OUT ON BAIL
On the following Monday, Frank and Joe Hardy noticed that Jack Dodd
was not at school. They had heard no more about the case, although the
disappearance of Isaac Fussy's automobile had increased public interest
in the car thefts and the local newspapers were making much of the
failure of the police to bring the thieves to justice.
The Bayport Automobile Club had already taken action by offering a
reward of $500 for information leading to the recovery of any of the
stolen cars and the arrest of those responsible. Three of the victims
had also posted rewards of varying amounts, comprising another $500 all
told, for the return of their automobiles. The affairs had mystified
Bayport, because of the fact that not a trace of any of the cars had
been found, save in the case of Martin's Packard, and motorists were
apprehensive. No one knew whose turn would come next.
As the Hardy boys were on their way to school on Tuesday morning Frank
pointed out one of the Automobile Club posters in a window.
"I sure wish we could land those car thieves. That's a nice fat reward."
"If we caught the thieves we'd likely get the cars, too," replied Joe.
"A thousand dollars is a nice little bit of money."
"It would come in handy. Added to the rewards we collected in the other
cases, we'd have a good fat bank account."
"Reward or no reward, I'd like to catch the thieves just for the
satisfaction of clearing up the affair. Most of all, so we could prove
the Dodds haven't had anything to do with it."
"I wonder if the police have done anything about Jack yet. He surely
was mighty blue on Saturday."
"Can't blame him," Joe said. "I'd be blue myself if I was accused of
stealing a car I'd never even seen before."
As the Hardy boys entered the school they were met by Chet Morton, who
called them over to one side.
"Have you heard?" he asked.
"About what?"
"About Jack Dodd and his father?"
"No. What's happened?"
"They were arrested last night for stealing Martin's car. They're both
in the Bayport jail right now."
There was a low whistle of consternation from Frank.
"Isn't that a shame!" he declared indignantly. "They had no more to do
with stealing that car than the man in the moon!"
"Of course, it was found on their farm," Chet pointed out. "I know
they didn't do it, but you can't blame the police for taking action,
when you come to think it over. The public are raising such an uproar
about these missing cars that they have to do something to show they're
awake."
"It's too bad Jack and his father should be made the goats."
"Sure is."
"They're in jail now?" asked Joe.
Chet nodded. "They're coming up for hearing this morning, but it's sure
to be remanded. It's mighty tough, because they haven't much money and
it will be hard for them to raise bail."
Chet's news disturbed the Hardy boys profoundly. For that matter, it
had a depressing effect on all the boys in the class, for Jack Dodd
was well liked and all his chums were quite convinced of his innocence
of the charge against him. At recess they gathered in little groups,
discussing the misfortune that had befallen him, and at noon a number
of the lads stopped Officer Con Riley on the street and asked if he had
heard the outcome of the morning's hearing.
"Remanded," said Riley briefly.
"For how long?"
"A week. They'll get about five years each, I guess. Been too much of
this here car stealing goin' on."
"They're not convicted yet," Frank Hardy pointed out.
"They will be," declared Riley confidently. "We got the goods on 'em."
It was one of Mr. Riley's little eccentricities that he preferred to
refer to the entire Bayport police force as "we," as though he had
charge of most of its activities instead of being merely a patrolman on
the beat adjacent to the high school.
"Got the goods on them--nothing!" snorted Chet Morton. "A car was found
on the Dodd farm, that's all."
"It's enough," said the unruffled Con. "Men have been hung on less
evidence than that."
"Are the Dodds out on bail?" Frank inquired.
The officer shook his head.
"Couldn't raise it," he said. "They've gotta stay in the coop."
"Even if they may be found innocent later on!" exclaimed Chet.
"That's the law," said Riley imperturbably. "If they can dig up five
thousand dollars bail they'll be free until the case comes up."
"Five thousand! They'll never be able to raise that much money!"
"Then," said Officer Riley, as he stalked away, "they'll stay in the
coop."
Frank and Joe Hardy went home thoughtfully. At lunch, their father
noticed their pre-occupation and asked what the matter was. They told
him the whole story, of the discovery of the automobile on the farm,
the finding of the rod, Jack's repeated declarations of innocence.
