The Phantom Freighter Read Online Free

“Gertrude, why don’t you talk to an official of the express company and ask him to check further.”
    â€œI certainly will,” she replied.
    That evening at dinner the detective related stories of his travels in connection with his work during the past few weeks. Most of his time had been spent with specialists dealing in rare documents and valuable autographs whose businesses were seriously threatened by skillful forgeries that had appeared on the market. The fakes were so clever that even experts had been fooled by them.
    â€œThe forgers also compose letters on aged paper,” Mr. Hardy said. “That’s how I got my first clue.”
    â€œTell us about it, Dad,” Joe said.
    The forgers, his father explained, were not well versed in old phraseology, and that was how their swindles had been discovered. But they were skilled counterfeiters and evidently had the help of a clever chemist in “aging” the paper. Mr. Hardy had visited half a dozen large cities in his efforts to run down the gang, but so far had met with little success.
    While the family was eating Aunt Gertrude’s delectable strawberry shortcake, Frank brought up the subject of Mr. McClintock’s trip.
    After hearing how eccentric the man was, Aunt Gertrude predicted trouble for her nephews. “No telling what a person like that might do,” she said firmly. “Leave you stranded in some foreign country, or never pay you a cent for all your trouble.”
    Mrs. Hardy also voiced concern. “Fenton, I think you should look into this,” she suggested.
    It was decided that Mr. Hardy would accompany his sons to the hotel and speak to Mr. McClintock. With his expert insight, he might be able to settle the matter quickly.
    The next morning, after talking with Mr. McClintock for nearly an hour, Mr. Hardy gave consent to the trip.
    â€œI must go now,” he said. “I’ll leave you three to make plans and trust you’ll work out something enjoyable.”
    After he had left, Mr. McClintock turned to the boys. “Okay. If you can only figure out how and where to travel ...”
    â€œWe have a suggestion, sir,” Joe said. “How about a voyage by ocean freighter?”
    The man scowled. “Ocean freighter? You mean an old tramp steamer? Ridiculous. Dirty. Smelly. Poor food.”
    â€œIt wouldn’t be that bad,” Frank spoke up quickly. “A modern freighter is a mighty clean ship. Some of them make a business of carrying a few passengers. We’d pick one of those and see that the food and accommodations were A-okay.”
    â€œYou’d find it a lot of fun,” put in Joe. “They go to unusual places.”
    â€œWell, look into it. If you discover the right kind of ship, let me know.”
    As the boys left the hotel Frank advised that they try to locate a freighter that carried passengers.
    â€œWe’d better get it settled before Mr. McClintock has time to change his mind,” he said, laughing.
    â€œRight!” agreed Joe. “He’s such a strange guy you can’t tell what he’ll do or say next. I like him, though. By the way, Frank, did you notice he steered clear of mentioning anything about the mystery?”
    â€œYes, I did. Guess it was only a lure, after all.”
    The boys rode to the docks, looking for the freighter that they had seen the day before. It had already sailed, but another ship was in its berth. Frank spoke to a longshoreman coming from the loading shed.
    â€œDo you know where we can find a freighter that carries passengers?”
    The man gestured with a grimy thumb. “Try the Hawk. She’s loading now.”
    Frank and Joe climbed up a ladder running from the dockside to the ship’s rail high above. A sandy-haired seaman in a sweater and dungarees emerged from the galley and glanced at them curiously.
    â€œWe’re looking for the captain,” Frank explained.
    â€œHe’s up