S3 E49 Frank & Joe Find Their First Case in Chapter 2 of The Hardy Boys The Tower Treasure

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Good evening and welcome to the Comforting Voice Podcast. I'm your host, Shasta Ray, and I'm joined in the studio by Emmy the Mini Macaw. She's in her toy box, she's got some snacks, she's got some water, and she looks ready for a story. How are you? How was your week? Wow, I don't know what hit me this week. It was busy, it was stressful, had some good stuff happen, have some frustrating stuff happen, but uh plugging away every day. And I know what this stress is like. So, really, guys, I'm glad you're here. We can all chill, we can all relax, and set all of the week's nonsense aside, all that stress is gonna be ready for us whenever we want to jump back in. So, you know what? I think we all deserve to go through our sleep prep because man, I need to shrug off some stress and tension. I don't know about you guys, but let's tackle this together. So before we go any further, just get comfy, get cozy, get into that perfect position, get your feet up, whatever it is you do. Are you going to bed right now? Make sure your listening device is set at that perfect volume. That way you don't have to fidget with it. Make sure everything you need is right there at your fingertips, and you've got your pillow all squished up into that perfect shape. If you're just hanging out with me, make sure you've got your beverage of choice right there at your fingertips so you don't have to go looking for something later. Alright, when you're ready, you know what to do. Give yourself a good productive stretch and really engage those muscles as much as you can. Don't overdo it, you can actually overdo a stretch, but reach into your arms and legs and hands and feet and fingers and toes, and then while your muscles are still engaged, wiggle your fingers and toes real quick and release that stretch. After that, you're gonna want to take a very good, productive, deep breath of air. Inhale to about the count of four, hold it to about the count of three, take another quick little breath to top it off, hold it for another count or two, and then exhale very slowly to about the count of eight. And you know what really helps doing that? Exhale through your teeth like you're hissing. I'm not gonna do it into the microphone, figure it out, but that slows you down, okay? And that's what you want. You want to do a good, productive, deep breath, hold it just a little bit. You don't want to torture yourself, and then you want to exhale at a much slower rate, and it kind of does this little reset on all of you, you know, your your psyche, your emotions, your stress levels. It's really good for you. And if you experience anxiety, you can do that breathing trick in the moment. It just kind of helps you reset and redirect your attention also. And I believe there's some apps out there. So if you're someone that has a lot of anxiety, there's some tools out there to help you with some breathing. And that's a really good key component to handling today's stress. Oh my gosh. Embrace it. It's a beautiful thing and it's free, and everyone can do it. Okay, now before you doze off, before you fall asleep, don't forget to participate in the Join the Fun challenge. And all that is, is you know, hey, if you know someone that might be interested in a podcast like this, mention it on your Facebook page, mention it in your favorite groups, um, mention it to your friends or family, whoever you think may appreciate it. And the the website's very simple. Comfortingvoice.com, easy to find, and there's lots of good stuff to be had over there. You can hear all of the episodes there, and I've started creating some playlists that you can check out. Uh just hit the episodes button, it'll drop that down. I've got the coloring book Empire. Go check that out. You can get your Thrive Gear right there from the website. The possibilities are endless, really. So head on over there, check it out, tell the others, and let's see if we can grow our listener base. And for those of you on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, don't forget to give us a like, give us a friendly comment. That signals the algorithms that people like the show, and it starts showing us to more people, and you've helped the show. Thank you so much in advance. And speaking of the Join the Fun Challenge, oh my gosh, we started a new book last Friday, and I cannot believe how many of you have tuned in for that first chapter. So welcome to the first book, and we are reading our first Hardy Boys mystery because we've done a whole bunch of kids stories. We hung out with Alice for a couple of books, and now I thought we'd hang out with the fellas and get into a really fun, light-hearted mystery. This is the book that got it all started for the Hardy Boys. Now last week was a fun chapter. It was our introduction to Frank and Joe Hardy, two brothers that are interested in following in their famous detective father's footsteps, and they are cruising down a coastal road on their motorcycles, delivering some papers