A Mysterious Conversation

When the Hardy boys and the girls got back to the picnic grounds, the boys excused themselves and drew away to one side, while the girls went down to join the swimmers.

" I think we ought to go back there, " said Frank quietly.

" Why? Did you recognize any of them? "

" Did you? "

" I thought one of them looked mighty like Ollie Jacobs, " said Joe. " He's a pretty shady customer, as you know. I've heard of more than one bad business he has been mixed up in around Bayport."

" Ollie Jacobs, was it? Then the other fellow must have been Newt Pipps! He is always hanging around with Jacobs. They're a bad pair."

" Who was the other fellow? I didn't get a good look at him."

" I did, " returned Frank. " He was Giles Ducroy."

Joe whistled in amazement.

" So that's who Giles Ducroy is mixed up with now! I wonder what they're doing down in that old cabin? "

" We'd better go and find out. We can get up to the back of the place without being seen, and perhaps we can overhear what they're saying."

" Come on. It's worth trying, anyway. I'm interested."

The boys hurried off down the path. Once Joe glanced up at some lowering clouds that had gathered above the trees.

" Looks like rain, " he remarked.

" It may hold off for a while. It won't stop me from finding out what that gang is up to."

" Not if I know it, " declared Joe.

When the boys came within sight of the cabin they proceeded more cautiously. They did not come out into the open, but edged their way around through the trees until they came to the rear of the little building.

" There's an old road near here, " whispered Frank. " Perhaps that's how they reached the place."

" I can see it from here. And look-there's a car! It's parked under the trees."

" That explains how they come to be here. They've probably arranged a meeting. There's some funny business on foot, I'll be bound."

Cautiously the brothers went on through the undergrowth. It was fortunate that bushes grew within a few feet of the back of the cabin, so the boys were able to make their way near enough to overhear the conversation of anyone who might be within without danger of being seen themselves.

As they pressed close against the logs of the cabin they could hear a murmur of voices.

They soon found a convenient chink in the logs where they could peep through. There, in the dimly lighted interior of the building, they saw Giles Ducroy, Ollie Jacobs, and Newt Pipps seated about a rude table, with a bottle and glasses before them.

" I tell you, " Ducroy was saying, " I know what I'm talking about. I'm giving you fellows a chance that lots of other men would jump at."

" It sounds good, " admitted Jacobs, a short, ill-favored man with squint eyes. " But it's mighty risky."

" Nothing venture, nothing gain, " said Ducroy, taking a swig from the bottle.

" That's true, " said Newt Pipps. " But I'm not anxious to get a bullet through me."

" Bullets, nothing! " scoffed Ducroy. " We'll get aAvay with this as smooth as silk."

" Maybe, " demurred Jacobs. " You say the money is sure to be there, all right? "

" I know it will be there, I wouldn't tell you fellows about it if I wasn't sure."

Newt Pipps shrugged. " Well, I'm as brave as the: iext man, " he said, " but this is a mighty big job. It's bigger than any I've ever tackled yet, and I can't say I like it."

" The bigger the job, the bigger the profit, " remarked Ducroy.

" Yes, and the bigger the risks, too."

Ollie Jacobs looked around uneasily.

" Don't talk so loud, " he said. " If anybody hears us, we're done for."

" Who could hear us? " demanded Ducroy, who was evidently half intoxicated. " That's why I picked this cabin for a meeting place. There's nobody within miles."

" Oh, yes there is, " Jacobs answered. " A bunch of high school kids are having a picnic over in Beach Grove, and that's not very far from here."

" I thought I saw somebody over among the trees when we were coming in here, " said Newt Pipps.

" You did? " said Ducroy. " Why didn't you speak up? "

" I might have been mistaken."

" If you think there's anyone around, go and take a look around the cabin. A person would have to be mighty close to the place to hear as talking."

Then, to the horror of the Hardy boys, Newt Pipps got up from his chair, rather unsteadily.

" That ain't a bad idea, " he remarked. I'll just do that."

He moved over to the door, opened it, and stepped outside.

Frank and Joe had no time to lose. They knew that in another moment Newt Pippa might come walking around to the back of the cabin. They drew back quickly, yet cautiously, seeking the shelter of the undergrowth near by.

The bushes were small and afforded little cover, yet they did not dare move back farther for fear of being heard. So they crouched down as far as possible. They were not a second too soon. Scarcely had they flattened themselves in hiding than they heard heavy footfalls from the side of the cabin.

They were so poorly hidden that they could plainly see Newt Pipps as he came around the corner. But Pipps had been drinking and he had evidently little expectation of seeing anyone around. He did not search in their direction, but contented himself with a casual glance, then turned and went back again.

Frank breathed a sigh of relief.

" That was close! " he whispered.

" I'll say it was, " affirmed Joe.

The Hardy boys waited until they heard the cabin door slam again. Not until then did they emerge and creep forward to the rear of the cabin once more.

Newt Pipps was sitting down at the table.

" Satisfied? " asked Giles Ducroy curtly.

" There's no one around. Still you can't be too careful, " said Pipps.

" That's true, " agreed Jacobs. " Never know when somebody may be hanging around."

" Well, " snapped Ducroy, " I can't stay here all day. I've made a proposition to you men and I want to know what you're going to do about it."

Ollie Jacobs and Newt Pipps looked at one another.

" What do you say, Ollie? "

" I don't know. There's a lot of money in it for us, all right. And I could use some cash right now. I'm pretty near broke."

Giles Ducroy leaned forward and pounded his fist on the table.

" There's ten thousand dollars or more apiece in it for us, " he declared. " Where else could you make ten thousand dollars as easily, I'd like to know."

" It's easy money, " admitted Newt. " But it's dangerous."

" And we might get shot, " added Ollie.

" I'm taking that chance the same as you, " Ducroy answered. " Well, hurry up. I can't wait here all day."

" Ten thousand looks mighty good to me, " said Newt Pipps. " But I ain't anxious to get shot earning it, for then it wouldn't be any use to me."

" Same here, " demurred Ollie Jacobs.

Just then there was a low growl of thunder overhead. Raindrops began pattering on the cabin roof. Frank and Joe Hardy looked up and saw that the brooding storm was already breaking.

" It's starting to rain, " said Ducroy. " I want to get back to the city before the storm turns that road into a mud-hole. Can't you make up your minds? "

" I'll tell you what we'll do, " said Ollie Jacobs, finishing the bottle. " Newt and me ought to talk this over a little more. There's a lot of money in this job, but there's a lot of risk too, and I want to make sure it's safe."

" Of course it's safe! " raged Ducroy. " You'll never make an easier ten thousand in your life.''

" That's letting you tell it."

" I think Ollie is right, " said Newt. " We'll talk it over and let you know later."

" When? I can't wait long, you know. I've got my own plans to make yet."

" We'll let you know tonight, " declared Jacobs, getting up.

" All right, " grumbled Giles Ducroy. " But don't take any longer. Come on, now. It's starting to pour. I want to get back to town."

The three men left the cabin. Rain was now falling on the roof in a steady downpour. The Hardy boys looked at one another, puzzled.

" I wonder what mischief those three are up to? " said Frank, as the brothers hurried back into the shelter of the grove.