The Yellow Feather Mystery by Franklin W. Dixon

get the paper and check the Personal ads.
    As they walked out of the classroom and along the hallway, they met Mr. Teevan with several copies of the Bayport Times under his arm.
    â€œGood morning,” Frank said. “We were just going out for the paper. Can we borrow one of yours?”
    â€œSure. You can keep it.”
    â€œHow is your wife?” Joe asked.
    â€œTolerably well,” the custodian answered. “She hasn’t got over her fright completely. But I dare say she’ll be back at work in a day or two. Well, good-by, boys.”
    â€œSo long. And thanks for the paper.”
    Frank and Joe bounded up the stairs to the guest room. Frank spread the Times on the dresser and turned to the Personal column. Quickly he ran his finger down the advertisements. As he neared the bottom of the list, he gave a shout.
    Just then Greg and Chet walked in.
    â€œListen to this!” Frank said excitedly. “ ‘ Yellow Feather: Meet 100 F.R. Pt. 2101.’ ”
    â€œWow!” Chet exclaimed. “That must be the ad Kurt put in!”
    â€œHe might have done it to send us on some wild-goose chase,” Joe suggested. “I’m convinced that he’d go to great lengths to get rid of us.”
    â€œIn which case you won’t move a step away from here!” Chet said firmly.
    â€œI think we should follow up the clue, even if it’s a trap. Since we know it might be, we can be prepared,” Frank said.
    â€œBut what does that code mean?” Chet asked, repeating the words. “There’s no doubt about the Yellow Feather part. But what about the rest?”
    â€œOne hundred F.R. Pt.,” Frank said. “One hundred what? Feet maybe? One hundred feet R. Pt.”
    â€œRocky Point on Barmet Bay!” Chet exclaimed.
    â€œA meeting place,” Greg agreed. “Sounds logical.”
    â€œThe rest is easy,” Joe said. “Two thousand, one hundred and one. Twenty-one 0 one. The naval and military way of telling time. Twenty-one means nine P.M., and the 0 one means one minute after nine.”
    â€œMeet one hundred feet off Rocky Point at one minute past nine P.M.,” Frank read the complete message. “As I said before, it could be a trap. But it could also be a meeting between our buddy and the Yellow Feather. If so, we’ll have to catch them in the act!”
    â€œIn the Sleuth?” his brother asked, referring to their sleek motorboat.
    â€œNo,” Frank corrected him. “We’d be smarter not to take our own boat—someone might be watching for us to start out in it and follow us.”
    â€œThen how about Tony Prito?” Joe suggested. “He says his Napoli is in good shape and I know he’ll be glad to take us.”
    â€œGood idea,” Frank said.
    â€œWell, I hope you don’t want me to go,” Chet spoke up. “Operation Sub-zero— br-r-r!”
    The Hardys looked at Greg. “Joe and I should do this job alone,” Frank said. “I’d hate to expose you to danger. Anyway, both you fellows ought to stay here and keep your eyes open.”
    After breakfast Frank called Tony Prito. The star end of Bayport High’s football team and close friend of the Hardys was always ready for adventure. He assured Frank that he would be delighted to take them out.
    â€œMeet me at eight o’clock,” he told them.
    â€œDrive out Shore Road, and I’ll have the Napoli waiting for you in Segram’s Cove.”
    Frank had just stepped from the booth when a familiar voice called:
    â€œHi, Frank!”
    â€œSkinny! Say, you’re just the person I need.”
    â€œSwell. What can I do for you?”
    â€œPlay detective. Find Benny Tass and ask how he got permission to go to Bayport last night. Tell him you heard that he was seen there at the newspaper office. Report to me how he reacts and what he says.”
    Skinny said he would do it at once. But as he started off,