"Those guys looked like giants!" Frank exclaimed. Larry agreed and added that they not only look like giants, but also were as mean as Goliath. When Joe heard Larry mention Goliath, he asked, "You mean that big giant in the Bible story? The one David whipped?"

"Sure," said Larry. "They’re big, too. Ron is 16 and Jeff is 15."

"Let’s get outta here while the gettin’s good," suggested Larry. All three boys climbed out from behind the seat and started walking in the opposite direction that Ron and Jeff were heading. About three cars back, they found some empty seats and sat down.

"I need to fill you guys in on what’s going on," said Larry. "I’m really not a thief. My brothers are though. I knew they took something that didn’t belong to them. I saw them steal a man’s watch from off the table in the dining car. Ron talked to the guy real nicely while Jeff walked by and took the watch. My brothers didn’t know I was sitting nearby. I didn’t think it was right for them to steal, so I got the watch from their room. I was going to give it to the guy they took it from, but they saw me taking the watch. Then, they told the guy that I took the watch and promised to catch me and make me return it."

"Anyway," continued Larry, "now I’m stuck with a stolen watch that I can’t even return without getting into trouble that I don’t deserve." Frank and Joe felt bad for their new friend and wished there was something they could do, but decided they had better get back to their mom and dad for now. They promised Larry that if they thought of something helpful, they’d find him and tell him.

 

Over a scrumptious supper of baked fish with almonds on top, fresh broccoli and scalloped potatoes, the boys told their parents about Larry. They decided to leave out the part about the watch. They didn’t want their parents to think that Larry was a bad kid. Just as the boys were finishing their strawberry shortcake desserts, Ron and Jeff came thundering down the aisle. Frank and Joe wanted to hide under the table, but realized that Ron and Jeff didn’t know them, so they didn’t need to worry.

"Those boys seemed very upset about something," Mrs. Hardy stated.

"Yes," responded their father, "I can’t help but wonder if it has anything to do with the incident that happened in this dining car earlier today."

The boys looked at each other with wide eyes. Could Dad know about the robbery? Who would he think stole the watch?

"You boys be mighty careful," said their father, "There was an expensive watch stolen right from this dining car earlier today. The man who lost the watch believes a young boy took it from his table." Oh no, thought Frank and Joe, Larry is in big trouble!

 

The next day, the train pulled into their first stop in Erie, Pennsylvania. It felt good to get up and stretch. As they walked through the station with their parents, Frank and Joe saw Larry coming toward them.

"Hi guys," said Larry with a friendly smile, "My name is Larry Bell." Frank and Joe explained that Larry was the friend they told their parents about the night before. He asked if he could join them for the sightseeing tour in town. After Larry assured them that his parents wouldn’t mind, the Hardys agreed to allow Larry to join them for the day.