Роберт Артур - The Mystery of the Screaming Clock

“You’d better,” the man growled. Jupiter hung up very thoughtfully. He was tempted to call Pete, but there was no use involving Pete if it wasn’t necessary. Jupiter decided that probably Mr. Jeeters meant what he had said. If he got the messages and found whatever mysterious object he was looking for, he wouldn’t have any reason not to let them go.

Jupiter put the messages — the two he had solved and the torn one he couldn’t make anything of — in the pocket of his shirt. Then, just before he let himself down into Tunnel Two, he scrawled on a piece of paper, “Lookfor us in the room of clocks,” and put that on top of the desk. The message was — well, it was just in case. He was pretty sure the room of clocks was the centre of this mystery.

That done, he crawled out through Tunnel Two and started towards Green Gate One. He had just reached it when a dark shadow seemed to detach itself from a pile of junk and move towards him. Jupiter had very quick reactions and he flung himself against Green Gate One, trying to pop through it and get away. But he wasn’t fast enough. A powerful arm went around his chest. A hand closed over his mouth, almost suffocating him. And a voice whispered mockingly in his ear:

“So! We meet again. And this time I think I have the advantage,”

The voice had a slight French accent. Jupiter recognized it instantly. It was Hugenay, the international art thief! The Three Investigators had encountered Hugenay, the debonair, clever European, once before, in an earlier case [1] and Jupiter would never forget him. He still remembered with a little chill the fog-shrouded old graveyard where Hugenay had made him and Pete prisoners.

“I deduce,” Hugenay whispered into his ear, “that you remember me. You know then that I am not a man to be trifled with. If I release you, will you remain quiet for a moment’s conversation? I dislike making threats, but if you do attempt an outcry, I will have to — silence you.”

Jupiter managed to nod his head. Seeming satisfied, Hugenay took his hand from Jupiter’s mouth. By the faint light, Jupiter could just see the man’s face. Hugenay was smiling slightly.

“You seem surprised to see me again,” he said softly. “You should have realized that when half a million dollars in stolen paintings was at stake, Hugenay would not be far off.”

“Stolen paintings?” Jupiter exclaimed. “Is that what we’re all looking for?”

“You didn’t know?” Now Hugenay seemed surprised. “Five wonderful canvases, with a total value of half a million dollars, stolen more than two years ago and lost ever since — that’s what I’m after. Surely you must have known, or why go to so much effort?”

“We were investigating a screaming clock,” Jupiter said. “It led us to some clues and I guessed there was something valuable hidden, but I didn’t know what it was.”

“Oh yes, that clock,” Hugenay answered. “I have been wondering about that clock. I have taken it completely apart — ”

“You’re the one who stole it?” Jupiter asked “It was you who chased Bob and Harry yesterday?”

“Indeed it was,” Hugenay told him. “I also had men following you, but the fools lost you. I got the clock when that officer so obligingly took your friends to the police station and they left it in the parked car outside. But I have taken it completely apart, looking for a clue of some sort hidden in it, possibly engraved upon the works, without finding anything. Now I must know what is in those messages your ingenious organization has recovered.”

“Why should I tell you?” Jupe asked, his boldness returning. “If I yell now, Hans and Konrad will be here in a minute, and they’ll tear you apart.”

Hugenay chuckled. “I like spirit in a boy,” he said. “However, it should stop short of utter rashness. I am not alone and — But why make threats? I have something to offer you for your co-operation. Help me, and I’ll help you.”

“Help me how?”

“The boy Harry whom you met at Bert Clock’s house. His father is in prison. I will enable you to prove he is innocent. I will take the paintings — you will get an innocent man out of jail. Surely you won’t refuse to do that?”

Jupiter thought furiously. Then he nodded. “All right, I’ll help if you’ll do that. But there’s one thing more you’ll have to do.”

“And what is that, my plump but clever young friend?”

Jupiter told him exactly what had happened to Bob and what the situation was — that he was supposed to be picked up by a van in less than half an hour to take him to the place where Mr. Jeeters and the others had Bob and Harry.

Hugenay uttered a few expressive words in French.

“Those idiots!” he said. “I did not think they would act so swiftly. I planned to get the pictures and be gone before they could do anything!”

“You knew about them?” Jupiter asked, puzzled.

“Certainly I knew about them. I know far more than you think. I have been in the city for two weeks, casting about for a clue. I have — certain methods. If you wish, you may assume that I have had the telephone wires of these individuals tapped and listened to all their secret conversations — however, I will not say yes or no to that. Obviously, though, there has been a change in plans today. We must foil those plans.

“Yes, boy, I will help you rescue your friends, then we will find those paintings, and by this time tomorrow I will be five thousand miles away. You must start by following instructions. At the proper time you must be waiting outside for the van. Get in and go with the driver. I and my men will follow behind, discreetly. Leave the rest to me. The less you know, the better — ”

Realizing that he had to trust Hugenay, Jupiter eased out through Green Gate One and went back to his home. He was beginning to be a little sorry he’d ever thought of investigating a screaming clock, but it was too late to change things. Anyway, he knew that Hugenay was very clever and resourceful, and he felt sure that the Frenchman could outwit Mr. Jeeters and Jerry and Carlos.

Jupiter entered the house, where his aunt and uncle were watching television. He told them Bob had phoned and wanted to see him. They readily gave him permission to spend the night with Bob, and Jupe went up to his room. He put on a warm jacket and thrust the messages into the inside pocket.

Downstairs, he said good night to his aunt and uncle and then walked out to stand in front of the main gates of the salvage yard.

Hugenay was waiting there for him. He came over and put his hand on Jupiter’s shoulder and spoke earnestly.

“Don’t forget we’re working together now,” he said. “First we have to get Bob and Harry free. When the van comes, get in and don’t give any sign you know I am following you. If in any way they get suspicious. I leave it to your cleverness to know what to say. Now I am leaving you.”

He faded away into the darkness. If he had a car waiting, Jupiter could not see it. Possibly it was hidden at the other end of the salvage yard. Jupiter waited. It was very quiet and dark here beyond the outskirts of town, and he shivered a little.

Headlights cut the darkness. A small van came slowly down the street. For a moment the headlights shone clearly on him. The van stopped. The door opened and the little man, Jerry, leaned out. “All right, kid, hop in!” he rasped. “And for your own sake, and your pals’, you’d better not be trying any tricks!”

[1] The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot