Lewis, whose attention was entirely on Joe, was completely surprised by the group of boys and dropped the tank on Joe’s head! Joe uttered a groan and sank into unconsciousness.

"Joe!" cried Frank, forgetting Lewis for the moment.

Lewis backpedaled away from Joe and began to draw his gun out of his waistband.

"He’s got a gun!" yelled Chet.

Biff leaped at Lewis as he pulled out his gun. Lewis dodged Biff as he crashed to the floor, but Biff succeeded in knocking the gun out of Lewis’ hand. Chet and Tony were close on Biff’s heels, but Lewis threw two punches in quick succession, flooring both boys.

Phil scrambled after the gun. "I’ve got it!" he shouted in triumph.

Lewis turned and sprinted out of the bowling alley as Frank brushed the roaches off his unconscious brother.

"Man, that guy packs a wallop!" Tony said as he rubbed his chin. The four friends rushed to help Frank with Joe.

Frank pulled a knife from his pocket to cut the tape binding Joe’s wrists and ankles, but his hands were shaking from all the stress. "Let me do that, buddy," Biff offered softly. In a minute, he cut through the tape, then he untied the rope binding Joe to the chair.

Phil examined the bump on Joe’s head. "I’ve seen Joe with worse than this. I’m pretty sure he’ll be all right. But let’s get him to the hospital."

Biff and Chet linked their arms and cradled Joe, carrying him out to the van. Phil and Tony were right behind, guiding a still shaken Frank.

"He’s going to be all right, Frank," Phil soothed. "Let me have the keys. I’ll drive." Wordlessly, Frank handed the keys over to Phil.

"Let me sit next to him," Frank asked his friends. Biff and Chet eased Joe into the van, then Biff stepped aside to let Frank in. Chet, Joe, and Frank sat in the back of the van, while Biff and Tony rode with Phil in the front.

"He looks awful," Frank muttered as Phil started up the van.

"We got him in time, Frank. He’s going to be OK," Chet assured his friend.

Yards away a solitary figure lurked in the shadows. "This isn’t over yet, boys," Lewis hissed. "Not by a long shot!"

Joe groaned as the van rolled down the highway back to Bayport. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and began to shriek, "No! No! No!" He thrashed his arms wildly, clipping Chet in the jaw!

Frank grabbed his brother, yelling, "Joe! Joe! It’s me! It’s all right! It’s all right!"

"Uh! My head! Where am I?" Joe grunted.

"You’re back where you belong, buddy--with me!" Frank whispered, embracing his brother. "We’re taking you to the hospital to get you fixed up, and then you’re going home!"

"Don’t leave me, Frank!" Joe gasped. "He’s coming back again! I know it! Don’t leave me, Frank!"

"I’m right here, baby brother. I’m not going anywhere. You’re going to be all right."

Chet leaned forward toward his friends. "Whew! This isn’t my day. First Lewis, then Joe! I’d rather be out on the football field. At least I can wear a helmet there!"

"Maybe you’d like the doc to check you out, too, huh, Chet?" Tony chuckled.

"You know what happened the last time Chet got x-rayed?" Biff chortled. "The doctor said, ‘There’s nothing there!’"

"Very funny!" Chet retorted. "A guy puts his life on the line for his friends, and what does he get? Wisecracks!"

"Here we are!" Phil exclaimed as the van rolled toward the emergency entrance of the hospital. "Biff, can you hop out and see about a stretcher for Joe?"

"Will do!" Biff replied. Within a minute, two orderlies had wheeled out a stretcher for Joe.

Frank and Chet eased a still shaken Joe onto the stretcher. "Don’t leave me, Frank!" Joe pleaded.

"I’ll stay here at the hospital until the doctors are finished with you. I’m not going anywhere, little brother. I’ll see you later!" Frank replied.

Frank put his hand to his head and sighed as the orderlies wheeled Joe inside. "I don’t know what I would do without you guys," he whispered, his eyes shining with tears.

"Let’s go on inside," Tony responded, draping an arm around Frank.

"Frank, why don’t I go back by your place and pick up some things for Joe--you know, clothes, overnight stuff," Phil suggested.

"Good idea, Phil. I’m sure you know where everything is," Frank replied, tossing him the keys.

"You want to come with me, Chet?" Phil inquired.

"Sure," Chet answered.

"I’ll stay here with Frank and Tony," Biff chimed in.

"Catch you guys later," Frank called out. "And thanks for everything--really!"

Phil and Chet jumped into the van and pulled away. "Another exciting day in the lives of Frank and Joe Hardy!" Chet exclaimed.

"Yeah, let’s hope we don’t ever go through another one like it!" Phil retorted.

Frank, Biff, and Tony went to the waiting room in the hospital, an all too familiar scene for them. "You know, no one has called the police to let them know what happened," Tony mused.

Frank’s shoulders sagged. "I don’t know what’s wrong with me!" he rasped.

"There’s nothing wrong with you!" Biff affirmed. "You’ve been reacting as any normal person would!"

