Mystery Map Read Online Free PDF Page B

houses. Someone had made a big trash dump there. The middle of the clearing was piled high with cardboard boxes, spoiled food, old mattresses, and all kinds of other junk.
    â€œIs this it, boy? Right here under this pile?” Joe said loudly, giving the puppy a pat. “Good work!”
    Then he looked back at Adam. This was going to be the tricky part.…
    Joe pasted a nervous expression on his face. “Oh,” he said. “I guess you’re the only one who kept up, huh?” He peered over Adam’s shoulder, pretending to look for the others.
    Adam grinned. “Yeah,” he said, pushing past Joe. “And you know what they say. Finders keepers! Now scram and let me find my treasure!”
    Adam clenched his fists and made a threatening face. Joe backed away, pretending to be scared. “O-okay,” he said. “But only until my friends get here! Then you’d better watch out!”
    Adam smirked. “They’ll have to hurry if they want to stop me from finding the treasure.”
    He hurried over to the trash pile. Kicking aside an aluminum can, he started to dig through the pile.
    Joe wished he could stay and watch. It would be pretty funny to see mean Adam Ackerman covered in garbage. But he had more important things to do.
    Giving a tug on the puppy’s leash, he headed back into the woods.
    â€¢â€¢â€¢â€¢
    By the time Joe and the puppy made their way back to the others, Chet had tracked the footsteps another twenty yards down the trail.
    â€œHurry up!” Iola called when she spotted Joe. “I think we’re getting warmer!”
    Chet pointed to another footprint. “This way!” he cried.
    For the next few minutes the trail was clear. Joe felt his heart pounding with excitement as he clutched the puppy’s leash. They were going to find the treasure!
    But then the trail crossed a gravel path. On the far side was an open, grassy meadow with just a few gnarled old trees in it. And no matter how hard Chet looked, he couldn’t find any more footprints.
    â€œMan!” Phil said with a frown. “I thought we had it.”
    Frank sighed. “Me too.”
    Joe’s shoulders slumped. Could it be true? Had they really reached another dead end?
    Then he felt the puppy tug on the leash. With a bark, the young bloodhound jumped forward. He put his nose to the ground and sniffed. Then he sniffed again. Then he let out a deeper, louder bark and took off toward one of the gnarled trees.
    â€œI think he’s got a scent!” Biff said, hurrying after him.
    â€œProbably just another stupid squirrel,” Iola grumbled. But she followed the puppy too. So did the others.
    The puppy reached the tree. He started dancing around it, howling happily.
    â€œDo you think the treasure’s buried under this tree?” Chet asked.
    Joe had another idea. He’d just spotted a knot in the trunk. Stepping forward, he reached inside.

    â€œHey! There’s something in here!” he cried.
    He pulled out a plastic shopping bag. When he looked inside, he gasped. It was full of cash!
    â€œWe’re rich!” he yelled.

9
Cash Back
    We did it!” Iola cried gleefully. “We found the treasure!”
    â€œYour puppy’s awesome, Biff!” Chet exclaimed, grabbing the little bloodhound and giving him a hug.
    â€œYeah, he’s a real detective,” Joe agreed. “Hey! That gives me a great idea. You should call him Sherlock! You know, like the famous detective Sherlock Holmes.”
    Iola laughed. “That’s cute! My dad loves those books.”
    â€œSherlock, huh?” Biff grinned and bent down to ruffle the puppy’s fur. “What do you think? Huh, Sherlock?”
    The puppy barked. Everyone laughed.
    â€œI think he likes it,” Phil said. He was countingthe money from the bag. “Wow, there’s a ton of cash in here! Oh, and some gum and candy and stuff too.”

    â€œCool,” Chet