The Clue in the Embers by Franklin W. Dixon Page A

low moan and his eyes flickered open.
    â€œHelp me up,” he said feebly, trying to rise.
    â€œLie still,” Frank urged. “Don’t try to move.”
    He recalled having seen a first-aid kit in the curator’s office and asked Chet to get it.
    The stout youth hurried off. A whiff of spirits of ammonia revived Mr. Scath. Frank gently swabbed away the blood. Luckily the man had been struck only a glancing blow.
    â€œFeeling better?” he asked.
    â€œMy head feels clearer,” Mr. Scath replied. He sat up with Chet’s assistance.
    â€œHere, let me put a patch over that cut,” Frank said.
    When this was done, the boys helped the curator to his feet and back to his office.
    â€œWhat happened?” Frank asked, after Mr. Scath had seated himself in a comfortable chair.
    â€œI was in here alone, waiting for you fellows, when I heard a noise in the Egyptian Room. I went to investigate.”
    â€œDid you see someone?” Chet asked.
    â€œYes. There was a masked man standing alongside the first big column. He demanded that I hand over the Texichapi medallion from Tony’s collection.”
    â€œYes?” Frank said eagerly as the man paused.
    â€œI told him that I had no idea what he was talking about,” Mr. Scath continued. “Then he pulled out a blackjack and threatened me. I got a bit flustered—tried to fight him off—and I shouted a couple of times, hoping you’d hear me. Then he struck me and I blacked out!”
    â€œWhat was his build?” Frank asked.
    â€œShort, thin. Had black hair.”
    Frank whistled. “The blowgun man or Torres! We’d better phone the police.”
    â€œIf it was Luis Valez,” Chet exclaimed, “he didn’t go back to Guatemala after all!”
    Frank nodded, then called Chief Collig and told him about the attack.
    â€œWe’ll be right there!” the chief responded.
    Meanwhile, Joe and Tony had searched the entire north section of the museum without finding the curator’s attacker. The skylight had been checked but found to be locked on the inside. The boys went back to join the others.
    Not finding them there, they decided that Chet and Frank must have led Mr. Scath back to his office. As they were about to check there, Joe suddenly noticed something on the floor. He picked it up. “Tony!” he exclaimed. “This is a new Guatemalan coin!”
    â€œDo you think the guy who slugged Mr. Scath dropped it?”
    â€œThat’s my guess. Let’s check your curios,” Joe suggested. “If the intruder was Valez, that’s what he was after.”
    They went through a gallery containing old musical instruments and jewelry. As the ceiling light was turned on, the boys gasped. The glass had been neatly removed from one of the cases. Every ring, bracelet, and necklace was gone!
    At that moment a siren sounded at the front entrance and the night bell rang insistently.
    Joe and Tony hurried to the museum office as Chief Collig strode in with two other officers. Frank, who had let them in, followed. Quickly they were told about the accident and theft, and started a thorough search of the building. But it was soon ascertained that the attacker had escaped.
    Chief Collig said, “From now on we’ll keep a guard around the place on a twenty-four-hour basis. Sampson, you stay here right now. I’ll send out a teletype on the missing jewels and a description of the intruder.”
    Mr. Scath handed a spare key to Sampson, then said to the boys, “Come back another time and pick up the curios.” Everyone but the officer on duty left.
    The next morning Frank and Joe decided to question Eduardo Valez again, hoping he might have heard from his brother.
    â€œNo, I have not heard from him since you were here with your father,” the man replied.
    â€œDid Luis ever tell you the exact nature of the trouble he had in his country?” Frank