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by;HAi^ JUft@gi|PRESS
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THE
ADVENTURES OF THE
BLACK HAND
GANG
by HANS JURGEN PRESS

SCHOLASTIC BOOK SERVICES

New York Toronto
M
London Auckland Sydney Tokyo
No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in
part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or othen\'ise, without written permission of the
publisher. For information regarding permission, wTite to
Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632.

ISBN 0-590-30000-8

Copyright © 1965 by Otto Maier Verlag Ravensburg. English

translation copyright © 1976 by Methuen Children's Books
Ltd. All rights reserved. This edition is published bv Scholas-
tic Book Services, a division of Scholastic Inc.. 730 BVoadway,
New York, NY 10003 by arrangement with Prentice-Hall, Inc.

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 2 3 4/8

Printed in the U. S. A. 21
 Contents

The Black Hand Gang

The Mysterious House
1 A Sure Sign 8
2 The Heel on the Wall 10
3 The Rathole 12
4 The Telegram 14
5 Mr X's Study 16
6 The Golden Cigar Band 18
7 The Shop Window 20
8 The Forged Zanzibar 22
9 Escape by Canal 24
10 Trapped 26
11 Bellyilop 28

The Treasure in Breezy Lake

1 A Night Visitor 30
2 A Clue on the Roof 32
3 The Other Side 34
4 Mobile Unit 36
5 The Locked Door 38
6 The Bird Flies the Nest 40
7 Frogmen 42
8 The Necklace 44
9 One Step Behind 46
10 Rita Won't Talk 48
11 The Trfist Door 50
The Smugglers' Tunnel
1 It Happened at 17.04 Hours 52
2 The Mysterious Suitcase 54
3 The Peephole 56
4 The Key 58
5 Seek and Find 60
6 What the Postman Brought 62
7 A Threefold Meeting 64
8 A Dark Passageway 66
9 A Man is Missing 68
10 The Train 70
11 Dark Deeds 72
12 Fine Feathers 74
13 Send for Habel 76
14 By the Milestone 78
15 Roadblock 80
16 The Old Coach House 82
17 A Shot 84
18 Beware of the Dog 86

A Theft at the Zoo

1 A Photograph of the Scene
of the Crime 88
2 A Long Arm 90
3 A Comb 92
4 A Scream 94
 5 'Here's Clara' 96
6 A Telephone Conversation 98
7 The Lady Lied 100
8 Sir Henry 102
9 Getting Warm 104
10 Trick Photography 106
11 In Search of J. N. 108
12 Nickel Gives Himself Away 110
13 Mrs Appleyard Has Sharp Ears 112
14 The Man in Black 114
15 A Touch of Lumbago 116
16 A False Move - 118
17 Under the Lime Tree 120
18 Perjury 122
19 Conclusive Evidence 124
20 The Newspaper Reporter 126

Master Detectives 128

 The
Dlock Hand Gong
Police Sergeant Shorthouse was taking a stroll along
Canal Street, when he paused for a moment in the door-

way of Number 49 and stared at a faded notice pinned to

the doorpost. It was a piece of paper with a black hand-
print. The sergeant shook head and smiled.
his
''Children really are up to some funny tricks these
days," he murmured, half to himself. He was thinking of a
group of kids who called themselves the Black Hand Gang
and of the clever way that they had learned to track down
criminals.
At the top of this house, up seventy-two creaking
stairs, was their clubroom, called The Airport, just under
the pigeon loft of the roof. The Black Hand Gang met
there regularly after school. Frank, who played the
trumpet, was the leader; then there was quick-witted
Angela; Ralph, who usually wore a striped sweater; and
lastly Keith W.S. and his inseparable companion, a squir-
rel. (W.S. stands for "With Squirrel.'^
The Black Hand Gang's adventures had made them well
known locally as amateur sleuths. This book tells how
they began their successful career as detectives, and will
enable you, the reader, to try your skill at discovering the
clues.
You can by looking carefully at the
follow the trail
illustrations. When you have found the right answer,
mark it down on a piece of paper when you get to the
. . .

end of the adventures check your score on the last page.

 THE MYSTERIOUS HOUSE
1. A Sure Sign
The Black Hand Gang had been sitting up in The Airport
as quiet as mice for an hour while they did their
homework. Ralph chewed his pen and gazed fixedly out of
the grimy window. There was a sudden, sharp snap.
Keith W. S. cracked a nut for his squirrel and spat the shell
into an empty jam jar. Ralph frowned.
"How do you he whispered.
spell 'pane'?''
"It depends whether you're looking through it or feel-
ing it inside you," Angela replied, laughing.

"Looking through it, of course; a window pane like that

one there Hey, what's that? No, there can't be!" Ralph
scrubbed at the dirt on the window.
"What can't there be?" asked Frank.
"Anyone living in that house over there," Ralph an-
swered. "It's been empty for three years."
They all crowded around the window.
"We all know that only a couple of rats live there," said
Keith W.S. "Look, the doors and windows are all barred
shut."
"Let me have a look," said Angela, pressing her nose to
the pane. After a few seconds she said, "I think Ralph's
right. There really is someone in the house."

How did she guess there was someone in the mysterious

house?''

8
2. Th# H##l on the Wall
Itwas obvious to the Black Hand Gang that there was
someone living in the house because the smoking chimney
gave it away.
They kept a constant watch, and five days later, their
patience was rew^arded. While Angela was on guard one
evening, she saw the figure of a man climbing over the
wall near where the boats were moored on the canal.
Next day the Black Hand Gang met before school to
inspect the wall thoroughly.
"Look, there!" called Keith W.S. suddenly.
''I can't see anything,'' Frank said.
Keith W.S. took the squirrel from his shoulder and
placed it scampered down a vine and in a
on the wall. It

flash had seized something round.

"Look at that!" Ralph exclaimed. "It's the heel of some-
one's shoe."
"Listen, all of you," said Frank. "We must look for a
man with a heel off his shoe."
They started looking on their way to school. Angela
sauntered along, swinging her bag and her satchel. Sud-
denly she exclaimed out loud, "Hey, there he is! That's
him."
Later that day she described him to the rest of the gang
and said, "We'll recognize him by his trousers."

What sort of trousers was the man without a heel on his

shoe wearing?

10
// m m
3. The Rofhole
The Gang sat up in The Airport listening intently to
Angela's report.
"Well, now we know that the man without a heel wears
check trousers," Frank said.
"But no one's seen Ralph pointed out.
his face yet,"
"We'll get a chance as soon as we see him go into that
house. Each of us must cover an entrance."
"And the windows," added Angela.
"Of course," Frank agreed.
Three minutes later they wereall at their posts: Frank

was watching the front door; Ralph, the gate by the canal;
Angela stood by the garden gate watching the side road
through two holes she had cut in her newspaper; and
Keith W.S., disguised as a garden gnome, stood like a
statue half hidden in a bed of nettles. Not even a mouse
could have sneaked by, but no one came near the house.
"Tailing a suspect is the most boring part of a detec-
tive's life,"Ralph thought, yawning.
"Oh, showers of nuts," whispered Keith W.S. as the
truth suddenly dawned on him. "He's been inside the
house all the time. No wonder. There's a hidden trap door,
beautifully camouflaged, too."

Where was the secret entrance?

12
4. Th# TeUgrom
Keith W.S. had barely caught a glimpse of the man's face
before the trap door snapped shut. The Black Hand Gang
scuttled over to the tulip bed. Ralph sniffed at a flower.
"It's really convincing/' he said.

up the trap door," said Angela, firmly. "Fm going

"Lift
in. I want to know where it leads."

"What if something happens to you?" asked Keith W. S.

Angela showed them her bag. "I brought Isobel 13 with
me in case."
Isobel 13 was the best carrier pigeon the Black Hand
Gang owned.
Angela vanished down the hole. She crawled quietly
along the passage and emerged through a small door into a
dark room. She began to look around, but before she could
satisfy her curiosity she heard noise. Quickly she scrib-
bled on a piece of paper: "Inside house. Going to hide in
chest. Love, Angela." Then she sent Isobel 13 off up the
chimney with it.
"Where on earth is Angela?" said Frank, looking at his
watch. "She been dovra. there eleven minutes. I hope she's
all right."
Ralph said, "Let's go up to the pigeon loft and see if

there'sany message.
They ran off and climbed up to the loft. Frank said,
"There's Isobel 13, back already."

How did Frank recognize Isobel 13?

