairs and out the door. Joe circled the guesthouse. Frank pushed through the bushes searching for a figure crouching behind them.
    â€œWhen I spot an oversize shadow, that’ll be our fun-loving pal,” he said to himself.
    Frank searched the bushes but found no one. Joe reported failure too. Finally they returned to their room and slept soundly the rest of the night.
    Early the next morning there was a knock on the door. Frank opened it. There stood Chet!
    â€œDo come in,” Frank invited. “We’ve been looking for you.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œWhat were you doing here last night?” Joe asked.
    â€œWhat makes you think I was here?”
    â€œThis!” Joe showed him the golf ball. “It came through that window.”
    â€œDon’t look at me,” Chet protested. “I was home in Bayport!”
    â€œYou’re here now,” Frank put in.
    â€œSure. But I just arrived. I’m after golf ball scavenging contracts around Granite City. I just dropped by to see you two before making the rounds.”
    Frank shook his head. “You made a wonderful suspect. Now we’re back where we started.”
    â€œLet me have a look at that ball,” Chet said. He turned it over between his fingers. “Condor brand,” he noted.
    â€œThink you could find out where it came from?” Joe queried.
    â€œCondors are popular,” Chet said with an air of authority. “Even an expert such as myself might have trouble identifying a single ball. However, I’ll ask around and see if any Granite City club sells Condors.”
    â€œHow soon will you let us know?” Frank said.
    â€œI’ll stop by this evening and give you the info.”
    Chet drove off to the golf courses. Frank and Joe went to the Whisperwood mansion for breakfast, and told their host about the golf ball and the broken window at the guesthouse.
    Retson also was puzzled, but finally he said, “I still suspect Harris.”
    â€œWhy are you so down on your butler?” Frank inquired.
    â€œWell, Graham spent a lot of time with Harris,” Retson replied.
    â€œMore than with you?” Joe asked.
    â€œMuch more. I’d rather have seen the boy playing football. But no. He preferred writing verse. Harris said he liked the