Then he proceeded to tell the story of the strange events of the morning at the Kane farm, prompted occasionally by Joe. Mr. Hardy was deeply interested. “There’s only one theory I can think of,” he said, at last. “This Jones, or whatever his name is, must have belonged to a gang and either squealed on them or threatened to do so. They tried to get rid of him and he escaped in the motorboat, but they thought they had finished him in the explosion. Then they found out that you had rescued him, so they went to the farmhouse and took him away before he had a chance to talk.” “Do you think they are smugglers?” “Probably. While you were away this morning I called up one of the government authorities in the city, and he told me that they believe smugglers are operating in Barmet Bay on a big scale.” “Did you tell him about Snackley?” Mr. Hardy smiled. “Not yet. That information, I thought I would keep to myself for the time being. But I wonder if Snackley can be here. It begins to look like it. He is the kind who wouldn’t stop at anything from kidnapping to murder.” “Do the authorities suspect him of being around here?” “I imagine so. The man I was talking to mentioned the fact that the smugglers they are after are in the drug line. And Snackley is king of the dope smugglers on the Atlantic coast.” “Gee! I wish we could land him.” “Of course,” said Fenton Hardy, “no one has asked us to work on this case, and I don’t believe in working for nothing—” “You mean you won’t help?” asked Joe, in disappointment. Fenton Hardy’s eyes twinkled as he went on. “I don’t believe in working for nothing,” he repeated. “But if we ever caught this man Snackley it would be worth our while.” “Why?” “The reward.” “Is there a reward offered for him?” “There has been a standing reward of five thousand dollars offered for Snackley’s capture for some time. And if he is operating in Barmet Bay, as I suspect, it’s just possible that we might be able to collect that reward.” “Good!” exclaimed Frank. “Let’s go after it!” CHAPTER IX THE STRANGE MESSAGE The Hardy boys expected that the next day would find them busy on a more detailed investigation of the circumstances surrounding the mysterious kidnapping. But, to their surprise, when they came down to breakfast next morning they found that their father had gone away. Mrs. Hardy could not enlighten them. “He went out early this morning and didn’t say when he would be back. But he didn’t take any baggage with him, so I imagine he hasn’t gone very far. He’ll probably be back some time to-day.”