The Mummy Case Read Online Free PDF Page B

gaped in surprise. He was staring at his brother!
    â€œHow do you like that!” Joe said in disgust. “We’ve been stalking each other.”
    â€œBut we couldn’t have missed him,” Frank insisted.
    Another noise proved he was right. The fugitive suddenly shot from the space between the crates and one of the cars, leaped onto the hood and down the other side, then dashed along the corridor. His shoes rang on the metal steps as he clambered up to the deck.
    The Hardys ran after him. They reached topside and saw a sailor swabbing the deck. They ran over to him. He was a burly man whose flattened nose and battered ears proved that he had once been a boxer.
    â€œWho are you?” Frank demanded.
    â€œButch Londy,” the sailor growled.
    â€œWhat were you doing in the hold just now?”
    â€œI ain’t been in the hold. You must be off your rocker!”
    â€œDid you see anyone come out?”
    â€œNo! Now buzz off. I got work to do.” Londy walked away.
    â€œStymied again.” Frank grimaced. “Either he was in the hold or he knows who was. But we can’t tell which. Joe, we’d better get below and see if the mummy’s okay.”
    They found the crate unharmed and decided to go to their cabin. As they walked in, they saw two figures sitting on the lower bunk. Both were all wrapped in bedsheets!
    â€œWelcome aboard!” one of them boomed.
    â€œWe’ve been waiting for you!” the other intoned menacingly and stood up. He was well over six feet tall!
    Frank and Joe stared at the two intruders apprehensively and backed toward the door. “Who are you?” Joe demanded. “And what are you doing here?”
    â€œMummies!” the tall figure hissed. “We’re mummies, and we’ve come to keep you company!” With that, both pulled off their sheets.
    Frank and Joe stared in surprise. “Chet and Biff!” Frank exploded. “How on earth did you get here?”
    Biff grinned. “We got to talking after the baseball game. Since we had no jobs for the summer, we called the Admiral Halsey and asked if they needed any extra hands.”
    â€œAnd they hired you a day before sailing time over the telephone?” Joe was incredulous.
    â€œWe-e-l-ll,” Chet said sheepishly, “we spoke to the captain and told him we were friends of yours. Since we still had our union licenses from the time we worked in the Merchant Marine, he said okay.”
    The Hardys burst out laughing. “What a great idea!” Frank sputtered.
    â€œI’m the captain’s radioman,” Biff said, “and Chet’s a waiter.”
    â€œThat suits his style,” Joe chortled.
    â€œYou bet,” Chet said. “See you at the captain’s table tonight!” With that, the two left.
    At dinner, Captain Baker and his guests were amused at the spectacle of Chet Morton, who wore a waiter’s jacket about two sizes too small. He could barely button the jacket across his stomach, and the cuffs fell inches short of his wrists. The shoulders were so tight that he had trouble balancing a tray.
    â€œIt was the best we could do for him,” the captain said. “Our last waiter was small and thin. So his jacket doesn’t fit Mr. Morton too well.”
    Chet bustled back and forth, serving the courses and carrying empty dishes away. At the end of the meal, he piled the last china and cutlery on the tray, lifted it over his head, and moved toward the galley, trying to maintain his footing as the ship rose and fell in the ocean swell.
    He got through the door. Then those at the table heard a terrific crash punctuated by the sound of dishes breaking and silverware hitting the floor.
    A moment later Chet peered around the door. He was red-faced and embarrassed. “Sorry about that,” he mumbled.
    â€œThat’s all right, Mr. Morton,” said Captain Baker. “It takes every sailor a little while to get his sea