Jack Armstrong #10

In "Shot in the Dark," Jack and Vic investigate a four-alarm fire that sparks suspicion when Vic discovers a can of metallic sodium—perfect for setting a blaze. When a newspaper editor refuses to run their theory that Boss Jeffers is behind the fire to collect insurance, the duo stage a fake story about a radium shipment, hoping to lure the real culprits into the open.

When a famous racehorse arrives at the station, its jockey is mysteriously shot dead in front of a crowd—yet no gun is found and no one saw the killer. Vic Hardy digs into the case by examining newsreel footage of the arrival, uncovering a sinister secret hidden in plain sight: a modified camera that's far deadlier than it appears. As Vic closes in on the truth, a gambling operation willing to kill to protect its bets on the upcoming race prepares one last desperate move.

Betty Fairfield joins her friend Peggy Reagan aboard the racing yacht Swordfish III for a thrilling competition against the defending champion's boat, the South Wind II, off the coast of Newport. When a sailor from the rival vessel falls overboard during a treacherous turn, Peggy makes a split-second decision to break from the race and mount a rescue—a choice that tests the true meaning of sportsmanship and turns the entire competition on its head. It's a bracing tale of courage on the water that shows how doing the right thing and seamanship go hand in hand.

When the schooner Sea Sprite and its mysterious cargo plunge to the bottom of the Caribbean in a hurricane, the sole survivor's testimony at a board of inquiry—presided over by Uncle Jim Fairfield—reveals disturbing evidence of sabotage. Jack Armstrong suspects the ship was deliberately sunk to prevent its secret cargo from reaching port, and he's determined to dive to the wreck and uncover the truth. But someone doesn't want that cargo raised, and they'll stop at nothing to keep Jack from discovering what lies on the ocean floor.

Hunter Fred Sparks and his sixteen-year-old son John set out into the Cherokee Forest of North Carolina to track down a massive wild boar that's been terrorizing the local farms—but the two hunters clash over the best way to bring down such a dangerous animal. When they finally corner the beast, a crucial moment of danger forces John to prove that his unconventional hunting method might be just as effective as his father's trusted rifle.

Billy Fairfield advertises his baby-sitting services to make some quick cash, but when he takes on the job of watching the rambunctious Terrible Terrence O'Toole for the evening, he discovers that keeping up with a mischievous kid determined to see a real fire is far more exhausting than any quiet night at home. As chaos unfolds and Billy's patience wears thin, he learns that some gigs just aren't worth the paycheck.