
    ,,*APT] ;,V

    ,A ,,CLEW ,,F ,,RUSSIA
  8,NO?+ M* UP "H10 REM>K$ ,TOM1 :5 HE &
,N$ _H G"O ALL OV] ! SECOND FLOOR TWICE4
8,T SCRAP ( PAP]1 : PUT ME ON 6! FACT T
"S "O F ! ,RUSSIAN GOV]N;T _H BE5 "H1 IS
AB ALL4 ,!Y M/ H TAK5 ALL ! DOCU;TS ,MR4
,PETROFSKY _H40
  8,MAYBE HE DIDN'T H ANY10 SU7E/$ ,N$4
  8,IF HE 0 WISE HE'D GET RID ( !M :5 HE
KNEW HE 0 2+ %AD[$1 Z HE TOLD U4 ,P]H T
0 :Y !Y BROKE UP ! FURNITURE1 SE>*+ =
HI45 PAP]S1 OR !Y MAY H D"O X \ ( SPITE
2C !Y DIDN'T F9D ANY?+4 ,B WE MI<T Z
WELL G D[N/AIRS & LOOK "!40

,B ! F/ FLOOR 0 EQU,Y UNPRODUCTIVE (
  CLEWS1
SAVE ^? ALR NOT$1 : %[$1 AT L1/ S ,TOM
2LIEV$1 T ,MR4 ,PETROFSKY _H BE5
  SURPRIS$ &
OV]P[]$ :ILE AT BR1KFA/4

  8,N[ = \TSIDE60 CRI$ ! "Y 9V5TOR4
8,WE'LL SEE IF WE C FIGURE \ H[ !Y GOT
HM AWAY40
  ,"! 7 PL5TY ( M>KS 9 ! S(T GR.D &
TURF1 : 0 / DAMP F ! NI<T'S RA91 ?\< X 0
N[ AFN4 ,UN=TUNATELY1 H["E1 9 APPROA*+ !
H\SE AF L1V+ ! AEROPLANE1 ,N$ & ,TOM _H
N ?"\ 6EX]CISE CAU;N1 &1 N SUSPECT+
ANY?+ WR;G1 !Y _H /EPP$ ON A NUMB] (
FOOTPR9TS LEFT 0! KIDNAPP]S4
  ,B = ALL T1 !Y SAW 5 63V9CE !M T S"EAL
M5 _H BE5 AT ! L"OLY H\SE1 = "! 7 _M
M>KS ( %OES4 ,X 0 \ (! "Q1 H["E1 6TELL :
7 ^? ( ,MR4 ,PETROFSKY & : ^? ( 8
CAPTORS4
  8,!Y MI<T H C>RI$ HM \ 6A C>RIAGE !Y
_H 9 WAIT+10 SU7E/$ ,N$4 8,LET'S G \ 6!
FRONT GATE & LOOK 9 ! ROAD4 ,!Y H>DLY WD
BR+ ! C>RIAGE UP 6! DOOR40
  8,GD IDEA10 -;T$ ,TOM1 & !Y HURRI$ 6!
MA9 ?OR\<F>E T PASS$ ! ,RUSSIAN'S H\SE4
  8,"H !Y >E60 CRI$ ,N$1 ,:O 0 9 ! L1D4
8,"!'S BE5 A C>RIAGE "H Z SURE Z Y'RE A
FOOT HI<4 & X'S A RU2]-TIR$ "O TOO40
  8,,GD60 CRI$ ,TOM ADMIR+LY4 8,Y'RE -+
"R AL;G 9 YR DETECTIVE TRA9+4 ,H[ D Y
MAKE T \80
  8,SEE "H1 ": A PIECE ( RU2] HAS BE5
BROK5 OR CUT \ (! TIRE4 ,X MAKES A
PECULI> M>K 9 ! DIRT E "T ! :EEL GOES
>.D40

