What Happened at Midnight Read Free

watched excitedly as Joe unwrapped the package. Inside was a small transistor radio.
    â€œIs that all it is?” Aunt Gertrude burst out. “You risked your lives to get that?”
    The boys were puzzled. Surely their father would not have made such a request if this invention were not unusually valuable.
    â€œLet’s turn it on,” Frank suggested.
    Joe clicked the switch. A man was speaking in Spanish from Madrid, Spain, and announcing the start of a newscast. His voice was very clear.
    Frank grabbed his brother’s arm. “Do you hear that?” he cried. “The receiver is not picking up one bit of static!”
    â€œYou’re right!” Joe agreed. “It must be designed to work in the high-frequency bands.”
    â€œBut how can we be receiving a broadcast direct from Madrid? That Spanish station must be transmitting by short-wave. Yet, we’re hearing it loud and clear. This is amazing!”
    Joe gazed at the miniature radio with great interest. “I’ll bet there’s a lot more to Mr. Wright’s invention than just being able to hear overseas stations without static,” he observed. “After all, why is he so anxious to keep it a secret?”
    Just then there was a loud knock on the back door and a voice from outside said, “Let me in! I’m a ham! I have a message for you!”

CHAPTER III
    Warning Message
    FOR a few seconds none of the Hardys spoke. They were trying to decide if the caller at the kitchen door really was a radio ham with a message. Or a member of the burglary gang?
    Finally Mrs. Hardy said, “We can’t let the man stand out there in the rain.”
    Frank called, “Where’s the message from?”
    â€œMr. Hardy in San Francisco.”
    â€œOpen the door,” Mrs. Hardy said quietly.
    Joe hid the box containing the invention, then he and Frank stood on either side of the door, poised for any attack. Aunt Gertrude had armed herself with a broom. Joe turned the knob and a water-drenched figure in raincoat and hat stepped into the kitchen.
    â€œThanks,” the man said, removing his hat. “What a night! My wife told me I was crazy to come out.”
    The speaker was an honest-faced man of about thirty-five. He noticed Aunt Gertrude’s broom and smiled. “You can put that away,” he said. “I’m harmless.”
    Miss Hardy looked embarrassed. “Take off your coat,” she said. “I’ll get you some coffee.”
    The man nodded. “I could use it. I got cold walking over here. My car wouldn’t start.”
    â€œDid you come far?” Joe asked.
    â€œAbout five blocks. I’m Larry Burton, 69 Meadowbrook Road. I’ve always wanted to meet the Hardy boys. This all came about in a funny way. I have a short-wave set. Tonight I picked up your father. He said he couldn’t get through to you or the police on the phone—lines tied up—and you didn’t answer his signal on your short-wave set.”
    â€œWe weren’t expecting a call,” Frank answered. He did not say that the boys had not been at home and that their mother and Aunt Gertrude rarely paid attention to the set unless specifically asked to do so.
    â€œBy the time I phoned you, the lightning was fierce,” Burton went on. “My wife’s scared to death of lightning. She wouldn’t let me use the phone, so I walked over.”
    Aunt Gertrude served the caller coffee and cake as they all sat around the big kitchen table.
    â€œWhat was the message, Mr. Burton?” Joe asked.
    â€œThat you boys are in great danger. A gang is after you and will stop at nothing to get what they want.”
    â€œHow dreadful!” Mrs. Hardy exclaimed. “Did my husband name this—this gang?”
    â€œNo. That’s all there was to the message,” Burton replied. “I’m sorry to bring you bad news, but I guess that’s to be expected in a detective’s