The Mystery of the Black Rhino by Franklin W. Dixon Read Free Book Online Page A

you don’t mind,” Frank said. “We have a lot of gifts to buy, and we want to make sure we pick out the right ones.”
    â€œOf course,” the man said. He began busying himself at the counter. “Call me if you need any assistance.”
    The Hardy boys made a complete circle of the shop, pretending to browse.
    â€œI know that Jackson came in here,” Joe whispered. “He has to be somewhere in this shop.”
    â€œHe’s probably in that back room,” Frank whispered. “We have to think up a way to distract the shopkeeper, so one of us can slip inside.”
    They continued to look at the goods on the shelves.Joe actually liked some of the animal carvings. He made a quick calculation of American dollars to Kenyan shillings and realized that the carvings weren’t all that expensive. If he didn’t find any he liked better, he’d probably come back to this shop before they left and buy some of them.
    After the Hardy boys had made a third pass through the shop, the Indian shopkeeper looked up and gave them what Frank thought was an unfriendly glance.
    â€œHe’s probably going to ask us to leave soon,” Joe whispered. “We’re keeping him from doing whatever business he was doing with Jackson.”
    Suddenly Joe had an idea. He walked over to the shopkeeper. “I really like your shop,” he said. “It reminds me of one we visited in New York City.”
    â€œReally?” the man said. He suddenly seemed nervous. “What’s the name of the New York shop?”
    â€œFifth Avenue Africana,” Frank replied.
    The man stared at them for several seconds without saying anything. Then, just as he opened his mouth, they heard chants and shouting on the street.
    â€œOh, not again!” the man groaned. “Not again!”
    He ran to his shop window. Frank and Joe followed.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Joe asked.
    â€œIt’s the farmers and the animal rights people. They don’t like each other very much,” the mansaid. He looked exasperated. “I wish they’d settle their differences.”
    â€œWhat are their differences?” Frank asked.
    â€œThe farmers want more land. They want the government to take some of the land reserved for the wild animals so they can plant their crops on it,” the man said. “The animal rights people are against it. They say the animals already don’t have enough land to exist on.”
    Just then a brick came flying through the shop window, covering the shop owner with small pieces of glass and just barely missing the boys.
    The shop owner brushed the glass off, then flew out the door of the shop into the crowd.
    â€œJoe—now’s our chance!” Frank said. “We can see what’s in that back room.”
    Quickly the Hardy boys raced to the rear of the shop. Just as Frank opened the door, he saw someone leaving by another door at the back of the storage room.
    â€œIt’s Jackson!” Joe said.
    They started running.
    Right before they got to the door to the outside, the shopkeeper shouted, “You have no right to be back here. I’m going to call the police. I’ll have you arrested.”
    Quickly Joe pushed on the door. It opened onto an alley. “There he is!”
    Jackson was already at the end of the alley heading toward the crowd of demonstrators on Moi Avenue.
    The boys raced after him. But by the time they reached Moi Avenue, Jackson had disappeared in the throng.
    â€œWhat now?” Joe asked.
    Before Frank could answer, someone thrust a sign into his hands.
    â€œYou can’t demonstrate without a sign,” a girl shouted at him. “It isn’t allowed.”
    â€œBut we’re not really . . .,” Frank started to say.
    â€œYou’re not really what?” the girl demanded. “You’re not really in favor of keeping the animals in Kenya alive?”
    â€œNo, no, it’s not