14
S. Mr. X's Study

When Frank had read Angela's telegram, Ralph

suggested that they clean the soot off Isobel 13; her flight
up the chimney had made her black all over. But Frank
said no.
"Let's just leave her. She'll groom herself."
Keith W.S. agreed: "Yes, she will. My squirrel always
does."
"What do you suppose Angela's doing now?" asked
Ralph.
Angela was still inside the mysterious house. Raising
the lid of the chest in which she had hidden, she peeped
cautiously out. Everything was
Suddenly she
quiet.
noticed the door. A thin ray of Ught shone through the
keyhole. In a flash she was across the room to the door
and, breathless with excitement, pressed her eye to the
keyhole. Mr. X sat only a few
away, his back to her,
feet
bent over something on the table in front of him, examin-
ing it minutely.
A few minutes later The Airport door burst open. The
Black Hand Gang leaped up, shouting: "Thank goodness
you're safe, Angela."
"I'm all right!" she exclaimed. "I've found out what Mr.
X is up to."

What was Mr, X doing?

16
6. Th# ttold#n Cigor Dond
"That's extraordinary," said Frank. "You're quite sure he
was looking at postage stamps?"
"I saw him with my own eyes," Angela replied, "and
rve brought you something else." She opened a small box.
"Wherever did you find that old cigar stub?" cried
Ralph in surprise.
"I picked it up in the secret passage," Angela said
proudly.
The gang examined the stub. Frank remarked thought-
must be a good brand; my father smokes cigars
fully, "It

with a gold band only on very special occasions."

"But does he smoke Don Carlos?" asked Keith W.S.
"No, why?"
"Well, we must find out where Mr. X bought them."
The Black Hand Gang spent the whole afternoon look-
ing for a shop that sold Don Carlos cigars, but without
luck. The following day they kept looking. Ralph even
examined the stub that their teacher, Mr. Smith, whom
they nicknamed "Jellybelly," had thrown out of the class-
room window. Suddenly they heard Frank's trumpet
which he used to signal the Gang. The Black Hand Gang
crowded around him and Frank whispered softly: "I've
found out where you can buy Don Carlos cigars."

Which shop stocked Don Carlos cigars?

18
7. The Shop Window
"Don Carlos —
sole supplier Otto Proud" was the adver-
tisement Frank had seen on a passing truck.
That afternoon the Black Hand Gang settled down in
The Airport with a telephone directory to look up the
address. There were an incredible number of Prouds
listed, even a Eulalia Proud, painter of fine porcelain.
**Here it is," exclaimed Frank. ''Otto Proud, tobac-
conist, 12 Frederick Street."
''Let's go," said Ralph.
"Wait a minute." Angela shook her head. "What are we
going to do when we get there?"
"Look for a clue," said Frank.
"Yes, but what sort of clue?" Angela asked. "We al-

ready know that Mr. X smokes Don Carlos. Is there

anything special about that? Probably lots of people
smoke them."
"Well, we know that Mr. X also hkes stamps."
"Where does that get us?" said Angela.
"Perhaps Otto Proud is interested in stamps."
Half an hour later they all stood outside Otto Proud's
shop. Hundreds of different brands of cigars were on
display in his window, but there were no stamps.
"Just a sec," said Keith W.S. "Look, there's a stamp!"

What was the stamp called?

20
•• Th# For9#d Zanzibar
The solitary 50 Rupee Zanzibar puzzled the Black Hand
Gang for a long time.
"Why has Otto Proud only one stamp for sale?" Ralph
wondered. "Perhaps he bought up a whole batch cheaply?
What do you think?"
But at lunchtime next day Angela raced into The Air-
port.
"Look, it's impossible!"
"What is?" asked Frank.
'Tor anyone to have lots of 50 Rupee Zanzibars.
They're rare."
"Who says so?"
"My father. His hobby is stamp-collecting and he's an
expert."
"She's right," said Ralph, who had just come in, brari-

dishing a newspaper. "Here, read this."

The Black Hand Gang read: "Stamp forgers operating
inNewtown."
Seconds later the Gang stood outside Mr. X's house.
Smoke was billowing out of the chimney and they noticed
fragments of charred paper whirling about in the air.

Keith W.S. picked up one of the bits. It was singed, but it

was clearly a 50 Rupee Zanzibar.

"Just a minute," said Angela, pulling a catalog out of
her bag. "There's a photograph of it in here."
Keith W.S. compared it to the singed stamp.
"Our's is different. It's a forgery," Ralph exclaimed.

What was missing on the forged stamp?

22
 ^

Genuine Forgery
9. Escape by Conol
"But if the flag's missing, he can't sell it," said Frank.
**0f course he can't," Angela replied. 'That's why he's
burning them. They're imperfect copies. He'll keep the
perfect ones and make his getaway."
**We must stop him," said Ralph.
The Black Hand Gang took up their posts all around the
house and watched the exits. The minutes went slowly by,
but nothing happened.
Suddenly there was a trumpet fanfare. Angela, Ralph,
and Keith W.S. rushed to the bridge.
"He's off," shouted Frank. "He came out of the cellar
with a metal case and ran off down the canal bank."
Angela thought quickly. "He's planning to escape
abroad," she said. "Let's go to the harbor."
As the Black Hand Gang raced toward the harbor they
saw the man with the metal case running down the steps
to the jetty. They sprang after him, but arrived too late.
The jetty was deserted and so was the little kiosk belong-
ing to the Saihng Club. Mr. X had vanished.
"Perhaps he's dived under water," Ralph suggested.
"If he had, we'd see his hat floating," said Keith W.S.,
smiling. "I think he's taken cover quite near here."

Where had Mr. X hidden?

24
10. Trapped
Keith W.S. knew which boat Mr. X, the forger, had
hidden in because it water than the
lay lower in the
others. His friends realized it too, but not until Mr. X had
cut through the mooring lines and sped off.
Frank blew another fanfare, "Tallyho," on his trumpet
and they gave chase. They charged along the harbor wall
and over the bridge to the other side of the canal. Their
quarry had left his boat and was disappearing at top speed
around the corner. Ralph saw him dart into a building site
on Bridge Street and then he vanished again.
The Black Hand Gang climbed up a heap of sand.
"Even if we've lost him, we can give the police his
description," said Keith W.S.
"That's something, at least," Angela agreed. "Check
trousers, black jacket, striped tie " She gasped, then

whispered urgently, "Ralph, dash off to the phone booth

and call the poHce —
Emergency, 911."
"911," Ralph repeated. "Tell them to send three cars.
All right, but why?"
"Because we've got Mr. X in a trap. Hurry up!"

How did Angela know where Mr, X was hiding?

26
II.Dellyflop
If the police sirens hadn't made such a row, the forger
would probably have stayed hidden in the cement mixer.
As it was though, the Black Hand Gang saw the striped
tie, with Mr. X attached and still holding his metal case,

erupt from the mixer and disappear head first over the
wall.
*'He'll kill himself!'' Angela exclaimed.
But Mr. X didn't hurt himself at all. He made a belly
landing in a manure heap.
''What a stink," said Sergeant Shorthouse, as the three
cars screeched to a halt in the farmyard. They arrested
Mr. X despite his protests.
"It's not against the law to smell of manure. If I want to,
that's my business. Release me at once."
"You are a forger. Where are the stamps
you've
printed? Show us where they're hidden."
The man said nothing.
The police searched the whole area without success.
They were just about to let their prisoner go when the
Black Hand Gang jumped down from the wall.
"Who are you?" asked Sergeant Shorthouse angrily.
"We are the Black Hand Gang," Frank said, politely.
"May we show you where he's hidden the metal case with
the forged stamps?"

Where did Frank think the case was hidden?

28
/
 THE TREASURE IN BREEZY lAKE
1. A Night Visitor
At quarter to three one afternoon, the door of the local
police station burst open and an elderly woman stormed
in.

"Sergeant, you must come with me at once. All my

jewelry was stolen last night."
^Tm afraid I must ask you to take a seat for a moment,
madam," said Sergeant Shorthouse, turning back to the
Black Hand Gang with a document in his hand "we
then told the police that the case containing the forged
stamps had been lowered down the well." Is that cor-
rect?"The Black Hand Gang nodded. "Then sign the
statement, please."
"Is there no one here you can send. Sergeant?" the
woman interrupted from her corner.
"Fm afraid that everyone is out at the moment, madam.
May I have your name?"
"Ida Partridge — Mrs. — Fm a widow."
must make out a formal complaint."
"Well, first you
When Mrs. Partridge left the police station some ten
minutes later, the Black Hand Gang was waiting for her
on the steps.
Frank said, "Don't worry, Mrs. Partridge, we'll help
you."
Then they all went to view the scene of the crime.
"What a dreadful mess he's made," said Angela. "But at
least we know exactly what time he was here."

How did the gang know when the burglary had taken
place?

30
I
2. A Clue on the Roof
"Mrs. Partridge's clock stopped at exactly five minutes
past midnight/' Angela said. "The burglar was probably
looking for a safe.''

Mrs. Partridge handed around a packet of gumdrops.

