The Sinister Sign Post (1936)

The Sinister Sign Post (later retitled The Sinister Signpost) is the fifteenth volume in the original The Hardy Boys series of mystery books for children and teens published by Grosset & Dunlap.

This book was written for the Stratemeyer Syndicate by Leslie McFarlane in 1936. Between 1959 and 1973 the first 38 volumes of this series were systematically revised as part of a project directed by Harriet Adams, Edward Stratemeyer's daughter. The original version of this book was rewritten in 1968 by Tom Mulvey resulting in two different stories with the same title.

Plot Summary (revised edition)

This story begins with Frank and Joe Hardy driving home along Shore Road when they have an accident with a dragster. After they arrive home their father, Fenton Hardy, tells them about a new case he has taken on for Alden Automotive Research and Development Company, with which he would like the boys' help. Mr. Hardy explains that Mr. Alden believes someone is trying to steal the plans for a secret new engine he is designing, and that two of his racing cars which were equipped with new engine had strange accidents in which their windshields suddenly "crazed" (turned an opaque white), just after passing a road sign warning “DANGER”. While they are discussing the case, someone fires a smoke grenade into their house with a warning attached, telling them to "drop the Alden case".

Frank and Joe start by working undercover at Alden’s shop, while their friend Chet Morton takes an interest in jet propelling his bicycle, which leads to humorous results. At the shop, the boys meet Barto Sigor and learn that he has a twin brother Vilno who recently quit Alden’s employment. The boys immediately suspect that the twins may have swapped spots so that Vilno can gain access to the plans for the new motor. The Hardy boys also meet Roger Alden, Mr. Alden’s son, who seems to have a bad attitude. He is the boys' second suspect.

Aunt Gertrude receives news that she has just inherited a farm for retired racing horses. She is horrified at the prospect of owning such a thing, but before she can sell it the Hardy boys go to see the place. When they return they find that Mr. Alden’s racehorse Topnotch has been stolen and is being held for ransom. The Hardy boys return to the farm where they meet with Fowler, the manager of the farm, who tells them to get lost. While there, Frank picks up a cartridge from Fowler’s rifle, which he later matches to the rifle casing used to shoot the smoke grenade into the Hardy home. It is later revealed that Fowler is actually Norman Dodson, and is responsible for the theft of Topnotch. Using their detective skills, the Hardy boys figure out where the horse is being kept. They go there, get captured, but manage to escape while riding Topnotch to freedom.

Returning to the Alden automotive case, they learn that Barto has fled the plant with Mr. Alden's experimental race car. The Hardy boys eventually figure out where Barto is hiding, but when they reach the mansion hideout, they are suddenly "frozen in their tracks" by a "powerful invisible force". Once captured they find their father has also been trapped, along with Mr. Alden and his son Roger. While they are being held hostage Vilno brags to the boys about his "sonic trap" which can trap objects inside using "hypersonic vibrations" and he explains how he used his "hypersonic generator" to craze the windshields of the race cars. Once Vilno leaves Joe manages to escape from the locked room through an air vent, where Chet Morton arrives on his rocket-propelled bike, causing the villains to crash their car between two trees and trapping them inside until the police can arrive to arrest them.

Plot summary (original edition)

The Hardy boys plan to go for a football game in the Seneca grounds. While they are going, they experience a shortage of petrol, and are asked by a man in a truck from Old Kentucky the directions to the racetracks. Shortly after giving the truck directions, the brothers hear a gunshot which they mark as suspicious. Despite the many setbacks the brothers encounter while going to the game, they reached just in time to see the opening kick-off.

Frank is continuously bothered by a foreigner who introduces himself as Mr. Vilnoff, who doesn't understand the rules of football, and continues to pester the older Hardy lad into explaining the game to him. Frank tries losing the interrogator in the crowd, but he pops up again, right next to him, asking the self-same annoying questions. Frank is so distressed that he believes the only plus-point of the day is Bayport High's victory.

The next day, via Chet, the Hardys come to know that the famous racehorse, Topnotch, is missing. And, in the middle of the night, there was an explosion in the munitions factory near Renside. Frank has a hunch that the truck from Old Kentucky was the truck dropping clean out of sight. That afternoon, the Hardys decide to go to the races; however, they discover that their roadster was in need of repair which would not be fixed till later in the afternoon. They go to the races via bus and stop by the nearest refreshment stand, only to see that the man behind the counter was shortchanging a confused mother buying refreshments.

After giving the lady the dollar the shopkeeper owed to her, they make inquiries under the grandstand about Topnotch, and the red-faced trainer they are questioning is convinced that Topnotch has been stolen. While roaming about, the brothers notice a child who looked friendless and forlorn. The Hardys bring him a kite to cheer him up, and they depart, happy that the kid is enjoying it. However, they notice another man looking at the child, who introduces himself as Jockey Ivan, the owner of Topnotch. The boys use their detective skills to come to terms with the fact that the horse is being held for ransom.