CHAPTER 1Missing BEEP Beep Mr Hollister blew the horn of his station wagon parked beside the rambling home on Pine Lake Where are my helpers he cried Th e Trading Post opens at eight Besides I have a surprise Coming Dad Th e screen door burst open and Pete Hollister raced out Tall and well built for his twelve years the blue-eyed boy leaped down the porch steps two at a time His sister Pam ten followed her fl uff y golden hair ruffl ed by the June breeze She and Pete slid in beside their father a handsome athletic-looking man What’s the surprise Pam begged Mr Hollister glanced at his lovely daughter started the car and grinned I fi nished the new invention at the store last night Th e collapsible canoe Pete asked Mr Hollister nodded It’s just about ready to test I can hardly wait to see it Pam said as her father Let us open the store for you Dad Pete suggested he said proudly neared Th e Trading Post in the center of Shoreham 7
Mr Hollister smiled stopped the car and handed the boy his key case Th e brother and sister hopped out while their father drove into an alley which led to the rear of the combined hardware sports and toy shop Th e Trading Post was a one-story building with two large plate-glass windows and a door set between them Pam glanced at the toys and sporting goods on display while Pete selected a large brass key and inserted it in the lock He grasped the handle Th en even before he could turn the key the door swung open under the pressure of his hand Pete gasped Pam Th e door wasn’t locked last night Mr Hollister had left the car and now approached the children What did you say Pete he asked Someone forgot to lock up Pete said as he stepped inside followed by Pam and his father I used the key myself Mr Hollister said puzzled I wonder if Suddenly Pam cried out Dad Pete Th e store has been robbed All three stood thunderstruck as they glanced down the long aisle which ran the length of the store Merchandise was strewn about some of it knocked to the fl oor Th e place was Crickets Pete exclaimed ransacked As the Hollisters hurried to the rear of the store a sudden fear gripped Pam Dad she cried out Your 8
ing around the disordered counters Pam called out We’ve been robbed new invention Th e collapsible canoe Do you suppose that’s what the thieves were after Mr Hollister raced to a little room in the back of his shop In it he kept tools for making minor repairs It was here that he had worked the night before on his new invention As his children watched with pounding hearts Mr Hollister fl ung open the door He sighed in relief Th e canoe was there Th ank goodness he said Th en what did the thieves want Pete asked glanc did the thieves want Pete asked glanc did At that moment two men walked in Indy Tinker What exclaimed the shorter of the two He was a stocky man of thirty-fi ve and his jet black hair high cheekbones and reddish-tan complexion marked him as an Indian Indy Roades worked for Mr Hollister as did Tinker the man with him who was tall thin and elderly Th e two glanced about the shop in amazement Quick Mr Hollister said We must fi nd out what was taken Everybody hurried from counter to counter examin ing the misplaced goods as they searched to determine what had been stolen Look here Tinker cried out pointing to a rack containing picks and axes Th ree of each were missing Th ey were all here when we closed up last night Mr Hollister said 9
