Free The Clue of the Hissing Serpent by Franklin W. Dixon Page A

but Frank and Joe had to admit that Krassner’s setup looked pretty tight.
    â€œMatter of fact,” the banker went on, “the consortium trusted me with the piece because of my unique vault.”
    â€œMr. Krassner,” Frank asked, “how did you acquire the chess piece?”
    â€œIt was purchased in China and shipped to this country via Hong Kong.”
    â€œProbably smuggled out,” Frank thought to himself. He did not quite trust Krassner, and still suspected that the chess piece might have been stolen.
    On the way home the boys mused about the Ruby King.
    â€œThat was a real shockeroo, wasn’t it, Frank?” Joe asked.
    â€œI’ll say. Were you going to tackle that wooden dummy?”
    â€œOkay, don’t rub it in. I’ll bet you thought it was a thief, too.”
    Frank nodded. “Hey, we’re not far from the Morton farm and Chet’s home from the hospital. Let’s stop in and say hello.”
    Joe agreed and soon they arrived at the farmhouse. Chet was sitting in the living room watching television.
    â€œLook at this!” Joe quipped. “He’s watching kiddie shows!”
    Chet was unhappy. “What else can I do? The doctor told me to take it easy for a few days.” He sighed. “What’s up? Are you breezing around the countryside looking for trouble?”
    â€œNot exactly,” Frank said. “We were looking at a life-size chess king.”
    Iola had come in and overheard the last sentence. “What?” she said in surprise. “Is there really such a thing?”
    â€œYes. And it came all the way from China.”
    â€œTell me more.”
    â€œUnfortunately that’s all we know.”
    Iola looked thoughtful. “I might be able to find out more about ancient chess pieces. Would that be of any help to you?”
    â€œSure. How are you going to do it?”
    â€œOh, leave it to me,” Iola said coyly.
    On the way home, Frank said, “I wonder what Iola has in mind.”
    â€œShe’s pretty smart,” Joe said. “Don’t worry about it.”
    As they pulled into the driveway, Frank said, “Joe, I’ve been thinking.”
    â€œAbout what?”
    â€œConrad Greene’s place. Maybe the wiretap is on the outside of the house!”
    â€œYou only checked indoors?”
    â€œYes. It didn’t occur to me until just now.”
    â€œThen let’s take a look tomorrow morning.”
    â€œOkay. We’ll phone him tonight.”
    After dinner Frank called the Greene residence. Conrad’s father answered, saying it was all right to come the next day and check the outside.
    â€œThis time you won’t get wet, either.” He chuckled. “The weather bureau predicted sunshine.”
    When Frank asked about Conrad, he learned that the champion was out of town conducting an exhibition tour.
    â€œHe plays ten games simultaneously—and blindfolded!” Mr. Greene said proudly.
    Frank thanked him and hung up. When he told Joe about the grandmaster’s exhibition, the boy whistled. “Wow! I’ve trouble playing one opponent with my eyes open!”
    â€œYou’re not a genius, Joe. I keep telling you that.”
    Joe gave his brother a good-natured poke in the ribs. “Well, let’s see what kind of a genius you are in solving our new mystery.”
    The boys waited until ten-thirty the next morning, thinking their father might call from New York, but finally Frank said, “We’d better be on our way. I wanted to tell Dad about the Ruby King, but it’ll have to wait.”
    The day was bright and clear. On the highway a black sedan kept behind them for a while, and Joe became suspicious. A man and a woman were in the car. But it turned off onto a side road before they reached Ocean Bluffs.
    The elder Mr. Greene let them in and Frank introduced his brother.
    â€œHow’s that big fellow who was with you. What’s his name?