Mystery of the Whale Tattoo by Franklin W. Dixon Page B

took to back yards and advanced stealthily. Reaching Mrs. Snow’s property, they split up to reconnoiter, agreeing to meet again behind a large clump of lilac bushes.
    Joe was the first to spot Felsen. He was hiding behind a tree close to Mrs. Snow’s back porch. The three boys knelt at the base of the lilac bushes. “Here’s what we’ll do,” Frank whispered. “Joe and I will circle around and come at him from both sides. Chet, you stay out of the action. If Joe and I run into more than we can handle, you pitch in.”
    The boys moved out and began creeping toward their positions. When they were set, Frank whistled shrilly and rushed forward. He and Joe reached Felsen at the same moment and the three went down with a thud.
    Felsen recovered from the surprise attack quickly and jammed an elbow into Frank’s stomach, knocking the wind out of him. He threw Joe off and made a rush toward a neighbor’s yard. Joe was after him in a flash, bringing the burly carny to earth with a flying tackle. Frank scrambled to his hands and knees, rested a moment until he got his breath back, then rushed into the fray just as Felsen was struggling to his feet. Pow! A right to the chin flattened the big youth.
    â€œOkay, tough guy,” Frank said, pulling the groggy Felsen to his feet. “Let’s have some explanations.”
    Felsen pressed a handkerchief to his bleeding nose. “Look, you guys, I’m not your enemy, Why’d you jump me like that?”
    â€œWhy were you skulking behind that tree?” Chet asked, stepping forward.
    â€œMr. Solo sent me to give you a message. He told me you were on a tricky case and that I was supposed to be careful.”
    â€œOkay,” Joe said. “What’s the message?”
    â€œThe carnival’s closing in Bayport. We made as much as we can there and we’re moving on to Newton.”
    Newton was a small town thirty-five miles from Bayport. Neither Frank, Joe, nor Chet could understand why Solo would send Felsen all the way to Mystic just to inform them of the move.
    â€œWas there anything else?” Joe asked.
    â€œYeah. A note.” Felsen went through his pockets. A worried expression came over his face. “I must have lost it!” he exclaimed.
    The boys searched the ground, but found nothing. Then Knocker explained that he had planned to return to Bayport earlier that evening. “I can’t go now,” he said dejectedly. “It’s too late.”
    â€œWhere will you sleep?” Chet asked him.
    â€œDon’t know. Could I stay with you guys?”
    Frank was suspicious and far from pleased at the prospect. Joe felt the same way. Chet, however, felt that Knocker was okay.
    â€œAll right, you can stay with us,” Frank said finally. “But no funny business!”
    Felsen was given a cot and fell asleep quickly, and the Hardys and Chet followed suit shortly.
    At daybreak Frank suddenly snapped awake and glanced about. Felsen’s cot was empty! He leaped up and roused Chet and Joe. Neither of them had heard Felsen leave.
    Frank sat down on the cot. “I knew this would happen. Hey, what’s this?” He reached down and drew an object from within a fold in the covers. “Felsen’s wallet!”
    The three of them examined the wallet carefully and Frank located a cleverly concealed secret compartment. From it he drew out a folded piece of paper which he opened.
    It was a pencil drawing of a man’s fist. At the base of the thumb, and on the tip and the base of the index finger were three sections of a tattoo, which, when joined, formed a whale!

CHAPTER XIII
    A Great Surprise
    â€œWHAT do you think of Knocker Felsen now, Chet?” Frank asked.
    â€œCan’t win ’em all,” Chet said apologetically.
    There was a knock on the door. “Come in,” Joe called out.
    The door opened and there, out of breath, stood Knocker Felsen. The three boys regarded