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001
TableofContentsTitlePage
CopyrightPage
Dedication
TheCaseofNattyNat
TheCaseoftheScatteredCards
TheCaseoftheCivilWarSword
TheCaseofMerko’sGrandson
TheCaseoftheBankRobber
TheCaseoftheHappyNephew
TheCaseoftheDiamondNecklace
TheCaseoftheKnifeintheWatermelon
TheCaseoftheMissingRollerSkates
TheCaseoftheChampionEggSpinner
Theconfoundingcaseofamissingdiamondnecklace“Thenecklacewasstolenrightundermynose!”
“Mrs.VanTweedlemusthavebeenafraiditmightbestolen,”saidEncyclopedia.“Wasthatwhysheaskedyoutoguardit?”
ChiefBrownnodded.“Shereceivedanunsignedletterlastweek.Ittoldhertoputtenthousand dollars in cash behind the statue of George Washington in the park. If sherefusedtodothis,hernecklacewouldbestolen.”
“Wow!”exclaimedEncyclopedia.“Isthenecklacereallyworthtenthousanddollars?”
“More,”saidhisfather.
“Thereisnotimetolose.Herroommustbesearchedbeforeshegetsback.”
“Searchedforwhat?”askedChiefBrown.
“Forthenecklace,”saidEncyclopedia.“Andthegun.”
ReadalltheEncyclopediaBrownBooksNo.1:EncyclopediaBrown,BoyDetective
No.2:EncyclopediaBrownandtheCaseoftheSecretPitch
No.3:EncyclopediaBrownFindstheClues
No.4:EncyclopediaBrownGetsHisMan
No.5:EncyclopediaBrownSolvesThemAll
No.6:EncyclopediaBrownKeepsthePeace
No.7:EncyclopediaBrownSavestheDay
No.8:EncyclopediaBrownTracksThemDown
No.9:EncyclopediaBrownShowstheWay
No.10:EncyclopediaBrownTakestheCase
No.11:EncyclopediaBrownLendsaHand
No.12:EncyclopediaBrownandtheCaseoftheDeadEagles
No.13:EncyclopediaBrownandtheCaseoftheMidnightVisitor
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RegisteredOffices:PenguinBooksLtd,80Strand,LondonWC2RORL,EnglandFirstpublishedintheUnitedStatesofAmericabyDuttonChildren’sBooks,
adivisionofPenguinYoungReadersGroupPublishedbyPuffinBooks,adivisionofPenguinYoungReadersGroup,2007
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Copyright©DonaldJ.Sobol,1963
Allrightsreserved
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eISBN:978-1-101-00711-2
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ForBenandJulieSobol
TheCaseofNattyNatMr.andMrs.Brownhadonechild.TheycalledhimLeroy,andsodidhisteachers.
EveryoneelseinIdavillecalledhimEncyclopedia.
Anencyclopediaisabookorasetofbooksgivinginformation,arrangedalphabetically,onallbranchesofknowledge.
LeroyBrown’sheadwas likeanencyclopedia. Itwasfilledwithfactshehad learnedfrombooks.Hewaslikeacompletelibrarywalkingaroundinsneakers.
Old ladieswhodid crosswordpuzzleswere always stoppinghimon the street to askhimquestions.
JustlastSunday,afterchurch,Mrs.Conway,thebutcher’swife,hadaskedhim:“Whatisathree-letterwordforaSwissriverbeginningwithA?”
“Aar,”Encyclopediaansweredafteramoment.
Healwayswaitedamoment.Hewanted tobehelpful.Buthewasafraid thatpeoplemightnotlikehimifheansweredtheirquestionstooquicklyandsoundedtoosmart.
His father asked himmore questions than anyone else.Mr. Brownwas the chief ofpoliceofIdaville.
The townhad fourbanks, threemovie theaters, and aLittleLeague. It had theusualnumberofgasolinestations,churches,schools,stores,andcomfortablehousesonshadystreets. It evenhadamansionor two,and somedingysections.And ithad theaveragenumberofcrimesforacommunityofitssize.
Idaville, however, only looked like the usual American town. It was, really, mostunusual.
FornearlyawholeyearnocriminalhadescapedarrestandnoboyorgirlhadgotawaywithbreakingasinglelawinIdaville.
Thiswaspartlybecausethetown’spolicemenwerecleverandbrave.ButmostlyitwasbecauseChiefBrownwasEncyclopedia’sfather.
HishardestcasesweresolvedbyEncyclopediaduringdinnerintheBrowns’redbrick
houseonRoverAvenue.
Everyone in the state thought that Idaville had about the smartest policemen in theworld.
Ofcourse,nobodyknewaboywasthemaster-mindbehindthetown’spoliceforce.
Youwouldn’t guess it by looking at Encyclopedia. He looked like almost any fifth-gradeboyandactedlikeone,too—exceptthathenevertalkedabouthimself.
Mr.Brownneversaidawordabout theadvicehissongavehim.Whowouldbelievethathisbestdetectivewasonlytenyearsold?
Thisishowitbegan:
Oneeveningatdinner,Mr.Brownsaid, “NattyNathas struckagain.Hehasheldupanotherstore—andrighthereinIdaville.”
“Whatstore,Dad?”askedEncyclopedia.
“TheMen’sShop,ownedbyMr.DillonandMr. Jones,”answeredMr.Brown.“ThatmakessixstoresNattyNathasheldupinthestatethismonth.”
“AreyousuretherobberwasNattyNat?”askedEncyclopedia.
“Mr.DillonhimselfsaiditwasNattyNat,”repliedMr.Brown.
