The Sinister Signpost facts for kids
Original edition
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| Author | Franklin W. Dixon |
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| Original title | The Sinister Sign Post |
| Cover artist | J. Clemens Gretta |
| 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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September 1, 1936, revised edition 1968 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 192 pp |
| ISBN | 0-448-08915-7 |
| Preceded by | The Hidden Harbor Mystery |
| Followed by | A Figure in Hiding |
The Sinister Signpost is the 15th book in The Hardy Boys mystery series. It was first published in 1936. Later, in 1968, the book was rewritten, creating two different stories with the same title. Both versions feature the exciting adventures of Frank and Joe Hardy as they solve tricky mysteries.
Contents
Solving the Mystery: Revised Edition Plot
This version of The Sinister Signpost starts with a bang! Frank and Joe Hardy are driving home when they get into a car accident. Soon after, their famous detective father, Fenton Hardy, asks for their help. He's working on a big case for Alden Automotive. Someone is trying to steal plans for a new, secret engine.
Strange Accidents and a Warning
Mr. Alden's racing cars, which have the new engine, have had weird accidents. Their windshields suddenly turned white after passing a "DANGER" road sign. While the Hardys talk about the case, a smoke grenade is thrown into their house. It comes with a scary warning: "drop the Alden case." This makes the boys even more determined to help!
Undercover at Alden Automotive
Frank and Joe decide to work undercover at Alden's shop. Their friend Chet Morton also gets involved, trying to make his bicycle go super fast with a jet engine, which leads to some funny moments. At the shop, the boys meet Barto Sigor. They learn Barto has a twin brother named Vilno, who used to work for Alden. The Hardys immediately suspect that the twins might have switched places to get the engine plans. They also meet Roger Alden, Mr. Alden's son, who seems to have a bad attitude. He becomes another suspect.
Aunt Gertrude's Unexpected Inheritance
Meanwhile, Aunt Gertrude gets surprising news. She has inherited a farm for retired racehorses! She's not happy about owning a farm, but the Hardy boys decide to check it out. When they return, they find out that Mr. Alden's racehorse, Topnotch, has been stolen. The thieves are demanding money to return the horse.
Tracking Down the Horse Thieves
The Hardy boys go back to the farm and meet the manager, Fowler, who tells them to leave. Frank finds a rifle cartridge there. Later, he realizes it matches the casing from the smoke grenade fired into their home! It turns out Fowler is actually Norman Dodson, and he's the one who stole Topnotch. Using their detective skills, the boys figure out where the horse is hidden. They go there, get caught, but manage to escape while riding Topnotch to freedom!
The Invisible Force and a Sonic Trap
Back on the Alden case, the boys learn that Barto has run away with Mr. Alden's experimental race car. The Hardys track Barto to a mansion hideout. But when they get there, a "powerful invisible force" stops them! They are captured and find their father, Mr. Alden, and Roger also trapped. Vilno brags about his "sonic trap" which uses "hypersonic vibrations" to hold things. He explains how his "hypersonic generator" made the car windshields turn white.
Chet's Rocket Bike to the Rescue
Once Vilno leaves, Joe cleverly escapes through an air vent. Just then, Chet Morton arrives on his rocket-propelled bike! Chet's wild ride causes the villains to crash their car between two trees. They are trapped until the police arrive to arrest them. The Hardy Boys once again save the day!
Original Edition Plot: A Different Adventure
The original story of The Sinister Signpost is quite different! It begins with Frank and Joe planning to attend a football game. On their way, they run low on gas. A man in a truck asks them for directions to the racetracks. Soon after, they hear a gunshot, which seems suspicious.
Mysterious Mr. Vilnoff and a Missing Horse
At the football game, Frank is bothered by a foreigner named Mr. Vilnoff. He keeps asking Frank to explain the rules of football. Frank tries to get away, but Vilnoff keeps reappearing! The next day, the Hardys learn that the famous racehorse, Topnotch, is missing. There was also an explosion at a factory nearby. Frank suspects the truck they saw earlier might be involved.
Races, Ransom, and a Kind Act
The Hardys go to the races, but their car needs repairs. They take a bus and stop at a refreshment stand. They see the shopkeeper cheating an old lady. The boys help the lady get her money back. They then ask about Topnotch and learn the horse was stolen. Later, they see a sad child and buy him a kite to cheer him up. They then meet Jockey Ivan, Topnotch's owner. The boys realize the horse is being held for ransom.
A Close Call and a Clay Hand
Joe sees a car rolling towards Vilnoff and Ivan, who are arguing. Joe quickly stops the car, saving them. The car's owner wrongly blames Joe, but Frank helps him stand his ground. The brothers continue to investigate. They almost get hit by a speeding truck, and they are sure Mr. Vilnoff is in the back seat. Later, their father, a famous detective, takes them to Vilnoff's home to check his alibi. They learn Vilnoff is sailing to Europe soon. Frank and Joe don't trust him. They search outside his home and find a strange clay model of a human hand.
Barbed Wire, a Mad Dog, and a Hidden Truck
Aunt Gertrude tells the boys that Ivan visited them. The Hardys decide to visit Ivan and check the crossroads. They take a shortcut through a field, getting their clothes torn by barbed wire and chased by a goat! They find a sign warning about shooting practice but risk it. There, a mad dog chases them up a tree. From the tree, Frank spots the missing truck! They investigate the empty truck, but the barking dog brings men over. The boys hide and escape.
Threats and a Big Discovery
At a gas station, the owner seems eager to get rid of them when a man in a green truck arrives. The boys listen in on their conversation. Frank writes down the truck's license plate. On the bus, they see Ivan, who tells them the kidnappers sent a ransom letter to Topnotch's owner. The Hardys and Ivan then receive a mysterious warning to stay out of the case.
Later, the boys get a threatening phone call. The next morning, they go by boat to pick up Chet's cousin. They see a speedboat and are sure Vilnoff is driving it. Mr. Hardy tells his sons to get photos of everyone boarding Vilnoff's ship. On the way home, they see the gas station owner asking for help. While helping him, they notice men carrying briefcases into the Bayport woods.
The Sinister Signpost and the Capture
While investigating, the boys are caught, gagged, and tied up. They escape and go home. Days later, Mr. Prescott, Topnotch's owner, calls. The boys tell him about the truck they found, but when they go back, it's gone. They then investigate Vilnoff's home, triggering burglar alarms. They continue their search.
Finally, they see a light reflecting towards a cave, which they call the "sinister signpost." Inside, they discover Vilnoff plans to sabotage the Spurtown races after the ransom is paid. Vilnoff has helpers who are also part of the plan. After a long struggle, the bad guys are captured and sent to jail. The story ends with Aunt Gertrude inheriting a stable of racehorses from a distant relative.
Images for kids
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Original edition
