Two soft raps sounded on the front door. A crazed smile spread across Lewis’ lips. “Well, well, well. Looks like we can finally start the party! Come in!”

The front door slowly opened. Joe Hardy, his hair disheveled, staggered and weaved his way into the living room.

“Why, Joseph, you don’t look at all well!” Lewis cackled. “Have a seat right over there,” he continued, indicating the only empty straight chair in the room. “It’s show time!”

Frank and Phil gazed in wide eyed terror as Joe took a couple of steps, then fell to the ground in a faint!

“Tsk, tsk!” Lewis fretted. “I thought Joseph was a big, strong, football star. He must have had a rough time of it the last couple of days!” Lewis put the knife down on an end table and walked over to Joe. He picked Joe up under his arms and started to drag him over to the chair.

Suddenly Joe threw a solid punch into the unsuspecting Lewis’ stomach! The gun Lewis had tucked into his belt fell out and skidded across the living room floor.

Lewis doubled over, then stood straight up. “You little punk!” he sneered. “You’re going to pay for that!” Joe dropped into a boxer’s stance. Lewis lashed out with a kick at Joe’s jaw. Joe threw his head back to avoid the kick, but Lewis connected just enough to send Joe to the floor.

Joe looked up to see Lewis standing over him with a long coil of rope. “All right, boy, your time has come!”

Then a tall, athletic figure burst through the front door. Biff Hooper!

“Why, Allen! How nice of you to join the party!” Lewis chortled. “How are things at the Speedmart? You’re just in time to watch me kill Frank! Or would you like to take his place?”

“I have a better idea, creep! You and me! Let’s get it on!” Biff retorted.

Lewis tried to kick Biff in the jaw as he had Joe, but Biff avoided the blow and caught Lewis’ ankle with his wrist, giving it a vicious twist.

“Aghh!” Lewis shrieked. Biff followed up by punching Lewis in the jaw three times in succession. Lewis dropped to the floor, blood streaming from his nose and mouth.

“Yes!” Frank silently exulted, still bound and gagged.

Lewis rose to his feet again and launched a flying tackle at Biff, who responded with a kick to Lewis’ stomach, doubling him over in pain.

“Had enough, creep?” Biff taunted.

A dazed Lewis started toward Biff again, but was finally floored by Joe, who had recovered the gun and cracked Lewis’ head with it.

Biff stood grim-faced over the prone killer. “I hate it when people call me Allen!”

Joe wrapped his friend in a huge bear hug. “Remind me never to get on your bad side!” he exclaimed.

“I’ll tie this creep up while you take care of the guys,” Biff responded.

Joe rushed over to his brother and pulled the gag from his mouth.

“I’ve never been happier to see you in my life!” Frank affirmed.

Joe worked quickly on the ropes binding his brother. “Can’t let anything happen to my big brother! Who would get me out of the jams I get into?” he replied, mussing his brother’s hair.

The two brothers hugged fiercely, only to be interrupted by Phil’s “Mmpfh!”

“We’d better help Half Pint out, Frank!” Joe grinned.

Frank pulled the gag from Phil’s mouth while Joe started to untie him.

“Half Pint?” Phil spluttered. “After all I’ve been through helping you guys?”

Biff finished hogtying Lewis and turned grinning to his friends. “I’d say that name fits you pretty well!”

Phil stood and rubbed his wrists. “Hmpf!” he snorted. “All right for you. . .Allen!”

“Argh!” Biff roared in mock rage, grabbing Phil around his legs and hoisting him over his shoulder.

The Hardys smiled at their friends, only to hear another snarl from the helpless criminal on the floor. “Well, isn’t that sweet? Just remember, you haven’t heard the last from me. I’ll be out again someday, and when I am, I’ll be back to finish what I started!”

“Then I guess we’ll have to keep watching out for each other,” Frank replied.

“That’s what life is all about, isn’t it? Watching out for each other and standing up for what is right,” Joe added.

“Yep! Watching out for your friends. . .even the smart mouthed ones!” Biff joined in, lowering Phil back to the floor.

“Oof!” Phil replied. “I’m just glad you’re on our side!”

“I wouldn’t be on any side other than Frank and Joe’s,” Biff added. “It makes for an exciting life!”

THE END