Ralph added: "He must have come in by the balcony
window —
look, one of the panes is broken."
The Black Hand Gang went out on to the balcony to
search for clues.
"Not the smallest trace," said Ralph. He peered at the
edge of the roof through his magnifying glass.
"Our cat burglar must have climbed over the roof,"
Frank remarked.
Keith W.S. stroked his squirrel and murmured, as he
put it on the roof, "Here's a job for you, little friend."
After a few seconds the squirrel began scratching in the
gutter, then picked up something in its paws.
Ralph shouted, "It's the stub of a movie ticket. Here's
our first clue."

Angela, twitching her braids, asked: "Which film had

he been to see?"
The Black Hand Gang bought a newspaper on their way
back to The Airport and looked at the movie advertise-
ments. It wasn't an easy task. Frank was the first to work
it out.
"He chose the right film," he said, doubling up with
laughter.

What was the film called?

32
5. The Other Side
**Deep Pockets — Long Fingers" was the title of the film.

Angela turned the ticket over. ''Look at this!'' she

exclaimed. The Gang read it out in unison: "... aser."
"It must be part of someone's name," said Frank. "He
must have booked his seat in advance."
"He's probably a regular movie-goer," added Angela,
hopefully.
The following evening the Black Hand Gang went to the
theater and loitered by the ticket office, hoping that
". aser" would eventually ask for tickets. The sole result
. .

was that the manager came to shoo them away.

"But we're the Black Hand Gang," said Angela.
"Not the gang the newspapers were talking about the
other day..."
"Yes, we're the ones," said Angela proudly.
So the manager was only too pleased to let them stay.
Three evenings later their luck was in. A man and a
woman in motorcycle gear came up to the ticket window.
"Tickets for Fraser?" the man asked. The manager
managed to get four seats in the front row for the Black
Hand Gang.
"We must stay close to our suspects," said Frank. "Did
anyone notice which seats they took?"
After about half an hour Keith W.S. said: "There they
are."

Which row were the suspects in?

34
 \

Please ce>Jle<
eserved
:ketsher«

v^^Sk
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4. Mobile Unit
Once the Black Hand Gang had spotted the motorcyclists
sitting in the sixth row, they slipped out of the theater and
held an urgent conference outside.
"We must find out where Fraser lives," said Ralph.

Angela asked: "How are we going to do that?''

"We'll follow him on our bikes."

The Black Hand Gang separated to cover the three
exits. Frank stood guard over the car lot. At about half
past ten the audience began to stream out, and a few
minutes later came Frank's trumpet signal.
They pedaled off furiously, swept around the corner
into East Street in the wake of the motorcycle. Fraser
accelerated away, though, and the Black Hand Gang lost
him in the side streets. They could still hear the throbbing
of his engine, but then the noise suddenly stopped.
"He can't be far," called Frank. "Let's go and look for
the motorcycle. Its number is PXE 1314 and it has a
sidecar."
They soon found it parked in front of Number 28,
Windmill Street. The Black Hand Gang looked for
Eraser's name on the nameplates beside the street door.
"Bother," said Angela. "Fraser isn't here."
Just then Frank strolled up, looking very pleased with
himself.
"Fraser does live here," he said. "I've seen his name."

Where had Frank seen the name?

36
5. The Locked Door
Frank had seen the name on a mailbox near by.
"Well/' said Angela, "Let's go and brave the wolf in his
den."
"Let's wait till daylight," Frank suggested.
When they came back to Windmill Street the next
morning, the motorcycle had disappeared. They went into
the house and found Fraser's apartment up in the attic.
Ralph rang the bell. No one answered. Frank tried to look
through the keyhole, but it was blocked.
"Let me try," said Angela, and she waggled the
doorhandle. The door was locked, but they heard a voice
calling: "I'm ill in bed. Please go away and leave me in
peace."
Ralph had already taken his special penknife with its
seventeen different attachments out of his pocket, and was
unscrewing the doorhandle. He pulled it off and pushed
through the other side of the doorhandle so that he had a
peep hole.He put his eye to it and whispered to the
others, "The bed's empty."
Angela had a look, too, and said: "Fraser isn't there, but
I know where his voice is coming from."

Where was Fraser's voice coming from?

38
k
6. The Dird Flies the Nest
Fraser's voice had come from a tape recorder under the
bed. "He's gone away," said Angela. "What are we going
to do now?"
"We know the number of his motorcycle," said Ralph.
"That's no use," Keith W.S. said, cracking a hazelnut
for his squirrel.
"Look here," Frank said, "we're not giving up as easily
as that. We'll keep looking, all of us."
Days went by. The Black Hand Gang searched streets,
backyards, car lots, but found no trace. They began to
comb the surrounding villages, too, but Fraser and his
motorcycle had completely vanished.
Ralph was ready to give up the search when fate took a
hand. One afternoon as they were riding around the coun-
tryside, Frank suddenly braked hard.
"Look, there," he shouted.
Half hidden in the bushes was the motorcycle with the
PXE 1314 number plate.
"The rear wheel is missing," Angela noticed.
"And where is its rider?" asked Keith W. S. "He must be
near here."
The Gang looked around.
"Come on!" exclaimed Frank, running toward a nearby
camp site. It was only a matter of seconds before he
pointed toward one of the tents.
"That's our man. See what he's doing."

What was Fraser doing?

40
^
7. Frogmen
Fraser was pumping up his tire. But what on earth was he
doing in a camping site near Breezy Lake?
"Do you think he realized that we were following him?"
suggested Ralph.
"Anyhow, we must keep a close watch on him from now
on," said Frank.
They settled down on a small hill from which they could
observe Fraser's tent unseen. For two hours nothing
stiiTed except for ants, which bit them all over. But at
moonrise Fraser stole out of his tent and crept down to the
shore. He threw a heavy object, to which a rope was
attached, into the lake. The Gang heard it splash as it

sank. Fraser returned noiselessly to his tent.

"What can that have been?" Angela whispered.
"Tomorrow we'll go and look," Frank answered.
The next day the Gang were back, equipped with flip-
pers and masks. They changed in the bushes beside the
lake and dived. After several attempts they found what
they thought was the right place and dived again. Sud-
denly Frank signaled to them to surface. He had discov-
ered what Fraser had thrown into the lake.

What had Fraser thrown into the lake?

42
\
6. The NecklQce
Frank had spotted a duffel bag at the bottom of the lake.
''Are you sure it belongs to Fraser?" Angela asked.
"It must do. There's a rope attached to it," Frank said.
"Let's go down again and see what it contains."
When they reached the bag, Ralph struggled with the
knots and Frank reached inside. At that moment there
was a sharp tug on the rope and the bag vanished upward.
The gang realized at once that Fraser had returned. They
surfaced among the reeds.
"What a nuisance!" Ralph exclaimed, furiously.
"At least we have recovered a necklace," Frank said,
trying to cheer him up.
Angela inspected it. "It looks like a family heirloom,"
she said.
An hour later they stood outside Mrs. Partridge's door.
She was far from happy.
"It's disgraceful," she complained. "The police still

haven't found my jewelry."

"We may have good news for you," Angela interrupted.
"We have found something and we'd like you to tell us if it
belongs to you. Show her the necklace, Frank."
''No need," answered Frank. "I know it is her
necklace."

How did Frank know the necklace belonged to Mrs, Par-

tridge?

44
9. One Step Behind
As soon as Frank pointed out the necklace in the painting,
he said to the others: "Quick, let's get back to Breezy
Lake. Hurry."
They were, of course, just too late. Fraser had left on
his motorcycle.
*'We'll have to tell Sergeant Shorthouse,'' said Ralph.
"Fll call him.''
A squealing of brakes announced the arrival of a police
car at Breezy Lake. The Black Hand Gang jumped in and
they raced off again, Angela explaining the situation to
the Sergeant as they went.
"Stop!" she shouted suddenly. The car drew up beside a
pohceman on a bicycle.
"A motorcycle and sidecar? Yes, Fve seen one. It

turned into Robertson's farm a little while ago."

As they entered the farmyard with the police, the Black
Hand Gang saw the motorcycle. They went into the house
and called, "Hello."
"Yeeees," answered a woman's voice from the kitchen.
"That's his girlfriend," whispered Frank. "The one he
took to the movies that evening."
"What's your name?" asked Sergeant Shorthouse.
"Rita Fergusson. Fm the cleaning woman. The boss
and his wife have gone to tov^Hi. Fve been here alone all

morning."
"She's lying," Ralph said. "There's the proof."

What had Ralph seen?

46
10. RifQ Won't Talk
Sergeant Shorthouse held the smoking cigar under Rita's
nose and asked sternly: "Where is the man hiding?"

**I don'tknow what you're talking about."

"If that's the way you want it," the Sergeant answered,
"we'll search the w^hole house. Show us around."
Rita pulled a chair into the middle of the room and sat
down on it, saying with a scornful air, "Search if you want
to. Go and creep down every little mousehole, but don't

expect me to help you."

