S4 E3 More Clues Ensue in Chapter 4 of The Hardy Boys: The Tower Treasure

SPEAKER_00 0:11

Well, hello, and welcome to the Comforting Voice podcast. I'm your host, Shasta Ray, and it's just you and me in the studio tonight. Well, at least you, me, Frank, Joe, and Chet, you know, as we go upon our adventure tonight. How are you? Have you survived the week? Oh my gosh, it got hot again where I'm at. The nice thing is that it's starting to cool off in the evenings, and that has been a huge relief. Oh my gosh, at least the house cools down a little bit overnight that way, and we're ready to take on another hot day the next day. But we will have cooler weather upon us soon enough, and if we're not careful, we're gonna be getting some snow before we know it. You know, time just rolls by at an incredible speed sometimes. So, enjoy it, enjoy the parts of it that you like, and don't forget if you're in an area that has seasons that change, you're gonna be feeling cooler temps soon enough. So enjoy the warm weather while you've got it to enjoy, because we will all be complaining in the opposite direction soon enough, won't we? Oh my gosh, people, before we get started on our story tonight, I've gotta say, I think the Join the Fun Challenge is off to a good start. We have had 40 new cities join the listener base just in the past three weeks or so. So thank you very much, everyone who's been participating in the Join the Fun Challenge. Basically, what it is is tell the others. If you're having a conversation with someone, if you're engaged in a post on social media, whatever the case may be, and somebody is looking for easy listening, something to drift off to sleep to that's non-triggering, something that doesn't feature stressful topics, just let them know. The Comforting Voice podcast. And it's really easy to remember the website. It's just comfortingvoice.com. All of the episodes can be heard there and more. I've got a link there that says episodes. Drop that down. I've got some playlists based on the books we've been reading on Fridays. You can support the show, you can buy some Thrive Gear. Oh my gosh, you can check out the coloring book Empire. There's a buy me a coffee link, whatever fits your style, there you go. But really, tell the others. It's the easiest way to grow the podcast and get the word out. And if you're listening in on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or any podcast app that allows you to give positive feedback, drop us a like, drop us a friendly comment if it allows you to do so. What that does is it tells the algorithms that you're enjoying the show. So when other people are looking for podcasts in a similar genre, it's gonna show us to them. We're gonna be at the top of that list a little bit easier that way. And it's another great way to grow the podcast organically. Thanks in advance, and I appreciate you. Okie dokie, so let's just take a few minutes and run through your sleep prep. That way you're all relaxed and ready for a bedtime story. Kick your shoes off, put your feet up, settle in, make sure you've got everything you need within reach, your favorite beverage of choice, maybe a bottle of water, extra pillow. Make sure your phone is plugged in and charged up so you don't have a dead phone in the morning. Don't forget that. A lot of us forget to do that, then we're like, we're in a frantic frame of mind the next day. So make sure you plug your listening device in if that's the case, or your phone, whatever, and you've got the volume on your listening device set at that perfect volume for you. Then you're ready to go. And then tonight we're gonna add one more step to our sleep prep. Very easy to do. So you're gonna want to start out with a good productive stretch. Reach those arms and legs, engage those muscles into a really good stretch, do it how you like, but make sure you reach all the way into your fingers and toes, wiggle your fingers and toes really quick, and release that stretch. And you're gonna feel that relaxation replace that tension that you just had in those muscles. It's amazing. Next, we're gonna do a nice deep breath of air. Inhale slowly to about the count of four, hold it to about the count of three, top it off with another quick inhale, hold it for another count or two, and then exhale very slowly through your teeth to about the count of six or eight. And then take a second deep breath of air. But when you do the second deep breath of air, I want you to push right on the bridge of your nose between your eyes, kind of where your nose kind of dips down there. And you don't have to push very hard. It's like a pressure point, but just gently push very lightly, and then do your deep breath of air while you're putting a little bit of sensation right between your eyes, like that. Here again, you don't need to push very hard, very light pressure when you do a deep breath of air. And you know what? Between the stretch and that little bit of sensation between your eyes when you take that deep breath of air a second time, it is gonna reset your nervous system and it's gonna help you relax and fall asleep faster. Give it a whirl. Oh, and that noise you just heard was my text notifications. Lawn just sent through a text. I guess he's joining us tonight. He hopes that you all enjoy chapter four of the Hardy Boys Tonight. He's been enjoying this thoroughly. Takes him back to his childhood. That was amazing timing. He has no idea when I record. So that's the magic of Lawn right there. He's with us in spirit tonight, across the miles. He is committed to this podcast. How amazing. Okay. This really has been a wonderful choice of a book so far. It's off to a great start. And by the looks of the numbers out there, you guys are enjoying it too. You guys are getting into it. So, yay, let's get started. This is the first of the Hardy Boys books. This is the one that got it all started. The Hardy Boys, The Tower Treasure. It was written by Franklin W. Dixon. We're on chapter four, titled The Holdup. Chief Ezra Colleg of the Bayport Police Force was a burly red-faced individual, much given to telling long-winded stories. Usually Colleg was to be found reclining in a swivel chair in his office with his feet on the desk reading the comic papers or polishing up his numerous badges, but this day something had happened to shake him out of his customary calm. When the boys went into his office they found the chief painfully writing in a huge notebook and confronted by three excited figures. One of these was Ike Harreddy, the old ticket seller at the city steamboat office. The others were Detective Smuth of the police force and policeman Con Riley, both trying their best to look important and composed. Ike Harreddy was frankly frightened. It was plain that something very much out of the ordinary had happened. Harrady was a