you first so that you'd know what it was all about," Frank explained.
"He may have been—" Joe left the sentence unfinished.
"He may have been murdered," said Frank firmly. "And we're going to find out about it."
"What do you think we'd better do?"
"I think we'd better go back and tell them we saw that cap and ask how it got there. That'll force a showdown. They don't like us any too well as it is, so we won't have to be over polite to them."
The boys held a council, and it was unanimously agreed that the matter should not be dropped. Each was of the opinion that the trio now occupying the house on the cliff were far from savory and that the fact of Fenton Hardy's cap being seen in the kitchen was a clue of first-rate importance.
"He snatched the cap away when my back was turned," went on Frank.
"That shows there is something wrong," Chet affirmed. "We'll go back and tackle him right away."
"No time like the present. Let's go."
The boys accordingly started back down the lane toward the house. When they emerged into the yard again they found the two men and the woman standing together by the shed, talk-
