# In the Locker explained — The Shore Road Mystery

> Chapter companion for The Shore Road Mystery by Franklin W. Dixon.

## What happens

The Hardy boys take their newly acquired roadster for a spin, attracting attention from friends Biff Hooper and Tony Prito, but they refuse rides due to a secret plan. They park the car on Shore Road and hide in the spacious rear locker, hoping to be stolen by auto thieves. After a long, cramped wait with no success, they abandon the trap and drive home. On the way, they spot Gus Montrose skulking along the road, raising their suspicions about his involvement in the thefts.

## Themes in this chapter

### Crime and Cunning

The Hardy boys set an elaborate trap for auto thieves by hiding in the car's locker, demonstrating their cunning approach to solving the crime.

### Courage and Risk

The boys willingly risk being kidnapped by hiding in the locker, showing courage in their plan to capture the thieves.

## Character check-ins

### Frank Hardy

Frank devises the plan to hide in the locker to catch auto thieves, and later recognizes Gus Montrose on the road.

### Joe Hardy

Joe participates in the locker trap, drives the car home, and shares Frank's suspicion of Montrose.

### Biff Hooper

Biff encounters the Hardy boys and admires the roadster, but is refused a ride.

### Tony Prito

Tony sees the roadster and exclaims over its appearance, but is also refused a ride.

### Gus Montrose

Gus is spotted trudging along Shore Road at night, and Frank suspects he may be involved in the car thefts.

## Key lines

> The massive roadster rolled smoothly out of the garage that evening and the Hardy boys drove down High Street, greatly enjoying the attention their new car attracted.

The large, freshly painted roadster drew admiring looks as Frank and Joe drove through town.

_Describes the boys' pride in their new car and its conspicuous appearance._

> This is the queerest fishing I've ever done.

Joe compares their stakeout to an unusual kind of fishing.

_Highlights the boys' patient, bait-and-wait strategy._

> I'd like to know more about that chap. I'll bet he's not hanging around here for any good reason.

Frank expresses suspicion about Gus Montrose's presence on the road at night.

_Foreshadows Montrose's potential role in the auto thefts._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/chapters/xiii-in-the-locker
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/chapters