Read Online The Melted Coins by Franklin W. Dixon - Free Book Online

insisted.
    The two men walked over to the car, where they talked for a while. Frank and Joe decided not to take further risks of discovery. Keeping to one side of the road, they moved out of sight, then trudged back to their motel.
    It was well lighted, and they were still some distance away when they noticed Elmont Chidsee. He sat on a folding chair near their door.
    â€œNow what do you make of that?” Joe asked.
    â€œObviously he’s standing guard.”
    Joe grinned. “The spies are being spied on.”
    â€œLet’s play a little trick on him,” Frank suggested. Quickly he explained his plan to Joe.
    The boys crept closer, circled around to one side of the motel, and hid behind the big air-conditioning unit. Chidsee rose from the chair, walked impatiently up and down for a few minutes, then seated himself again.
    â€œI wonder how long he’s been there,” asked Joe.
    â€œI assume quite a while,” said Frank. “He’s getting restless.”
    â€œOkay, let’s go around back,” Joe urged.
    They moved cautiously to the rear. Frank pulled out his pocketknife and snapped open the screwdriver blade. Carefully he pried one side of the window, then the other. It budged a quarter-inch. He noiselessly slid the window open and both crawled inside.

    Frank noiselessly slid the window open
    Quietly they undressed and put their pajamas on.
    â€œHere’s where we have some fun with our sentry,” Frank whispered. He stood near the door, put his hand on the knob, and announced in a loud voice, “Hey, Joe, it’s getting awful hot in here. I think I’ll go out for a breath of air.”
    He opened the door quickly. Chidsee nearly fell off his chair in amazement. His jaw dropped.
    â€œWell, well. If it isn’t our long-lost friend,” Frank said. “What are you doing here?”
    No answer. Chidsee stared at him in bewilderment, muttered something, and hastened off.
    Frank closed the door and the boys had a good laugh. “He didn’t know he was being a babysitter,” Joe chortled.
    â€œYou can’t blame the poor guy for being surprised,” Frank said. Then he became serious. “Joe, I smell a rat!”
    â€œYou were pretty close to him,” Joe said, still in a jovial mood.
    â€œHe’s in league with somebody else—most likely the people who’ve been harassing us all along. They put him here to stand watch—maybe they were expecting us to spy on Wallace toght!”
    â€œYou could be right,” Joe retorted. “If Chidsee could have reported the time we returned, that guy who was browbeating Wallace surely would have known that we were the eavesdroppers.”
    â€œBut the game isn’t over yet,” Frank said, and started dressing. “Come on. We have some more work to do.”
    The two climbed out of the window again. Bending low, they crept around the rear of the motel till they were directly below the window of Chidsee’s apartment.
    â€œListen!” Frank whispered.
    From inside came muffled voices.
    â€œThey were in their room all the time!” Chidsee whined. “In their pajamas. Must have gone to bed early!”
    The chauffeur mumbled something the boys could not understand. Then they heard the door open and slam shut.
    â€œWhat are you doing in here, Elmont? Didn’t I tell you to stand guard?” said a harsh voice.
    â€œI did!”
    â€œWhat do you mean, you did?”
    â€œThey’ve been inside all night!”
    â€œAre you sure?” The visitor sounded incredulous.
    â€œIf you don’t believe me, go look for yourself.”
    The chauffeur spoke up. “You guys better be quiet, or the whole motel will know what you’re up to!”
    The sounds of conversation sank immediately. Frank and Joe listened intently, their hearts pounding. Even though the voices inside were mumbled and unintelligible, the boys dared not speak.
    Then the caller