Before them stretched a long, dark, concrete tunnel. "Let's go!" shouted Frank.
The sound of their breathing echoed off the walls of the tunnel as they ran. Their feet splashed through puddles where water pipes had been slowly leaking.
At the end of the straight path, the tunnel forked. They went to the right and found that this tunnel was much smaller than the previous one. They had to crouch to avoid the pipes and cables that jutted down from the ceiling.
They stopped for a second to catch their breath and were aware of a sound behind them. Frank signaled for Joe to remain motionless. They heard running footsteps grow louder and louder. The sound came to an abrupt stop as the person reached the fork. After a moment the footsteps started again, but became softer and more distant.
"He went left!" whispered Joe. "Quick, let's find an exit!"
They followed the tunnel as it snaked around and then straightened off to the left. At the end of a long passageway was an exit sign. They ran toward it at full speed.
Next to the sign, a ladder led up to a metal trapdoor. Joe climbed up and pushed the door open, and Frank followed right behind. They closed the door behind them and saw that they were beneath the stands near the football field.
"We did it! Now let's get back to Mansfield!" Frank said.
But he spoke too soon. A bullet whizzed by them and ricocheted off a nearby pole. Frank and Joe took off at full speed. Obviously, their pursuer knew the tunnels better than they did.
Ten feet away was the athletic building. They ran behind it as another bullet knocked away a chunk of brick from the wall.
The Hardys kept running, and before long they were near Van Cott Hall. Light was streaming from the windows of the dorm's common room, and they could hear the faint beat of a rock song.
Frank and Joe ducked into the late-night party that was in celebration of no school the next day. There was a crowd of students there, dancing and singing to the music. By one of the walls was a long table with a bowl of punch and paper cups. Joe went over to get himself a cup and Frank followed, surveying the party.
In the middle of it all was Arnie, gyrating wildly and clumsily, his glasses on the verge of flying off his face. Brad was in a corner, talking smoothly with a girl. He caught a glimpse of Frank and slyly shot him a wink.
"Want some?" Joe asked Frank, holding a ladle full of punch.
Frank looked at the bowl. The thought of drink-ing citrus punch at a time like this turned his stomach. He looked back over the crowd. A couple of students he knew from his classes were there, as well as some teachers, including Mr. Osborn. Then Mr. Castigan walked through the open door and joined Mr. Osborn. Frank thought of trying to talk to him, but quickly decided it would be best not to draw attention to himself and Joe.
But Mr. Castigan noticed Frank and waved. Joe disappeared into the crowd to avoid being seen by him. Castigan smiled and clapped Frank on the shoulder, which surprised Frank since they hadn't parted as the best of friends. "You should try dancing!" he said with a wink. "It's better exercise than a basketball game!"
All Frank could think was that Castigan had decided to believe his story about the exam. Eventually Castigan moved on and Frank found Joe hiding behind a clump of people.
"Let's go," said Frank. "It's not safe for you in here. If Castigan catches you on campus, he'll kick us both out!"
Joe quickly grabbed another cup of punch, and the brothers slipped outside. They looked left and right and saw no one. "I think we're safe, now," said Frank. "Let's get over to your room and figure out what to do next," Joe suggested.
"Fine. It'll be empty for a while, and I think we should call Dad."
They went around the back of Van Cott Hall, taking a shortcut to Mansfield. As they rounded the brick wall that enclosed the garbage area, they broke into a run—and came face-to-face with the muzzle of a pistol!
Chapter 16
JOE'S
The sound of their breathing echoed off the walls of the tunnel as they ran. Their feet splashed through puddles where water pipes had been slowly leaking.
At the end of the straight path, the tunnel forked. They went to the right and found that this tunnel was much smaller than the previous one. They had to crouch to avoid the pipes and cables that jutted down from the ceiling.
They stopped for a second to catch their breath and were aware of a sound behind them. Frank signaled for Joe to remain motionless. They heard running footsteps grow louder and louder. The sound came to an abrupt stop as the person reached the fork. After a moment the footsteps started again, but became softer and more distant.
"He went left!" whispered Joe. "Quick, let's find an exit!"
They followed the tunnel as it snaked around and then straightened off to the left. At the end of a long passageway was an exit sign. They ran toward it at full speed.
Next to the sign, a ladder led up to a metal trapdoor. Joe climbed up and pushed the door open, and Frank followed right behind. They closed the door behind them and saw that they were beneath the stands near the football field.
"We did it! Now let's get back to Mansfield!" Frank said.
But he spoke too soon. A bullet whizzed by them and ricocheted off a nearby pole. Frank and Joe took off at full speed. Obviously, their pursuer knew the tunnels better than they did.
Ten feet away was the athletic building. They ran behind it as another bullet knocked away a chunk of brick from the wall.
The Hardys kept running, and before long they were near Van Cott Hall. Light was streaming from the windows of the dorm's common room, and they could hear the faint beat of a rock song.
Frank and Joe ducked into the late-night party that was in celebration of no school the next day. There was a crowd of students there, dancing and singing to the music. By one of the walls was a long table with a bowl of punch and paper cups. Joe went over to get himself a cup and Frank followed, surveying the party.
In the middle of it all was Arnie, gyrating wildly and clumsily, his glasses on the verge of flying off his face. Brad was in a corner, talking smoothly with a girl. He caught a glimpse of Frank and slyly shot him a wink.
"Want some?" Joe asked Frank, holding a ladle full of punch.
Frank looked at the bowl. The thought of drink-ing citrus punch at a time like this turned his stomach. He looked back over the crowd. A couple of students he knew from his classes were there, as well as some teachers, including Mr. Osborn. Then Mr. Castigan walked through the open door and joined Mr. Osborn. Frank thought of trying to talk to him, but quickly decided it would be best not to draw attention to himself and Joe.
But Mr. Castigan noticed Frank and waved. Joe disappeared into the crowd to avoid being seen by him. Castigan smiled and clapped Frank on the shoulder, which surprised Frank since they hadn't parted as the best of friends. "You should try dancing!" he said with a wink. "It's better exercise than a basketball game!"
All Frank could think was that Castigan had decided to believe his story about the exam. Eventually Castigan moved on and Frank found Joe hiding behind a clump of people.
"Let's go," said Frank. "It's not safe for you in here. If Castigan catches you on campus, he'll kick us both out!"
Joe quickly grabbed another cup of punch, and the brothers slipped outside. They looked left and right and saw no one. "I think we're safe, now," said Frank. "Let's get over to your room and figure out what to do next," Joe suggested.
"Fine. It'll be empty for a while, and I think we should call Dad."
They went around the back of Van Cott Hall, taking a shortcut to Mansfield. As they rounded the brick wall that enclosed the garbage area, they broke into a run—and came face-to-face with the muzzle of a pistol!
Chapter 16
JOE'S
Similar Books
