S4 E1 Frank & Joe are Hot on the Trail! The Hardy Boys: The Tower Treasure, Chatper 3

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Good evening and welcome to the Comforting Voice podcast. I'm your host, Shasta Ray, and it's just you and me in the studio tonight. I thought it would be nice to just jump right into our book and um get the editing done. It's a little bit more fun for me to have the birds down here on the Tuesday ramble chats. So here we are, Friday night, ready to embrace the weekend. Oh my gosh, don't know about you, but it's been a busy week. Lots and lots going on. We had a little bit of cooler weather for a couple days, and then the temperatures shot right back up. Oh my gosh, it just zaps all your energy on top of being a busy time of year. Crazy, crazy. So I was getting ready to come down to the studio to do the recording tonight and turn the TV on for the birds on their favorite channel, MeTV. They love it. And football is on. So I went to go to another channel to see if I could find something that they could watch, you know, and football was on. So it looks like football season is upon us. So I hope those of you who enjoy that sport are having fun with football season starting. And um, yeah, the birds are watching football tonight, and I I didn't even pay attention to what team was playing. I think it was uh um someone with helmets on, I'm not sure. Anyway, I like putting the old sitcoms on for them because there's a lot of just upbeat energy. They like the theme songs, all that sort of thing, and they chime in, they chirp, they make noise, they chatter, and there's a big difference in their energy when I have the TV on versus when it's just totally quiet in the room. So they get a little action, and I think it kind of makes them feel like there's humans milling about. Not sure. They don't really interact with the screen much, but they sure interact with the noise. As for the giant dog, he was upstairs enjoying some dog food, and he just generally enjoyed staying out of the heat today, just like I did. Alright, well, we can't have a great weekend without getting a great night's sleep. So let's jump into our sleep prep and get you comfortable, relaxed, and ready to drift off to sleep. Got a great story tonight. It's chapter three of the Hardy Boys The Tower Treasure. Yep, we have a fun chapter tonight, and uh yeah, let's get going. Okay, so do you have everything you need right at your fingertips? Whatever that means for you. Bottle of water, hot cup of tea, maybe you're starting the night shift and you've got a hot cup of coffee. You never know. Did you kick your shoes off, put your feet up? Did you get your pillow all mushed up in the perfect shape for you? Maybe you need a fan on this time of year. Make sure you're good to go. And when you're ready, we're gonna take a really good stretch. Offload all of that stress of the week, all the toxicity of the week. Reach into your arms, hands and fingers, legs, feet, toes, really engage those muscles, wiggle your fingers and toes, and then let go of that stretch, and you're gonna feel that relaxation just kick in. It's wonderful, it's instant. And then follow that up with a deep breath of air. Inhale to about the count of four, hold it to about the count of three, take a quick little inhale to top it off, hold it for another count or two, and then if possible, exhale through your teeth like you're hissing to about the count of eight, if you can exhale that slow. And then here again, you can start off with the deep breath of air, follow it with a stretch, polish it off with another deep breath of air. Do what works for you. Figure out your groove. There's no right or wrong. I also wanted to mention really quick that it looks like the join the fun challenge is off to a great start. Since our 600 cities milestone episode about two weeks ago, we have had 30 more cities join the fun. That's amazing. Totally amazing. So if you're not sure what I'm referring to, it's just tell the others. If you're in a Facebook group or you see a post or something somewhere on your social media, or you're having a conversation and somebody is looking for a non-stressful, non-triggering podcast to listen to, to unwind to, no heavy content, something to doze off to and it doesn't matter, let them know. Comfortingvoice.com, very easy link to share, hard to forget. And of course, we're available wherever you listen to podcasts. We're out there on all the major apps, and um, even got the Facebook page going on. So check it out. Part two to the Join the Fun Challenge. If you don't really feel like you have anybody to tell, but you're listening in on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or maybe even a