Footprints Under the Window facts for kids
Original edition
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| Author | Franklin W. Dixon |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Hardy Boys |
| Genre | Detective, mystery |
| Publisher | Grosset & Dunlap |
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Publication date
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February 1, 1933, revised edition 1965 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 192 (original) 177 (revised) |
| Preceded by | While the Clock Ticked |
| Followed by | The Mark on the Door |
Footprints Under the Window is the twelfth book in the original The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories series. It was published by Grosset & Dunlap.
This book was written for the Stratemeyer Syndicate in 1933. It was thought to be written by Leslie McFarlane. However, its writing style is a bit different from his other books in the series. Later, between 1959 and 1973, the first 38 books in this series were updated. This was part of a big project led by Edward Stratemeyer's daughter, Harriet Adams. The original version of Footprints Under the Window was rewritten in 1965 by David Grambs. So, there are two different stories with the same name!
The Mystery Plots
Revised Edition Story
In the revised story, Frank and Joe try to figure out a secret plan. Someone is helping people secretly move from Baredo into the United States. Baredo is a made-up island nation near French Guiana. The boys also suspect a rich local businessman, Orrin North, is involved.
They also investigate attempts to spy on a top-secret satellite camera. This camera is being built at a local company called Micro-Eye. Someone has managed to sneak past the guards at the factory. They have taken photos of important blueprints.
Many clues point to people from Baredo being involved. So, Frank and Joe, with their friend Chet Morton, fly to Cayenne, French Guiana. From there, they take a boat to Baredo in the nearby Huellas islands to investigate.
They discover that Orrin North is actually tricking the rebels in Baredo. He pretends to help them against the dictator. But he is really finding out who they are and capturing them.
Back in Bayport, the boys overhear a plan to steal the satellite camera the very next day. But they are captured! They are taken aboard a ship and locked in a room filling with water.
Luckily, they manage to escape. Their father, Fenton Hardy, helps them. He was working on the same case and came after the ship. They free the people who were captured for their beliefs. They also stop the theft at Micro-Eye. With help from the Coast Guard, they catch the criminals.
Original Edition Story
In the original story, Frank and Joe want to clean their house before Aunt Gertrude arrives. They go to the laundromat, but its owner has disappeared. A mysterious man named Louie Fong has taken over.
Later that day, the boys go to the docks to meet their aunt. But she doesn't show up. While waiting, they meet a man named Sidney Pebbles. He gets locked in a telephone booth. Feeling sorry for him, they invite him to stay at their house for the night.
The next morning, Mr. Pebbles is gone. Some papers from Fenton Hardy's coat pockets are also missing. All that's left are footprints below the window. That night, they find Aunt Gertrude on the floor, ill. She had accidentally overslept and arrived a day late. They hire a nurse, Mrs. Cody, to care for her.
In the following days, the Hardy boys investigate a fight at the docks. They also meet Orrin North. He had hired their father to clear his company's name. People accused his company of secretly bringing people into America to avoid a special tax.
Later, the boys and Orrin North go to a Chinese restaurant called "Lantern Land." Sidney Pebbles is working there. To their surprise, a man who looks like Sidney Pebbles is there, but he is not the same man. They overhear this Pebbles talking to Tom Wat. Tom Wat is a Chinese man who was stabbed in the dock fight but survived. Someone releases a dog to attack Tom. The Hardy boys step in and save them. They also try to help Tom and Sidney.
During their investigation, the Hardy boys hide Tom Wat. They dress him as a woman and hide him in their home. They also meet the real Mr. Pebbles. They realize they were tricked by an imposter who lied to get into their house. The story ends with the Hardy boys and their father being held prisoner. But Tom Wat escapes and gets help. The people smugglers are arrested. The Hardy boys solve the mystery of who left the footprints under the window – it was Fenton Hardy!