timid and inoffensive old chap who had perched on a high stool behind the wicket at the steamboat office day in and day out for as many years as anyone in Bayport could remember. I was just countin' up the morning's receipts, he was saying, in a frightened and high pitched voice, when in comes this fellow and he sticks a revolver in front of my nose. Just a minute, interrupted the chief grandly as the boys entered. He dipped his pen in the inkwell and poised it in the air as he peered at the lads over his spectacles. What are you boys doing here? Can't you see we're busy? I came to report a theft, said Chet Morton. My roadster was stolen. Why, it was a roadster this fellow drove up to my office in, cried Ike Haredy. A yellow roadster. Ha, said Detective Smuth. A clue. He immediately fished a notebook out of his pocket and began rummaging around for a pencil. Never mind, Detective Smith, observed the chief heavily. I'll take any notes that are needed. Detective Smith, duly squelched, put back his notebook in confusion. What fellow? Frank asked. Who drove up to your office in a yellow roadster? The hold up man, declared Haredy. I was held up this morning. A fellow tried to steal the steamboat money from me. Now just a minute, just a minute, demanded the chief. Let me say a word here. The situation is this. A man drove up to the steamboat office a little while ago and tried to hold up mister Hardy, but a passenger happened to come into the office just then, and the fellow got frightened and ran away. Is that right? That's right, said Harridy. I'll make a note of it, said the chief, suiting the action to the word. When he had scribbled industriously for some time, he raised the pen again and pointed at Chet. Now you, he observed, say that somebody stole a yellow roadster from you this morning. Yes, sir, from our farm. He was seen driving into Bayport just a little while ago. The chief made a note of it. And you, he said, pointing the pen at Ike Haredi, say the hold up man drove up to the office in a yellow roadster. That's right, chief, that's right. A yellow roadster it was, and now that I come to think of it, I've seen Chet Morton's car before, and it was the spittin' image of it. Then, declared the chief, putting down his pen with the air of one making a momentous discovery, it looks to me very much as if the holdup man and the fellow that stole the car is one and the same man. Detective Snuff wagged his head solemnly in admiration of the feat of deduction. I believe you're right, chief, he declared. Of course he's right, said Frank. It wouldn't be anyone else. The point is this. Where did the hold up man go? Did he leave in the car? Did anyone follow him? He left in the car all right, said Harridy, but nobody followed him. I telephoned for the police. Did you notice the color of this man's hair? asked Frank suddenly. What's that got to do with it? asked Detective Smuth. Never mind, it may have a great deal to do with it. Did you notice the color of his hair? repeated Frank, turning to Harridy. It was short, said Harridy firmly. Short and dark. Frank and Joe looked blankly at one another. Are you sure? asked Joe. I'm positive, declared Harridy. I was face to face with him. He was a dark haired man and his hair was cut awful short. I noticed that. You're sure he wasn't red headed? I'm sure of it. What's all this about? asked Chief Colleague suspiciously. What's the color of his hair to do with it? Well, admitted Frank, we were pretty sure that the man who stole Chet's car had long red hair. Hm, muttered the chief doubtfully. Then if that was the case, the man who stole the car and the man who tried to hold up the office isn't one and the same fellow after all. I don't know what to make of it, confessed Frank. Just then a short, nervous little man was ushered into the office. He introduced himself as the passenger who had gone into the steamboat office at the time of the attempted holdup, and he presented himself in answer to a call from the chief. In reply to questions, the newcomer, who said his name was Henry J. Brown, said he was from New York, told of entering the office and seeing a man run away from the wicket with a revolver in his hand. What color was his hair, did you notice? asked Frank eagerly. Can't say I did, answered the little man. It all happened so quickly I didn't realize that it was a holdup until the man was out the door. Then I saw him jump into the roadster and drive away, but wait a minute, I did notice the color of his hair. Just as the car was disappearing down the street, you couldn't help but notice. He was a redhead. He had long red hair. Detective Smuth looked blankly at the chief, and the chief looked blankly at everyone else, particularly at Henry J. Brown of New York. I knew it, declared Joe. It's the same man. It can't be the same man, said the chief wearily. You boys don't know what you're talking about. Mr. Haredy says he had short, dark hair. Now how could he have short dark hair and long red hair at the same time? I ask you that, how could he? Chief Colleg propounded this query with the expression of one who has triumphantly settled all difficulties. He had short dark hair, said Haredy doggedly. And I'm sure he had long red hair, shouted Henry J. Brown very indignantly. Do you think I'm blind? Do you think I'd tell a lie about that? He had dark hair. It was red. It was dark. It wasn't. It was. Stop it, commanded Chief Colleg. I don't think either of you know what kind of hair he had. Probably he was baldheaded, but I'll send word out to keep watch for the yellow roadster. I'll notify the police in other towns too. I guess that's all that can be done for now. And with that, the Hardy Boys and Chet Morton had to be content. When they left the office, it was with little hope that the thief or the car would be found. Their misgivings were justified. When they returned to see Chief Colleg that night, they learned that no word had been received concerning the yellow roadster from any of the outlying towns or villages, and that despite a diligent search conducted by Detective Smough and other members of the Bayport Force, the roadster had not been located in the city. Oh my goodness! I sure hope they find the yellow roadster. How about you? Are you worried yet? I'm not too worried. It's still early in the book. I think we're gonna have a lot of adventures yet to be had in this story. Well, I certainly hope you're sound asleep and you don't even hear this. But if you are awake and you're still with me, I hope you're enjoying the book also. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on your favorite app. That way you get notifications every time we drop a new episode. We'll be back here Tuesday for our regular Tuesday ramble chat mishmash of goodness. And until then, sleep tight, good night, and bye bye, seven, seven.