The Mystery of the Aztec Warrior (16 page)

The Hardys thanked the police for all their help, then left with Chet and Senor Tatloc for the hotel. Here Frank made the elderly archaeologist lie down to rest while the boys explained about Mr. Moore's directive to the Hardys to find the Aztec warrior and return his property to him. Briefly, they outlined their adventures since undertaking the case, including their meeting with Roberto Hermosa.

The archaeologist listened intently, and when Frank and Joe finished, he said quietly:

“Now I will tell you the story of the Aztec warrior object. One day, about six months ago, after discharging Jimenez—he had become very surly—I was in a hotel room talking on the phone with my good friend Mr. Moore. I caught Jimenez eavesdropping. I'm afraid he overheard enough of our conversation to have planned the theft of a dagger—a priceless heirloom which has been in my family nearly a thousand years. My relatives bicker about it. They think the weapon should be sold and the money divided among them. I don't agree, mostly because it belongs to me. For this reason I have always kept its whereabouts a secret.”

As Senor Tatloc paused, Frank asked, “You lent the dagger to Mr. Moore, but no one knew this except you two and Pedro Jimenez?”

“That's right.”

Chet asked a bit impatiently, “What does the weapon look like, Senor Tatloc?”

“The blade is made of obsidian and is still sharp. The handle, beautifully carved in the shape of an Aztec warrior, is inlaid with jade and turquoise and rubies.

“Three years ago when Mr. Moore came down here looking for old weapons, I showed him my collection. He begged me to sell him the dagger. I told him I didn't think it should be taken out of Mexico, and said that I planned to will it to the State Museum. Finally he persuaded me to let him enjoy having it in his possession for a while. Knowing that he could be trusted to take good care of the dagger and return it within the five-year period we agreed upon, I let him take it.”

“Did Mr. Moore ever tell you where he kept the dagger?” Joe asked.

“No, he did not tell me. Do you mean it hasn't been found?”

“Not yet, Señor Tatloc.”

The archaeologist looked stunned. “I shouldn't have let him talk me into borrowing it. But he was very persuasive—in fact, he offered a check to finance a museum field expedition. We arranged to have a guarded stipulation in both our wills for the return of the relic.”

“I'm sure we'll locate it,” Frank said. “But the dagger is certainly well hidden. Mr. Moore must have known—or suspected—that thieves were after it.”

“Where does Roberto Hermosa fit into the picture?” Joe asked.

Señor Tatloc answered, “To prevent anyone's learning I owned the object mentioned in Mr. Moore's will, we chose Roberto Hermosa to make the identification of me. Roberto knew that I had lent Mr. Moore an heirloom, but did not know what the object was. I am deeply grieved to hear of Mr. Moore's death, and I must say that he took every precaution to keep our secret. During the telephone conversation that Jiminez overheard, I told Mr. Moore that as soon as I received the dagger I was going to present it to the State Museum. I was afraid that some of my greedy relatives might get hold of it. I would like to go to Bayport with you and help search for the heirloom.”

“Great!” Frank said.

He told the archaeologist about the pictures they had found among Mr. Moore's slides. “One was taken in a garden.”

“Oh, yes, that was at a house outside Mexico City. Mr. Moore rented it for a month.”

“Another picture shows you in costume,” said Frank.

Senor Tatloc smiled. “A celebration was held near the Pyramid of the Sun. Some of the university professors requested that I take part in the celebration. I did not wish to, but they insisted. I wore a very old costume I have and Mr. Moore took my picture.”

“By the way,” Joe asked, “were you at that pyramid the other day? We thought we saw you there.”

“No, I wasn't,” the archaeologist replied.

Frank asked him, “Did you find a relic at Monte Alban and leave it there?”

“Yes, Frank. I uncovered an ancient slab with an Aztec warrior and a date—five rabbit—carved on it. The slab was too heavy for me to carry away. While I was waiting for a friend to come and help me, I went up to that mountain to look for the ruins of a temple. That's when the kidnappers took me prisoner.”

“We found the slab,” said Joe, “and took it to the State Museum. We told the curator we thought you had uncovered it.”

