Mystery Map Read Free Page A

treasure map,” Frank said.
    Mr. Hardy checked his watch. “Let’s take a look later, all right?” he said. “Right now I should go help your mother.”

    He hurried down the steps and into the house. Joe watched him go. Then he tested the spare room door.
    â€œStill locked,” he reported. “So much for the Why,” he said with a frown.
    Frank bit his lip. “That was kind of weird,” hesaid slowly. “It was like Dad didn’t want us to catch a glimpse in there.”
    The two of them stared at each other. Frank knew they were both thinking the same thing.
    What was their father trying to hide?

4
The Search Begins
    I still think one of us is getting the spare room,” Joe told Frank.
    It was the next morning. The two of them were walking through the woods on their way to the park to meet Chet.
    â€œDon’t get your hopes up,” Frank said. “That spare room is more like a little apartment than a regular bedroom. It even has its own bathroom. Plus, it’s totally separate from the rest of the house.There’s no way Mom and Dad would let one of us live out there all alone.”
    Joe shrugged. He wasn’t ready to give up hope. “Then maybe they’ll let
both
of us move out there,” he said. “That would be cool too. It’s a lot bigger than our room now.”
    â€œThen what would they do with our old room?” Frank still sounded doubtful.
    â€œMaybe Mom will turn it into that craft room she’s always wanted.”
    â€œOr maybe the spare room will be her new craft room,” Frank said. “That makes more sense. We should probably just ask them.”
    â€œI already tried,” Joe said. “I asked Dad before breakfast. He just said something about needing more storage space. Then when I asked Mom a few minutes later, she said it was ‘up in the air.’”
    â€œHmm,” Frank said. “That is kind of weird.”
    Joe nodded, feeling excited at the thought ofa bigger, better bedroom. “It has to be almost finished by now. I bet they’re just waiting for Aunt Gertrude’s visit to be over with before they surprise us.”
    The boys had come to the edge of the woods. Joe looked around for Chet. It was early, and the park wasn’t very crowded yet. There were only a few people on the swings, and there was a small group of teenage girls playing kickball. Joe soon spotted Chet watching the kickball game.
    Chet was watching for the Hardys too. He waved and hurried over to them.
    â€œDid you bring the map?” he asked eagerly.
    Joe pulled it out of his pocket. “Right here. We think we figured out some of the markings and stuff.”
    â€œCool!” Chet grinned. “Treasure, here we come!”
    The three of them bent over the map. “This has to be the playground,” Frank told Chet. Hepointed to a drawing that looked like a swing set. “And these trees are the woods.”
    â€œRight.” Joe waved a hand at a section of woods nearby. “The dotted line starts in there, so we should probably go look around for more clues.”
    Soon the three of them were making their waydown a dirt trail. Chet pushed aside a branch. “Do you think we’re going the right way?” he asked.

    Frank nodded, checking the map. “The spot where the dotted line starts should be right up ahead.”
    Joe was in the lead. He hopped over a fallen tree trunk and then glanced back at the others. “What do you think the treasure will be? Could it really be pirate’s booty like Dad said?”
    Chet’s eyes went wide. “Pirate’s booty? You mean like gold and jewels and stuff?”
    â€œI doubt it,” Frank said. “Why would pirates come to Bayport to hide their treasure? And why would anyone draw a map to it on an old burger wrapper instead of just digging it up?”
    Chet shrugged, looking a little disappointed. “Okay, so maybe