The Secret of the Caves Read Online Free PDF Page B

get ready.”
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” Frank asked and looked out the window.
    Across the broad lawns of the Palm Court Motel strode four youths. In the lead was Jack Hale!
    â€œDelta Sigmas,” Joe said tersely. “Maybe the ones who made trouble for us last night. If they think it’s four against two, they’re mistaken.”
    â€œRight!” said Biff, who liked nothing more than playing tackle on the Bayport High football team.
    â€œOkay,” said Frank. “You and Chet hide in the closet.” Then, opening the door, he politely invited the four fraternity men to enter.
    â€œHi,” Jack said with a half-smile. “We have a little surprise for you.”
    But before he could utter another word, the closet door was flung open. Biff bolted across the room, putting a rolling block on two of the collegians. Chet pounced on the third. Only Jack remained standing. His face bore a pained expression.
    â€œWe don’t want to fight!” he said.
    â€œThen what did you barge in on us for?” Joe demanded.
    Biff dragged two of the students to their feet, and Frank said, “Okay, let’s smoke the peace pipe. What’s up, Jack?”
    Embarrassed, the fraternity president said that he had come to offer Frank and Joe invitations to join Delta Sigma should they decide to attend Kenworthy College.
    â€œYou’re the kind we like,” he said. “Plenty of sand!”
    â€œThanks for the invite,” Joe said coolly. “We’ll keep it in mind if you tell us who put you up to that low-down trick last night.”
    Jack looked at the floor and the Hardys could see that he was torn between loyalty to the unknown perpetrator and regard for them.
    â€œReally, I can’t tell,” he said finally. “You wouldn’t want me to rat on a pal.”
    â€œNo hard feelings,” said Frank, though he thought the youth was foolish to protect such a person. Then he introduced Biff and Chet.
    â€œWow!” said one of the college boys. “We could use you two on the Kenworthy football team.”
    With that, the Delta Sigmas left.
    Frank drove the Bayporters to the post office, located beside the town hall. A helpful clerk passed the postal directory over the counter and Frank thumbed through its pages.
    â€œHey, look at this,” he said. “There are only three Rockaways—one in Oregon, one in New Jersey, and the other on the coast down from Bayport.”
    â€œIt’s a cinch we won’t go to Oregon or New Jersey first,” Chet said. “You fellows will investigate the closest one or I miss my bet.”
    â€œO genius of a treasure hunter!” declaimed Joe as he placed the right palm of his hand on his forehead and bowed low. “We, your humble servants, salaam!”
    The others guffawed at the sudden look of embarrassment that swept over Chet’s face as he cast his eyes quickly around the post office to see if anybody was watching. Seeing no one, Chet joined in the laughter.
    Frank handed back the directory to the grinning clerk and thanked him. The boys, still laughing, trooped out of the post office.
    â€œWell, our next destination—Rockaway!” Frank said. He added thoughtfully, “You know, this isn’t a bad move. We’ll leave here as if we’ve been stymied on our investigation.”
    â€œThat’s right,” Joe said. “So if anyone has been tracking us, they’ll think we’ve given up.” As an afterthought he added, “We ought to thank Cadmus Quill and the dean before we leave.”
    â€œLet me go, too. Maybe I won’t see the inside of a college again,” Chet quipped.
    The four drove to the campus, parked, and entered the administration building.
    Dean Eastland, as before, was courteous to his callers. After thanking Frank and Joe for their interest in the case, he promised to relay any new information to them.
    â€œBy the way, Dean