Free The Flickering Torch Mystery by Franklin W. Dixon Page B

to wear a bug.”
    â€œCome again?”
    â€œA bug—a concealed microphone,” Frank explained. “Stick close to Mudd; this way we might pick up a clue. Since he knows you’re building a plane, that gives you a good excuse to hang around a while. We’ll be listening in all the time, so you don’t have to worry.”
    Chet joked, “Where are you going to put the bug? In my ear?”
    â€œNever mind, we’ll take care of that,” Frank replied. “We’ll pick you up in the morning.”
    When Frank hung up, Joe smiled. “Pretty good thinking, Frank. What kind of a bug is it going to be?”
    â€œA medal to hang around his neck,” Frank said. “Oh, and I want to call Tony, too. We might learn something more from a meeting with his cousin Bernie.”
    â€œYou mean about the Flickering Torch?”
    â€œRight.”
    Fortunately Tony was at home, too. “Sure, I can get Bernie down here,” he said. “I’ll arrange it as soon as possible.”
    The Hardys spent the rest of the afternoon working on a miniature radio pickup. They concealed it in an ornamental medal which they attached to a chain.
    â€œChet’ll look real cute in this,” Joe said. “That is, if he’ll wear it.”
    â€œHe will,” his brother replied.
    Next morning at the breakfast table Joe came up behind Aunt Gertrude and put the medal around her neck. “My goodness, what’s this?” she asked.
    â€œOh, just a little something to show you our appreciation,” Frank said with a wink at Mrs. Hardy.
    â€œWhy, what’s it for?”
    â€œAll you have to do is sit and talk to Mother for a few minutes,” Frank said. “We’ll be right back.”
    â€œI’ll bet they’re up to something again,” Aunt Gertrude said as the boys exited through the back door.
    Frank ran to the car and got a receiver. “Listen to this,” he said to Joe.
    Aunt Gertrude’s words along with Mrs. Hardy’s came through clearly.
    â€œWell, what’s on the agenda today, Laura?” asked Aunt Gertrude.
    â€œThe laundry, the upstairs bathroom, all the upstairs windows, and the coat closet,” Mrs. Hardy replied cheerfully.
    Aunt Gertrude sighed. “You know, as fond as I am of the boys, sometimes I wish they were girls and would give us a hand with the housework!”
    Frank grinned as he recorded the conversation. Then the boys returned to the dining room.
    â€œFrances and Josephine Hardy checking in,” Joe said. “Wow, you can’t imagine how glad we are to be boys!”
    â€œDetective work is much more fun than cleaning out the coat closet,” Frank added. He set the recorder on the table and played back the conversation.
    â€œOh, you scallywags!” Aunt Gertrude exclaimed. “You shouldn’t eavesdrop like that!”
    â€œWell, we had to test the bug!” Frank said, and took the chain off Aunt Gertrude’s neck. “See you later.”
    They hurried out of the house, got into their car, and were soon at the Morton farm. Chet was waiting for them.
    Joe handed him the medal.
    â€œWhere’s the bug?” Chet asked.
    â€œYou’re holding it,” Joe replied. “Drape it around your neck.”
    Chet grinned and did as he was told. “How do I look?”
    â€œJust beautiful,” Joe replied and gave him a sharp rap on the arm.
    Frank drove to Beemerville and parked several blocks from the Mudd Airplane Junkyard. As prearranged, Chet walked up to the main gate alone. As soon as he disappeared, Frank and Joe quickly approached the metal fence that surrounded the junkyard.
    The boys set their receiver and adjusted the tape, then turned to a crack in the sheet metal.
    â€œChet doesn’t seem too happy about his mission.” Joe chuckled as the receiver transmitted a nervous gulp from their hefty pal.
    â€œOh, oh, here comes Mudd,” Frank