different podcast app that allows you to leave positive feedback, give us a like, leave a positive comment. That signals the algorithms that people like the show, and it'll start showing us and suggesting us to others that use that app and might be searching for a podcast of similar content. Thanks in advance. It means the world to us, and let's jump into our episode. So we have been reading a hardy boy's mystery, not just any hardy boys mystery, but the first Hardy Boy's mystery. So where we left off last week, Frank and Joe in the previous chapter had almost got mowed over by an out of control motorist. And then last week they completed the delivery of some papers for their father in a nearby town, and it was a Saturday, so they decided to enjoy the day and go see a friend of theirs. On the way, they saw an overturned car. They got to their friend's house, and their friend's car had been stolen. Frank, Joe, and their friend went back to where that overturned car was and they started to put some ideas together that the person that was driving the out of control car may have been the one that flipped this car and then stole their friend's car as a means of going about what he was doing, but they're not sure. So let's see what happens in chapter three. We're reading The Hardy Boys, the Tower Treasure, written by Franklin W. Dixon. This is chapter three, titled Traces of the Thief. Chet Morton's roadster was a brilliant yellow, not easily mistaken, and the Hardy Boys were confident that it would not be difficult to pick up the trail of the auto thief. The car is pretty well known around Bayport, said Chet. It was certainly a bright yellow speed wagon. Anyone who saw it would remember it. It seems strange that a thief would take a car like that, remarked Frank. Auto thieves usually take cars of a standard make and standard color. They're easier to get rid of. He would know a car like yours would be easily traced. I don't think he stole the car to sell it, Joe pointed out. Take it from me. That chap was getting away from someplace in a hurry when his own car smashed and he took the first one that came to hand. If we keep after him before he has a chance to get rid of it, we'll run him to earth. A number of men in a hayfield nearby attracted Frank's attention, and he brought his motorcycle to a stop. I'm going to ask these guys if they saw him pass. Frank scrambled over the fence and went to talk to the farmhands, who watched his approach with curiosity. Hey, you didn't see a yellow roadster pass here within the past hour, did you? One of them, a lanky farmer with a sunburned nose, walked over to Frank, put his hand to his ear, and said Eh? Did you see a fellow pass along here in a roadster? Frank repeated in a louder tone. The farmer turned to his companions, removed a plug of tobacco from the pocket of his overalls, and took a hearty chew. Lad here wants to know if we saw a roadster come by here, he said slowly. There were three other farmhands and all gathered round. They put down their tools very deliberately, and the plug of tobacco was passed around the group. Frank waited. A roadster, eh? asked one. A yellow roadster, Frank told him. One of the men removed his hat and mopped his brow. Seems to me, he observed, I did see a car come by here a while ago. A yellow car? No, twint and yellow car was a delivered chuck if I remember rightly. Frank strove to conceal his impatience. It's a roadster I'm asking about. A yellow roadster. Not one of them their coops, eh? asked the oldest man in the group doubtfully. No, not a coop, a roadster. Roadster, eh? remarked the old farmer. That's one of them their automobiles with just two seats and a little cupboard in the back, eh? My cousin has one, observed another member of the group. He got it second hand in Bayport. I never could see why he bought the doggone thing. You can't take the folks out for a ride in it without having em all crowded something fierce. Give me the old touring car every time. Can't say I agree with you, returned the old farmer. What good's a touring car if you want to haul a load of grain into town? One of them little trucks is best. I always thought. Then if you want to go on a picnic or anything, the family can all climb in the back. You can get use out of a truck. Nope, nothing like a touring car. Nope, extravagance buying touring cars, said the third. Horse and wagons good enough for me. That's what I say, agreed the fourth. What with taxes the way they are? And last year's crops weren't any too good. I tell you, touring cars the only thing nowadays. Somewhat astonished by the sudden turn the argument had taken, Frank vainly tried to make himself heard above the uproar. What about the roadster? he