for their father to a nearby town. But along came a motorist, and he was out of control, and that's where we left off last week. So let's see what happens this week. Again, this is the Hardy Boys, The Tower Treasure, written by Franklin W. Dixon. Tonight is chapter two, titled The Stolen Roadster. The auto brakes squealed. The driver of the oncoming car swung the wheel viciously about. For a moment it appeared that the wheels would not respond. Then they gripped the gravel and the automobile swerved, then shot past. Bits of sand and gravel were flung about the two boys as they crouched by their motorcycles at the edge of the embankment. The car had missed them only by inches. Frank caught a glimpse of the driver who turned about at that moment and, in spite of the speed at which the automobile was travelling, and in spite of the perils of the road, shouted something they could not catch at them and shook his fist. The car was travelling at too great a speed to enable the lad to distinguish the driver's features, but he saw that the man was hatless and that he had a shock of red hair blowing in the wind. Then the automobile disappeared from sight around the curve ahead, roaring away in a cloud of dust. The road hog gasped Joe, as soon as he had recovered from his surprise. He must be crazy, Frank exclaimed angrily. Why he might have pushed us both right over the embankment. At the rate he was going, I don't think he cared whether he ran anyone down or not. Both boys were justifiably angry. On such a narrow, treacherous road there was danger enough when an automobile passed them travelling at even a reasonable speed, but the reckless and insane driving of the red headed motorist was nothing short of criminal. If we ever catch up to him, I'm gonna give him a piece of my mind, declared Frank. Not content with almost running us down, he had to shake his fist at us. Roadhog, muttered Joe again. Jail is too good for the likes of him. If it was only his own life he endangered, it wouldn't be so bad. Good thing we only had motorcycles. If we'd been in another car, there would have been a smash up for sure. The boys resumed their journey, and by the time they had reached the curve ahead that enabled them to see the village of Willaville lying in a little valley along the bay beneath them, there was no trace of the reckless motorist. Frank delivered the legal papers his father had given to him, then the boys had the rest of the day to themselves. It's too early to go back to Bayport just now, he said to Joe. What do you say we go visit Chet Morton? Good idea, agreed Joe. He has often asked us to come out and see him. Chet Morton was a school chum of the Hardy Boys. His father was a real estate dealer with an office in Bayport, but the family lived in the country about a mile from the city. Although Willowville was some distance away, the boys knew of a road that would take them across country to the Morton home, and from there they would return to Bayport. It would make their journey longer, but they would have the pleasure of visiting their chum. Chet was a great favorite with all the boys, not the least of the reasons for his popularity being the fact that he had a roadster of his own, in which he drove to school every day, and with which he was very generous in giving rides to his friends after school hours. The hardy boys drove along the country roads in the spring sunlight, enjoying the freedom of their holiday as only boys can. When they had reached a culvert not far from the Morton place, Frank suddenly brought his motorcycle to a stop and peered down into a clump of bushes in the deep ditch. Somebody's had a spill, he remarked. Down in the bushes lay an upturned automobile, the car was a total wreck, and lay bottom upward, a mass of tangled junk. Must have been hitting an awful clip to crumple up like that, Joe commented. Perhaps there's someone underneath. We should go see. The boys left their motorcycles by the road and went down to the wrecked car, but there was no sign of either driver or passengers. If anyone was hurt, they've been taken away by now. Probably this wreck is a day or so old, said Frank. Let's go. We can't do any good here. They left the wreckage and returned to the road again, resuming their journey. I thought at first it might be our red headed speed fiend, said Frank. If it was, he was sure lucky to get out of it alive. The boys gave little further thought to the incident, and before long they were in sight of the Morton's house, a big, home like, rambling old farmhouse with an apple orchard at the rear. When the boys drove down the lane they saw a figure waiting for them at the barnyard gate. There's Chet, said Frank. I'm glad we found him at home. I thought he might have gone out in the car. It is strange, Joe agreed. On a holiday like this he doesn't usually stay around the farm. As they approached, they saw Chet leave the gate and come down the lane to meet them. Chet was one of the most popular boys at the Bayport High School, one reason for his popularity being his unfailing good nature and his ability to see fun in almost everything. He