Free Mississippi River Blues by Tony Abbott Page B

in McDougal’s cave.”
    â€œA … cave?” I said. “No, thanks. I don’t do caves. I’ve already been stuck in a closet. It was like a cave in there. I didn’t like it. Sorry, no caves for me.”
    Tom turned to me, his face alight with excitement. “McDougal’s cave is deep, and filled with bats. You need candles to go in there or you might wander for days and nights and never find the way out!”
    â€œMmm,” I said. “You do make it sound good, but no.”
    Shrugging, Tom left us and ran off to join the crowd gathering outside Becky’s house.
    Huck made a sort of grunting sound in his throat. “Picnics? Yuck. Stinky Joe used to go to a tavern in town. Maybe his secret hiding place, ‘number two under the cross,’ is there. We could check. And while Tom’s eating pie, we’ll find our treasure!”
    Frankie brightened. “I like the way you think, Huck. Did I ever tell you that I think you should have your own book?”
    Huck grinned. “I like that idea plenty. Now let’s go find that strongbox!”
    A few hours later, Huck, Frankie, and I were squirreled away in an alley in town. Night had fallen. Tom and Becky and the others had been picnicking all day, but the three of us were doing the real work of the story.
    We were going to hunt down Joe’s treasure!
    â€œJoe used to hang out at the tavern across the street,” said Huck, pointing to a dark building not far from where we crouched. “If he’s up to his old ways, maybe we’ll see him there … and follow him.”
    â€œShh!” I said.
    We had just enough time to slide into an alcove behind a store when two men brushed by us and onto the darkened street ahead. One of the men had something under his arm. It looked boxy and heavy.
    â€œIt’s Joe all right,” I gasped. “I can smell him. And he’s got the box!”
    Huck nodded. “Let’s follow him.”
    We stepped out and padded behind the two men like quiet cats. They moved up the street for three blocks, then turned up a cross street to the left. Then straight ahead, then onto a path that led out of town,
    â€œWhere are they going?” asked Frankie.
    We followed the men until they stopped.
    â€œThe Widow Douglas’s house!” Huck whispered, pointing to a small house in the moonlit distance.
    The two bad guys loomed tall on the hill overlooking the house.
    Then Stinky Joe spoke. “Time for my revenge.”
    Huck turned to us. “Revenge? On the widow? I thought he was after us ?”
    Joe spoke again. “I never liked her. But her husband was the worst. He never treated me square. Now that I’m leaving for Texas, I’ve got to pay her back. I’m going to get her once and for all!”
    Frankie turned. “We’d better get help. And fast!”
    We stepped away as softly as we could and made our way back down the hill. We ran and ran until we reached another house.
    â€œThe old Welshman lives here!” said Huck, panting up to the front door. “We have to let him know!”
    Huck banged hard on the door. An old man’s head poked out a window above us. He rubbed his eyes.
    â€œWho’s there?”
    â€œFrankie!” said Frankie.
    â€œWho?”
    â€œDevin!” I yelled.
    â€œWho?”
    â€œHuckleberry Finn!” Huck said finally.
    The man snorted. “Huckleberry Finn? That isn’t a name to open many doors around here. But come in and let’s see what the trouble is.”
    The old man and his two sons let us in.
    â€œPlease don’t ever tell I told you,” Huck blurted out, “but the widow’s been a good friend to me, and Stinky Joe is planning to hurt her!”
    A minute later, the old man and his sons were up the hill near the widow’s house. We tagged behind them, but then there was the sound of a gun going off. Blam!
    â€œHoly cow, a battle! I’m outta