"Dixon, Franklin W - Hardy Boys 111 - Three-Ring Terror" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dixon Franklin W)

Turner nodded slowly. "Exactly. But before that happened, there was also a small explosion in one of Bo Costello's classes."
"What do you mean by a small explosion?" Joe asked.
"Bo was outside, teaching his students about fireworks," Turner continued. "Some circuses use small fireworks displays to keep the crowds entertained during scene changes. Anyway," he went on with a small shrug, "there was a small uncontrolled explosion. Maybe the students weren't being properly supervised, although Bo insists that wasn't the case. Anyway, no one was hurt. End of story."
"And the tiger getting loose?" Frank asked, storing up the information about the explosion. "How did that happen?"
"Another visiting circus that was passing through Atlanta lent us a tiger—a trained tiger, mind you," Turner said. “The keeper failed to secure its cage, and it got loose. It was quite a scene, as you can imagine, but we quickly captured the animal."
"And the prop room?" Joe asked.
"The fire department investigated, and they concluded that someone had left oily rags and sawdust too close to some gasoline," Turner replied. "A cigarette butt may have been the cause of the fire. I dismissed the prop manager, and we haven't had another problem."
"Until today with Chet’s stilts," Frank pointed out.
Turner was silent for a moment. "As you yourself suggested, anyone could have gone into the classroom and sawn through that stilt. I'm very sorry for what happened to your friend, though," he added softly.
"But you think Georgianne might be behind these accidents, as you call them," Frank said.
"It's possible," Turner said finally. He leaned forward in his chair and looked at the Hardys intently. "You want my honest opinion? I suspect that she wants my job and my seat on the board of directors of the Montero Brothers Circus. A seat on the board is an honor that comes with the deanship. Georgianne hopes these accidents will cause the trustees and the board to fire me and replace me with her. But what she doesn't realize is that it will never happen."
"Why not?" Joe asked.
"Because she's too young and too inexperienced. If anyone is going to replace me, it will be an experienced circus performer getting ready to retire, or a longtime member of the Circus U. faculty, like Bo Costello. He's been with Circus U. almost as long as I have."
"Does Ms. Unger know this?" Frank asked.
"Not as far as I can tell." Turner rubbed his forehead. "I'd hate to believe it was Georgianne, anyway. I know she appears to be ambitious and all, but I've worked with her long enough to know that she's also got a heart of gold." He stood up from his chair. "Is there anything else I can help you with?" he asked. "I hate to cut this short, but I do have a lot of work."
"Just one more question," Frank said.
"Yes?" Dean Turner asked.
"Why hasn't Georgianne called the trustees yet to tell them about all these accidents?” Frank asked.
Turner shook his head and shrugged. "I don't know. She keeps threatening, but so far she hasn't followed through on her threats."
"That seems a little strange, doesn't it?" Joe asked. "Since, as you say, she wants your job."
Frank nodded in agreement. "But who knows. Maybe she's waiting for someone to get hurt, so it looks really bad."
"I hope not," Turner said sadly. "That's a terrible thought."
The Hardys had just gotten up from their chairs when the phone on Turner's desk rang.
Turner answered it. Frank motioned to Joe that they should leave.
Turner held his hand over the mouthpiece and said, "Please, boys, stay a moment, if you don't mind."
Frank exchanged a look with Joe and sat back down in the chair across from Turner's desk. The dean didn't say more than two or three words to the person on the other end of the line. After a moment he hung up the phone and sat down slowly, a dazed expression on his face..
"What is it?" Joe asked.
"What's wrong?" Frank said.
"That was the head trustee for Circus U.," Turner said dully.
"And?" Frank asked.
Turner swallowed before going on. "He said that Georgianne Unger just called him to tell him about the accidents. He said that unless I find out who is behind the incidents within one week, I'll be removed as dean of Circus U."
Chapter 7
A Coded Connection
"What?" Joe asked Turner. "You mean they'll fire you?”
"That's exactly what I mean," Turner said. He rounded his desk and started pacing back and forth. "Oh, this is terrible, just terrible."
Joe watched as Frank stepped over to Turner and put his hand on the dean's arm. "Calm down," the older Hardy urged. "We'll get to the bottom of this."
"Frank's right, Dean Turner," Joe put in. "We've got a week. That's plenty of time."
Turner sighed deeply. "Oh, I hope so," he said. "Oh, no," he added, looking at his watch. "I have an appointment with an important donor in fifteen minutes. Would you mind—"
"No problem," Joe said. "There's just one more question. What do you know about a guy with the Montero Brothers Circus by the name of Ralph Rosen?"
Dean Turner looked puzzled. "Ralph Rosen? I personally kicked him out of this school about a year ago."
"You mean Rosen went to Circus U.?" Joe asked.
"He did," Turner said. "Until he got expelled. In fact, I'm stunned to hear that he's working for the Montero Brothers Circus. Jim Jacobs didn't tell me he'd hired him. I'll have to speak to him about that. With his record, Rosen shouldn't even be clowning for a third-rate outfit, let alone a world-class circus like the Montero." Turner shook his head a few times, as if trying to clear his thoughts. "How did you find out that Rosen was working for the circus?"
"It's a long story," Joe said; He took a deep breath and quickly explained to Dean Turner that Rosen had dropped one of his juggler's balls in Chet’s tote bag and then disappeared. "So we went looking for him," he went on. "But the guy's taken off."
"I'm not surprised," Turner said. "About Rosen taking off, that is. He used to miss classes all the time. When he did come he would disrupt the entire class. He was a terrific juggler, but he had a terrible attitude. He thought he was better than everyone, and he wouldn't take direction. Costello wanted me to give him a break. He said Rosen had a lot of talent and just needed the proper guidance, but in the end he was forced to agree with my decision to dismiss him. Circus U. was not the place for someone like Ralph Rosen."
"That guy we talked to—what was his name?" Frank asked his brother.
"Jim Jacobs," Joe replied, "the head clown."
"Right," Frank said. "Jim Jacobs admitted Rosen had a bad reputation, but he said he felt sorry for him. Rosen was juggling on the street for money, apparently."
Turner shrugged. "I'm not surprised. With his attitude, it's unlikely any circus would hire him. Although you don't need a degree from Circus U. to be qualified to work in circuses," he added.
"Is there any way we can find out more about Ralph Rosen?" Frank asked.
"You should ask Bo," Turner replied. "He would have a record of his application. And Jacobs will know where he's staying in Bayport. I'm still not sure why you want to find him, though. What was so important about that ball he dropped in your friend's bag?"