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architect announced in a husky voice.
    â€œThat still doesn’t prove he’s the werewolf,” Frank said, hoping to provide some comfort. “Have you any idea where he might have gone?”
    â€œNone.” Mr. Tabor shook his head gloomily, not trusting himself to say any more for fear his voice might tremble.
    â€œIn that case, I’d like to wait here with Joe and Chet till he shows up,” Frank suggested. “If our presence in the house won’t bother you?”
    â€œNot at all! Do stay, by all means. I’ll be glad of any help you can give us.”
    Mr. Tabor asked Pocahontas to make coffee, and she went off with a glowering expression, shaking her head and mumbling to herself in Mohawk.
    Presently Alena came down in her robe and slippers, having heard her father and the boys chatting in low voices.
    â€œIs something wrong?” she inquired anxiously. An alarming thought flashed through her mind. “Dad,” she added, “Has anything happened to John?”
    Karel Tabor took his daughter’s hand into his own. “He seems to have gone off somewhere, my dear,” he said, “and the so-called werewolf just paid another visit to Hawk River.”
    â€œOh, no!” Alena’s face showed her distresss. “Isn’t there anything we can do?”
    â€œNothing, except wait for John to come home.”
    â€œWe don’t mean to intrude,” Frank said uncomfortably, “but we’d like to be on hand to question your brother when he does return.”
    â€œOf course, please stay!” Alena replied. “Dad and I appreciate having you here to help.”
    The atmosphere eased somewhat when Pocahontas brought in the coffee. The group chatted as well as they could under the circumstances, and the Hardys reported what had happened during their nocturnal expedition in and beyond the village.
    As their vigil lengthened and time dragged by, everyone’s spirits drooped. The boys found it hard to keep their eyes open. However, they snapped wide awake when, soon after three o‘clock, footsteps were heard outside and the front door opened.
    â€œIt’s John!” Alena cried in relief. She sprang up from her chair and hurled herself into her brother’s arms.
    If she expected an equally cordial response, she was doomed to disappointment. Instead of greeting his sister with a smiling remark, John merely stared at her, his face blank and expressionless. He did not return the embrace, either.
    â€œWhere on earth have you been, Son?” his father demanded.
    â€œWhere have I been?” John echoed. Dull-eyed, he raised one hand and scratched his head slowly. “Search me. I haven’t the faintest idea. In fact, I don’t even know where I am now.”

7
    Forest Castle
    â€œJohn! Don’t you recognize your own home?” Alena shook her brother impatiently. “Why did you go out tonight? Tell us where you’ve been!”
    The young architect did not reply. He shrugged off her questions in silence and started toward the stairway leading up to the second floor. But Alena grabbed him by the arm.
    â€œDad, something’s wrong with him!” she cried. “He’s acting so weirdly. Oughtn’t we call a doctor?”
    Karel Tabor hesitated before replying. “No, I don’t think so. Whatever’s wrong with John, he’ll probably sleep it off. Calling a doctor would only provoke scandal and gossip. Don’t you think so, boys?”
    â€œI’m afraid you’re right.” Frank nodded. “It might even lead to accusations that your son was responsible for tonight’s werewolf scare, if the news ever leaked out.”
    â€œJohn is awfully drowsy and heavy-lidded,” Joe pointed out. He had risen from the sofa with his brother to examine young Tabor more closely. “I’ll bet he’ll drop off to sleep and tomorrow he won’t even remember all