Sergeant Shorthouse wasted no more time but took his
men to search every room Meanwhile, the
in the house.
Black Hand Gang sat on the stairs and watched Rita
closely.
"If they can't find Fraser," Keith W.S. whispered,
"we'll be in trouble."
"He must be here," answered Frank.
At last only the store cupboards remained and Sergeant
Shorthouse inspected these too, without result. He came
back to the children and said, ''Well, we've looked
"
everywhere
"There's one door you've missed," Angela answered.
"Perhaps that's the right one."

Which door did Angela mean?

48
11. The Lost Door
Not until Angela pointed it out did Sergeant Shorthouse
see the trap door.
"Get up/' he snapped at Rita.
As he pulled the door open she cried, "There's really no
one down there."
Sergeant Shorthouse only laughed and shouted into the
cellar:' "Come out of there, no one."
A crash helmet slowly emerged and under it, a face.
"Fraser!" exclaimed the Gang with one voice.
Sergeant Shorthouse put the handcuffs on him and
asked, "Where's the loot?"
But Fraser struggled furiously and said, "FU sue you.
Fm an honest citizen."
"That remains to be seen."
The second pohceman cHmbed down to the cellar and
returned with the duffel bag. "There's nothing else sus-
picious," he said.
Sergeant Shorthouse reached into the bag. It was
empty.
"Mr. Fraser was just bringing up some potatoes for
me," Rita said, angrily. "Your arrival upset him."
She said much more besides, not noticing that the Black
Hand Gang had sHpped quietly away into the cellar.
Ralph, squinting in the gloom, suddenly exclaimed:
"Fve found it. Look, all of you, there's the stolen jewelry!"

Where was the jewelry?

50
 THE SMU66LERS' TUNHEL
1. If Happened of 17.04* hours.
Ralph burst into The Airport waving a letter. He read:

Dear Ralph,
I read all about your adventures in the newspaper
and how your ''Black Hand Gang" caught a thief and
found the stolen jewels in a preserving jar. Well done!
Your loving uncle,
Paul,
P.S. Why don't you all come up to my farm in the
mountains for a holiday?
The Black Hand Gang were delighted and two weeks
later, on Saturday, they took the train to Green Willow.
'This journey is taking forever," grumbled Keith W.S.
Ralph looked at his watch. "It's 17.04 already."
A clergyman sitting opposite him smiled and said: "We
shall be going through a long tunnel presently and then
we're almost there."
As the train rattled into the tunnel, their compartment
was plunged into total darkness —
lit only by glowing

cigarette ends. Suddenly a woman's voice cried out:

"Ow! My foot! Watch where you're treading!"
The carriage door creaked as it opened, letting in an
acrid smell of smoke. Then it slammed shut again.
"Who was that at the door?" whispered Frank.
As soon as they re-emerged into daylight Angela mur-
mured: "I know who it was."

How did the traveler give himself away?

*17.04 hours is 5:04 p.m., on a 24-hour clock. 1:00 p.m. is

13.00 hours; 2:00 p.m. is 14.00 hours, etc. Trains, planes,

and many theater schedules in Europe use this time.
52
2. The Mysterious Suitcase
The Black Hand Gang eyed the man suspiciously, for he
was holding his newspaper upside down. Presently Keith
W.S. tugged at Frank's sleeve.
"Look! A suitcase!" he whispered, rolling his eyes up-
ward at the luggage rack above the man's head. "When we
went into the tunnel there wasn't one there."
As the train drew into Green Willow station the strange
traveler got out first, quickly followed by the Black Hand
Gang.
"Hello, children," came a shout and a man waved his
hat. It was Ralph's uncle, Paul Boiler. But the Gang
slipped past him in pursuit of their suspect who had left

the station.
"See what the number is on the case." Frank ordered.-
Only then did they say hello to their host and to Fred,
the driver of the pony- trap.
in, all of you," called Uncle Paul.
"Get
But the Black Hand Gang were still watching the
traveler who had now climbed into his car.
"What about the case?" asked Ralph.
"In the trunk?" Angela suggested.
But Keith W.S. pinched her arm and winked.
Don't worry. I know where the case is."

Where had the man left his case?

54
3. The Peephole
Ralph was very puzzled about the case, now safely hidden
in the pony-trap under Fred's seat, and he worried about

it all evening. As the church clock struck ten, a sound of

footsteps outside made him sit up in bed.
**Wake up!'' he hissed.
The others sat up too.
''What's the matter," said Angela, yawning.
"It's Fred, with the case!"
They were all immediately wide awake.
"Put your socks on," Frank ordered.
They all crept out and into the loft. They hadn't gone far
when Ralph held up a warning hand.
"There's a light there."
Light was shining up through a knothole in the floor.

Ralph tiptoed forward, holding his breath. He could see

directly into Fred's room.
Fred had just opened the suitcase and was taking out a
round tin box. He prised open the Hd with his penknife,
shook the contents out on to the table, and began to count
them.
"Anyone know what those things are?" Ralph asked in a
whisper.
They each looked in turn through the knothole, Angela
last. She got to her feet, clutched her forehead, and
groaned.
"You'll never believe it!" Do you know what he's count-
ing?"

What was in the tin box?

56
4. The Key
Printed clearly on the lid of the box were the words "Stock
Cubes."
*'I don't believe it," said Ralph when they were back in
bed. "Why would anyone collect bouillon cubes for mak-
ing soup stock? We'll have to organize a watch."
The Black Hand Gang kept Fred under observation but
apart from taking an occasional raw egg from the
henhouse he did nothing suspicious. But one evening,
while they were collecting glow worms behind the garden
hedge, they saw him set off toward the village.
"Come on, after him," said Frank.
They shadowed Fred as far as a pub called The Blue
Knight.
"I can hear music," said Keith W.S., pointing to a
window.
They all crowded around and Keith W.S. pressed his
nose to the pane. _
"It's very smoky inside," he whispered. Then he gave a
startled cry. "There's Fred," he gasped. "He's with a man
who's giving him money. Fred's handed over a little key.
"A key," said Angela, puzzled. "Why a key?"
Keith W.S. watched quietly for a while, then he said:
"It's very strange — putting soup cubes in a secret cup-
board. You'll never guess where the cupboard is."

Where was the cupboard?

58
5. Seek ond Find
"Well," said Angela, "one thing is clear enough. The soup
cubes are distributed from that secret cupboard hidden in
the painting."
"But why go to all that trouble?" asked Frank thought-
fully.

Next morning they all went back to the pub. Around at

the back a woman was cleaning up.
"Should we just go in?" Frank asked.
But Keith W.S. had spotted something interesting
among the refuse, and held it up triumphantly. It was a
small cube. Angela unwrapped it and sniffed it.
"It doesn't smell of anything." She licked it. "Ugh,
bitter!" she exclaimed, spitting it out.
Half an hour later the Black Hand Gang were standing
in the local drugstore waiting hopefully for Mr. Hancock
to examine the soup cube. Suddenly he gasped: "Good
heavens!" and reached for a reference book.
"Can you tell us what Angela asked politely.
it is?"
"Tell you!" snapped Mr. Hancock. "This is nothing to do
with you. This is a matter for the police."
He went to the telephone, but Ralph whispered:
"Come on, let's go. I know what's in those cubes."

What was the substance in the cubes?

60
i
1
6. Whof the Postman Drought
The soup cubes were full of drugs, as the Gang had sus-
pected.
"The whole thing falls into place now," said Angela.
*That queer business with the suitcase and all Fred's
coming and going. It's drug smuggHng!"
"What shall we do now?" Ralph asked.
"Wait and see," suggested Frank.
The Gang were very busy helping Ralph's uncle on the
farm, but they still kept their eyes open. One afternoon a
boy arrived.
"What do you want?" asked Keith W.S.
"I'm looking for Fred. I have a letter that I have to
deliver tohim personally."
The Black Hand Gang were immediately on the alert..-
They watched the boy hand over the letter. Fred put
down his barrow and went quickly to his room. Watching
through the window, the Gang saw him tear open the
letter.
"Look," muttered Keith W.S. Fred had torn the letter
into little pieces which he threw out of the window.
It took the Gang ten minutes to gather up the bits, and
piece them together in a quiet corner of the barn. Then
followed a long silence.
"I've got it!" Frank exclaimed. "This is an important
message. We shall have plenty to do now."

What was the message?

62
7. A Threefold Meeting
"Rendezvous cable car Sunday 14.00 hours. Chief," was
the text of the message. The Black Hand Gang were on
time at the meeting place. Fred was the first to arrive,
with the suitcase, and he was soon joined by the man from
the train. They waited near the cafe. A few minutes later
the cable car swept into the reception hall and the passen-
gers streamed out.
"Look!'' Frank whispered.
A stranger had approached the other two. He nodded to
them and they all went to sit down in the cafe to have a
beer. They looked around cautiously before they began to
speak. Behind the hedge, however, crouched the Black
Hand Gang, listening as hard as they could.
Keith W.S. muttered softly: "I can't catch what they're •

saying."
"Shhh!" whispered Angela. She repeated: "17.10 —
17.10 — 17.10?"
"What's happening at 17.10?" Frank asked when the
men had finished their beer and left.

something to do with the trains. They're planning

"It's

to dehver something. Presumably in the tunnel."