He pulled a notebook from his pocket and put it beside his plate. “I wrote downeverythingMr.Dillontoldmeabouttheholdup.I’llreadittoyou.”
Encyclopediaclosedhiseyes.Healwaysclosedhiseyeswhenhewasgettingreadytothinkhard.
His father began to read what Mr. Dillon, the storekeeper, had told him about theholdup:
Iwasalone in thestore. Ididnotknowanyonehadcomein.Suddenlyaman’svoicetold me to raise my hands. I looked up then. I was face to face with the man thenewspapers call NattyNat.He had on a gray coatwith a belt in the back, just as thenewspaperssaid.He toldme to turnand face thewall.Sincehehadagun, Ididashesaid.WhenIturnedaroundagain,hewasgone-withallthemoney.
ChiefBrownfinishedreadingandclosedhisnotebook.
Encyclopedia asked only one question: “Did the newspapers ever print a picture ofNattyNat?”
“No,”answeredhisfather.“Heneverstandsstilllongenoughforapicturetobetaken.Remember, he’s never been caught.But every policeman in the state knows he alwayswearsthatgraycoatwiththebeltintheback.”
“Nobodyevenknowshisrealname,”saidEncyclopedia,halftohimself.“NattyNatisjustwhatthenewspaperscallhim.”
Suddenlyheopenedhiseyes.“Say,theonlyreasonMr.DillonthoughtitwasNattyNat
wasbecauseofthatgraycoat!”hesaid.“Thecaseissolved!”
“There is nothing to solve,”objectedChiefBrown. “There is nomystery.Mr.Dillonwasrobbed.Theholdupmanwasthesameonewhohasbeenrobbingotherstoresinthestate.”
“Notquite,”saidEncyclopedia.“TherewasnoholdupatTheMen’sShop.”
“Whatdoyoumean?”exclaimedMr.Brown.
“I meanMr. Dillon wasn’t robbed, Dad. He lied from beginning to end,” answeredEncyclopedia.
“WhyshouldMr.Dillonlie?”demandedhisfather.
“I guess he spent themoney.He didn’t want his partner,Mr. Jones, to know it wasmissing,”saidEncyclopedia.“SoMr.Dillonsaidhewasrobbed.”
“Leroy,”saidhismother,“pleaseexplainwhatyouaresaying.”
“It’s simple,Mom,” said Encyclopedia. “Mr. Dillon read all about Natty Nat in thenewspapers.SoheknewNattyNatalwaysworeagraycoatwithabeltinthebackwhenheheldupstores.”
“Goon,Leroy,”saidMr.Brown.
“Goon,Leroy,”saidMr.Brown,leaningforward.
“Mr.Dillonknewitwouldsoundmuchbetterifhecouldblamehisholduponsomeonepeoplehavereadabout,”saidEncyclopedia.“HesaidheknewitwasNattyNatbecauseofthecoathewore—”
“Thatcouldbetrue,”ChiefBrownsaid.
“Thatcouldn’tbetrue,”saidEncyclopedia.“Mr.Dillonneversawthebackofthemanwhoheldhimup.Hesaidsohimself.Remember?”
ChiefBrownfrowned.Hepickeduphisnotebookagain.Hereadtohimselfawhile.
Thenhefairlyshouted,“Leroy,Ibelieveyouareright!”
Encyclopediasaid,“Mr.Dillononlysawthefrontoftheholdupman.Hehadnowayofknowingthattheman’scoathadabeltintheback!”
“He stolemoney from his own store and from his partner too,” cried Chief Brown.“Andhenearlygotawaywithit!”
Herushedfromthediningroom.
“Leroy,”saidMrs.Brown,“didyougetthisideafromatelevisionprogram?”
“No,” saidEncyclopedia.“Igot it fromabook I readaboutagreatdetectiveandhismethodsofobservation.”
“Well,”saidhismotherproudly,“thisproveshowimportantitistolistencarefullyandwatchclosely,totrainyourmemory.Perhapsyouwillbeadetectivewhenyougrowup.”
“Mom,”saidEncyclopedia,“canIhaveanotherpieceofpie?”
Mrs. Brown sighed. She had taught English in the Idaville High School before hermarriage.“Youmayhaveanotherpieceofpie,”shesaid.
TheCaseoftheScatteredCardsAtnineo’lock thatnightEncyclopediaclimbed intobed.He layawakea long time.Hethoughtoverwhathismotherhadsaidtohimaboutbeingadetectivewhenhegrewup.
Inthemorninghemadeuphismind.
Hewould go into the detective business and help people.Hewouldn’twait until hegrewup.Itwassummerandschoolwasout.Hecouldbeginatonce.
Encyclopediagotoutofbedandsearchedthroughhiscloset.Hedugoutatoyprintingpress,aChristmasgiftfromhisUncleBentwoyearsago.
As soon asEncyclopedia finished breakfast, he printed fifty handbills.When the inkwasdry,heputthehandbillsinallthemailboxesintheneighborhood.
Thenhewenthomeandaskedhismotherforabigpieceofcardboard.ShegavehimadressboxfromtheBonTonStore,whichshehadbeensaving.Encyclopediaborrowedthekitchen shears and cut out a square piece of cardboard. He took a black crayon andcarefullyletteredasign.
Thehandbillsandthesignsaid:
EncyclopedianailedthesignonthedooroftheBrowns’garage.
Thenextmorninghesatinthegarage,waitingforsomebodywithaproblemtodropin.Nobodydroppedin.Onlytherain.Theroofofthegaragehadaholeinit.
Rainfellallmorning,allafternoon,andallthenextday.