asked. Did any of you see it? But the four men in the field were not listening. Instead they were deep in a highly complicated argument regarding the faults and merits of various makes of cars, and they paid no further attention to the youth. Can't afford to waste any more time here, he said to himself and turned away. At the fence he looked back. One of the farmhands was shaking his fist beneath the nose of a companion, while the other two were engrossed in a heated discussion. Their voices floated across the hayfield in the drowsy summer morning. Looks like you started something, laughed Joe as his brother returned to the motorcycle. I certainly did. I just asked him if they'd seen a yellow roadster and they started to fight about what was the best car for a farmer to buy. And didn't they see the roadster? asked Chet. I don't think so. If they had, they would have told me. I guess they were glad of an excuse to quit work. Well, we'd better be getting on our way then. We've lost enough time already. So while the four farmhands bickered loudly in the field in an argument that bade fair to last until dinner time at least, the three boys set out again in pursuit of the redhead auto thief. They were approaching Bayport when they saw a girl walking along the road ahead of them. There was something familiar about her appearance, and as they drew near, Frank's face lighted up for he recognized the girl as Callie Shaw, who was in his own class at Bayport High School. Of all the girls at school, Callie was the one most greatly admired by Frank. She was a pretty girl with brown hair and brown eyes, always neatly dressed, and always quick and vivacious in her manner. As the boys brought their motorcycles to a stop, Frank saw that Callie was not in her usual bright and cheery humor. Under one arm she was carrying a parcel that had evidently become untied, and the paper of which was badly torn. Her face was distressed and it appeared that she had been crying. Callie looked up and, recognizing the boys, ran over towards them. That awful man, she wailed, even before they had time to ask her what the matter was. He ran right over my parcel and smashed nearly all the cakes and jelly I was bringing to Mrs. Wills. And with that she held out a torn parcel. Frank knew that Callie, who was a generous and good hearted girl, had been in the habit of taking little delicacies to a widow, Mrs. Wills, who lived just on the outskirts of Bayport. Now he saw that the parcel had been smashed, so that only one glass of jelly and a few of the cakes had been left intact. What man, Callie? he asked. What happened? He ran right over my parcel. Just then Callie spied Chet Morton and pouted at him. He was a friend of yours too, Chet Morton, for he was driving your car. My car? gasped Chet. Your yellow roadster. He came driving along this road at such a terrible speed that I was frightened and I dropped my parcel. Then he ran over it. Well, Callie, that's just the fellow we've been looking for, said Frank quickly. Chet's car's been stolen. Well, whoever stole it came by here not ten minutes ago, said the girl. And he's a madman by the way he was driving. Why, we're right on his trail then, declared Frank. He must have gone into Bayport. He was heading that way, Callie told him. But at the rate he was going, you'll have a hard time catching him. Oh, Chet, I'm sorry to hear your car was stolen. Don't worry, we'll get it back, replied Chet grimly. Are you going back home, Callie? asked Frank. No, I'm going on up to Mrs. Wills' place. You don't need to bother to drive me up, it's only a few yards farther on. I know you're anxious to chase that awful man. We'll chase him all right, declared Frank as the motorcycles roared. They said goodbye to the girl and sped their way on to Bayport, leaving Callie to continue her journey to the home of Mrs. Wills with the remains of cakes and jelly over which she had spent so much time and care. They sped down the main street of Bayport and headed directly to the police station, where they intended to report the theft of Chet's car and description of the thief, assuming him to be the red-headed man who had so nearly run down Frank and Joe on the shore road, but when they reached the police station, a further surprise was in wait for them. Oh my goodness, how fun! You know, when I picked this book out, I wasn't sure if I was gonna like it or not, but by the first chapter I was really into it, and I can't wait to find out what happens next week. So don't forget to subscribe on your favorite app, then you won't miss anything, you'll always get notifications every time we drop an episode. And until Tuesday for our regular mishmash ramble chat, sleep tight, good night, and bye bye.