"But when?" said Ralph impatiently.
Angela shrugged. "I couldn't hear."
"But I know," said Keith W.S., chuckling. "There's
only one day it can be."

Which day had the men chosen?

64
A
0. A Dork Possogewoy
Only on Saturday was there a 17.10 train arriving at
Green Willow. Keith W.S. had read the timetable.
"What happens next?" Ralph asked.
"We must go to the tunnel," Frank said.
So on Saturday afternoon the Black Hand Gang were on
the embankment walking toward the tunnel. Its entrance
was very close to the border.
"Keep close to the side as you go," Frank ordered.
Inside the tunnel it grew darker and darker until
Angela had to switch on her flashHght. When they had
reached the middle of the tunnel, she suddenly stopped
dead.
"Shhh! Can you hear?"
"It sounds like water," said Keith W.S. "Shine your.
flashlight over there."
The flashUght beam played over the opposite wall, il-
luminating an opening in the rock. The Black Hand Gang
stepped across the rails.

Keith W.S. bent down and exclaimed in surprise. He

put his squirrel into the narrow opening and he and the
rest of the Gang followed it cautiously. A few yards
further on the passage opened out into a cave.
"What a find," said Ralph. "Do you think the smugglers
use this as a route to the railway tunnel?"
"Don't be silly," Angela said. "No one's been through
here in years."
"Oh, yes, someone has," Frank answered. "And here's
the proof."

What was the proof?

66
11 P^ra
\^
w-

%.
.^^j^yv if'ira
M
I^A^^^ft^^n
\

W^
^M^ ^ ^^^^^g
1^
9. A Man is Missing
The candle stump showed that someone had been in the

tunnel.
Angela said: "It must be the smugglers/'
"How do they get in-?'' asked Ralph.
"No idea," answered Frank, "but I'm sure this cave
"
must span the border. Do you suppose the smugglers
"Shhh!" hissed Keith W.S.
They all listened.
"Voices," said Ralph, after a few moments.
They all crept further along the passage. The sound of
voices grew clearer and now they could see a faint light on
the damp walls. The passage gave on to a vast cave,
electrically lit.

"Stalactites," Angela whispered. "I bet the entrance is

on the other side of the border."
They could now see the group of tourists and the guide
whose voices they had heard. The children watched
closely as the group was led around. But when it stopped
in front of a stalactite called the "Witch's Nose," Ralph
gave a smothered exclamation.
"One of them is missing."
Angela looked at the group again. "You're right and I

remember what he had in his hand."

What had the missing tourist been carrying?

68
10. The Train
*The missing man was carrying a suitcase," said Angela.
"Quick, let's go back to the tunnel,'' Frank said.
They hurried back down the dark passage. It was not
long before they heard a distant rumbling.
"It's the train," said Keith W.S., looking at his watch.

"It's 17.04. This must be the smugglers' train."

The rumbling came nearer and nearer, and as they

crawled out into the tunnel, the train came thundering
toward them. They saw the man with the suitcase leap on.
"Duck!" shouted Frank, as the train went by.
"He's seen us," Angela shouted.
The Black Hand Gang ran the short distance to Green
Willow, stumbling over the rails, and sprinted
breathlessly into the station.
"Look!" Keith W.S. gasped, pointing. "The getaway
car."
Even as he said it, the engine revved up and the car
took off at top speed. The Black Hand Gang chased after
it, but came to a halt at the crossroads.
"It's hopeless," said Ralph.
"No," said Angela, "wait a minute. They took that
street."

Which way had the smugglers gone?

70
 91 p^^^ra
^mH|
^0S^
1 H|iT
lp ^^0L,^W
^^
^^S^^^
9^X^
s^S
^^
'^^
>C\ .^^^ A\^^
11. Dork Deeds
Angela had noticed a skid mark on the street leading to
the market place. When the Black Hand Gang arrived
there, however, there was no sign of the car.
"I expect they've gone to find Fred," suggested Keith
W.S.
"What are we waiting for then?" asked Frank.
It was dusk when they reached Uncle Paul's farm.

Keith W.S. stopped.

'*Look, I can see a ghost."
Fred was slinking along the wall of the house. He went
into the tractor shed and the Black Hand Gang followed
him.
'*Hush!" said Angela softly. She had seen the
smugglers' car.
"Keep your heads down or they'll see us," Frank or-
dered.
They all ducked down. A faint murmur of voices and
clatter of tools was all they could hear. After a while there
was a silence. They peered out cautiously. The car was
stillthere and they could see nothing suspicious.
Suddenly Ralph caught his breath: "What a nerve! I

know what they've been doing."

What had the smugglers done?

72
12. Fine Feathers
When the Black Hand Gang noticed that the license plates
had been exchanged, they decided they ought to tell
Uncle Paul about it.
"Let's go and find him/' said Ralph.
Mr. Boiler was in the Hving room doing the books.
When the children told him about the smugglers he burst
out laughing.
"What a story! Fred's not a criminal. I can't beheve it.

Let's go and talk to him."

"Supposing he's armed?" asked Angela hesitantly.
"There are no firearms on my farm. In fact, there isn't

so much as a firework."
Uncle Paul, still laughing, led the way to Fred's room.
He knocked, and would have opened the door but it was
locked. The key turned on the inside and the door opened.
There stood Fred, dressed in his best clothes.
"Hello," said Uncle Paul. "Where are you off to?"
"I — —
I I'm going to the movies," he replied awk-
wardly.
"Well, we won't bother you now. It was all a lot of
nonsense anyway," said Uncle Paul cheerfully.
But Ralph tugged at his sleeve and whispered some-
thing to him. Mr. Boiler started, gave a low whistle and
said sternly, "That's a different matter."

What did Ralph point out to Mr. Boiler?

74
13. Send for Hobel
Ralph had caught sight of the gun hidden in the bed. Mr.
Boiler sighed as he left the room with the children. Then
he said softly, "Go and fetch the police. Tell Officer Habel
the whole story. Get him to come quickly while I keep an
eye on Fred.''
"Can't we phone him?'' asked Angela.
"We'd better not. Fred might hear. His room is next
door to the living room."
The Gang stole out of the house and as they went they
saw Fred watching them through the window.
"Run for it!" shouted Frank.
In two minutes they had reached the police station.
Officer Habel did not waste any time. He pulled on his
jacket, picked up his gun, and bundled the Black Hand
Gang into his car.
When they reached the farmyard they all jumped out.
"He's still inside," whispered Uncle Paul, who had been
keeping watch outside the door.
"Let's have him out here, then," said Officer Habel,
taking a firm hold of his gun.
"Oh, no!" cried Frank. "We're too late. He's escaped."

How did Frank know Fred had escaped?

76
14. Dy the Milestone
Frank was Fred had climbed through the window,
right.
overturning the flowerpot as he jumped. The poHceman
and the Gang ran across to the tractor shed, but the car
had gone.
*'What make of car?" snapped the policeman.
As Keith W.S. was about to tell him, Angela inter-
rupted.
"Come here a minute. Officer."
"What's the matter?"
"Fve found this," she said, giving him a scrap of paper.
"This is bad news," he muttered. "This comes from a
cartridge wrapper."
The policeman acted swiftly, telephoning around to all
the other poHce stations in the district. Then he order-ed
the Black Hand Gang back into the car and roared off
toward Newtown. They had gone about thirty miles be-
fore he slowed down and said: "There's no point in going
on. They must have taken another road. Climb out while I
turn the car."
The Black Hand Gang climbed out and watched to see
that the car didn't back into a ditch.
Suddenly Angela cried, "Stop!"
Officer Habel braked sharply and called, "What's the
matter?"
"This is the right road. The smugglers did come this
way."

What had Angela seen?

78
IS. Roadblock
The policeman inspected the box of cartridges that
Angela had found.
"This is the box that scrap of paper came from," he said.
They all got back into the car and set off in pursuit
again.
*'If we can't catch them before they reach the bridge,
we'll have lost them."
A few minutes later they saw the blinking of a red light.
Officer Habel skidded to a halt.
The Black Hand Gang jumped out and Frank cried:
''What luck. It's another police car."
The policeman, somewhat surprised, asked: ''Where
have you come from?"
"We're chasing the smugglers."
"We've caught them," he said. "They tried to run us
down, but we had scattered nails right across the road. All
the tires burst and we arrested these two men here."
The children recognized them immediately.
"That just leaves Fred," said Angela.
"That's right," replied the policeman, "the third man
escaped."
The Black Hand Gang climbed down the river bank.
"Look!" said Keith W.S. "There's our friend, Fred."

Where had Fred hidden?

