Danger on Vampire Trail (16 page)

“Search the tunnel! Hurry!” Frank cried out, pointing.

One of the troopers hurried forward, pistol drawn. He returned a few minutes later with the two guards and Lasher.

Pick was tight-lipped, but his inner fury showed in his blazing eyes. Finally he blurted, “You Hardys ruined my racket!”

“And the Magnacard caper, too,” one of the troopers said, while the others were rounding up the prisoners. They were all advised of their rights.

Mungo and Farkus readily admitted their guilt in the credit-card swindles. Whip Lasher made a full confession. He admitted that it was he who had followed the Hardys in the beginning of their camping trip and had let the air out of their tires.

“A real prankster,” one of the troopers commented. “Well, you won't be playing any tricks for a long time to come.”

It was Lasher, too, who had fire-bombed the boys' camper. Farkus had been with Lasher at the Mountain Dogie Store.

Just then a report came in over the police portable radio which one of the troopers was carrying. The Terrible Trio had returned to Denver and had been picked up. They were being charged with malicious mischief. Mungo's pals at the Badland Reservoir Marina headquarters had also been arrested.

Joe Hardy apologized to Prince Cuthbert for suspecting that he had any connection with the criminals.

Chet was very superior about it. “Can't you tell a good guy when you see one?” he asked.

“Thank you, Chet,” Cuthbert said with a broad smile. “Now I must wend my way through the mountains. My travels eventually will carry me back to the land of my ancestors.”

The police looked on in amazement as the eccentric shook hands with the boys and took his leave.

“Be sure to give my compliments to your dear mother,” the prince called over his shoulder.

Frank fingered the sapphire in his pocket and promised to convey the message.

The handcuffed prisoners were marched down Vampire Trail and put into State Police cars.

As the four boys walked to their camper, Joe asked, “All set to go home now?”

“Go home?” Biff exclaimed. “Why, we've hardly started our camping trip!”

“That's right,” Chet added. “I vote for a little more fishing. And don't forget, we have some reward money to split up.”

“You're right on both counts,” Frank said. “Ill telephone Dad and tell him we solved the case. Get lunch ready, Chet. Joe and I will go to Blackfoot Meadow to make the call.”

As the Hardys rode off on the motorbike, Biff scratched Sherlock's ears. “I'm glad the mystery of Vampire Trail has been solved, old boy,” he said.

But the carefree days which followed proved to be only a short respite for Frank and Joe. Almost immediately upon their return home, they would be faced with another challenging mystery,
The Masked Monkey.