One False Step by Franklin W. Dixon Read Free Book Online Page B

wealthy as Julia’s,” Elisabeth said. “They’re best friends. They go everywhere together.”
    The girls suddenly disappeared from their view.
    â€œOh, Julia is so hard to keep up with,” Elisabeth said. “I’ll just have to introduce you to—”
    â€œWait—we probably need to report to our friends from Bayport first, so they won’t be wondering where we are,” Joe said, interrupting her.
    â€œHave you seen them?” Frank asked.
    â€œNo, but that doesn’t mean anything,” Elisabeth said. “When we got back from the stadium I had aheadache, so I lay down for a few minutes, and I only just got up. They’re probably with Alice and Heather.”
    Frank felt that Joe wanted to talk to him alone, so he said, “We’ll see if we can find them, then we’ll catch up with you later.”
    â€œOkay,” Elisabeth said.
    When Frank and Joe were several feet away, Joe said, “I guess our eyes were playing tricks on us. But I was positive that guy was one of the acrobats from Troupe B.”
    â€œMe too,” Frank said.
    â€œSomething else bothers me, Frank. Why would Elisabeth want us to know how rich all these girls here are?” Joe continued. “Does she think we’re fortune hunters?”
    â€œThat was a little strange and uncouth,” Frank said. “But some people are only impressed by things like that.”
    Joe nodded. “Let’s go find Chet, Matt, and Tony,” he said.
    The Hardy boys headed through the crowd once again, but this time they ignored every invitation to dance. They slowly made their way through several more rooms, but they didn’t see their friends.
    â€œLet’s keep going,” Frank said.
    â€œWhere?” Joe asked. “This place is really big, but there can’t be too much more of it.”
    â€œI need some air,” Frank replied. “I’m hoping the balcony is this way.”
    Using his height, Frank managed to look over the heads of most of the people in the crowd and finally spotted a set of open French doors. He was also beginning to feel a cool breeze. “I think we’re headed in the right direction,” he said.
    â€œHey, there’s Chet!” Joe shouted to him. “You were right! He’s standing by another refreshment table.”
    â€œThere’s a little more air in this part of the penthouse, so I’m all right,” Frank said. “Let’s go check in with Chet and see what he and Tony and Matt have been up to.”
    Once again they had to turn down a couple of invitations to dance, but they finally reached the refreshment table.
    â€œHey!” Chet called when he saw them. “You won’t believe the food at this party!”
    â€œYes, we would,” Joe said. “We’ve already checked out another table.”
    â€œI’m on my fifth table! Each one has different things on it,” Chet said with a grin. “I never knew there were so many different kinds of food.” He licked some crumbs off his lips.
    â€œI find that hard to believe,” Frank said. “Where are Matt and Tony?”
    â€œThe last time I saw them, they were with Alice and Heather,” Chet said. “Did you know that some of the Aérocirque acrobats were here?”
    Joe looked at Frank. “Yeah—Elisabeth was telling us they might be,” he said. He turned back to Chet. “Did you recognize any of them?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Chet said.
    â€œSomeone was arguing with Elisabeth just a few minutes ago. We thought he was a member of High-Wire Troupe B,” Frank said. “When we asked her about it, though, she said she hadn’t seen any of the acrobats here.”
    Chet shrugged. “I thought some of the guys here at the party looked like the acrobats we saw in the tent too, but I haven’t seen Elisabeth, so I wouldn’t know if she talked to any or