The Viking Symbol Mystery Read Free Page B

turned the knob, pushing the the door open. The boys and their aunt stared aghast. The hospital room was empty! The nurse wheeled and hurried down the hall to get help.
    Frank pointed wordlessly to the open window and the brothers darted toward it.
    â€œThere goes Kelly with someone!” exclaimed Frank.
    He pointed to a thin man in a long overcoat, pulled-down hat, and loafers hurrying across the lawn with a red-haired companion. They were heading toward a waiting green car. Kelly opened the door and both men quickly got in.
    â€œCome on, Joe! We must catch them!” Frank urged as he swung himself out the window.

CHAPTER III
    Rune Stone Curse
    JOE jumped out the hospital window and joined Frank who by now was sprinting across the grassy lawn after the escaped patient. They were too late to capture Kelly. The getaway car was already roaring off down the tree-lined street.
    â€œLet’s chase them!” Frank cried out.
    He ran up the block to the boys’ convertible and jumped behind the wheel. Joe hopped in beside him. Frank turned on the ignition, swung the yellow car out from the curb, and raced after the speeding sedan. It turned a corner.
    For a while the brothers were afraid the car had eluded them, but suddenly they spotted it a few blocks ahead. “Let’s hope we don’t get any red lights,” Frank murmured.
    The chase continued through Bayport and onto the main highway out of town. Frank pressed the accelerator to the floor. Soon they were out in the open country. The green sedan was still in sight.
    â€œWe’re in luck!” Joe exclaimed, pointing to the left.
    A long freight train was rumbling down the railroad tracks which crossed the road just ahead. The crossing gates were starting to lower.
    â€œNow we’ll catch Kelly and find out what’s going on,” Frank gloated.
    The green sedan was almost at the crossing. Putting on an extra burst of speed, the car raced across the tracks. It avoided the gates by inches. Seconds later, the train roared by.
    â€œWe’ve missed our chance,” Frank groaned as he braked to a stop.
    â€œThe freight’s at least eighty cars long!” Joe grumbled over the noise of the wheels and the shrill sound of the train’s whistle.
    The brothers shifted impatiently in the front seat of their car while they watched the boxcars go by— clickety-clack, clickety-clack. Finally the caboose passed them and the gates were raised.
    Frank started the car again, and drove across the tracks. As they expected, the green sedan was nowhere in sight.
    â€œThose guys have a big lead on us now,” Joe said. “But let’s follow, anyway.”
    About five miles farther on, Frank brought his car to a halt. “It’s no use, Joe,” he said quietly, and turned the convertible back toward Bayport.
    â€œThey could have turned off onto any of these side roads.”
    â€œI wonder who Kelly’s pal is?” asked Joe. “Kelly must have got word to him somehow.”
    â€œThe redheaded man could have come to the hospital and roamed around until he found Kelly,” Frank suggested.
    â€œKelly’s leaving that way sure makes him suspect,” Joe remarked.
    The boys had almost reached the railroad tracks when Joe, glancing out his window, exclaimed, “Stop! There’s the green sedan!” He pointed to a tree-shaded culvert running at right angles to the road.
    Instantly Frank came to a halt. The boys leaped from the convertible and ran across the macadam road for a better look. The car was well hidden by the bushes and trees.
    A quick glance told the Hardys that the sedan was empty. “Kelly and his friend must have jumped onto the train,” Frank commented, as he wrote down the car’s license number. “If only we could stop the train!”
    â€œWhy not?” asked Joe. “Chief Collig can arrange that!”
    The boys ran back to their car and drove on quickly until they