The Desert Thieves Read Online Free PDF

headlights. “Why are you interested in a piece of cactus under my truck?” He walked around to look. As soon as he realized what Joe was pointing at, he stiffened. “Young man,” he said, “I think you should mind your own business.”
    â€œBut don’t you—”
    â€œI’ve made myself clear,” the professor said. “But let me repeat my advice: mind your own business.”
    The door to Townsend’s trailer opened, and a young woman peeked out. She looked about eighteen, and had long, dark hair. “Dad,” she said, “is something wrong?”
    â€œEverything is fine, Diane,” Townsend said. “I’ll take care of it. You stay inside.” Turning to Joe, he said, “I think you should go back to wherever you belong.”
    â€œI belong right next door,” Joe said. “My name is Joe Hardy, and I guess we—my dad and my brother and I—are your neighbors. Are you Professor Townsend?”
    Joe extended his hand, but Townsend did not take it. “How did you know my name?” he asked.
    â€œWe asked someone,” Joe said, and with his brightest smile added, “We like to get to know our neighbors.”
    Frank got out of the car and strode over, leaving the engine running and the headlights on. “This is my brother, Frank,” Joe said.
    Frank extended his hand, but Townsend again ignored the gesture. “Professor, isn’t that a piece of organ pipe cactus under your truck?” Frank asked.
    â€œI’m not sure,” Townsend said. “As I said, I’ll take care of it, and you two can go home.”
    â€œHow did—” Frank said, but Townsend cut him off.
    â€œI said go home!” Townsend exclaimed. “This is my campsite, and I’ll take care of whatever happens in it.”
    Fenton came around the corner of the Hardys’ motor home. “What’s going on here?” he asked. “What’s all the yelling about?”
    â€œIs this a party?” Townsend asked, his voice rising. “Who invited all you people?” To Fenton he said, “Are you with these boys?”
    â€œI’m their father, Fenton Hardy. What’s going on?”
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Townsend asked in a loud voice. “I have asked these young men to leave, and I would appreciate your assistance in the matter. And please turn off the lights on your vehicle. They are quite irritating.”
    Frank went to the car and shut off the lights. “No problem,” he said. “Joe, Dad, I think we should let the professor take care of the cactus.”
    Joe recognized a certain tone in Frank’s voice, and said, “Okay. Sure. Sorry to bother you, Professor.” He and Fenton walked back to their motor home while Frank pulled the car into the parking space. Then the three of them went into the motor home and shut the door behind them.
    â€œQuick,” Frank said, “turn off all the lights except at the back end.” Joe did as Frank asked. Once the lights were out, Frank peeked through a window at the front of the motor home to see what Professor Townsend would do.
    â€œHe’s wrapping the cactus limb in a blanket,” Frank said. “Now he’s putting it in his pickup.” Frank watched as Townsend started up his truck and drove off into the night.
    â€œThe professor was in a real hurry,” Frank said. “He wrapped up that cactus as if he’d done it a hundred times before. Then he got it out of here quick.”
    â€œHe seems to be concealing something,” Fenton said.
    â€œYes, but what?” Frank asked. “He’s supposedly an expert on the desert, and he’s got to know that it’s against the law to disturb the cacti out here. That could be why he was so upset that we spotted the limb under his pickup.”
    â€œIt might have gotten caught under his truck somehow while he was driving around,” Joe