Encyclopediastaredat the rainand felt lower thana submarine’sbottom.He thoughtabouttakingdownthesignandgoingtoseewhatnewteethCharlieStewarthadaddedto
hiscollection.OrmaybediggingforwormswithBillyandJodyTurnerandfishingoffthebridgeatMillCreek.
Suddenlyapairofrubbersandaraincoatappearedinthedoorway.Insidethemwasasmallboy.
“MynameisClarenceSmith,”saidtheboy.“Ineedyourhelp.”
“Nocaseistoosmall,”saidEncyclopedia.“Isitmurder?”
“No—”saidClarence,backingaway.
“Kidnapping?”askedEncyclopedia.“Blackmail?”
“No—no,”saidClarenceweakly.“It’satent.”
HeplacedaquarteronthegasolinecanbesideEncyclopedia.“Thetentismine.ButtheTigerssayit’stheirs.”
“Youarehavingtroublewithtalkingtigers?”Encyclopediaasked.
“Oh,no,”repliedClarence.“Tigers—that’sthenameofaboys’clubnearthecanal.Theboysareplentytough,allofthem.Buttheirleader,BugsMeany,isthetoughestone.”
“Takemetotheirleader,”commandedEncyclopedia,“andtoyourtent.”
“I’lldoboth,”saidClarence.“BugsMeanyissittinginthetentthisveryminute.”
After a shortwalk, the twoboyscame to the tent. It stood in thewoodsbetween thecanalandthePierceJunkYard.
Six older boyswere sitting around awooden box inside the tent.Theywere playingcards.
“WhichoneofyouisBugsMeany?”askedEncyclopedia.
“Me,”saidthebiggestanddirtiestboy.“What’sittoyou?”
“Youareinmytent,”squeakedClarence.“Ifoundit.Imendedalltheholesinit.”
“Scram!”growledBugs.
“YouknowIfoundthetentinthejunkyard,”saidClarence.“Youwatchedmeputitupherelastweek.”
“Getgoing,”saidBugs.“Isawyoustealitfromourclubhousethismorning.”
“MindifIcomeinoutoftherain?”Encyclopediaasked.Asheduckedinsidethetent,oneofhis feethit anextrapackof cards lyingbeside thewoodenbox.Thecardswerescatteredovertheground.
“Hey!What’sthebigidea?”saidBugs.
“The idea isasimpleone,”said theprivatedetective.“See thesecards?Theyaredryandnottheleastbitmuddy,thoughIscatteredthemovertheground.Clarencedidn’tstealthistentfromyourclubhouse.”
Bugsclosedhishandsintofists.Hischinsprangoutlikethedrawerofacashregister.
“Areyoucallingmealiar?”
“WhichoneofyouisBugsMeany?”
“Of course not,” said Encyclopedia. “I’m simply going to tell you what I’ll tell thepolice.”
Encyclopediaspokequietlyintotheolderboy’srightear.Bugslistened.Hisfacegrewred,andthenredder.
Suddenly he called, “Come on, Tigers! Let’s get back to the clubhouse. It’s no funhere.”
When theTigershad left,Clarencesaid toEncyclopedia,“Gosh,whatdidyousay toBugs?”
Encyclopedia smiled. “I pointed outwhy you couldn’t have stolen the tent from theTigers’clubhouse.”
HOWDIDENCYCLOPEDIAKNOWTHIS?
TheCaseoftheCivilWarSwordAboywithredhairstoppedinthedoorwayoftheBrownDetectiveAgency.
“Areyouanygoodatswords?”heasked.
Encyclopediadidnotlifthiseyesfromhisbook,HowtoBuildaNuclearReactor.
“Whatkindofagameisswords?”heasked.
“It isn’t a game,” said the red-hairedboy. “Myname isPeterClinton. Iwant to hireyou.”
PeterputtwodimesandanickelonthegasolinecanbesideEncyclopedia.
Thecoinsclinked.Encyclopediastoppedreading.Helookedup,verybusinesslike.
“HowcanIhelpyou?”heasked.
“Ihaveachancetotrademybicycleforasword,”saidPeter.“Iwanttomakesuretheswordisreal.”
“Youdon’tthinktheswordisreallyasword?”saidEncyclopedia.“Whatdoyouthinkitis?”
“Thatisn’twhatImean,”Petersaid.“It’saswordfromtheCivilWar—”
“TherearethousandsofswordsleftoverfromtheCivilWar,”saidEncyclopedia.
“Iknow,”saidPeter.“ButhowmanybelongedtoGeneralJackson?”
“StonewallJackson?”gaspedEncyclopedia.“ThegreatSoutherngeneral?”
“This sword is supposed to have belonged to Stonewall Jackson,” said Peter. “BugsMeanysaysso.”
“Bugs?” Encyclopedia straightened up at the name. “Youwantme tomake sure theswordreallydidbelongtoStonewallJackson?”
“Yes,”saidPeter.“Thenyou’lltakethecase?”
“I’lltakeit,”saidEncyclopedia.“IfBugsisbehindthetrade,you’llneedhelp.”
PeterledtheprivatedetectivetotheTigers’clubhouse,anunusedtoolshedbehindMr.Sweeny’sAutoBodyShop.TheTigerswerebusyracinggartersnakes.
“Theswordisworthtenbikeslikemine.”
BugsmadeafacewhenhesawEncyclopedia.
“SoMr.Brains isnowaCivilWarknow-it-all,” said theTigers’ leader.“Well,well!MaybeyoucantellmewhatStonewallJacksondidattheBattleofBullRun.”
“WhichbattleatBullRun?”askedEncyclopedia.“Therewere two—onein1861, theotherin1862.”
