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were glad they had their lumberjackets and caps as they trudged along. The mountain scenery loomed all around them, looking more magnificent than ever in the daylight.
    The village of Hawk River consisted of one main business street, which ran parallel to the water, with several side streets and unpaved dirt lanes crossing it. Beyond them the houses straggled off toward outlying farms and orchards.

    Frank and Joe roved about quietly, seeing no one. They had brought flashlights, but had little need of them due to the bright full moon. Soon they heard the town-hall clock chime midnight.
    â€œThe witching hour!” Joe chuckled.
    They reached the end of one of the side streets and decided to continue into more open country. Minutes later both boys stiffened as a distant howl echoed through the night, then another!
    â€œCome on!” cried Frank. “That must be the real thing!”
    They ran in the direction of the sounds and presently saw a figure dashing toward them out of the darkness. It proved to be a boy their own age, obviously scared out of his wits!
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” Frank called out as the youth came closer.
    â€œI just saw a wolf back there!” the boy panted. “It came right at me, and the thing glowed in the dark!”

6
    The Missing Suspect
    Having seen such a beast themselves, the Hardys were not inclined to laugh at the youth’s fantastic story. He was so terrified that he would have kept on running had they not each taken him by an arm and calmed him.
    â€œLook, no werewolf’s going to get you,” Joe assured him. “Not if we stick together. Whatever the thing is, it’ll think twice before tackling all of us!”
    To back up his promise, he broke off some thick branches from a windfallen tree nearby. Keeping one as a club to protect himself, he passed out the other two to his brother and the frightened teenager, who said his name was Bob Renaud.
    When no wolf creature appeared, Bob plucked up his courage and accompanied the Hardys in search of the glowing phantom. But the boys found no sign of the beast.
    â€œIt must have gone that way,” Bob surmised, pointing to a fork in the road. “I dodged through the trees when I got this far, trying to shake it off, so it may have missed my trail.”
    â€œTell us how you first sighted it,” Frank asked.
    â€œWell, I was out on a date with my girlfriend. I dropped her off at her house just after eleven-thirty and started driving home, when all of a sudden bang! I got a flat tire.” Bob related that after pulling off the road, he had gotten out and jacked up the car in order to change the wheel.
    â€œThen I heard a bloodcurdling wolf howl,” he went on. “I looked around and saw this snarling thing coming at me, all glowing like a ghost! Boy, I’m telling you, I dropped everything and took off!” Bob shook his head, still a bit jittery at the recollection. “I hope you don’t think I’m making all this up.”
    â€œDon’t worry, we believe you,” Frank assured him.
    He and Joe escorted Bob to his car. By now, the boy had recovered his nerve, and he finished changing his tire. Then he waved good-by to the Hardys, who hurried back in the direction Bob had indicated.
    â€œBy now that critter could be a mile away,” Joe mumbled.
    â€œMaybe so, but let’s keep looking,” Frank urged. “It might howl again and give us an idea which way it’s gone.”
    The words were barely out of his mouth when the breezy nighttime silence was shattered by an echoing shotgun blast. It was immediately followed by another as the unseen gunner let go his second barrel!
    A startled look flashed between the Hardys. Without a word, they speeded up their pace, sprinting around a bend in the road just ahead.
    A farmhouse loomed in the moonlight not far away. As Frank and Joe approached it, an angry-looking farmer burst out of the driveway gate,