Free The Alaskan Adventure by Franklin W. Dixon Page A

in the distance that made the hairs on the back ofhis neck stand up. “Frank!” he said. “That was a wolf howl!”
    Frank grinned at him. “It sure sounded like it,” he replied. “Unless it was Lucky, trying to make us nervous.”
    â€œWell, if it was, he succeeded,” Joe said glumly. “How far are we from town?”
    â€œWhy? Do you think the wolves know that they’re not allowed inside the city limits?” Frank joked.
    â€œVery funny,” Joe said, glancing over his shoulder. In every direction the woods were silent, dark, and deep. The slinking shapes he sensed in the shadows were just his imagination, he hoped.
    â€œOr it could be Jake who’s lying,” Frank said, picking up the thread of the conversation. “He may be out to make trouble for Lucky.”
    As the Hardys walked briskly down the last slope before the town, Joe spotted Curt coming out of a cabin on the outskirts of town. “I bet he’s out canvassing for votes,” he said. “One thing you have to say, he’s a hard worker. Let’s ask him about Lucky.”
    Curt saw them coming and waited for them to catch up. “Out taking a tour of the area?” he asked.
    â€œWe went up to see Lucky Moeller’s placer mine,” Frank told him.
    â€œGood for you,” Curt said with a smile. “It’s one of the real landmarks of the area. Of course, you probably had some trouble figuring out exactly what goes on there. It’s not set up for visitors yet. But once it is, I guarantee it’ll be a high point of Historic Glitter, Gold Rush Town.”
    Joe said, “Lucky seemed pretty enthusiastic about your project.”
    Curt nodded. “He should be. It’ll make him a star. You’re not going to find a more typical old-time prospector, even in Hollywood. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up with the biggest salary on the ThemeLife payroll. Bigger even than the project director.”
    â€œI thought he was already on the ThemeLife payroll,” Frank said in a casual voice.
    Curt gave him a sharp look. “Where’d you hear that?” he demanded.
    â€œI don’t know—around,” Frank said with a shrug. “Why? Isn’t he?”
    â€œI’m the only full-time employee of the ThemeLife Company in Glitter,” Curt said. “Anyone who says different doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I’d better run along. There are still a few people who don’t understand all the advantages our project will bring to their town.”
    He turned and hurried away.
    â€œInteresting,” Frank said. “Did you notice? He said he’s the only full-time ThemeLife employeehere. He could still be paying Lucky to help talk people around.  . . . ”
    â€œOr to play dirty tricks on them if they won’t be talked around,” Joe said. “We’d better keep a close eye on Mr. Curt Stone.”
    David’s kennel was around the next bend of the trail. The huskies were barking and straining at their tethers.
    â€œDo you suppose they’re saying hello to us?” Joe wondered aloud. He called, “Hi, doggies!”
    â€œJoe, look,” Frank said. “One of them got away!”
    The short end of a rope dangled limply from one of the sturdy stakes that kept the huskies near their houses. “Must have chewed through the rope,” Joe said.
    David came running up the path. When he saw the dangling rope, his face turned pale. “Big Foot, gone?” He groaned. “Oh, no!”
    He went from one dog to the next, speaking softly and calming them down. Joe and Frank followed his lead. Once the team was quiet, David said, “This is terrible. Big Foot is Ironheart’s backup. He’s the second most important member of the team. I should have come out right away, the minute I heard that wolf pack howling.”
    â€œWe heard them, too,” Joe