“And that's not all we found,” Frank said. “This belongs to you.” He handed over the belt buckle and told him about picking it up.

Señor Tatloc stared in amazement, then said, “Thank you, boys, for all you have done.”

Frank put in a call to his father, who was both amazed and pleased to hear what had happened. “Your hunch paid off, Dad. And now we're ready to come home. Señor Tatloc will accompany us.”

“Very good,” said the detective. “I'll send Jack Wayne right down.”

The boys and their passenger drove to Mexico City the next day. There they took off in the Hardys' private plane. Jack Wayne was generous in his praise. “I'm certainly glad my kidnapper is behind bars!” he said.

The morning after they arrived in Bayport, Mr. Hardy, Sam Radley, and the lawyer, Mr. Weaver, took the boys and their guest out to the Moore estate. Frank and Joe were eager to examine the tiny arrows which the two detectives had found on the trees.

After seeing them, Joe spoke up, “Dad, is it possible that this circle of arrows represents a boundary to limit the area where we are supposed to search? And that the Indian's head is the starting point?”

“You may have hit on the answer!” Mr. Hardy exclaimed.

Though many sections within the circle had already been dug up, work was started on other sections. Suddenly Mr. Hardy disappeared inside the house but soon came out, smiling.

“I may have a clue,” he said. “A tile pipe leads out from the cellar and under the lawn. It doesn't seem to have any use. I poked a stick in as far as I could, but didn't find anything. Boys, will you look around for a plumber's snake? We'll run it into the pipe and see if we can hit anything.”

Frank, Joe, and Chet rushed off to the garage, part of which housed a tool shed. Inside, they found the long wire tool, hurried to the cellar, and inserted the snake. About twenty feet underground it came to an obstruction, but the boys were unable to budge it.

“Let's dig up the ground at the end of the pipe,” Joe urged.

Excitement mounted as the searchers rushed outdoors. They judged that the pipe's end lay under a large spiraea bush. Frantically they dug it up, then spaded out the earth beneath.

Soon Frank's pointed shovel uncovered the end of the pipe from the cellar. It was plugged with a concrete disk. Unsuccessfully the boys tugged at it. Using a chisel, they finally yanked the disk loose.

Inside the pipe lay a package with a waterproof canvas cover. The boys pulled it out carefully. Attached to the end which had faced the cellar was a metal ring.

“Mr. Moore probably had a long pole with a hook on the end of it to grab the ring so he could drag the package out to the cellar,” said Frank.

Chet groaned. “I saw one in the garage.”

Frank lifted out the package and handed it to Señor Tatloc. “I think you should have the honor of opening this. Don't you, Dad?”

“Without question,” his father agreed.

“I think we'd better go into the house to look at the contents,” Mr. Weaver advised, leading the way.

The package was laid on Mr. Moore's desk. Fingers trembling, Senor Tatloc opened it. Revealed was the Aztec warrior weapon! Its carved handle, inlaid with turquoise and jade, and the warrior's headdress of fiery red rubies glittered in the light.

“This is the handsomest piece of its kind I've ever seen!” Mr. Weaver exclaimed. “Senor Tatloc, you indeed own something priceless that a gang of thieves would certainly go to great lengths to steal.”

The archaeologist smiled. “It wouldn't have done anybody any good if it had not been discovered by the Hardys and Chet. Without them, my secret might have remained one forever and a precious relic lost to Mexico. Hundreds of years could have gone by before this object was discovered. I am very grateful to you all.”

As the boys, somewhat embarrassed, were searching for an answer, Mr. Weaver spoke up. “There are a great many other people who are going to be thankful as well—the beneficiaries of Mr. Moore's will. They'll be able to collect their inheritances now.”

Frank and Joe, though pleased that the mystery of the Aztec warrior had been solved, were already wondering what their next adventure would be. Very soon another exciting case—THE HAUNTED FORT—would be a real test of their ingenuity and courage.

Chet Morton was overwhelmed by all the praise and excitement. “Señor Tatloc and Mr. Weaver,” he burst out, “when Frank and Joe solve a mystery, they usually have a party with plenty of good food. Let's all go to the Hardys' house and give Senor Tatloc a chance to taste some good old U.S.A. cooking!”