Camping Chaos (7 page)

More clapping.

“I guess that means I’m gonna win first place,” Beatrice said to no one in particular as she admired her nails.

Joe rolled his eyes.

“And our first-place winner is Frank and Joe Hardy with their snake tent!” Ranger Gil said. “Boys, come up and get your trophy, and also your gift certificate for camping gear at Sal’s Sporting Goods!”

The Hardys jumped to their feet. “Perry, Bob, and Andy delivered!” Joe said with a grin.

The brothers gave each other a high five.

•  •  •  •

Later, as Joe, Mr. Hardy, Phil, and Chet broke down their tents, Frank sat cross-legged on the ground with his notebook on his lap. The tip on his pencil was almost gone. He thought for a moment, then flipped to the page about their case.

He wrote:

WHO:
Lina?

Beatrice?

Garrett?

A person with the initials HOF?

Wendy!

WHY:
Maybe the person really wants to win the tent-decorating contest?

Or maybe the person just wants to make trouble?

Or maybe it’s just a bunch of stupid camp pranks?

Fish told Wendy that she should make things fun for the campers. She thought it would be cool if she made stuff disappear and reappear (like our snakes, Princess Petunia, and Mr. Truffles), and if she pretended to be a ghost.

Frank smiled to himself and added at the very end:

SECRET FILES CASE #16: SOLVED!

CATCH UP ON ALL THE HARDY BOYS
^®
SECRET FILES

#1 Trouble at the Arcade

#2 The Missing Mitt

#3 Mystery Map

#4 Hopping Mad

#5 A Monster of a Mystery

#6 The Bicycle Thief

#7 The Disappearing Dog

#8 Sports Sabotage

#9 The Great Coaster Caper

#10 A Rockin’ Mystery

#11 Robot Rumble

#12 Lights, Camera . . . Zombies!

#13 Balloon Blow-Up

#14 Fossil Frenzy

#15 Ship of Secrets

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

www.SimonandSchuster.com

First Aladdin paperback edition December 2014

Text copyright © 2014 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Illustrations copyright © 2014 by Scott Burroughs

Series design by Lisa Vega

Cover design by Karina Granda

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

ALADDIN is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc., and related logo is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

THE HARDY BOYS is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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The text of this book was set in Garamond.

Library of Congress Control Number 2014949902

ISBN 978-1-4424-9048-2 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-4424-9050-5 (eBook)