Mystery Map by Franklin W. Dixon Page B

are you guys doing over here?” he asked.
    â€œChet found something,” Frank said.
    Chet nodded eagerly. “I’m pretty sure it’s a treasure map!”

    â€œA treasure map? Really?” Joe couldn’t help being doubtful. Who would hide a treasure map in boring old Bayport? Still, he bent down to help the others dig out the piece of paper. It was pretty muddy after being buried in the ground.
    Joe noticed that one corner of the paper was missing and its edges were ragged. “Looks like something chewed off part of it,” he said.
    Chet nodded. “It could have been that raccoon I was tracking.” He pointed to some small, hand-like prints in the mud. “Or maybe a dog or something.”
    Joe looked over at the sidewalk across the street. He remembered that a tall, blond kid had been walking a lively hound puppy on a leash over there earlier. Joe had noticed them because he loved dogs. He didn’t know the kid, but he’d seen him around. He was pretty sure the puppy was new, though. They were both gone now anyway.
    â€œIt was probably a dog,” Joe said. “They like toeat anything and everything. That’s why Mom says we can’t get one.”
    Frank was carefully spreading out the muddy paper. “Sorry, Chet,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a treasure map after all. Looks like a used wrapper from a fast-food burger.”
    â€œYuck,” Joe said. “You’re right. I think that’s ketchup there under the dirt.”
    Chet grabbed the burger wrapper and turned it over. “Look,” he said, pointing. “There’s stuff written on the back. See? It
is
a map!”
    Joe leaned forward for a closer look. Just then there was a shout from behind them. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Adam heading their way.
    â€œOops,” he said, shoving the wrapper at Chet. “Better hide this before Adam sees it. You know how he is.”
    Chet looked nervous. “You take it,” he whispered, shoving it back at Joe.

    Joe shrugged and stuffed the wrapper in his pocket. Then he and Frank walked back toward Adam and the others. Chet stayed a little behind them.
    â€œHiding from me, Morton?” Adam taunted him with a smirk.
    â€œLeave him alone,” Frank said.
    Just then there was a buzzing sound. Phil reached into his pocket. “It’s my phone,” he said.
    Phil had the fanciest cell phone of anyone his age. He loved gadgets and anything high tech. When he grew up, he wanted to be an inventor.
    He answered the phone. Then he held it out to Frank and Joe.
    â€œIt’s for you two,” he said. “It’s your mom.”
    â€œThanks.” Frank took the phone from him.
    â€œAw, how cute,” Adam goaded Joe, using a baby voice. “Your mommy is checking up on you! Is she afraid her two little babies will get lost trying to find your way home all by your baby selves?”
    â€œNo way,” Joe answered with a frown. “If someone with a brain as tiny as yours can find your way home, we can do it too.”
    Adam just smirked. “If you say so, Baby Joe.”
    Soon Frank hung up and handed the phone back to Phil. “We’d better head home,” he told Joe.
    â€œAlready?” Joe asked unhappily.
    â€œJust come on,” Frank said. “Mom wants us to stop at the grocery store on the way.”
    â€œWe’ll walk you to the store,” Chet said. “It’s on our way home. Right, Iola?”
    He still sounded nervous. That reminded Joe that Adam was still hanging around. As long as he was there, staying at the park wouldn’t be much fun anyway.
    The four of them said good-bye to the others and walked away. “I still don’t see why we had to leave so early,” Joe complained. “The store’s right across the street. It will only take a second to stop in there.”
    â€œI know,” Frank said. “But Mom wants us home