The Disappearing Floor
Encyclopedia
The Disappearing Floor is Volume 19 in the original The Hardy Boys
Mystery Stories published by Grosset & Dunlap
.
This book was written for the Stratemeyer Syndicate
by John Button in 1940. Between 1959 and 1973 the first 38 volumes of this series were systematically revised as part of a project directed by Harriet Adams, Edward Stratemeyer's daughter. The original version of this book was rewritten in 1964 by James D. Lawrence resulting in two different stories with the same title.
UK version published by William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. as The Mystery of the Disappearing Floor, Volume 5, in 1971.
who was in the woods rock collecting when he heard weird screams. When the three pals go to investigate they find a strangely tiled floor in the woods and nearby an injured man who suddenly revives and runs off. Their adventure continues with a stolen amethyst
, a bomb damaging their boat the Sleuth, and a savage looking hound
which turns out to be an electrified scare device.
When Aunt Gertrude hears where the boys found Chet, she tells them that they were close to Old Man Perth’s house where strange deaths have happened. The owner, Jerome Perth, was a business tycoon who made many enemies due to his swindles. When he died his nephew, Clarence Perth, inherited the house. Shortly after moving in, the servants awoke during the night to him screaming and he was found on the floor of his bedroom with a fractured skull. The door and the windows of the room were all locked from the inside, so the mystery of how he died was never solved.
The Hardy boys identify a pilot who may be helping the thieves and so they walk into his hanger to examine his plane. Armed with a miniature camera Joe snapped a picture of a map found in the plane. This led them to a cabin hidden in the woods in a small bight
named Tigers Bight. Unfortunately the boys don’t have a chance to investigate the cabin as their family friend Jack Wayne crashes his plane Skyhappy Sal nearby and is injured. After rescuing Jack the boys return to the Perth mansion where they find the jewel thieves hiding out and tricking a professor into making a ‘freeze ray gun’ for them.
After more investigating and Hardy boys manage to figure out that Clarence died by accident due to the 'disappearing floor' in his bedroom. Unfortunately the boys are captured before they can tell any one, but luckily the jewel thief likes to brag so he tells them all about how the gang has used the freeze ray guns to stun security guards and steal the jewels. He even tells them about a swindle where they rigged an elevator to go to the wrong floor where they had set up a fake office in order to receive a special shipment of diamonds without anyone becoming suspicious until they were safely far away. Eventually Fenton Hardy shows up and rescues his boys and arrests the thieves.
thief, they also explore the mysterious death of a tycoon's nephew years before.
, the story is completely rewritten. In it, the boys are asked by their father to help him keep surveillance on an employee of a technology firm who have hired for a case. However, their participation is complicated when they follow him to an isolated property and are beset with a number of strange experiences, beginning with a UFO sighting, that make them doubt their senses.
The Hardy Boys
The Hardy Boys, Frank and Joe Hardy, are fictional teenage brothers and amateur detectives who appear in various mystery series for children and teens....
Mystery Stories published by Grosset & Dunlap
Grosset & Dunlap
Grosset & Dunlap is a United States book publisher founded in 1898.The company was purchased by G. P. Putnam's Sons in 1982 and today is part of the British publishing conglomerate, Pearson PLC through its American subsidiary Penguin Group....
.
This book was written for the Stratemeyer Syndicate
Stratemeyer Syndicate
The Stratemeyer Syndicate was the producer of a number of mystery series for children, including Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, the various Tom Swift series, the Bobbsey Twins, the Rover Boys, and others.- History :...
by John Button in 1940. Between 1959 and 1973 the first 38 volumes of this series were systematically revised as part of a project directed by Harriet Adams, Edward Stratemeyer's daughter. The original version of this book was rewritten in 1964 by James D. Lawrence resulting in two different stories with the same title.
UK version published by William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. as The Mystery of the Disappearing Floor, Volume 5, in 1971.
Plot summary (revised edition)
The Hardy boys are asked by their father, Fenton Hardy, to assist him in solving a case involving notorious jewel thief and his accomplices. Initially, they spot the man’s car and attempt to follow it until the car drops a purple smoke bomb and the Hardys are forced to pull over. While returning home from the car chase they happen across their friend Chet MortonChet Morton
Chet Morton is a fictional character in the The Hardy Boys book series by Franklin W. Dixon.-Fictional history:Chet grew up with Frank and Joe Hardy and has been one of their best friends since second grade. He usually says he doesn't want to have anything to do with the Hardy boys' mysteries,...
who was in the woods rock collecting when he heard weird screams. When the three pals go to investigate they find a strangely tiled floor in the woods and nearby an injured man who suddenly revives and runs off. Their adventure continues with a stolen amethyst
Amethyst
Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz often used in jewelry. The name comes from the Ancient Greek ἀ a- and μέθυστος methustos , a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness; the ancient Greeks and Romans wore amethyst and made drinking vessels of it in the belief...
, a bomb damaging their boat the Sleuth, and a savage looking hound
Hound
A hound is a type of dog that assists hunters by tracking or chasing the animal being hunted. It can be contrasted with the gun dog, which assists hunters by identifying the location of prey, and with the retriever, which recovers shot quarry...
which turns out to be an electrified scare device.
When Aunt Gertrude hears where the boys found Chet, she tells them that they were close to Old Man Perth’s house where strange deaths have happened. The owner, Jerome Perth, was a business tycoon who made many enemies due to his swindles. When he died his nephew, Clarence Perth, inherited the house. Shortly after moving in, the servants awoke during the night to him screaming and he was found on the floor of his bedroom with a fractured skull. The door and the windows of the room were all locked from the inside, so the mystery of how he died was never solved.
The Hardy boys identify a pilot who may be helping the thieves and so they walk into his hanger to examine his plane. Armed with a miniature camera Joe snapped a picture of a map found in the plane. This led them to a cabin hidden in the woods in a small bight
Bight (geography)
In geography, bight has two meanings. A bight can be simply a bend or curve in any geographical feature—usually a bend or curve in the line between land and water....
named Tigers Bight. Unfortunately the boys don’t have a chance to investigate the cabin as their family friend Jack Wayne crashes his plane Skyhappy Sal nearby and is injured. After rescuing Jack the boys return to the Perth mansion where they find the jewel thieves hiding out and tricking a professor into making a ‘freeze ray gun’ for them.
After more investigating and Hardy boys manage to figure out that Clarence died by accident due to the 'disappearing floor' in his bedroom. Unfortunately the boys are captured before they can tell any one, but luckily the jewel thief likes to brag so he tells them all about how the gang has used the freeze ray guns to stun security guards and steal the jewels. He even tells them about a swindle where they rigged an elevator to go to the wrong floor where they had set up a fake office in order to receive a special shipment of diamonds without anyone becoming suspicious until they were safely far away. Eventually Fenton Hardy shows up and rescues his boys and arrests the thieves.
Plot summary (original edition)
While Frank and Joe help their father locate a notorious jewelGemstone
A gemstone or gem is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments...
thief, they also explore the mysterious death of a tycoon's nephew years before.
Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
In the television series, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew MysteriesThe Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries is a television series which aired for three seasons on ABC...
, the story is completely rewritten. In it, the boys are asked by their father to help him keep surveillance on an employee of a technology firm who have hired for a case. However, their participation is complicated when they follow him to an isolated property and are beset with a number of strange experiences, beginning with a UFO sighting, that make them doubt their senses.