Encyclopedia Brown Saves the Day (3 page)

“I put in a dime and dialed the number he had given me,” went on Carl. “Then I spoke to Alfred. I’d know his grunts anywhere!”

“Do you remember the telephone number?” said Encyclopedia.

“I wrote it down for you,” said Carl. He handed Encyclopedia a slip of paper.

Encyclopedia read:
ZA 6-7575.

“My dad traced the number,” said Carl. “It is a public telephone booth out on Highway 37.”

“We don’t have much time,” said Lucy. “We can’t look for motorists who may have passed a pig talking on the telephone this morning.”

“You must question the Hurricanes today,” said Carl. “You’ll be able to pick the guilty one -or ones. I know it!”

“I’ll question the Hurricanes, but I don’t think I’ll learn anything,” warned Encyclopedia.

Encyclopedia left Sally in charge of the detective agency. He got on his bike and followed Carl and Lucy. They rode six miles out of town and into the farm lands.

“The Hurricanes train their dogs at the Smith place,” said Lucy. “It’s just down this road.”

Soon Encyclopedia heard dogs barking. Rounding a corner, he saw the Hurricanes-Flip, Art, Merle, and Harry. Each had a German shepherd at his side.

The Hurricanes watched silently as Encyclopedia got off his bike.

“Did one of you lose a cap?” asked Encyclopedia.

The Hurricanes remained silent, watchful.

“Two pigs were stolen last night,” said Encyclopedia. “A cap with the word Hurricane on it was found near the pen of one of the pigs.”

“You’ve got some nerve coming here,” said Flip. “We’re not pignappers!”

“I’m not accusing you,” replied Encyclopedia hastily. He eyed the four large dogs. “I’m only asking. Which one of you lost his cap?”

“Go drink some spot remover and disappear,” snarled Art.

“Show them the cap, Encyclopedia,” said Lucy. “It will fit one of them.”

“Don’t bother. We all wear the same size,” snapped Harry. “Listen, I wouldn’t know if I lost my cap. I haven’t worn it for a week.”

“Mine is in the front closet,” said Flip. “I wore it two days ago when it rained. I saw it in the closet this morning.”

“I loaned my cap to my brother,” said Art. “He went to Glenn City Tuesday. Why don’t you ask him?”

“I don’t know where my cap is,” said Merle. “But if you say I stole two pigs, I’ll give you this!”

He shook his fist at Encyclopedia.

“If Merle hits you, you’ll walk around like a pig on ice for two weeks,” Harry promised. “Now beat it.”

“I’m leaving,” mumbled Encyclopedia. “Case closed.”

“Encyclopedia!” cried Lucy in astonishment. “You can’t quit!”

“You asked me to question the Hurricanes, and I did,” said Encyclopedia.

“But you don’t know who kidnapped Gwendoline and Alfred yet,” protested Lucy.

“Wrong,” said the boy detective. “The kidnapper gave himself away.”

 

WHO WAS THE KIDNAPPER?

 

 

 

 

 

Encyclopedia and his pals were going camping overnight in the State Park.

Encyclopedia looked forward to the outing —till Charlie Stewart brought bad news.

“Benny Breslin is joining us,” said Charlie.

“Oh,” said Encyclopedia.

“It gets worse,” said Charlie. “Benny wants to share a tent with you.”

“Oh, no!” said Encyclopedia.

Benny was a good friend—standing up. As soon as he lay down, he went to sleep and became a threat to the nation’s forests. His snoring shook branches loose for half a mile around.

“I better bring my dad’s crash helmet,” said Encyclopedia.

“You better bring a baseball bat,” said Charlie. “You might have to fight off a moose again.”

Encyclopedia remembered the last camping trip. Benny’s snoring had carried like a mating call. A bull moose had poked its head into the tent. Encyclopedia had chased it with a fishing pole.

“I don’t have the heart to use a baseball bat,” he said.

“I suppose you are right,” said Charlie. “Any lovesick moose will suffer enough finding only Benny.”

Encyclopedia left the baseball bat at home, and the two boys biked to Mill Creek. The rest of the gang was already there—Benny Breslin, Fangs Liveright, Pinky Plummer, Herb Stein, and Billy and Jody Turner.

Two hours later the boys reached the State Park. After setting up camp, they hiked to the water to fish.

“Even if I land a torpedo, this trip can’t be more of a bust than it is now,” moaned Charlie. “Benny’s snoring will keep us awake all night.”

“Maybe not,” said Encyclopedia. “If Benny sleeps all afternoon, he won’t be sleepy tonight. And if he doesn’t sleep tonight, he won’t snore.”

Encyclopedia chose a comfortable spot on the bank. It was better for catching forty winks than fish. He motioned Benny to sit beside him.

Benny settled himself till he was lying flat. “This is the life,” he said. “I feel lucky ...”

His voice trailed off. His eyes closed. Soon his nose sounded the opening notes of sleep.

One by one the other boys stole off to quieter places. They did not wake Benny until the day’s catch had been cooked over the fire.

