Finders Keepers Read Online Free PDF Page B

back into town, checking out the garbage cans and fence lines. Five more pop cans and a beer bottle were found, then they cashed in their loot at Mrs. Tyler’s bottle drop.
    Joshua was jubilant as Mrs. Tyler counted out the money.“See. That’s $1.09. We keep a quarter for the museum and spend the rest, OK?”
    â€œDon’t spend it all at once,” said Mrs. Tyler with a deadpan face. The boys looked at her uncomprehendingly.
    â€œNo, we’ll go to the museum first,” Danny replied politely, and was a little startled when she laughed.
    The boys raced up the road towards the rebuilt fort. They rounded the corner of the palisade and stopped short. C LOSED said the notice at the turnstile.
    â€œOh no!” said Danny in frustration. “I forgot. It’s only open in summer.”
    â€œExcuse me boys, you’re blocking my way.” A large woman carrying two buckets and a mop edged past them and opened the gate beside the turnstile.
    â€œOh, hi Mrs. Saunders,” said Danny.
    â€œMight have know it would be you, Danny.” She looked across at Joshua. “He practically lived here last summer.” She shut the gate. “We’re not open yet, Danny. We’re only in to organize a new exhibit and spring clean everything for the summer season.”
    â€œPlease Mrs. Saunders,” Danny pleaded. “Can’t you let us in? I need to do some research. I really need to look at the arrowheads. Please… we won’t damage anything.”
    â€œHmm.” Mrs. Saunders surveyed Danny. Joshua had stepped aside to read one of the notices in the wall. “If it was just you I might.”
    â€œJoshua won’t hurt anything,” said Danny eagerly. “He’s with me.”
    Mrs. Saunders looked distrustfully at Joshua’s back and leaned towards Danny, dropping her voice. “He’s Indian, isn’t he?”
    Danny looked at her with shocked eyes. “He’s my friend,” he said quietly.
    Mrs. Saunders shrugged and turned to walk away. “No can do,” she said. “Come back in May,” and she opened the turnstile gate, gave a bump of her hip to close it and disappeared around the building. They heard her footsteps crunching across the gravel in the courtyard.
    Angry and embarrassed, Danny muttered “Old Bat,” and kicked the gate.
    It swung open.
    â€œQuick, we’ll show her.” Danny grabbed Joshua’s arm, pulled him through, and gently closed the gate behind them. “This way.”

Chapter Five
    Bent double, the two boys fled through the entrance, turned across a small patch of gravel, and dived into a dark doorway. Holding their breath, they flattened themselves against a split log wall and listened—nothing.
    Carefully Danny peered back the way they came. There was no one around. He drew in his head and gave the thumbs-up sign.
    â€œHwee.” Joshua let out his breath and relaxed. “That was risky.”
    â€œOnly when we crossed the gravel. Anyway, she’ll never catch us now.” Danny grinned cockily. “I know all the hiding places in this fort, and there’s lots.”
    Joshua tapped his head pityingly. “You’re nuts. For someone who doesn’t like being yelled at, you sure do some dumb things.” He looked around with interest. Cracks of light came through the walls of the wooden shelter and made distracting patterns on the dirt floor. Joshua peered beyond them into the shadows. He could see some stairs. “What is this place anyway?”
    â€œA corner turret in the walls of the fort. If we climb the stairs we can see the whole fort from the lookout room.”
    They crept up. “Hey, this place is neat.” Joshua gazedout of a window and looked at the fort spread below. “I’ve only seen the outside. I didn’t know all this stuff was here.” He surveyed the white gravel parade ground edged with long low wooden