“Goodforyou,”saidBugs,grinning.“Nowdon’tsaythisswordisn’ttherealthing.”
Encyclopediawalkedtothetableonwhichtheswordlay.
Bugssaid,“ThisswordwasgiventoStonewallJacksonamonthaftertheFirstBattleofBullRun.”
“If that’s true,” Peterwhispered to Encyclopedia, “the sword is worth ten bikes likemine.”
“Twenty,”correctedEncyclopedia.
“Readwhatitsaysontheblade,”saidBugs.
Encyclopediaread:
ToThomasJ.Jackson,forstandinglikeastonewallattheFirstBattleofBullRunonJuly21,1861.ThisswordispresentedtohimbyhismenonAugust21,1861.
“Theswordcertainlyhasseenalotofuse,”saidEncyclopedia.
“Didyou expect it to looknewand shiny?” sneeredBugs. “It’smore that a hundredyearsold.”
“Itdoesn’tlooklikeiteverwasworthfivedollars,”Encyclopediasaid.
“Nevermindhowitlooks,”saidPeter.“DoyouthinkitbelongedtoGeneralJackson?”
BeforeEncyclopediacouldanswer,Bugsspokeup.“Isurehatetopartwiththesword,”hesaid.“ButPeterwantsitsomuchIjusthadtosayI’dtradeitforhisbike.”
“Trade?Youwon’ttradewithPeter,”saidEncyclopedia.“ThisswordneverbelongedtoGeneralStonewallJackson!”
HOWDIDENCYCLOPEDIAKNOWTHAT?
TheCaseofMerko’sGrandsonBugsMeanyandhisTigers liked to spend rainyafternoons in their clubhouse.Usually,theysataroundthinkingupwaysofgettingevenwithEncyclopediaBrown.
Buttodaytheyhadmetforanotherpurpose—tocheertheboydetectiveon.
EncyclopediaandSallyKimballwereabouttomeetinabattleofbrains.
The Tigers hated Sally even more than they hated Encyclopedia—and with goodreason.
WhenSallyhadmoved into theneighborhood twomonthsago, theTigers jumped toshowoffforher.Shewasveryprettyandshewasverygoodatsports.
In fact, shegotupa teamof fifth-gradegirls andchallenged theTigers toagameofsoftball.Theboysthoughtitwasabigjoke,tillSallystartedstrikingthemout.Shewasthewholeteam.Inthelastinningshehitthehomerunthatwonforthegirls,1-0.
ButtherealblowfellontheTigersthenextday.
BugswasbullyingasmallboywhenSallyhappenedtoridebyonherbicycle.
“Lethimgo!”sheordered,hoppingtotheground.
Bugssnarled.ThesnarlchangedtoagaspasSallybrokehisgripontheboy.
BeforetheotherTigersknewwhat todo,Sallyhadknockedtheir leaderdownwithaquicklefttothejaw.
Bugsbouncedup,surprisedandangry.HepushedSally.Shehithimagain,witharighttothejaw.Bugssaidoooh,andwentdownagain.
ForthenextthirtysecondsBugsbouncedupanddownlikeabeachball.Bythefourthbounce,hewasgettingupalotmoreslowlythanhewasgoingdown.
“I’mgoingtomakeyousorry,”hesaid.Buthisvoicewasweak,andheworethesicksmileofaboywhohadtakenoneridetoomanyonarollercoaster.
“So?”saidSally.Shemovedherfeetandtookcarefulaim.
“This,”shesaid,aiminganotherblow,“shouldtakethefrostingoffyou.”
Bugs landed on his back, flat as a fifteen-cent sandwich. Not until Sally had riddenawaydidhedaregetup.
Sallywasnotcontenttorestonhervictoriesatsoftballandfighting.Sheaimedhigher.
ShesetouttoproveshewasnotonlystrongerthananyboyuptotwelveyearsofageinIdaville,butsmarter,too!
Thatmeantout-thinkingthethinkingmachine,EncyclopediaBrown.
The great battle of brains took place in the Tigers’ clubhouse. The two champions,seatedonorangecrates,facedeachother.TheTigerscrowdedbehindEncyclopedia.Thegirls’softball teamcrowdedbehindSally.That left justenoughroominthetoolshedtothink.
EveryonestoppedtalkingwhenPeterClinton,thereferee,announcedtherules.
“Sally has five minutes to tell a mystery. She must give all the clues. ThenEncyclopediawillhavefiveminutestosolvethemystery.Ready,youtwo?”
“Ready,”saidthegirlchampion.
“Ready,”saidEncyclopedia,closinghiseyes.
“Go!”calledPeter,eyesonhiswatch.
Sallybegantotellthestory:
“TheGreatMerkowasthebesttrapezeartisttheworldhadeverseen.Peopleineverybigcitywerethrilledbythewonderfulperformerswingingfiftyfeetabovetheground!
“Intheyear1922,Merkodiedattheveryheightoffame.InMerko’sdeskwasfoundaletter.Itwasawill,writtenbythecircusstar.Thewilldirectedthat thestar’smoneybeputinabankforfortyyears.
“Afterfortyyears,themoneywastobetakenoutandgiventoMerko’soldestgrandson.If no grandsonwas alive, all themoneywas to go toMerko’s nearest relative,man orwoman.
“Fortyyearspassed.Asearchwasbegun.AtlastamanwasfoundinKansasCitywhosaidhewasMerko’sgrandson.HisnamewasFredGibson.Hewenttocourttoclaimhisinheritance.
“While the judge was listening to him, a tall woman in the back of the courtroomjumpedup.Shewasveryexcited.
