The Mystery of Silas Finklebean Read Online Free PDF

stared at him for a long moment and then said, “That is the most dirty, underhanded, despicable plan I’ve ever heard.” He paused and wiped away a tear. “I love it, son.”
    Freddy was getting madder and madder as he listened. Then he felt something poking him on the shoulder. It was Howie; he was pointing across the room.
    Freddy didn’t understand what the big deal was. All he could see was himself and Howie in the reflection of the mirror.
    Freddy’s eyes popped. THEIR REFLECTION!
    If the Spankers simply looked in their direction, they were dead. Freddy and Howie stood as quietly as they could and held their breath.
    Then something even worse happened. The Invisibrella started turning different colors. The Spankers would see that any second. Howie gulped and started to put a cheese cube in his mouth.
    Freddy caught his breath as something grabbed him and lifted him off the floor. The Invisibrella fell, but before it hit the floor it was snatched up too. Freddy and Howie were yanked across the room and through the trapdoor, which slammed shut behind them.

    “What was that?” yelled Adam Spanker, looking around the room suspiciously. He walked over to where Freddy and Howie had been standing and looked around. Then on the floor he saw something and picked it up. It was Howie’s cheese cube. Adam started thinking hard — at least hard for
him
— and then smiled wickedly.
    Down in the underground passageway Curly put Howie and Freddy down after using his long arms to zip them to safety.
    “Wow, Curly, you saved our butts,” said a breathless Freddy.
    “Yeah, I thought we were goners for sure,” added Howie.
    “Gladlcouldhelp,” mumbled Curly.
    Theodore quickly told the boys about the Invisibrella’s bug.
    “Figures. My Dad always has lots of bugs to work out But it was worth it, because now I know Spanker’s entire plan. Come on, let’s get out of here.”
    They ran back down the passageway, turned a corner, and ran smack into Nancy, her hair wrapped in a black scarf. She undid the scarf and her wild hair shot out. “Look familiar?” she snapped.
    Freddy had to cough back a laugh. “Why, Nanny Boo-Boo, I’ve never seen you look so beautiful.”
    “Don’t ever fall asleep, Freddy Funkhouser, or you might wake up with no hair at all. Or a
head,
even.”
    “You don’t scare me.”
    She grabbed the Invisibrella out of Curly’s hands. “Wait’ll I tell Dad you were using his stuff.” She stopped and demanded, “Okay, I want to know exactly what you and your gang of freaks have been doing down here.”
    “I don’t have to tell you anything,” answered Freddy hotly.
    “Fine, then you can tell Dad after I tell on you.”
    Si stepped forward, “Hey, kiddo, we don’t have to do anything hasty like that. What say we just keep it on the QT?”
    Nancy stared at him with contempt. “Look, you double-headed dum-dum, I’m not keeping anything on the QT.”
    Theodore said in a gracious voice, “Young lady, it’s easy to see that you are a person of uncommon intelligence and wit, with a strong sense of style and theatricality.”
    “Well, at least one of you has taste,” she said, glaring at Freddy.
    “I believe Freddy wanted to keep this a secret because he didn’t want to spoil the surprise.”
    “Surprise, what surprise?” she said.
    “Yeah, what surprise?” said Freddy before Theodore kicked him in the shin.
    Theodore continued, “Quite by accident we stumbled upon this secret area and Freddy thought what a wonderful idea it would be to turn it into an extension of the Burger Castle. We could have seating down here, little rides for the children, perhaps a haunted mansion area with thrills and scary things popping out, and a
stage
where plays could be produced.”
    “A stage! For plays!” said Nancy. “I don’t believe it!”
    “It’s quite true,” said Theodore. “And Freddy was just now saying that it would be perfect for someone with your talents to oversee such an