80
16. The Old Cooch House
Keith W.S. had spotted Fred clinging to the girders, and
they ran down to the river's edge, closely followed by one
of the policemen.
''Come down!" he shouted.
Fred did not answer.
you three seconds!''
'Til give
The policeman had counted to two when Fred cUmbed
down and jumped into the water. There was a splash, then
silence.
"He's getting away!" Angela cried.
"Come on," said the policeman. "We must cross the
bridge and cut him off."

The Black Hand Gang crossed to the other side, and

pushed their way through the bushes. There was no sign
of Fred.
"What shall we do now?" Ralph asked.
The policeman scratched his chin. "I think we'd better
send for reinforcements. There are too few of us."
But Frank pointed to a building from whose windows
shone a flickering light. "Could he be in there?"
"That's an inn called The Old Coach House,'' said the
policeman. "It's a very rough place. We'd better take a
look."
They peered throught the pub window.
"There you are," said Frank. "There's slippery Fred.
Can't you see him. Officer?"

How did they recognize Fred'?

82
17« AShof
"Good lad!" exclaimed the policeman when Frank pointed
out the man's soaking trousers. "We'll get him this time,
but you had better stand clear."
The policeman opened the door of The Old Coach House
and stepped into the porch. The Black Hand Gang fol-
lowed him. Fred must have noticed the sudden draft, for
his hand leapt to his pistol. He fired. There was a tinkle of
glass and the room was plunged into darkness.
"He's escaped again!" The pohceman's angry voice
made itself heard in the darkness. The silence was broken
by the slamming of a door.
"There's a door on the left," called Angela.
Someone at the bar struck a match and the policeman
saw the door for himself. Pistol in hand, he rushed
through it, followed by his companions.
A short passage led them into a private room. Keith
W.S. put the light on.
"He's vanished," said the policeman.
"The window!" exclaimed Angela. "He means to come
back, though."
"How do you know that?"
Ralph answered: "Angela's right. Fred's left the suit-
case behind."

Where was the suitcase?

84
16. Dewore of the D09
The policeman heaved the suitcase out of the piano and
opened it. It was full of soup cubes. He pursed his lips.
"These are supposed to be full of drugs?"
Frank said, ''Have a taste.''
The policeman tasted one and shuddered. They had to
use all their strength to get the suitcase shut again. Then
he said: "Fm very grateful to you all. Let's go back to the
car and fetch help. We shall need all we can get if we're
going to catch Fred."
He took the case and started toward the door. At that
moment a dog set up a frantic barking. The Black Harrd
Gang rushed to the back door and into the yard.
''Call the landlord!" cried Angela.
Keith W.S. ran to fetch him.
"That's my dog," said the landlord, turning on the out-
side light.
They saw the dog scrabbling away at the trunk of an
apple tree. Fred, his trousers in shreds, was clinging to
the branches.
"Take care!" shouted the policeman. "He's armed."
But Ralph only laughed. "Don't worry. He's dropped
his gun, and he's scared to death."

Where was the gun?

86
 A THEFT AT THE ZOO
1. A Photograph off the Scene off the Crime
Ralph's uncle, Mr. Boiler, was still waving his hat as the
train entered the tunnel. The Black Hand Gang flopped
down into their seats. Frank groaned.
"Phew! That was a busman's holiday and no mistake."
When they had nearly reached home, Ralph spotted a
newsman who was shouting the latest headhnes: 'Tolice
Break Drug Ring!"
He sprang to the window and shouted: "Hi there, a
paper, please."
The news raised Angela read
their spirits immediately.
the article out loud: and once the local pohce had
". . .

seized the pistol which had fallen among some crates of

empty bottles, they took the third suspect into custody."
Angela pointed to another heading: "A Theft at the
Zoo." "That's an interesting story," she said. "Besides,
it's about that rare little panther in our own zoo."
"It sounds like our sort of case," suggested Ralph,
studying the photograph through his magnifying glass.
Suddenly he looked more closely. "I've just found our first
clue," he said. "Look! The thief has dropped something."

What had the thief dropped?

,? Police • ^''e P^nly <^aqe ,
?••
7. A Long Arm
That same afternoon the Black Hand Gang cycled off to
the zoo and went straight to the panther cub's now empty
cage. Angela began to search among the stems of the little
bush where she soon found the key that Ralph had discov-
ered in the newspaper photograph.
''Now we must establish where it came from," she said.
"Let's go and ask the keeper/' suggested Frank.
When he saw the key the keeper stared and stared. "I
simply don't believe it. Where did you find that?"
The Black Hand Gang introduced themselves and ex-
plained how they had come across it.
"Ah! I've heard of you. My name, by the way, is Win-
terton. I do hope you'll discover what's become of poor
Ernesto." Mr. Winterton led them into the keepers' lodge
and showed them the board where the keys usually hung.
"Was the door locked?" asked Ralph.
"Of course. We have a safety lock."
"What about the window?"
"That was only latched, but no one could get through
the bars."
"Only a person with arms two yards long," said Angela,
laughing.
Suddenly Keith W.S. interrupted. "That's just what he
did have and I can see how he managed it."

How did the thief take the key?

90
3. A Comb
The Gang experimented to see whether it was possible to
hook one of the keys with the handle of the rake.
"This was a professional job," Keith W.S. stated finally.
"Whp would have been the last to use the rake?" asked
Angela.
Mr. Winterton though for a minute. "It must have been
the gardener. He was mowing the lawn here yesterday."
Frank bent down to examine the grass. "What kind of
person is he?" he asked.
Winterton hesitated before replying. "That's hard to
say. He hasn't been with us long."
Keith W.S. made a sudden pounce on something lying
in the grass.
"Look at this," he said.
" This' was a pocket comb stamped with the trade name
Delux.
"That probably belongs to the thief," said Angela.
"Or to the gardener," Keith W.S. suggested.
"They may be one and the same person."
They went off to find the gardener who was mowing the
grass in the dinosaur park.
"What can I do for you, then?" he enquired, wiping the
sweat from his forehead.
"We wondered whether you had lost something," said
Frank.
"Me? No, I don't think so. I haven't noticed anything
missing."
Ralph grinned: "No. I can see now that you haven't."

Why were they sure that the comb didn't belong to the
gardener?

92
4. A Scream
''A bald-headed man would hardly have a comb to lose,"
said Angela.
*Then who did lose it?" asked Ralph, gazing once again
at the comb through his magnifying glass. A curly black
hair was caught in its teeth.
'Terhaps we can learn something from that," said
Frank, putting both comb and hair into an envelope.
"What shall we do now?" asked Keith W.S.
''Go and take shelter," answered Angela.
It had begun to rain, so they took refuge under the
porch of the elephant house and watched the passersby
who were all hurrying toward the exit. They had been
there for about half an hour when a scream shrilled
through the air. Then a whole babble of voices began to
bicker and screech. The Black Hand Gang looked sharply
about them.
"Over there!" Frank shouted, pointing to one of the
buildings.
They ran toward it and found themselves in the parrot
house. Frank looked about him swiftly, then pointed to
the cage door.
"He's sawn through the lock," he said curtly. "Look at
the feathers on the ground."
"Do you think one of the birds has been stolen?" Angela
asked.
"Undoubtedly," put in Keith W.S. "One has been taken
and I know its name."

What was the stolen cockatoo called?

94
5. ^'Here's ClorQ^'

The stolen cockatoo was called Clara.

"This is very bad luck," said Mr. Winterton. "She was
the best talker we had."
"What are we going* to do now?" asked Angela.
The Black Hand Gang thought hard.
"A talking cockatoo is difficult to dispose of," said Keith
W.S.
"That's right," Ralph agreed. "If the thief keeps her
he'll give himself away."
"That means he's bound to try and get her out of town as
quickly as possible," Keith W.S. argued. "Most Hkely by
train."
Frank clasped his head in his hands. "Why didn't I think
of that before. Let's go to the station."
The evening mail was just being loaded on to the train
as the Black Hand Gang arrived. They pushed their way
through the mail carts, calling softly: "Clara, Clara."
"No one called Clara here," grunted a porter.
The Gang were just about to explain to him about what
Clara was when a faint sound caught their ears. Softly but
distinctly, a voice had said: "Here's Clara. Here's Clara."
The Gang hesitated only for a second. Then Ralph
pointed.
"Clara must be in there," he said. "What a curious name
and address."

To whom was the package addressed?