“Thewoman said shewas the trapeze artist’s grandniece. She kept shouting that theGreatMerkowasnotFredGibson’sgrandfather.Therefore,themoneywasrightfullyhers.
“The judge questioned the woman. He had to agree with what she said. She wasMerko’sgrandniece,andtheGreatMerkowasnotFredGibson’sgrandfather.
Thetwochampionsfacedeachother.
“Now,”concludedSally.“WhogotMerko’smoney—thetallwomanorFredGibson?”
SallyworeasmileoftriumphasshelookedatEncyclopedia.
Thetoolshedwasstill.Theboyslookedattheirshoes.HadSallybeatenthemagain?HadEncyclopediamethismaster?
Encyclopediahadfiveshortminutestosolvethebrain-twister.
Slowlytheminutestickedaway.One…two…three…four…
Encyclopediastirredonhisorangecrate.Heopenedhiseyes.HesmiledatSally.
“Youtolditverycleverly,”hesaid.“Inearlysaidthewrongperson.Buttheanswerisreallyquitesimple.”
Encyclopediarosetoleave.“TheGreatMerko’smoneywenttoFredGibson.”
WHYDIDENCYCLOPEDIASAYTHAT?
TheCaseoftheBankRobber“Three dollars and fifty cents!” exclaimed Encyclopedia, as he finished counting themoneyinthetreasuryoftheBrownDetectiveAgency.“Businessisbooming.”
“Youshouldput thatmoney inabank,” saidSallyKimball,whomEncyclopediahadmadehisbodyguardandjuniorpartner.“Moneyisn’tsafeinashoebox.”
“Maybeyou’reright,”saidEncyclopedia.“Sometimesevenshoesaren’tsafeinashoebox.Itwouldlookawfulifadetectiveagencywasrobbed!”
Thepartners talked itover.Theydecided to take themoneydowntowntoabankandstartasavingsaccount.
It was too far to ride on their bicycles, so they took the bus. They got off near theComingNationalBankonBeechStreet.As they steppedoutof thebus, theyheard thesoundofshooting.
AtfirstEncyclopediathoughtthebushadbackfired.Amomentlaterhesawamaninthedoorwayofthebank.
Themanworeahat.Ahandkerchiefcoveredthelowerpartofhisface.Inonehandheheldayellowpaperbag.Withtheotherhewavedagun.
Somebody shouted, “Holdup! Holdup!” Then, all at once, everybody was running,tryingtogetoutoftherobber’sway.
Themanwith thegunturnedandfled.Inhishastehedidnotseemto lookwherehewasgoing.Heranintoabeggarwearingdarkglassesandcarryingawhitecaneandtincup.
Thebeggar’scaneandcup flew into the street.The robberand thebeggar fell to thesidewalk.Theyrolledabouttogetherforafewsecondsbeforetherobberbrokeawayandgottohisfeet.
Heraceddownthestreetjustasapolicecardrewupbeforethebank.ChiefBrownandoneofhisofficersleapedoutofthecarandranaftertherobber.
“Wecaughthim,”saidChiefBrownatdinnerthatnight.“Heledusamerrychase,butwegothim.Thetroubleiswecan’tchargehimwiththerobbery.”
“Butwhynot?”Mrs.Browndemanded.
“Yes,Dad,whynot?”Encyclopediaasked.“Wasn’t themoneyhestoleinthatyellowpaperbaghewascarrying?”
ChiefBrownlaiddownhisfork.“Doyouknowwhatwefoundin thatyellowbagof
his?Money?No.Aloafofwhitebread!Heresistedpoliceofficers,butIdon’tknowhowlongwecankeephiminjail.”
“Areyousureyoucaughttherightman,Dad?”Encyclopediasaid.
“We’llhaveahardtimeprovingit,”saidChiefBrown.“Noonecanidentifyhim.Andnobodysawtherobber’sface.Heworeahandkerchiefoverhisnoseandmouthandhishatwas pulled down over his forehead and eyes. Thismanwe picked up iswearing abrownsuit,andthetelleratthebanksaystherobberworeasuitthesamecolor.And,ofcourse,thereistheyellowbag.Butwhere’sthemoney?”
“Doesthemanyoupickeduphaveanydistinguishingfeatures?”Encyclopediawantedtoknow.
“Well,hehasapugnoseandascar runningdownonecheek.But remember,noonesawtherobber’sface,”saidChiefBrown.“Icanholdhiminjailovernightforresistingapoliceofficer.That’saboutall.”
“IneversawabeggarinIdavillebeforetoday,”saidEncyclopediathoughtfully.
“Oh, the blindman,” said Chief Brown. “He seems like a nice old fellow. He callshimself‘BlindTom.’Ihatedtotellhimit’sagainstthelawtobeghere.”
“Thepoorman,”saidMrs.Brown.“Won’ttheSalvationArmyhelphim?”
“Yes,” repliedChiefBrown.“Buthe saidhe likesbeingonhisown.Hepromised toleavetowntomorrow.”
“Whereishestaying?”askedEncyclopedia.
“At the oldMartin Inn,” answeredChiefBrown. “One of those buildings in the rowdown by the railroad tracks.Why do you ask? Have you got an idea about this case,Leroy?”
“No,”mumbledEncyclopedia.
Mrs.Brownlookedhurt.Shehadcometoexpecthersontosolveacasebeforedessert.
Afterdinner,EncyclopediawalkedovertoSally’shouse.“Ihavetoworkthisevening,”hesaid.“Imayneedyou.Wanttocome?”
“Oh,boy,doI!”Sallysangout.