8,T'S "R1 & X W 2 A GD ?+ 6TRACE !
C>RIAGE BY4 ,-E ON1 WE'LL KEEP "R AF X40

  8,HOLD ON A BIT10 SU7E/$ ,N$1 :O1 ?\<
N S QK Z ,TOM ,SWIFT1 FREQU5TLY PRODUC$
GD RESULTS 0HIS V SL[;S4 8,>E Y GO+ (F &
L1VE ! AIR%IP "H = "S "O 6WALK (F )80
  8,GUESS !Y WDN'T TAKE X F>10 REPLI$ !
"Y 9V5TOR1 8B ,I'D BETT] MAKE X SAFE4
,I'LL 4CONNECT X S !Y C'T />T X1 ?\< IF
,&Y ,FOG] HAPP5S 6-E AL;G HE MI<T SLA% !
PLANES J \ ( SPITE4 ,B ,I GUESS HE WON'T
%[ UP40
  ,TOM TOOK A 3NECT+ P9 \ (! ELECTRICAL
APP>ATUS1 MAK+ X IMPOSSI# 6/>T !
AEROPLANE1 & !N1 :EEL+ X \ ( SI<T 2H A
SMALL B>N1 HE & ,N$ W5T BACK 6! C>RIAGE
M>KS 9 ! ROAD4
  8,HURRY60 URG$ ,TOM1 Z HE />T$ (F 9 !
DIREC;N (! VILLAGE ( ,HURDT[N1 NE> ": !
COTTAGE /OOD4 8,WE W ASK P LIV+ AL;G !
HI<WAY IF !Y'VE SE5 A C>RIAGE PASS40
  8,B :AT MAKES Y ?9K !Y W5T (F T WAY80
ASK$ ,N$4 8,I %D ?9K !Y'D H1D AWAY F !
VILLAGE1 S Z N 6BE SE540
  8,NO1 ,I DON'T AGREE ) Y4 ,B WAIT1
WE'LL LOOK AT ! M>KS4 ,MAYBE T W HELP
U40

,PE]+ C>E;LLY AT ! M>KS ( HORSES' HO(S
  &!
:EEL IMPRES.NS1 ,TOM UTT]$ A CRY (
  4COV]Y4

  8,I H X60 HE DCLD4 8,! C>RIAGE CAME F
! VILLAGE1 & KEPT "R ON ! O!R WAY4 ,Y'RE
"R1 ,N$4 ,!Y DIDN'T G BACK 6T[N4
  8,>E Y SURE80
  8,( C\RSE4 ,Y C SEE = YRF2 IF !
C>RIAGE _H TURN$ >.D ! TRACK WD %[1 B X
DOESN'T &1 EV5 IF !Y TURN$ ON ! GRASS1
"!'D 2 TWO L9ES ( M>KS--"O -+ \ "H & "O
RETURN+4 ,Z X IS "! IS ONLY A S+LE SET--
J Z IF ! C>RIAGE DROVE UP "H1 TOOK ON XS
LOAD1 & 3T9U$ ON4 ,? WAY1 ,N$40
  ,!Y HURRI$ D[N ! ROAD1 & SOON CAME 6A
CLU/] ( F>M H\SES4 ,9QUIRIES "!1 H["E1
FAIL$ 6BR+ ANY?+ 6LI<T1 = EI ! O3UPANTS
(! H\SE _H FAIL$ 6NOTICE PASS+ VEHICLES1
OR "! _H BE5 S _M T ANY "PICUL> C>RIAGE
0 N RECALL$4 ,& "! 7 N[ S _M IMPRES.NS 9
! S(T DIRT (! HI<WAY--S _M :EEL TRACKS &
HO( IMPR9TS--T X 0 IMPOSSI# 6PICK \ ^?
(! C>RIAGE )! CUT RU2] TIRE4 8,WELL1 ,I
GUESS X ISN'T ( M* USE 6G ON ANY F>!R10
SPOKE ,N$1 :5 !Y _H TRAVEL$ S"EAL MILES
& _H LE>N$ NO?+4
  8,WE'LL TRY "O M H\SE1 & !N G BACK10
AGRE$ ,TOM4 8,WE'LL TELL DAD AB :AT'S
HAPP5$1 & SEE :AT HE SAYS40
  8,C>RIAGE80 REP1T$ AN OLD F>M] 6:OM !Y
NEXT PUT ! "Q4 8,WA'AL1 N[1 -E T' ?9K (
X1 ,I DID SEE "O DRIV9' AL;G "H E>LY ?
MORN+4 ,X _H RU2] TIRES ON TOO1 = ,I
RECOLLECT REM>K9' T' MYF T X DIDN'T MAKE
M* NOISE4 ,_H T' TALK T' MYF10 HE A4$ 9
EXPLAN,N10 'CAUSE NOBODY ELSE 9 ! FAMILY
0 UP1 ,8CEPT90' ?' DOG40
8,DID ! C>RIAGE H "S ,RUSSIANS 9 X80
  ASK$ ,TOM
EAG]LY1 8& 0 "O A BIG BE>D$ MAN80

