The Secret of the Caves by Franklin W. Dixon Page B

Mary stammered.
    Mr. Dumont murmured, “One moment, s‘il vous plait.” He pressed a buzzer. The girls stood nervously. A moment later the door opened and a muscular, brawny man entered.
    â€œYou wanted somethin’, boss?”
    Mr. Dumont drew the man aside and whispered.
    â€œGot yuh, boss,” the man said, then hurried outside.
    The manager once more turned his attention to the girls. “So sorry. Now—if you will leave your names with me,” he said, “I shall let you know. I have had several other applicants.”
    He handed a pad across the table and the girls wrote their names, addresses, and phone numbers.
    The three applicants thanked the restaurant manager and left his office. On the way through the restaurant, Callie, who was last, glimpsed three well-dressed men pushing open the swinging doors to the kitchen. Their voices floated back and Callie caught a few words in a foreign tongue. “That’s not French,” she thought, surprised.
    When the girls were outside, Mary whispered, “Oh, what a goose I am for giving my right name.”
    â€œDon’t worry,” Callie said.
    â€œDo you think Mr. Dumont was suspicious of us at all?” Iola mused. “He kept looking at me sort of funny.”
    â€œIt’s just your imagination because we’re play ing detective,” Callie said.
    The girls were nearly to the jalopy when Pierre Dumont hastened from the restaurant toward them. Iola whirled. “He’s after us. Run!”

CHAPTER XV
    A Growing Suspicion
    THE frightened girls raced toward the car, but their speed was outmatched by Pierre Dumont. He overtook them halfway across the parking lot.
    â€œWait!” he commanded. “Why are you running away?” He extended a purse toward them.
    â€œOh dear,” said Mary. “It’s mine. I must have left it on your desk. Thank you.”
    â€œI return it with pleasure, mademoiselle,” Dumont replied. With a slight bow, the manager walked away.
    Callie sighed in relief, and the girls hastened toward Chet’s car.
    â€œBiff! We’re here!” Iola said in a loud whisper.
    No reply.
    â€œWhat happened to our chauffeur?” Callie said, and opened the car door. She looked into the back seat and gasped.
    Biff Hooper lay in a heap on the floor, with an ugly welt on the back of his head!
    â€œBiff! What happened!” Iola cried. “Come on, girls. Let’s lift him up.” It took the combined strength of all three to heft big Biff onto the back seat.
    â€œThank goodness he’s breathing!” declared Mary Todd, her hands trembling in fright.
    While Callie chafed Biff’s wrists, Iola patted his face gently until the youth opened his eyes.
    â€œOw, my head,” Biff said, wincing. He touched the welt and winced again.
    â€œSomeone gave you an awful whack,” said Iola. “Did you see who it was?”
    â€œI didn’t see anything but stars!” Biff commented wryly.
    â€œThere’s something very odd going on around here,” Iola said with a determined set of her chin. “I’m going right back and talk with Mr. Dumont.”
    â€œWait a minute,” Callie said, putting a restraining hand on Iola’s arm. “If Dumont is in on all this, as I think he is, it won’t do us any good. Let’s report to Frank and Joe, quick.”
    â€œI think that would be better,” Biff said. “Boy, am I groggy!”
    â€œI’ll drive back,” Callie said. She hopped into the front seat while Mary and Iola remained in the back, on either side of Biff. Callie started the car, drove out of the parking lot, and soon was whipping along the highway toward Rockaway. She slowed down slightly for a right-hand curve. At the same instant a groundhog plodded into the road. Desperately Callie swerved toward the center of the road to avoid the creature. Just then another car sped toward them from the opposite