Theskywasgrowingdarkasthetwodetectivesrodetheirbicyclesdownadingyblockwestoftherailroadstation.
“Wholiveshere?”askedSallyasEncyclopediastoppedinfrontofarun-downhotel.
“BlindTom, thebeggar.He’llbe leaving town tomorrow.That’swhywehave to seehimthisevening.”
“Doyouthinkhecanhelpus?”askedSally.
“Ithinkso.Ablindmanseeswithhishands,”repliedEncyclopedia.“Rememberhowthebeggarrolledwiththerobberonthesidewalk?Ifhefelttherobber’sfacethroughthe
handkerchief,hemightknowhimagain.”
“Igetit,”saidSally.“Ifhecouldfeeltheman’sfaceagain,hemightknowwhetherthemanyourfathercaughtisreallytherobber!”
“Right,”answeredEncyclopedia.
“Gosh,”saidSally,“Ihopehehasn’tlefttownyet!”
Inside thehotel, thedeskclerkgave the twoyoungdetectives somehelp.BlindTomlivedalone.HisroomwasNumber214.
Sally and Encyclopedia climbed the dark, creaky stairs to the second floor. Theyknockedonthedoornumbered214.Nobodyanswered.
“Look,thedoor’snotshut,”whisperedSally.“ShallI—”
Encyclopedianodded.
Sallypushedthedoortillitswungopensothattheycouldlookintotheroom.
Theroomwassmallandshabby.Againstthefarwallstoodanironbed.AsmallreadinglampcastitslightuponacopyoftheIdavilleDailyNewsthatlayopenonthepillow.
“Wholiveshere?”Sallyasked.
Suddenlythetappingofacanesoundedinthehall.Tap…tap…tap…
BlindTomcameupbehindSally.
“Issomeonehere?”heasked.“Ihaven’thadavisitorinalongtime.Iwasn’texpectinganyonetonight,butit’snicetohaveyou.”Heliftedhiscane.“Won’tyoucomein?”
“No,thanks!”saidEncyclopedia.HepushedSallydownthehallandhurriedherdownthestairs.
Shedidn’thaveachancetocatchherbreathuntiltheywereoutsidethehotel.
“Why thebig rush?”Sally asked. “I thought youweregoing to askBlindTom if hecouldrecognizethemanwhorobbedthebankthisafternoon.”
“Idon’thavetoaskhim,”repliedEncyclopedia.“BlindTomknowstherobber,becauseBlindTomhelpedintherobbery!”
HOWDIDENCYCLOPEDIAKNOWTHIS?
TheCaseoftheHappyNephewTheBrownswerehavingleft-overmeatloaffordinneronenightwhenthetelephonerang.
“Itmustbeimportant,”saidMrs.Brownworriedly.“Otherwisewhywouldanyonecallduringthedinnerhour?”
She hurried to the telephone. In a moment she called to her husband, “It’s OfficerCarlson,dear.”
Chief Brown went to the telephone and spoke with his officer for several minutes.Whenhereturnedtothediningroom,heworeafrown—andhisgun.
“ThePrincessBakeShoponVineStreetwas robbed less thananhourago,”he said.“I’llhavetogoout.”
“Anyclues,Dad?”askedEncyclopedia.
“Wehaveaneyewitness,”answeredhisfather.“AmanpassingthebakerysayshesawJohnAbbotrunningoutthedoor.”
“Hasn’tJohnAbbotbeeninprison?”askedMrs.Brown.
“Fiveyears ago,” saidChiefBrown. “But he’s gone straight ever sincehe cameout.Theeyewitnessonlygotaquicklookattherobber;hemightbemistaken.”
ChiefBrownshrugged.“Still,IsupposeI’llhavetostopbyandquestionJohn.Ihopehehasagoodalibi.”
“CanIgowithyou?”criedEncyclopedia.
“MayIgowithyou,”hismothersaid.“Anddrinkyourmilkfirst.”
“MayIgowithyou,Dad?”Encyclopediaasked.Hegulpedhismilk.
“Comealongifyoulike,”saidhisfather.“Butyouwillhavetostayinthecar—andbequiet.”
“I’llbeasquietasacatatadogshow,”promisedEncyclopedia.
HesatquietlybesidehisfatherinthepolicecaronthedrivetothehousewhereJohnAbbotlivedwithhissisterandherfamily.
“Staying in the car won’t be so bad,” Encyclopedia decided. “The car will be a lotclosertothecasethanourdiningroom.”
Onthewestsideoftownhisfatherstoppedthecar.“Here’sthehouse.”
Encyclopediasawasmallwhitehouseinneedofpaint.Anoldyellowcarstoodintheshadeddriveway.
“There’sJohn,”saidChiefBrown.
Atallyoungmanhadcomeoutofthehouse.Hewascarryingabarefootboyaboutayearandahalfold.
Chief Brown reminded Encyclopedia to sit quietly in the car. Then he got out andwalkedtowardJohnAbbot.
“Putthechilddown,John,”ChiefBrowncalled.“AndkeepyourhandswhereIcanseethem.”
John Abbot started to lower the barefoot baby onto the sharp stones of the graveldriveway.Thenhechangedhismindandput thechildonthefrontfenderof theyellowcar,andraisedhishands.
“What’sthisallabout,Chief?”heasked.
“Robbery,” replied Chief Brown. “You were seen running out of the Princess BakeShop onVine Street an hour ago. The doorwas broken and all themoney in the cashregisterwasstolen.”
JohnAbbotlaughed.“Iwasn’tnearVineStreetanhourago.Why,allday—”
“Lookout!”shoutedChiefBrown.Heleapedforthebaby.