96
6. A Telephone Conversation
**Lord Caro is a very odd name," said Angela.
"I expect it's a pseudonym," Frank replied. "Should we
go to Loverton?"
"Need we bother?" Keith W.S. asked. "It would be
simpler to telephone."
A
few minutes later they had found a phone. Frank
dialed the number for Loverton information and asked if
there was anyone called Lord Caro Hving in the town.
"Just a moment, please."
Three minutes later they were still waiting and, as it
was a long distance call, Angela had to put two more coins
into the slot.
"This is too expensive," she complained.
"Hush," said Frank, Hstening to the voice at the other'
end. He said "Thank you" and replaced the receiver. Then
he said to the others, "A complete waste of time. They say
no one of that name Hves in Loverton."
Someone knocked sharply on the glass. "How long are
you going to be in there?" asked a man impatiently.
Keith W.S. opened the door. "Please do come in," he
said withmock politeness. "We have quite finished now."
As they came out he poked Frank in the ribs. "Lord Caro
will be visiting Newtown in person shortly."
"How do you know that?"
Keith W.S. answered smugly: "He has business here."

What was Lord Cam's profession?

98
7. The Lody Lied
When Trixie's Variety Show arrived in Newtown the
Black Hand Gang were on the spot to greet them. They
stood unnoticed, watching while the baggage was un-
packed.
"Let's just ask where Lord Caro is/' said Ralph.
"No," said Frank. "He'd wonder why we were asking."
"Have you a better idea, then?"
Angela stepped in. "Let's play stupid," she said.
Strolling up to a heavily made-up woman who was in
difficulties with a suitcase and some packing cases, she

asked innocently, "Can I help you?" and had the case free
in an instant.
"Thank you."
"What a lot of luggage you have," said Angela, pretend-
ing to be amazed. "Do you have animals, too?"
"Yes. Rabbits and doves."
"Wild animals?" Angela was thinking of the panther cub
that had been stolen from the zoo.
The woman gave her a searching stare, then said
curtly, "No" and walked away.
"I'm sure she was lying," Angela told the others.
"You could be right," said Frank, "but we have no
proof."
"I think we have," said Ralph. "I'd bet money on it.

Read that notice."

What had Ralph seen?

100
0. Sir Henry
"No one would put 'WARNING VICIOUS ANIMAL' on a cage
full of bunny rabbits," said Ralph.

"Let's go and watch the performance tomorrow after-

noon/' Frank suggested.
The matinee began at 4 o'clock. Eventually the curtain
went up on Lord.Caro, Magician. Keith W.S. thought
immediately of Clara when he saw the bird on the stand
and so did the others. But how could they tell if it was
really Clara?
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" Lord Caro cleared his throat.
"May I introduce my assistant, Sir Henry." He held a
microphone under the bird's beak. "Say hello to the audi-
ence. Sir Henry."
"'Alio, 'alio, la'ies an' gen'lemen," squawked a voice
from the loudspeaker.
Lord Caro held a long conversation with the bird, and
the Black Hand Gang became quite worried. It seemed as
if this couldn't be Clara. Suddenly Frank clenched his
fists.

"That bird hasn't opened beak once!" he exclaimed.

its

"Is Lord Caro a ventriloquist?" whispered Angela.

"Be quiet," hissed the stout lady sitting next to them.
After a short silence Ralph murmured: "Someone else
is doing the voice. Look over there by the loudspeaker
cable."

Where was the cockatoo's voice coming from?

102
9. Oefting Worm
The toes of a pair of shoes peeping out from under the
curtain betrayed a hidden helper who imitated the cocka-
too's voice.
"We must bring Mr. Winterton along to watch," Frank
whispered. "He'll be able to recognize Clara."
The Gang tiptoed out of the theater and went straight
to the zoo. The keeper was in the reptile house.
"Thank heavens you're here," he cried.
"What's happened?" asked Keith W.S.
"Our python, our most valuable snake —
"Not dead!" said Ralph.
Mr. Winterton wiped his forehead. "I've only just come
in. I was walking past when I saw someone run out of the

reptile house. Naturally I came in and when I saw th€

damage —
the broken glass and the python lying limply
on the floor — I sent for Mr. Falter, our veterinary
surgeon, immediately. But I
—
"We're in luck, Winterton," shouted the vet. "Your
python was only stunned."
"How long ago did you see the intruder?" Frank asked.
"About ten minutes ago."
"The trail is still warm then. Come on, let's go and
look!" Frank blew a couple
of blasts on his trumpet and
they all setWhile they were examining the ground
off.

behind the reptile house for clues, Ralph came across

something.
"Come here," he shouted. "I've found a bottle."

What did the bottle contain?^

104
f b1 1 1
pr^^^ nmr\ (SI^v^M
*-%-;: r
1 ^^^^^i
^^St'
10. Trick Photography
'*Ether is an anesthetic/' said Ralph. "This bottle must
belong to the thief."
They all thought quickly.
"Best not to touch anything," said Frank. "The thief
will come back for this bottle before the zoo closes."
"We can set a trap for him," said Ralph.
The others looked at him in surprise.
"It's quite simple," he went on. "We'll hide a camera in

that nest box and tie a thread to the shutter. If we tie the
other end to the bottle, the thief will photograph himself
when he tries to take it away."
"BrilliantI" Frank exclaimed, and Ralph hurried off to
fetch his camera.
Half an hour later they set to work.
"Be careful not to spoil any fingerprints," Frank
warned.
Angela peered through the magnifying glass. "There
aren't any. He wiped them off."

"No, he didn't, said Keith W.S. "He didn't leave any in

the first place."

"How do you know?"

Keith W.S. pointed. "There's your proof."

What had Keith W.S. found?

106
11. In Search of J.N.
Inside the glove that Keith W.S. picked up were printed
the initials J.N. It was put on one side as evidence.
Next morning Ralph slipped into the zoo on his way to
school to see if the trap had been sprung. The bottle was
gone and the thread hung from the shutter, broken.
Trembling with excitement Ralph took the film out of his
camera and took it to be developed and enlarged. That
afternoon the Black Hand Gang went to collect it.

"What a disappointment," said Angela sadly. "Only a

trouser leg.''

"Better than nothing," said Frank. "Let's go back to the

zoo."
At the entrance they met Mr. Winterton. "Oh, chil-

dren," he said, "this time the snake really has been stolen.
I discovered the theft just ten minutes ago. We're trying
to watch everyone who goes out, but you can see for
yourselves that it's hopeless."
Frank took the rest of the Gang to one side. "Look," he
said, "we know he has dark, curly hair and wears check
trousers."
"And that his initials are J.N." added Keith W.S.
The Black Hand Gang watched the crowds for a quarter
of an hour. Suddenly Angela said: "There's our man."

Who was the man?

108
I
12. Nickel Gives Himself Awoy
J. Nickel, who sold ices, fitted the description.
"Right," said Frank. "We'll follow him."
Ralph thought they ought to search his cart.
"I doubt if he'd agree to that," commented Keith W.S.

**We could buy an ice," Frank suggested.

"Nothing easier," said Angela.
They ran around to the front of the cart and stood in

front of it.

"Excuse me," said Angela, "Fd like a vanilla ice,

please."
"Sold out," the man and brushed by Angela so
replied,
closely that he almostknocked her down.
The Black Hand Gang waited only a few seconds before
following, but when they turned the corner the cart had
vanished.
"Now what?" asked Keith W.S., exasperated.
"He must have gone into one of the alleys," said Ralph.
"There is no other way out except past us."
They checked two alleys without finding anything, and
went on into the third.
"This is the one," said Ralph. "There, in that building."

What was the iiumher of the house?

110
13. Mrs. Appleyord Has Sharp Ears
Frank went up toNumber 43A and saw Nickel's cart
inside the door. He tried the handle, but it wouldn't
budge.
"We'll have to wait until he comes out," he told the
others.
But Keith W.S. pointed to the fire escape. "We should
be able to see into the window from up there," he said.
The Gang crept quietly up the ladder. When they
reached the second platform, Frank signaled to them to
be and lay down on his stomach. The others bent
silent,

double and peered through the rungs of the ladder.

"Yes, that's Nickel," whispered Ralph. "Who is the
woman?"
"It must be the landlady," replied Angela. "Be quiet
and we might hear what they're saying."
They could hear quite clearly.
The landlady said, "You have someone in your room,
Mr. Nickel. You know perfectly well that I don't allow
strangers."
Nickel smiled at her.
"It's no use your smiling. I distinctly heard footsteps in
your room."
"You must have been dreaming, Mrs. Appleyard," an-
swered Nickel.
Angela nudged Ralph. "She wasn't dreaming, the
stranger is still there. Look closely."

Where was the visitor?

112
14. The Man in Dlock

A curl of cigarette smoke drifting upward from behind the

door showed that Nickel's visitor was still there.
''His accomplice!" hissed Frank.
Nickel suddenly looked up and saw the Black Hand
Gang watching him. He drew the curtains.
''We must find out who the stranger is," said Ralph.
They went out of the yard and hid in the shadow of a
wall.There they stood for almost two hours, their pa-
tiencerewarded only by the appearance of an overfed pet
dog and a stealthy cat. Finally, however, came the sound
of footsteps.
Ralph let out his breath with a low hiss as a black-coated
figure slipped out of the courtyard and went toward a car.
"What's that in his hand," whispered Keith W.S.
"It's big enough to be a double bass case," murmured
Frank.
Opening the car door, the man laid the case on the back
seat and drove swiftly away. The Black Hand Gang came
out of their hiding place.
"If only we'd caught a glimpse of his face!" Angela
sighed.
"I did take down the Ucense number," said Ralph.
Keith W.S. smiled and winked. "I know his name," he
said.