"But the police should know how close Lewis is!" Frank retorted.

"I’ll take care of it, pal. You sit down with Biff and rest!" Tony directed as he headed toward a pay phone.

Frank and Biff sat down and began their vigil. "This never gets any easier," Frank asserted, shaking his head.

"I never know what to say at times like this," Biff responded.

"Being here is enough, big guy," Frank replied, patting his friend’s knee. "That, and helping to save Joe’s life. We couldn’t ask for better, more loyal friends than you guys!"

"If you don’t shut up, you’re going to have me bawling!" Biff grinned.

Tony rejoined Frank and Biff. "Everything is taken care of," he asserted. "The police are going to go to the bowling alley and see if they can find anything. I’ll bet it’s only a matter of time before they get him!"

"I wouldn’t be so sure. He’s a dangerous character. I won’t have a moment’s rest until I know he’s been caught!" Frank replied.

Less than an hour later, Phil and Chet rejoined the other boys, bringing with them a packed suitcase and overnight kit. "We brought some of your stuff, too, Frank," Phil said. "We figured you might need it if you ended up spending the night here."

"You think of everything, Phil," Frank smiled, patting his smaller friend on the shoulder.

"Hey, what am I, chopped liver?" Chet chimed in.

"Yeah, Chet," Tony chuckled. "You’re a big hunk of chopped liver!"

"That reminds me, I’m hungry!" Chet exclaimed.

"So what else is new?" Phil asked with raised eyebrows. "By the way, Frank, we put Lewis’ gun in your room. We didn’t want to be roaming through the streets of Bayport with a loaded gun in your van any more than necessary."

"Good thinking, Phil. I’ll turn it in to the police later," Frank stated.

"Anyone want to go with me to the cafeteria?" Chet inquired.

"Not me! I’m working at the restaurant tonight, and I’ll get something good there!" Tony declared.

"Now that’s an idea! I’ll see you there later, Tony!" Chet exclaimed.

"Are you going to eat here and there, too?" Biff wondered.

"A fellow has to keep up his strength--especially when fighting off bad guys!" Chet maintained stoutly.

More than an hour passed as the friends maintained their vigil. Finally, a doctor entered the room. "Frank Hardy?" he inquired.

"How is my brother?" Frank responded, jumping to his feet.

"Your brother will be all right. He has no concussion, just a nasty bump on the head. He’s moderately dehydrated, so we’ve got him on an IV. He’s been through a rough time of it, so we’d like to keep him here overnight. He’s been asking to see you."

"Can we all go see him?" Chet inquired eagerly.

"Just Frank and one more of you, I think. Let’s take it easy on him, fellows," the doctor responded. "Tomorrow should be better."

"Phil, why don’t you come with me?" Frank invited. "You’ve been the voice of reason lately."

"I don’t know about that," Phil replied, "But I’d sure like to go."

"Hey, tell Joe we’ve all been here waiting, Shrimp!" Chet commanded.

Frank and Phil walked down a long corridor until they came to Joe’s room. Frank tiptoed in and took his brother’s hand. "Hey, buddy, how are you doing?"

Joe flashed a weak grin. "Tired. Sore. But happy to be alive. I knew you’d find me."

"Well, of course! I can’t do without my partner and kid brother!"

"Chet, Biff, and Tony wanted to come in, too, Joe, but the doctor said not right now. Maybe you’ll get out of here tomorrow!" Phil said.

"I hope so! The people here are great, but I sure don’t want to hang around here! Frank, what happened to Lewis?"

Frank paused before answering, wondering how it might affect Joe. "He got away. I’m sorry. Maybe if I had planned things better--"

Joe waved off his brother. "You got me out of there, and that’s all that matters! Hey, can you spend the night here with me? The extra bed is empty."

"Of course. I’d stay even if it meant sitting in a chair. Let me go say goodbye to the guys, OK?"

"OK, see you soon. Tell the guys thanks for me, Phil."

"Right, Joe. See you tomorrow," Phil promised.

Frank and Phil left Joe to report back to the other boys. "Listen, Phil, would you take the van and drop everybody off? You can keep the van at your place. I’ll call you tomorrow morning and we can make plans then."

"Great. I’ll pick you guys up whenever you need me."

The friends left Frank with their good wishes. Frank returned as quickly as he could to Joe’s room.

Frank pulled up a chair next to his brother’s bed. "I hate to see you here," he whispered.

"Another adventure we didn’t plan on, right, big brother?"

"I thought I was going to lose it when I saw those photos of you that Lewis took!"

"I know it would have torn me up if I had seen you that way. But we got through it. We always do," Joe said softly.

The room grew dark as the two brothers rested quietly, Joe in his bed, and Frank slumped in his chair. Neither of them heard a sound as someone slipped quietly into the room. Frank stirred for only a second as something was placed over his mouth and nose. He inhaled sharply, then quickly passed out. The shadowy figure then quickly moved on to Joe and repeated the action. "Perfect!" Lewis snickered. "Now to have some fun with you boys--some fun you’ll never forget!"