Free Three-Ring Terror by Franklin W. Dixon Page A

toward the exit that led to the parking lot. When they reached the exit, Joe turned to say something to Frank and Chet. Suddenly, a figure at the end of the hall by the elevators caught his eye—a figure wearing green striped baggy pants dotted with rhinestones and an unmistakable blue wig.
    â€œHey, Frank,” Joe said slowly, his excitement building.
    â€œWhat?” Frank asked, facing Joe.
    Joe pointed down the long hall to where the juggler was still standing, his back to them, waiting for an elevator.
    â€œDon’t look now,” he said, “but I think we just found Ralph Rosen.”

9 Ralph Rosen Returns
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    â€œHey!” Frank called out. “Hey, you!”
    The young man turned around to see who was shouting at him. Despite the fact that the juggler wasn’t wearing clown makeup, Frank was sure it was Rosen. The costume was the same as the one he’d seen the previous night. As soon as Rosen saw Frank, he turned to the left and ran down the hall.
    â€œHe knows exactly who we are!” Frank shouted to Joe. “Let’s get him,” he said, taking off at a clip.
    He saw Rosen turn into a stairwell that led up to the backstage area and the arena. Frank ran up the stairs after him, keeping an eye on Rosen’s fleeting green pants. Joe and Chet were closebehind. Soon they were chasing Rosen through the crowded arena, and people were flying out of the way on either side of them.
    â€œStop that clown!” Frank shouted to a woman who was just about to walk in front of Rosen. “Don’t let him get away!”
    The woman heard Frank, but too late. Rosen pushed her aside, and she went flying to the floor. As Frank ran past her, he slowed down briefly to make sure she was okay and then picked up speed again as Rosen darted through the red velvet curtain into the arena.
    Frank pushed the curtain aside and came to a quick stop, searching for Rosen’s green striped pants. Rosen was nowhere in sight. Instead, Frank was greeted by the sight of two animal cages. Inside the cages were a lion and a tiger. Then Frank spotted something else—a trapdoor in the center ring that had been left open.
    â€œSo that’s where he went,” Frank said aloud. “Down the trapdoor the clowns use to fool the audience into thinking tons of people are getting out of a little car.” The nearby tiger let out a low growl, making Frank jump.
    â€œI’m outta here,” Frank said under his breath. Where were Joe and Chet? he wondered.
    He was about to turn back to look for them when a voice at Frank’s side said sharply, “You bet you’re out of here!” Frank felt someone grab his arm and steer him around.
    â€œHey! What do you—” Frank began.
    The woman who had a hold on his elbow was dressed in a security guard uniform. She had the greenest eyes Frank had ever seen. At her side were Chet and Joe, looking glum.
    â€œThis area is off limits,” the woman went on, tightening her grip on Frank’s arm. “I don’t know who you kids are, but you obviously don’t belong here.”
    Frank felt himself turn red, then he breathlessly tried to explain. “We’re students at Circus U. We were just going to try out that trapdoor the clowns use.”
    â€œYeah, right,” the woman said, glaring at Frank, Joe, and Chet. “And I’m the Queen of England.”
    â€œWe really are students,” Joe insisted.
    â€œI saw you chasing that guy,” the woman said. “You nearly hurt someone back there. I don’t know what you’re doing here, but you’d better leave before I call security.”
    â€œI’m trying to tell you,” Frank said. “We’re students.”
    From the look on the woman’s face, Frank could tell he wasn’t getting anywhere. He pulled himself out of her grip and stood by Joe with his arms folded. The tiger in the cage across from them sank down onto the