"I'm sure he didn't do it," Frank declared. "He's just not that sort of
fellow. And his father is as honest as--as you are."
"Thanks for the compliment," laughed Fenton Hardy. "And you say they're
being held on five thousand dollars bail."
Joe nodded. "They'll never raise it. I wonder, Dad, if we could--if
you'd help us fix it up."
The boys looked at their father hopefully.
"Joe and I can put up some of our reward money," interjected Frank. "We
hate to see the Dodds kept in jail."
Mr. Hardy was thoughtful.
"You must have great faith in them."
"We have," Frank declared. "They had nothing to do with stealing the
car, we're certain. It seems tough that they should have to stay in
jail just because it was found on their property."
"It's the law of the land. However, as you say, it is rather hard on
them. If you lads have enough confidence in the Dodds to put up some of
your own money for their bail, I suppose I can do the same. I'll make
up the rest of the five thousand."
"Hurray!" shouted Joe. "I knew you'd say that, Dad!"
Mrs. Hardy smiled indulgently from the end of the table. Aunt Gertrude,
a peppery old lady who was visiting the Hardys at the time, sniffed in
derision. Aunt Gertrude was a maiden lady of advancing years who had
very little faith in human nature.
"Chances are they'll go out and steal another car and run away," she
snapped. "Waste of money, I call it."
"I'll take my chances with the boys," laughed Mr. Hardy.
"Five thousand dollars gone!" Aunt Gertrude predicted.
"I don't think it'll be as bad as all that, Aunty," said Frank, winking
at his brother.
"Wait and see, young man. Wait and see. I've lived in this world a good
deal longer than you have--"
"Years longer," said Joe innocently.
This reference to her age drew a glare of wrath from over Aunt
Gertrude's spectacles.
"I'm older than you are and I know the ways of the world. It seems you
can't trust anybody nowadays."
However, in spite of Aunt Gertrude's doleful predictions, Fenton Hardy
stood by his promise, and after lunch was over he went with the boys
to the office of the District Attorney, where they put up bail to the
amount of five thousand dollars for the release of Jack Dodd and his
father, pending trial.
In a few minutes, father and son were free. When they learned the
identity of their benefactors their gratitude was almost unbounded.
"We'd have been behind the bars right until the day of the trial,"
declared Mr. Dodd. "I don't know how to thank you. I give you my word
you'll have no cause to regret it."
"We know that," Mr. Hardy assured him. "Don't worry."
"You're real chums!" declared Jack to the boys.
"Forget it," Joe said, embarrassed. "You'd do the same for us if it
were the other way around."
"If you run across any information that might help us find who left the
car on your farm let us know," put in Frank. "And, by the way, see if
you can find out where Gus Montrose is now and what he is doing. I have
an idea that fellow knows something."
"I haven't heard anything about him, but I'll try to find out," Jack
promised.
"Are you going back home now?"
"I don't know. I hate to miss any more school, for I've been a bit
behind in my work."
"Go on to school with the boys," advised Mr. Dodd. "I'll go back home
alone. No use losing any more time than can be helped."
Fenton Hardy nodded his head in approval of this sensible advice and
the boys went on to school together, where Jack Dodd received an
enthusiastic welcome from his classmates, all of whom stoutly asserted
their belief in his innocence and confidently predicted that he would
come through his ordeal with flying colors.
"It's a crying shame ever to have arrested you," said one of the lads
loyally.
"Oh, the police of this town are a lot of doughheads," said another.
"It's not the fault of the police, exactly," Frank pointed out. "It was
also the state troopers and detectives."
"But Jack is innocent," came from several of the lads in unison.
"Of course he is--and so is his father," answered Joe.
"Gee, if only they round up the real thieves!" sighed one of the other
boys. "Why, my dad won't let me park our car anywhere near the Shore
Road any more!"
"My dad is getting so he won't hardly park anywhere," added another
lad, and at this there was a general laugh.
"Those thieves are getting on everybody's nerves--they ought to be
rounded up."
"Yes, and the sooner the better," declared Frank.
The kind words of his chums were very pleasing to Jack Dodd. Yet he was
very sober as he entered the school building. He could not help but
think of what might happen if he and his father could not clear their
name.
"We may have to go to prison after all," he sighed dolefully.