Later, Encyclopedia lay beside Benny in their tent and checked his watch. At nine-thirty, Benny was still awake, still silent.

But at seven minutes before ten, faint snorts and heavy breathing arose.

“Did you hear something?” whispered Benny. “What was it?”

“What was it?”
gasped Encyclopedia. “Yipes! I thought
it
was
you!”

“L-listen,” said Benny, as the noises came closer. “I think it’s a bear!”

The hair on Encyclopedia’s neck stood up faster than Sitting Bull on a branding iron. He peered outside the tent.

It wasn’t a bear. It was a man stumbling about in the moonlight. His hands were bound behind him. He was trying to speak, but the gag in his mouth turned his words into wild snorts.

Encyclopedia quickly untied him.

“I’m Jack Evans,” the man panted. “Bring help! At campsite five. Robbers! Kidnappers!”

Robbers and kidnappers! The boys didn’t waste time. Charlie, Fangs, and Pinky ran for the ranger station. Herb, Jody, and Billy made for park headquarters.

Encyclopedia and Benny stayed with Mr. Evans, who talked excitedly during the five-minute walk to his campsite.

“I was camping with Roger Blake,” said Mr. Evans. “I had just put a pot of coffee over the fire when a voice behind me said, ‘Don’t move. Don’t turn around.’ ”

Mr. Evans ducked under a branch. Then he continued.

“From behind me I heard Roger say, ‘Be careful. They both have guns.’ I was ordered to lie face down. My hands and legs were tied, a gag fixed in my mouth, and my money and car keys were stolen.”

Mr. Evans shook his fist in rage and went on.

“ ‘We’re kidnapping your friend,’ the voice behind me said. ‘You’ll hear from us tomorrow. We’ll tell you where to leave the ransom money.’ It took me about half an hour to kick my legs free. I ran for help—and found you boys.”

“You didn’t get a look at the kidnappers? asked Benny.

“No,” answered Mr. Evans. “I was facing the fire and the coffee pot. Everything happened behind me. Here we are ...”

They had come to a large tent standing in a clearing. A few yards away, a coffee pot hung over a crackling fire.

Encyclopedia studied the ground. There were several footprints leading up to and away from the clearing. A few feet from the camp-fire was a piece of rope.

From the fire came a sudden, startling noise. The coffee had begun to boil over the sides of the pot and fell hissing on the burning logs beneath.

Encyclopedia stared at the fire thoughtfully.

“Do you see a clue or something?” asked Benny.

“Yes, a clue that Mr. Evans overlooked,” answered Encyclopedia. “It solves the case of Roger Blake’s kidnapping!”

 

WHAT WAS THE CLUE?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harold Finnegan wore eyeglasses, but none of the children called him “Four Eyes.”

They called him “Four Wheels.”

He was the only boy in the neighborhood who owned two bikes. He had a new bike for clear days and an old bike for rainy days.

However, he was riding his new bike when, on a rainy morning, he came to the Brown Detective Agency for help.

“Hi, Four Wheels,” Encyclopedia said cheerfully.

“Call me Three Wheels,” said Four Wheels. “I’m down to a bike and a half.”

“Did you have a wreck?” asked Sally.

“No, somebody stole the front wheel of my old bike,” he said. “I’m pretty sure the thief was Pablo Pizarro.”

“How can you say such a thing?” demanded Sally. “Pablo is no thief. Pablo is a great artist! Pablo has feeling! Pablo has—”

“Pablo has my front wheel,” insisted Four Wheels. “He stole it ten minutes ago.”

Four Wheels rolled twenty-five cents on the gas can. “I’ll need your help to get it back, Encyclopedia.”

Encyclopedia took the case despite Sally’s angry look. On the way to Pablo’s house, Four Wheels told what had happened.

“Last night I started fixing my old bike,” he said. “I took it all apart. When I went out to the garage this morning, I saw a boy running off with the wheel.”

“You aren’t sure it was Pablo?” said Sally.

“I never saw his face,” admitted Four Wheels. He glanced at Encyclopedia. “You know what’s been going on,” he said.

Encyclopedia knew. For the past few weeks things had been disappearing from garages in the neighborhood. Strangely, the things were worthless—junk like broken mirrors, bits of wood, old newspapers, and rusty metal parts.

Encyclopedia had not told Sally, but Pablo had been seen hanging around the garages from which the junk disappeared.

The children reached Paplo’s house, and Encyclopedia rang the bell. Pablo’s mother leaned out a second floor window and called, “Come in. Pablo’s in the attic.”

Upstairs, Encyclopedia found the attic door locked. He pounded loudly. After a long moment Pablo opened the door.

“Enter,” he said with a sweep of his arm. “Welcome to my studio.”

Sally’s hand fluttered to her mouth as she gazed upon Pablo. He wore a soft flat hat, a large bow for a necktie, and a dirty smock. “You’re dressed just like a real artist!” she gasped in admiration.

“Of course,” said Pablo with a careless shrug. “I am at work.”