"Dixon, Franklin W - Hardy Boys 043 - The Mystery Of The Aztec Warrior" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dixon Franklin W)

"Give us another ten minutes, please," Frank replied, glancing at his watch. "That'll make it an even hour."

The time was just about up when suddenly Joe cried out, "I see it! Gomez, stop!"

Their driver pulled in to the kerb directly behind the yellow taxi. The boys asked Gomez to wait for them, then ran up to talk to the other driver.

"Excuse me," said Frank, "but we're trying to find a friend of ours - an American - and a Mexican companion. They were riding in your taxi a little over an hour ago. Do you know where they went?"

"Si, si," the taximan replied. "I dropped them at the Lagunilla Market."

"Lagunilla Market?" Frank repeated. "What's that?"

The driver laughed. "It is a place where people go to find bargains. Most of the merchandise is old and poor. Once in a while, however, something fine turns up. The merchants there have bought most of their things from strangers, and occasionally it is stolen property."

"Let's have this man take us to the Lagunilla Market," Frank suggested. "I'll pay Gomez."

The boys changed taxis and were taken to an old, shabbylooking section of town. The open-air market ran from one street to another. Many of the vendors had their merchandise spread out on straw mats or blankets on the ground. A few had small booths with canopies set up. They were loudly hawking their wares in both Spanish and English.

The Hardys soon found that the merchants were suspicious, and the boys had to buy trinkets in order to get responses to their questions.

"We may go bankrupt before we get a clue," said Joe with a grin.

They had gone nearly the full length of the market when they came to a woman merchant selling silver jewellery. Frank put his question to her, and instead of being ignored it was answered at once.

"I remember the men you speak of," she said with a smile, straightening the multi-coloured apron she wore. "The man from your country bought a handsome bracelet from me - a man's bracelet. It was studded with turquoise - a great bargain."

The young sleuths were grateful for the information. To show their appreciation they bought two bracelets that looked old enough to have been worn by Aztec women. Their mother and Aunt Gertrude, they decided, would be pleased to receive them as souvenir gifts.

Suddenly the Mexican woman's face clouded. "The American was a very nice man, but I did not like his companion. He had a wicked face and I saw him buy a large knife."

The Hardys were startled and asked for further identification. She said he was short and rather stout. The brothers again thanked the woman. Feeling that they now had a clue for the police, they started back to their taxi.

Suddenly the woman called out, "When you find your friend, I hope you will not laugh at him. He put the bracelet on his arm and said he was going to wear it all the time."

The Hardys figured that Jack was using the bracelet as identification in case the Hardys should pick up his trail.

"Did you notice which way the men went from here?" Joe asked.

"No. I'm sorry."

The taximan drove them to headquarters where they paid him. Chief Diaz was surprised to see his visitors so soon again and commended them on their sleuthing ability.

"That turquoise bracelet is a fine clue," he said.

The boys returned to their hotel. To their surprise Chet was not in the room, but propped against the mirror of the dressing-table was a note:

Mystery solved. Have gone to get the Aztec warrior. Will bring him to our room.