was full of jokes and good humor, and was rarely seen without a smile on his plump, freckled face. But today the hardy boys saw there was something wrong. Chet's face had an anxious expression, and as they brought their motorcycles to a stop, they saw that their friend's usual cheery face was clouded. What's the matter? asked Frank, as their friend hastened up to them. You're just in time, replied Chet hurriedly. You didn't meet a fellow driving my roadster, did you? The brothers looked at each other blankly. Your roadster? We'd recognize it anywhere. No, we didn't see it, said Joe. What happened? It's been stolen. Stolen? An auto thief stole it from the garage not half an hour ago. He just went in as cool as you please and made away with the car. The hired man saw the roadster disappearing down the lane, but he supposed I was in it, so he didn't think anything of it. Then he saw me out in the yard a little while later, so he got suspicious, and the roadster was gone. Wasn't it locked? That's the strange part of it. The car was locked, although the garage door was open. I can't see how he got away with it. A professional job, commented Frank. These auto thieves always carry scores of keys with them. But we're losing time here. The only thing is to set out in pursuit and notify the police. The hired man didn't see which way the fellow went, did he? No. There's only the one road, and we didn't meet him, so he must have taken the turn to the right at the end of the lane. We'll chase him, said Joe. Climb onto my bike, Chet. We'll get the thief yet. Wait a minute, cried Frank suddenly. I have an idea. Joe, do you remember that car we saw wrecked in the bushes? Sure. Perhaps the driver stole the first automobile he could lay his hands on after the wreck. What wreck was that? asked Chet. The hardy boys told him of the wrecked car they had found by the roadside. It had occurred to Frank that perhaps the smash up may have occurred just a short while before that, and the driver of the wrecked car had resumed his interrupted journey in a stolen automobile. It sounds reasonable, said Chet. Let's go take a look at the wreck. We can get the license number, and that may help us find the name of the owner. The motorcycles roared as the three friends set out back along the road toward the place where the upturned automobile had been seen among the bushes. The boys lost no time in reaching the place, for they realized that every second was precious, and the longer they delayed, the greater was the advantage to the car thief. The car had not been disturbed, and apparently no one had been near it since the boys had discovered the wreck. They parked their motorcycles by the roadside and again went down into the bushes to examine the wrecked car. To their disappointment, the car bore no license plates. That looks suspicious, said Frank. It's more than suspicious, said Joe, who had withdrawn a little to one side and was examining the automobile from the rear. Don't you remember seeing this car before, Frank? It didn't occur to me until you mentioned the matter of license plates. I've been wondering if this wasn't the same car that passed us on the shore road at that curve, replied Frank slowly. It is the same car. There's no doubt of it in my mind. It didn't have a license plate, I noticed at the time because I wanted to get the fellow's number, and it was a touring car of the same make as this. You're right, Joe. There's no mistake. The redheaded driver came to grief in the ditch, just as we said he would, and then he went on to the nearest farmhouse, which happened to be Chet's place, and stole the first car he saw. The busted car was the one the fellow was driving who nearly ran us off the cliff, Joe declared. And it's ten chances to one that he's the fellow who stole Chet's roadster. And he's redheaded. We have those clues anyway. And then he went on past our farmhouse instead of turning back the way he came, cried Chet. Come on, guys, let's get after him. There is only a little bit of gas left in the roadster anyway. Maybe he stalled out by this time. Thrilled with the excitement of a chase, the boys clambered back onto the motorcycles, and within a few moments a cloud of dust rose from the road as the Hardy Boys and Chet Morton set out in swift pursuit of the redheaded automobile thief. And it seems we've got the first clues of our first mystery with Joe and Frank Hardy. Oh my gosh, is this fun or what? How many of you remember the Hardy Boys TV show from the um 70s, and it had Sean Cassidy and um Parker Stevenson? That was like the hot show for two or three years, and it was right in the same time frame that they had the um Incredible Hulk came out. Also, kind of in that same era. They had some fun shows back then. Right around 1977, I think. I'm gonna have to look that up. Oh my gosh. Okay. Well, that's all we have for tonight's installment of our new mystery with Joe and Frank Hardy. We will continue with chapter three next Friday. Don't forget to come back Tuesday for our regular ramble chat mishmash of goodness. And until then, sleep tight, good night, and bye bye.