Thechildhadclimbedontothehoodoftheyellowcar.Hesmiledandgurgledhappily.Suddenlyhestoodupandwalkedclosetotheedgeofthehood.ChiefBrowncaughthimjustashestartedtofalloffthecar.
“Thanks,Chief,”saidJohnAbbot.“He’smynephew.I’llholdhim.”
“No,I’llholdhim,”saidChiefBrown.“Justtellmewhereyouweretoday.”
“Lookout!”shoutedChiefBrown.
“Anyonewho sayshe sawmecomingoutof thePrincessBakeShopanhour ago iseithercrazyoraliar,”saidJohnAbbot.
“Canyouproveyouweresomewhereelse?”
“I was miles away,” said John Abbot. “Since eight o’lock this morning I’ve beendrivingthiscar.IdrovedownfromSundaleShores.Igotherejustfiveminutesbeforeyoucame.”
ChiefBrown looked at hiswatch. “You drove six hundredmiles in less than twelvehours,”hesaid.“Didyoustoparoundsixo’clockandtalktoanyone?Somebodywecancheckyourstorywith?”
“No, not around six o’clock,” said JohnAbbot. “I stopped for gas and a hamburgeraboutfour-thirty.ThenIdrovestraightthrough.Ididn’tbreakanyspeedlimit.AndIhadnothingtodowithanybakeshoprobbery!”
“I’dliketothinkyouaretellingthetruth,”saidChiefBrown.
“Iam.I’vegonestraight,believeme,”saidJohnAbbot.
“All right,”saidChiefBrown.“I’llhave toquestion theeyewitnesswhosayshesawyou.Maybeitwillturnoutthatheisn’tsure.”
ChiefBrownputthebabyinJohnAbbot’sarmsandwalkedbacktothepolicecar.
“I heard and saweverything,Dad,” saidEncyclopedia. “Howcomeyoudidn’t arresthim?”
“BecausehesayshewasdrivingfromSundaleShoreswhen therobbery tookplace,”answeredChiefBrown.“Hegotherejustfiveminutesbeforewecame.Ican’tproveheislying.Atleastnotyet.”
HeslippedintotheseatbesideEncyclopedia,andstartedthecar.
“Listen tome, Leroy,” he said. “Our eyewitnessmay havemade amistake.Hemayhave seen amanwho only looked like John Abbot. A good police officer doesn’t putpeopleinjailwithoutmoreproofthanthat.”
“I believe the witness,” said Encyclopedia. “John Abbot didn’t just drive in fromSundaleShoresinthatoldyellowcar.Icanprovehedidn’t!”
WHATWASTHEPROOF?
TheCaseoftheDiamondNecklace“You’vehardlytouchedyoursoup,”saidMrs.Brown.“Somethingiswrong.”
“I’mnothungry,”saidChiefBrown.Hepushedhischairbackfromthediningtable.
“It’sthatVanTweedlecase,”saidMrs.Brown.“Nowstopblamingyourself.”
“Whathappened,Dad?”askedEncyclopedia.
“Iwish Iknew,”answeredhis father.“Lastnight IwasatMrs.VanTweedle’syearlypartyfortheCommunityChestDrive.Iwasguardingadiamondnecklace.”
Hedrewadeepbreath.“Thenecklacewasstolenrightundermynose!”
“Mrs.VanTweedlemusthavebeenafraiditmightbestolen,”saidEncyclopedia.“Wasthatwhysheaskedyoutoguardit?”
ChiefBrownnodded.“Shereceivedanunsignedletterlastweek.Ittoldhertoputtenthousand dollars in cash behind the statue of George Washington in the park. If sherefusedtodothis,hernecklacewouldbestolen.”
“Wow!”exclaimedEncyclopedia.“Isthenecklacereallyworthtenthousanddollars?”
“More,”saidhisfather.“Wantthefacts?”
Encyclopediaclosedhiseyesandpreparedforsomehardthinking.“Goahead,Dad.”
“Mrs.VanTweedleplannedtogivethenecklaceawayduringtheparty,”ChiefBrownbegan.“That is,shewasgoingtosell it to thehighestbidderonthestrokeofmidnight.ThemoneywastogototheCommunityChest.
“Toshowoffthenecklace,Mrs.VanTweedle’soldcollegeroommate,MissStark,woreitattheparty.Atfirst,Ididn’tletMissStarkoutofmysight.
“Aroundeleveno’clockMissStarksaidshefeltill.Shewentupstairstotheguestroom.Shesaidshewantedtorestalittlewhile.
“Iwentintotheroomaheadofher.Iwantedtomakesurenoonewasthere.ThenIhadherlockthedoor.AndIstoodguardinthehall.
“Tenminutespassed.SuddenlyIheardherscream.Afewsecondslater,twoshotsrangout.IcalledtoMissStark.Shedidn’tanswer.
“Ibrokedownthelockeddoor.MissStarkwaslyingonthebedinafaint.Thenecklacewasgonefromherneck.
“Whenshecameto,shecouldtellmelittle.Everythinghadhappenedsoquickly.Shehadheardnothing.Andshehadfaintedbeforeshecouldseethethief,shesaid.
“Thethiefmusthavegotinandoutbythewindow.Twobulletswereinthewallabovethebed.MissStarkwasluckythatshewasn’tkilled!”
Encyclopedia’sfatherfinishedspeaking.AsilencefellovertheBrowns’diningroom.
ThenEncyclopediaaskedonequestion:
“WasMissStarkleftaloneintheroomafteryoubrokein?”
