The Genius Thieves by Franklin W. Dixon Read Free Book Online Page B

me very alert."
    Sarah and Frank talked about Henry V for two solid hours before they rested. Frank was beginning to feel slightly better about the test. He sat up and leaned back against the tree, looking out at the crew rowing on the river.
    Sarah leaned back, too, so that her shoulder brushed against Frank's. "Oops! Sorry!" Frank said. "No, keep it there. This is comfortable." Two bright orange leaves twisted to the ground in front of them. Sarah smiled at Frank.
    "I think I'll close my eyes and wish I were floating down the river," she said. "Past tropical jungles and forests—" She leaned her head against Frank's right shoulder.
    Frank immediately thought about Callie. Somehow, though, she seemed very far away. He didn't know if it was the autumn air, or the relief he felt about the test, or Sarah's smile—but he felt very happy to be there with her.
    "You know, Sarah, you make Shakespeare seem easy," he said.
    "Mmm." She smiled. "By the way, I brought us some things for us to eat. They're in my backpack." "I'll get it," Frank said, reaching to his left. "No, let me!" Sarah said insistently. Frank sat back and Sarah reached across him, and the two of them came face-to-face. For a long moment they both forgot about the backpack, and slowly their lips drew closer.
    "Hey! What is this? Some kind of soap opera?"
    Frank and Sarah pulled away from each other.
    Looming above them, dressed in crew clothes, was another of the "jurors" from Frank's tribunal—Stu Goldman.
    His face was twisted with jealous rage. And clenched in his hand was an eight-foot wooden oar.

Chapter 9
    "STU! WHAT ARE you doing here?" Sarah exclaimed.
    "Crew practice! What does it look like?" said Stu.
    "Hello, Stu," said Frank. "We were just discussing Henry the Fifth. Would you like to join — "
    "Don't be flip with me, new boy!" Stu said. He kicked Frank's book aside. "You're having a lot of fun breaking rules and getting away with it—but you're not going to break rule number one!"
    "What's rule number one?" asked Frank.
    Stu imitated Frank's voice: " 'What's rule number one?' It's simple, Kenyon. Thou shall not steal someone else's girlfriend!"
    Frank shot a surprised look at Sarah.
    "No, Stu, you know it's over," said Sarah evenly. "I'm tired of you thinking you own me — "
    "Please leave, Sarah," Stu growled. "This is between him and me!" "Stu — "
    "Sarah, please leave!" Stu was shouting now. "Come on, Stu," Frank said. "Leave her alone."
    "What are you, her protector?" Stu asked, giving Frank a nudge in the ribs with his oar. "Her Romeo?" Frank got up and backed away; Stu poked him again. "Her knight in shining armor?" Another poke.
    "Knock it off, Stu," Frank said, barely containing his anger.
    "I'll knock you off," Stu said. This time he jabbed Frank in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him.
    That did it. Frank picked up a thick branch and held it out in front of him.
    While Sarah looked on in horror, visions of what Stu could do with the oar flashed through Frank's head. At least this guy is normal sized, he thought. If I can beat that oar — "
    Stu's eyes flashed wildly. "Oh, you want to fight, do you?" He tried to ram Frank with the oar, but Frank hopped out of the way. Stu went flying by him, off balance, and Frank pushed him to the ground with the branch.
    Red-faced, Stu clenched his teeth, stood, and lunged with the oar again. Frank blocked it with the branch. Then Stu charged once again. Frank held his ground.
    Clunk! The two weapons made contact and the boys held them steady. "You don't think that twig is going to hold out against this oar, do you?" said Stu as Frank's branch started to crack from the pressure of the stronger oar. .
    Stu backed Frank to the edge of the river. Frank began to slip in the mud. Stu pushed harder. Crrrrick! Frank's branch was not going to make it.
    All of a sudden there was a loud crack. Just as Frank's branch split in two, he ducked down. From the force of his pushing, Stu fell forward, tumbled