This is one of those that I could have sworn I uploaded ages ago, but as I can't remember and its customary for old folk to repeat themselves as they get older... have a new version of this.
This was my first ever Ebay purchase along with Missing Chums its follow up in the UK.
The story brings the two boys seeking approval from their dad as they attempt to solve Hurd Applegates missing jewels and bonds. He blames a pals father, Henry Robinson, who works as a caretaker to Hurd for the theft. But the real culprit is Red Jackley, a career criminal who dies in an accident on the railway.
There are a few differences between the books. The original Chief Collig, is not their friend and along with Detective Oscar Smuff and Constable Riley prove the short arm of the law in the city of Bayport.
Rocco, an Italian immigrant, is a lot less stereotypically jumpy and quick to anger in the remake, he also has a shop rather than a fruit stand (stall). Nor does is outwitted by the fake bomb the boys plant under his stand.
All in all though its a nice origin story in the original and American version. The boys being sixteen, are still in school which you rarely see in the books, and in the original they graduate. The gang is all here too, with Chet Morton, Tony Prito, Allen Biff Hooper, Jerry Gilroy, Phil Cohen and their GF's Iola Morton and Callie Shaw.
The UK version has a few lines missing here and there as well as Anglicized spelling and removal of US idioms which you don't always get. It's also not our origin story as that goes to The mystery of the Aztec Warrior.
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