  8,WA'AL1 N[ Y'VE GOT ME10 ADMITT$ !
F>M] FRANKLY4 8,X 0 Q E>LY Y SEE1 & ,I
DIDN'T TAKE NO "PICUL> NOTICE4 ,I GOT UP
E>LY T' D MY MILK9' ,8CAUSE ,I H ;T0'
TAKE X T' ?' *EESE FACTORY4 ,T'S ?'
R1SON NOBODY 0 UP B ME4 ,B ,I SEE ?
C>RIAGE -IN' D[N ?' ROAD1 & ?9KS ,I T'
MYF X 0 PRETTY MI4L9' E>LY F] ANYBODY T'
2 TAK9' A PL1SURE RIDE4 ,I 'L[$ X 7 A
PL1SURE RIDE1 'CAUSE X 7 "O ( !M HACKS T
FOLKS DON'T USU,Y USE ,8CEPT90' F] A
W$D9'1 OR A FUN]AL1 AN' X WA'N'T NO
FUN]AL40

8,!N Y C'T TELL U ANY?+ M EXCEPT T X
PASS$80 ASK$ ,N$4

  8,NO1 ,I CDN'T SEE 9SIDE1 ,8CAUSE X 0
R D>K AT T H\R1 & !N1 TOO1 ,I NOTIC$ T
!Y _H ?0' W9D[ %ADES D[N40
  8,T'S SUSPICI\S60 EXCLAIM$ ,TOM4 8,I
2LIEVE !Y >E ! FELL[S WE RE AF10 &1 )\T
GIV+ ANY "PICUL>S HE SD T !Y 7 LOOK+ =A
FR :O MI<T H BE5 TAK5 AWAY AG/ 8 W4

8,CD Y TELL ": !Y 7 GO+80 ASK$
,TOM1 SC>CELY HOP+ 6GET AN A6IRMATIVE
  ANSW]4

  8,WA'AL1 ?' MAN ON ?' S1T PULL$ UP :5
HE SEE ME10 SPOKE ! F>M] ) EXASP]AT+
SL[;S1 8AN' ASK$ ME H[ F> X 0 T' ?'
,WAT]VILLE /,N1 AN' ,I TOLD HM40
  8,:Y DIDN'T Y SAY S AT F/80 ASK$ ,TOM
QKLY4 8,:Y DIDN'T Y TELL U !Y 7 H1D+ =!
RAILROAD80
  8,Y DIDN'T ASK ME10 REPLI$ ! F>M]4
8,:AT DI6];E DOES X MAKE40
  8,E M9UTE C.TS60 EXCLAIM$ ! "Y 9V5TOR4
8,WE WANT 6KEEP "R AF ^? FELL[S4 ,MAYBE
! AG5T C TELL U ": !Y B"\ TICKETS TO1 &
WE C TRACE !M T WAY4
  8,%DN'T WOND]10 -;T$ ! F>M]4 ,"! A9'T
_M TRA9S \ F ,WAT]VILLE AT T "T ( "D1
AN' MI<TY FEW PASS5G]S4 ,%DN'T WOND] B
,JAKE ,APPLESAN] CD PUT YE ON ?' TRAIL40
  8,M* OBLIG$10 CALL$ ,TOM4 8,-E ON1
,N$10 & HE />T$ BACK 9 ! DIREC;N (! H\SE
": ! KIDNAPP+ _H TAK5 PLACE4

