The Clue of the Screeching Owl by Franklin W. Dixon

I’ve been to see Elizabeth,” Webber was saying, “and she won’t budge an inch.”
    There was a sound as of somebody moving a chair impatiently.
    â€œWell”—Donner’s big voice rumbled—“I’m fed up with this life. Fed up with it. I want my share of the estate!”
    â€œYou don’t think I’m fed up with it?” the lawyer replied irritably. “I want my money, too. Well, let’s get down to business. How are things going?”
    When they heard this question, Frank and Joe waited breathlessly for an answer. But none came. There was a further scraping of furniture. That was all.
    â€œDidn’t Donner reply?” Frank wondered. “Or is he showing Webber something?”
    While the young sleuth pondered, crouching in the dark, the sudden pressure of his brother’s hand roused his attention. Now Frank heard the sound of stealthy footsteps approaching through the woods along the path!
    From their hiding place Frank and Joe could easily watch the break in the woods where the path entered the clearing. But though they waited soundlessly, no figure appeared. A chill of suspense ran down the brothers’ spines.
    â€œIs it Colonel Thunder?” Joe asked himself. “Or Simon?” Meanwhile, no further sound came from within the little house, either.
    For about fifteen minutes the silence continued. The unknown intruder was no longer moving, but, the boys wondered, was he lurking in the darkness a few scant yards from the Hardys themselves?
    â€œSomebody has trailed us down here,” Joe thought uneasily, “and he’s waiting for us to make the first move!”

CHAPTER XIV
    Flash Fire
    WITHOUT changing his position, Joe moved enough so he could whisper to his brother.
    â€œSomebody watching us,” he murmured. “Waiting for us to show ourselves!”
    Frank, after considering a moment, placed his own lips close to Joe’s ear and replied:
    â€œCheck! We’ll outwait him.”
    Straining their eyes vainly against the darkness, Frank and Joe examined the break in the woods which marked the exit from the path. All they could make out, however, was the dark clump of bushes where the intruder must be hidden. Whoever he was, he was keeping just as still and silent as they were!
    Abruptly, the loud voices of Donner and Webber in the cabin could be heard once more. Their remarks were no longer muffled.
    â€œWe’ll get some money pretty soon,” Donner’s voice rumbled. “I’m desperate enough to take a chance.”
    After a pause, Webber’s irritable tones were heard in reply, “I’ll attend to the boys. Nothing can go wrong this time!”
    Hearing these words, Frank frowned to himself, puzzled. Were he and Joe and Chet “the boys” that the two were talking about? Before the youth could make up his mind, there was a rusty squeaking sound, and the door of the cabin was thrown open.
    For an instant the lawyer’s small, plump figure and Donner’s tall, commanding one were outlined against the light of the two kerosene lanterns within. Then the door was closed and the lawyer crossed the clearing. He made no attempt to soften his footsteps.
    Frank’s keen eyes suddenly spotted an abrupt, blurred movement in the dark bushes at the entrance to the trail. Whoever was there was hiding from Webber as well as from them.
    In another moment the lawyer had entered the woods. His footsteps quickly receded in the darkness. Still warily watching the bushes, Frank and Joe saw a man step out. For a moment he stood still, a dark form barely silhouetted against the faint glow of the starlight. Then soundlessly he entered the woods on the trail of the retreating Webber.
    â€œHe was spying on Webber!” Joe whispered. “Shall we tail the two of them and see what happens?”
    â€œNo,” Frank decided quickly. “Let’s stick to our plan of staying here and waiting