The Mark on the Door
Encyclopedia
The Mark on the Door is Volume 13 in the original The Hardy Boys
Mystery Stories published by Grosset & Dunlap
.
This book was written for the Stratemeyer Syndicate
in 1934, purportedly by Leslie McFarlane
however the writing style is noticeably different from other books in the series known to have been written by McFarlane. 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 1967 by Tom Mulvey resulting in two different stories with the same title.
the Hardy boys spot a periscope
from a submarine
and then have a collision with a rented speedboat driven by a Mexican man named Pancho Cardillo. Mr. Cardillo later returns to the rental location and steals the speedboat, leading the boys on a search for the stolen boat. While investigating Mr. Cardillo the boys find an Indian ring with a strange crest on it, and Fenton Hardy receives a threatening letter telling him to "beware of the mark on the door!"
The Hardy boys, their father, and their friend Chet Morton
fly to Mexico where they find a band of Indians and a strange oil smuggling operation using submarines. Their deductions lead them to a small Mexican town where they learn that local people are mysteriously disappearing and the strange crest appears on the doors of people who have disappeared. The Hardy's find a man by the name of Tico who is a great navigator and helps the Hardy boys find the culprits hideout where they learn the real man behind the scheme is a man named "Pavura", which means terror in Spanish.
In the end the Hardy boys, and their friend Chet, manage to stop the smugglers from getting away, and they solve the mystery of the disappearing Indians, all while solving the oil smuggling case that their father was working on.
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 :...
in 1934, purportedly by Leslie McFarlane
Leslie McFarlane
Leslie McFarlane was a Canadian journalist, novelist, screenwriter and filmmaker. McFarlane is most famous for ghostwriting many of the early books in the very successful Hardy Boys series using the pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon.- Early life :The son of a school principal, McFarlane was raised in...
however the writing style is noticeably different from other books in the series known to have been written by McFarlane. 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 1967 by Tom Mulvey resulting in two different stories with the same title.
Plot summary (revised edition)
While boating on Barmet BayBarmet Bay
Barmet Bay is a fictional bay in Bayport, the setting for most of the Hardy Boys novels. While research links it to the actual town of Bayport, New York, the original Hardy Boys series never specifies the exact location....
the Hardy boys spot a periscope
Periscope
A periscope is an instrument for observation from a concealed position. In its simplest form it consists of a tube with mirrors at each end set parallel to each other at a 45-degree angle....
from a submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
and then have a collision with a rented speedboat driven by a Mexican man named Pancho Cardillo. Mr. Cardillo later returns to the rental location and steals the speedboat, leading the boys on a search for the stolen boat. While investigating Mr. Cardillo the boys find an Indian ring with a strange crest on it, and Fenton Hardy receives a threatening letter telling him to "beware of the mark on the door!"
The Hardy boys, their father, and their friend Chet Morton
Chet 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,...
fly to Mexico where they find a band of Indians and a strange oil smuggling operation using submarines. Their deductions lead them to a small Mexican town where they learn that local people are mysteriously disappearing and the strange crest appears on the doors of people who have disappeared. The Hardy's find a man by the name of Tico who is a great navigator and helps the Hardy boys find the culprits hideout where they learn the real man behind the scheme is a man named "Pavura", which means terror in Spanish.
In the end the Hardy boys, and their friend Chet, manage to stop the smugglers from getting away, and they solve the mystery of the disappearing Indians, all while solving the oil smuggling case that their father was working on.