What was the name of the man in black?

114
15. A Touch of Lumbogo
Keith had seen the name Carl Rosa on the driving license
thrust into the side pocket of the car. Angela wrote the
name down, and looked up, startled.
"That name. .
.''
she said.
"What about it?'' Ralph asked.
"The first two letters of each word — Ca — Ro —
"Caro," breathed Frank. "Lord Caro, Magician."
Angela put her notebook away, saying, "We know
enough now to tell Sergeant Shorthouse."
At the police station they explained the whole story.
Sergeant Shorthouse thought for a moment. "Where shall
we find Lord Caro? Til try the theater."
He telephoned the theater, but after a short conversa-
tion he put the receiver down and said, "He's at the
Metropole Hotel, in bed with a touch of lumbago."
Ten minutes later they were being led to Lord Caro's
room by the hotel porter.
"Did I go out this afternoon?" Lord Caro repeated in a
feeble voice. "You can see for yourselves that I'm too ill to
stand."
The Sergeant saluted and apologized: "Yes, I can see
that now, and I'm very sorry to have disturbed you!"
Just as they were leaving the room, Frank plucked at
his sleeve.
"Lord Caro is lying," he whispered. "Look, he's been
out recently."

How did Frayik know Lord Caro had been out?

116
16. A False Mov#
Sergeant Shorthouse looked at the newly filled glass of
beer on the dressing table and realized that Lord Caro
was indeed lying, but he only said, "Get well soon, sir,"

and left.

"Why Angela asked.

don't you arrest him?"
"Not yet," answered the Sergeant. "We have no defi-
nite proof."
The Black Hand Gang followed him downstairs and out
into the street. Frank looked up at the window and
shouted: "He's up!"
A shadow moved behind the curtain. Sergeant
Shorthouse was pleased.
"He'll make a false move — it's the oldest mistake in
the book," he said. "He's running away. Watch that door."
They watched twenty minutes. Suddenly
for about
Ralph cried: "That must be him!"
"Where?"
Ralph pointed down the street. "That man with the
suitcases. He must have gone out of the back door."
"Come on," said the Sergeant.
They ran down the side street in pursuit but they were
too late.
"It's my own fault," said the Sergeant bitterly.
"We may find him again," said Angela.
"We shall find him," answered Keith W.S. confidently.
"I can see him from here."

Where was the man with the suitcases?

118
17. Under the Lime Tree
The car the man from the hotel was driving had the Hcense
number LB 1327. Keith W.S. recognized it as Lord Caro's
car. Sergeant Shorthouse went back to ask the porter
about it.

'*His car?" said the porter frowning. ''It was here. Lord
Caro took it to hitch the trailer to it."
The Sergeant stood and thought. At last he said, "He
can't have gone far with a heavy trailer. We'll take my car
and look for him."
They drove around for half an hour, then Angela cried:
"Stop! There he is!"

In the car park of a boarding house called The Limes

stood the car and trailer. They tiptoed over and listened.
There was no sound. Angela pointed to the roof of the
trailer. "The ventilator flap is open. If we climb the tree

we can see inside."

Sergeant Shorthouse and the Gang climbed the tree
and the Sergeant shone his flashlight through the open-
ing.
"Nothing there that looks like a stolen animal," he
remarked.
"Yes, there is," said Angel,a. "We're looking for a
panther, a cockatoo, and a snake. One of them at least is in
there and we have evidence."

Which of the animals could Angela prove was there?

120
\
10. Perjury
Sergeant Shorthouse looked at the packet of birdseed.
"Who could identify the cockatoo?" he asked.
"The keeper, Mr. Winterton/' the Gang answered.
"Good, ril radio headquarters to send him here in a
police car.''
Half an hour later Mr. Winterton was standing outside
the trailer. He called softly: "Where's Clara?" and im-
mediately the muffled reply came 'from inside: "Clara's
here. Clara's here."
"That's good enough," said the Sergeant. "Wait here."
He came back with Lord Caro and the heavily made-up
assistant.
"Open up!" he said.
Lord Caro obeyed and the Sergeant climbed into the/
trailer and uncovered a door concealed in the wall.
"My panther!" exclaimed Mr. Winterton. "And the
python and Clara, my little Clara!" -

"Here's Clara," squawked the cockatoo, flapping its

wings.
"Do you identify these animals?" asked Sergeant
Shorthouse.
"Certainly," he replied. "These are the animals that
were stolen from the zoo."
"Ridiculous!" said Lord Caro. "I bought them honestly.
I know nothing about a robbery at the zoo. I'll swear to

that in court.''
"That will be perjury," said Ralph calmly. "You must
have known about the robbery."

What had Ralph seen?

122
19. Conclusive Evidence
Lord Caro had a well-worn copy of the Morning Post in
his coat pocket, so he must have known about the rob-
bery. Sergeant Shorthouse heard his statement at the
police station that night.
He said: "I bought the animals from a man named
Noratella.'' He produced a piece of paper. 'This note will
prove it.''

Frank stepped forward. 'That doesn't prove anything.

That N could stand for Nickel," he said.
"I know no one of that name," answered Lord Caro.
"We can soon find out," said the Sergeant. "Let's go and
call on him."
Nickel w^as at home.
"Just a few questions," said Sergeant Shorthouse. "You
know Lord Caro?"
"Lord Caro? No, Fm afraid not."
"You deny having any deahngs with him?"
"Certainly I deny it," said Nickel angrily.
"Mr. Nickel is lying," said Angela quietly.
"Silly little girl!" snapped Nickel, laughing loudly.
"The proof is here in this room," said Ralph. "Mr.
Nickel sent that note to Lord Caro. There's no doubt
about it. He's guilty."

What had Ralph seen?

124
20. The Newspaper Reporter
''.
. . I should like to thank you for your help and shall
look forward to seeing you in the cafe at the zoo at 4
o'clock. ^. .
1
Yours sincerely,
G. Sterling
Director
The Black Hand Gang were reading a letter. At 4
o'clock they were at the cafe to meet Mr. Sterling and also
the Police Superintendent who said, "You have no idea
how much trouble you saved us."
Mr. Sterling ordered more cream cakes.
"Good afternoon, everyone,'' said a cheerful voice. It
belonged to a young reporter from the Evening Courier.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Clarion," said the Superinten-'
dent. "Do sit down."
The reporter directed questions to the Gang.
"Three animals were stolen, is that right?"
"Yes," answered Frank.
"And Nickel took them out of the zoo in his cart?"
"Yes, and the torn-off calendar in his room was conclu-
sive evidence," Ralph added.
The reporter stared at the Gang in amazement.
Angela said: "It's not so difficult when there are five of
you on the job."
"Five? But there are only four of you, aren't there?"
"No, five," said Keith W.S. "With my squirrel."
"Where is this famous squirrel?"
"Over there. Can't you see it?'' said the Black Hand
Gang, beginning to laugh.

Where was Keith's squiiTel?

126
 MASTER DETEaiVES
Mr. Clarion worked quickly. His special report appeared
in the paper next day, with a photograph of them all

around the table. (Keith's squirrel, alas, was not there. It

had been playing in the monkey cage at the time.) The
Black Hand Gang were reading the article quietly when
Frank gave a sudden shout of glee and read out loud, 'The
Evening Courier congratulates the master detectives of
the Black Hand Gang.''

How good a detective were you?

If your number of correct answers was:
between 1-10: you will need to practice every day, if you
want to become a master detective,
between 11-20: you are off to a good start. Keep on prac-
ticing, though.
between 21-30: your powers of observation are good. Try
them out at home and at school. Help your mother find all
your missing socks.
between 31-40: train your memory; put ten objects on a
tray and look at them for one minute, trying to memorize
them. Then go into the next room and write down all of
them you can remember. Increase the number of objects
on the tray as your skill improves,
between 41-50: you already have a sharp eye and are good
at solving problems. You should think seriously of a pro-
fession that will use these abilities,
between 51-60: ask at home ifanyone has lost something
they need.If you are able to track it down, you have the
makings of a master detective.

128
 0-590-30000-8

Join the Black Hand Gang of super detec-

tives! Find the missing clues to baffling
mysteries — right at the scene of the
crime!
As you read each mystery, you'll come
across pictures containing important
clues. Study them to find out what's be-
hind The Locked Door or who was in The
Mysterious House or why The Lady Lied.
(Answers on the back of the pictures.)
There are 60 great mysteries in all. See if
you can beat the Black Hand Gang detec-
tives at their own game!

This is a really different mystery-puzzle

book — for an hour's or an evening's
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