The Clue of the Hissing Serpent by Franklin W. Dixon

silent for a while, until footsteps sounded again. “The Hardys must be coming back!” Chet thought.
    All at once angry shouts filled the old house, punctuated by scuffling and banging.
    Chet grabbed the camera and raced downstairs. On the second floor landing he found Frank and Joe dazed and sprawled out on the dirty floor.
    The Hardys pulled themselves to their feet slowly. “What a blitz!” Frank murmured, rubbing his head.
    â€œHow many of them?” Chet asked.
    â€œFour dirty bums.”
    Joe grasped his jaw and moved it from side to side. “Nothing broken, I guess,” he said. Then he felt in his pockets. “But my wallet’s missing. And so’s my watch!”
    â€œMine, too,” Frank said. “Those rats. Probably the ones who conked Radley.”
    â€œI found one camera under a door,” Chet said. “But the movie equipment’s gone.” He handed the instrument to Frank.
    Frank and Joe decided there was no point in chasing the hoodlums in the darkness. They had too much of a head start. The three boys walked down the rickety stairs to go home. Suddenly an ominous rumble filled the old building. The next moment plaster began falling on their heads. One wall of the stairway was moving inward!
    â€œRun, fellows!” Chet yelled and braced himself against the wall. “I’ll hold this till you’re out!”
    The Hardys dashed down to the rear entrance. Then Chet took his shoulders from the wall and ran. But he did not have enough time. Wood and plaster filled the stairway.
    Frank and Joe turned in horror to see their friend imprisoned in the debris! Only his head showed above the rubble!
    The dust and dirt made Chet cough, but he managed to shout, “Help! I’m stuck!”
    â€œHold on. We’ll get you out,” Joe cried out.
    They clawed at the debris but could make little headway. They needed assistance! While Joe stayed with Chet, Frank raced to the car. On the way to the nearest alarm box, about two blocks down the road, he told Radley what had happened.
    â€œI’ll call the police, then drop you off at the hospital,” Frank said. “How do you feel now?”
    â€œNot too hot,” Radley said weakly.
    â€œBy the way, the movie camera’s gone. The other one was under a door.”
    â€œI hid it there.”
    â€œDid you take any photos?”
    â€œQuite a few. Hope they’re the ones you want.”
    Minutes later sirens screamed as Chief Collig and the fire department rushed to the dilapidated building. The men carefully worked their way through the rubble.
    Frank returned half an hour later. He and Joe helped under the direction of the fire chief. Huge lights illuminated the area.
    â€œIt’s touch and go,” the official said. “One false move and the whole building could come tumbling down.”
    Chet’s good humor began to abate as the work went on painstakingly slowly.
    â€œI’ve got an awful pain in my arm,” he said. “Maybe it’s broken. Frank, better call my parents.”
    Half an hour later Mr. and Mrs. Morton arrived with Iola, Chet’s sister. She was a pretty dark haired girl who often dated Joe. At the same time, reporters and photographers rushed to the scene where firemen were shoring up the sagging walls with stout beams. Others picked away at the pile of wood, bricks, and plaster.
    The Hardys were questioned about the accident. Why were they in the building? Didn’t they realize the danger? How did they manage to escape unhurt?
    Frank and Joe tried to avoid direct answers, knowing anything they said might tip off their enemies. Joe did, however, tell about Chet’s heroic action.
    An onlooker, who knew the Hardys, said, “You must be on some detective work. Was it a surveillance?”
    â€œWe’d rather not talk about it now,” Frank replied. He turned to his brother. “Look, Dad just arrived!”
    Mr. Hardy came