8,T A9'T ?' WAY T' 'VAT]VILLE60 ! F>M]
  %\T$
AF !M4

  8,I "K X1 WE'RE GO+ 6GET \R AIR%IP10
ANSW]$ ,TOM1 & !N HE HE>D ! F>M] MUTT]4
  8,PLUMB CRAZY6 ,T'S :AT !Y BE6 ,PLUMB
CRAZY6 ,GO+ AF _! AIR%IP6 ,%DN'T WOND] B
!Y 0 ESCAP$ LUNATICS1 &! O!R FELL]S 0
KEEP]S AF 'EM4 ,HU6 ,WA'AL1 ,I'VE GOT MY
"W 6D4 ',TA9'T N"O ( MY A6AIR40
  8,LET HM ?9K :AT HE LIKES10 -;T$ ,N$ Z
HE & 8 *UM HURRI$ ON4 8,WE'RE ON ! TRAIL
ALL "R40
  ,IF ,JAKE ,APPLESAU]1 ! AG5T AT !
,WAT]VILLE /,N1
0 SURPRIS$ AT SEE+ TWO Y\?S DROP D[N \ (
AN AEROPLANE1 & 2G9 "Q+ HM AB "S
SUSPICI\S /RANG]S T _H TAK5 ! MORN+
TRA91 HE DID N %[ X4 ,JAKE PRID$ HMF ON
N 2+ SURPRIS$ AT ANY?+1 EXCEPT ONCE :5
HE TOOK A C.T]FEIT DOLL> 9 RETURN =A
TICKET1 & _H 6MAKE X GD 6! -PANY4
  ,B1 6! DESPAIR ( ,TOM & ,N$1 HE CD N
HELP !M M*4 ,HE _H SE5 ! "PY1 ( C\RSE4
,!Y _H DRIV5 UP 9 ! HACK1 & "O (! M5
SEEM$ 6BE SICK1 OR HURT1 = 8 H1D 0 D"O
UP 9 B&AGES1 &! O!RS _H 6HALF C>RY HM ON
! TRA94
  8,T 0 ,MR4 ,PETROFSKY ALL "R10 DCLD
,N$4

8,SURE10 ASS5T$ ,TOM4 8,!Y M/ H HURT &
  DRU7$
HM4 ,B Y C'T TELL U = :AT /,N !Y B"\
TICKETS1 ,MR4 ,APPLESAU]80

  8,NO1 = !Y DIDN'T BUY ANY4 ,!Y M/ H _H
'EM1 OR ELSE !Y PD ON ! TRA94 ,"O MAN
DROVE (F 9 ! COA*1 & T'S ALL ,I "K40

,Z ,TOM & ,N$ />T$ BACK 6,%OPTON 9 !
  AEROPLANE
!Y 4CUSS$ :AT CD 2 D"O NEXT4 ,A H>D TASK
  LAY
2F !M1 & !Y R1LIZ$ T4
  8,!Y CD H GOTT5 (F AT ANY /,N 2T "H &
,NEW ,YORK1 OR EV5 *ANG$ 6ANO!R RAILROAD
AT ! JUNC;N10 SPOKE ,TOM4 8,X'S GO+ 6BE
A H>D JOB40
  8,GUESS WE'LL H 6GET "S REGUL>
DETECTIVES ON X10 SU7E/$ ,N$4
  8,& T'S :AT ,I'LL D10 DCLD ! "Y
9V5TOR4 8,!Y MAY 2 A# 6LOCATE ,MR4
,PETROFSKY 2F ^? SPIES TAKE HM \ ( ?
C.TRY4 ,IF !Y DON'T--X W 2 TOO LATE4
,I'M GO+ 6TALK 6DAD AB X1 & IF HE AGREES
,I'LL HIRE ! BE/ PRIVATE DETECTIVES40
  ,MR4 ,SWIFT GAVE 8 3S5T :5 ,TOM _H
TOLD ! /ORY1 &1 A "D LAT]1 "O (! BE/
DETECTIVES (A WELL "KN AG5CY CALL$ ON
,TOM 9 ,%OPTON & ASSUM$ *>GE (! CASE4
  ,! E>LY REPORTS F ! DETECTIVE 7 Q
REASSUR+4 ,HE GOT ON ! TRAIL (! M5 :O _H
TAK5 ,MR4 ,PETROFSKY AWAY1 & 3FIRM$ !
SUSPICION T !Y 7 AG5TS (! ,RUSSIAN
POLICE4 ,HE TRAIL$ !M Z F> Z ,NEW ,YORK1
& "! ! CLEWS CAME 6AN 5D4
  8,:E!R !Y >E 9 ! BIG C;Y1 : MI<T
EASILY BE1 OR 9 "S (! NE>BY T[NS1 W TAKE
"S "T 6LE>N10 ! DETECTIVE WROTE1 & ,TOM
WIR$ BACK TELL+ HM 6KEEP ON SE>*+4
  ,B1 Z S"EAL WEEKS W5T BY1 & NO ^W
CAME1 EV5 ,TOM 2GAN 6GIVE UP HOPE1 ?\<
HE DID N /OP "W ON ! AIR GLID]1 : 0 NE>+
-PLE;N4 ,& !N1 MO/ UNEXPECT$LY A CLEW
CAME--A CLEW F F>-(F ,RUSSIA4
  ,TOM GOT A LR "O "D--A LR 9 A /RANGE
H&1 ! /AMP & PO/M>K %[+ T X _H -E F ! L&
(! ,CZ>4
  8,:AT D Y SUPPOSE X 3TA9S80 ASK$ ,N$1
:O 0 ) 8 *UM :5 ! -MUNIC,N 0 RCVD4
  8,HAV5'T ! L1/ IDEA2 B ,I'LL SOON F9D
\40
  8,MAYBE X'S F ! ,RUSSIAN POLICE1 TELL+
Y 6KEEP AWAY F ,SIB]IA40
  8,MAYBE10 ANSW]$ ,TOM ABS5TLY1 = HE 0
R1D+ ! MISSIVE4 8,I SAY60 HE SU45LY
CRI$4 8,? IS GRT6 ,A CLEW AT LA/1 & F
,/4 ,PET]SBURG6 ,LI/5 6?1 ,N$6
  8,? LR IS F ! H1D ( "O (! SECRET
SOCIETIES OV] "!1 A SOCIETY T "WS AG/ !
GOV]N;T4 ,X SAYS T ,MR4 ,PETROFSKY IS 2+
DETA9$ A PRISON] 9 A L"OLY HUT ON !
,ATLANTIC SEA COA/1 N F> F ,NEW ,YORK--
,S&Y ,HOOK ! LR SAYS--& "H >E ! V
DIREC;NS H[ 6GET "!60

