The Sting of the Scorpion Read Free

message,” Joe deduced. “Where were you calling from?”
    â€œThe parking lot on the other side of the entrance you pulled into. Right after Phil spotted you, we used the CB radio in Tony Prito’s pickup truck.”
    â€œDid you notice anyone eavesdropping?”
    Biff looked at Phil and Chet. All three thought for a moment, then shook their heads.
    â€œI guess not,” Biff concluded. “But that doesn’t prove much. There were people all around us, hopping in and out of cars. We were getting such a bang out of fooling you, we probably wouldn’t have noticed, anyway.”
    â€œWhere’s Tony?” Frank inquired.
    â€œHe had to help his dad on some construction work.” Biff explained that he and the others had come to Wild World to apply for jobs as park attendants in response to an ad in the Sunday paper. Although Tony .had to leave as soon as they filled out their forms and were interviewed, Chet, Biff, and Phil had decided to stick around and enjoy the rides in the park’s amusement area. “How about you guys?” he asked. “Did you come to apply, too?”
    â€œNope.” Joe grinned, teasing. “We came to check out an X-mark on a map.”
    Their chums’ curiosity was immediately aroused. When the Hardys showed them the mysterious folder that had arrived in the mail, their three friends insisted on coming with them to inspect the hollow tree.
    Although Wild World was surrounded by a high chain-link fence, the animal park proper was also partitioned off from the amusement area. To reach the spot indicated on the map, the Hardys’ car would have to take its place in the line of vehicles cruising slowly along the road that wound through the animal range. A sign above the gateway warned spectators not to leave their cars.
    â€œThat X-mark better not be a gag,” Chet grumbled as they paid their admission fare through the car window to an attendant with a coin changer on his belt. “This ride’s costing us money.”
    â€œDon’t worry. You’ll get your money’s worth just seeing the animals,” Joe said.
    â€œYou bet!” Phil piped up enthusiastically. “I went through with my whole family a couple of weeks ago. It’s almost like a trip through an African game preserve!”
    His words were borne out as they passed in close view of grazing giraffes, ostriches, and gazelles. The sights were impressive. Many spectators pulled off the road to photograph the animals, and Joe wished he had brought his camera.
    One ostrich gulped a peanut Biff tossed out the window. The creature seemed to take a fancy to him and raced alongside the car, keeping up easily with long loping strides of its knobby legs.
    â€œCareful. I think it’s fallen for you!” Frank joked. “Either that or it’s hungry.”
    Biff hastily pulled back from the window. “Better get my head in before it gives me a peck on the cheek!”
    â€œServe you right for wasting good peanuts,” said Chet, munching. He and Biff had each bought a bagful outside the gate, and the chubby youth was busily cracking the shells and popping goobers into his mouth.
    â€œBoy, all you need’s a good monkey suit, and you’d make a great addition to this park,” Phil wisecracked.
    â€œListen, I haven’t had a thing to eat since breakfast,” Chet said defensively.
    Joe glanced back from the front seat. “When was that, an hour ago?”
    â€œHey, we’re coming to lion country!” Biff exclaimed, peering ahead over the Hardy boys’ shoulders.
    This area was enclosed by a fence of its own, and visitors were advised to keep their windows up. Frank, at the wheel, followed the cars ahead. Half a dozen or more of the big cats could be seen, including two males with flowing dark manes, several females, and at least one cub.
    One male was fast asleep with his legs in the air, snoring audibly.
    â€œNow