8,NO60 CRI$ ,N$1 9 4BELIEF4 8,H[ 9 ! _W
  CD
ANYBODY 9 ,RUSSIA "K T40

  8,X TELLS "H10 SD ,TOM4 8,X'S ALL
EXPLA9$4 ,Z SOON Z ! SECRET POLICE GOT
,MR4 ,PETROFSKY !Y -MUNICAT$ )! H1D
(FICIALS 9 ,/4 ,PET]SBURG4 ,Y "K NE>LY
"EY"O IS A SPY OV] "!1 &! LR SAYS T ,MR4
,PETROFSKY'S FRS "! SOON HE>D ! NEWS1 &
EV5 AB ! EXACT PLACE ": HE IS 2+ HELD40
  8,:AT >E !Y HOLD+ HM =80 ASK$ ,N$4
  8,T'S EXPLA9$1 TOO4 ,X SEEMS !Y C'T
LEG,Y TAKE HM BACK UNTIL C]TA9 PAP]S >E
RCVD F 8 =M] PRISON 9 ,SIB]IA1 & ^? >E
N[ ON ! WAY4 ,8 FRS WRITE 6ME 6HA/5 &
RESCUE HM40
  8,B H[ DID !Y "E GET YR A4RESS80
  8,T'S EASY1 ?\< Y WDN'T ?9K S4 ,X
SEEMS1 S ! LR EXPLA9S1 T Z SOON Z ,MR4
,PETROFSKY GOT ACQUA9T$ ) U HE WROTE
6FRS 9 ,/4 ,PET]SBURG1 GIV+ MY A4RESS1 &
TELL+ !M1 9 CASE ANY?+ "E HAPP5$ 6HM1
6NOTIFY U4 ,Y SEE HE SUSPECT$ T "S?+
MI<T1 AF HE F.D HE 0 2+ %AD[$ T WAY4
  8,& X ALL "W$ \4 ,Z SOON Z 8 FRS HE>D
T HE 0 CAU<T1 & LE>N$ ": HE 0 2+ HELD1
!Y WROTE 6ME4 ,HURRAH1 ,N$6 ,A CLEW AT
LA/6 ,N[ 6WIRE ! DETECTIVE--NO1 HOLD ON1
WE'LL G "! & RESCUE HM \RVS6 ,WE'LL G 9
! AIR%IP1 & PICK UP ,DETECTIVE ,TRIVETT
9 ,NEW ,YORK40
  8,T'S ! /UFF6 ,I'M ) Y60

8,B.S MY SUSP5D] BUTTONS6 ,S AM ,I1
  :AT"E X IS60
CRI$ ,MR4 ,DAMON1 5T]+ ! ROOM AT T MO;T4