ChiefBrownlookedsurprisedatthisquestion.Hethoughtabitbeforeanswering.
“Letmesee….Iwaswithherallthetime.Mrs.VanTweedlecameuptotheroomassoonas sheheard the racket.Then thedoctor came.He tookMissStarkdirectly to thehospital.Heneverleftherside.”
“Thehospital?”saidMrs.Brown.“Thepoorgirl.Shemusthavehadaterriblescare!”
“Shewasprettybadlyshaken,” saidChiefBrown.“Thedoctororderedcomplete restandquiet.Shehastostayinthehospitaluntiltomorrow.”
“Good,”saidEncyclopedia,openinghiseyes.“Butthereisnotimetolose.Herroommustbesearchedbeforeshegetsback.”
“Searchedforwhat?”askedChiefBrown.
“Forthenecklace,”saidEncyclopedia.“Andthegun.”
“Leroy!”exclaimedMrs.Brown.“Doyouthinkthethiefwouldbesosillyastoleavethenecklaceandthegunbehind?”
“Shedid,”saidEncyclopediacalmly.“Shehadnochoice.”
“She!”gaspedChiefBrown.“DoyoumeanMissStark?Whatmakesyouthinkshedidit?”
“It’squitesimple,”saidEncyclopedia.“Firstshetriedtogettenthousanddollarsoutofheroldclassmatebywritingthatletter.”
“Buttheletterdidn’twork,”ChiefBrownsaid.“Mrs.VanTweedlehiredmetoguardthenecklace.TheletteronlymadeittougherforMissStark.”
“Shedidn’tthinkitwould,”Encyclopediapointedout.“ShemusthavetalkedMrs.VanTweedleintolettingherwearthenecklaceattheparty.”
“Thewholeideasoundsprettyweaktome,”saidChiefBrown.“ThinkhowfastMissStarkwouldhavehadtowork.Shewouldhavehadtohidethenecklaceandthegunaftershefiredthetwoshotsintothewall.ShemusthaveknownI’dbreakdownthedoorthe
instantIheardthegungooffintheroom.”
“Shehidthenecklacebeforeshefiredtheshots,”saidEncyclopedia.
“Well, if you are right, the gun and the necklace are still in the room,” said ChiefBrown.“I’lltelephoneoneofmymentosearchitrightaway.”
Anhour laterOfficerMurphy calledback.Mrs.VanTweedle’s guest roomhadbeensearched.Thenecklaceandthegunhadbeenfound,hiddeninahatboxonaclosetshelf.
TheBrownshadfinisheddinner.Encyclopediawasinthekitchendryingdishesforhismotherwhenheheardthenews.
“MissStarkexpectstoleavethehospitaltomorrowarichwoman,”saidEncyclopedia.
“Allshehadtodo,shethought,wastogobacktotheroomandpickupthehatboxwiththegunandnecklace,”saidChiefBrown.
Hewasdryingdisheswhenheheardthenews.
“Shemight have got awaywith it,” saidEncyclopedia. “But every crookmakes onemistake!”
WHATWASMISSSTARK’SMISTAKE?
TheCaseoftheKnifeintheWatermelonMr.PatchwasthefirstgrownuptocometotheBrownDetectiveAgency.Hewascarryingawatermelon.
Mr.Patchownedagrocerystore.HeshowedthewatermelontoEncyclopedia.Ithadaknifeburiedinituptothehandle.
“Findtheboywhoownsthisknife!”roaredMr.Patch.“Lookwhathedid!”
Encyclopedialookedatthewatermelon.“Stabbingawatermelonisn’tagainstthelaw,”hepointedout.“Imean,it’snotthesameasstabbingaperson.”
“Theknifeendedinmywatermelon,”Mr.Patchshouted.“Itstartedinthewindowofmystoreroom.”
“Someoneusedtheknifetobreakintoyourstoreroom?”
“Andtoopenmymoneybox!”criedMr.Patch.
“Howmuchwasstolen?”askedEncyclopedia.
“The thiefdidn’thave time to takeanything,”saidMr.Patch, inacalmervoice.“Heheardmecomingandhegotscared.Whenhestartedtorun,hetrippedandfell.Hisknifeplungedintothiswatermelon.Hedidn’thavetimetopullitout.”
“Didyouseehisface?”
Mr. Patch shook his head. “No, but I did see he had the letterL on the back of hisjacket.”
“That means he’s a Lion—amember of the boys’ club onWoodburn Avenue,” saidEncyclopedia.“Areallead!”
Theprivatedetectivesteppedclosertothewatermelon.Theknifehadplungedintoitsodeeplythatonlythecarvedwoodhandleshowedabovethegreenskin.
Mr.Patchlaidaquarteronthegasolinecan.“Findtheownerofthisknife,quick!”
“I’m sorry,” repliedEncyclopedia, thinkinghewouldhave to charge for expensesonthiscase.“I’llneeda little time. Ihave tobuyafingerprintkit.ThenIhave todust thehandleoftheknifeand—”
“Therearenofingerprints,”saidMr.Patchheavily.“Iwipedthemoff.”
“Y-youwipedthemoff?”saidEncyclopediaweakly.
Mr.Patchexplained.“Mycatknockedabagof flouroffa shelf. Itbrokeandspilledoverthewatermelonandknife.Iwipedofftheflour—”
“Andthefingerprintstoo!”Encyclopediaclaspedhisheadandmoaned.Thenhelookedup.“Still,thethiefdoesn’tknowthatyouwipedoffhisfingerprints—”
Encyclopediatookouthishandkerchief.Hewrappeditcarefullyaroundthehandleoftheknife.
“That does it,” he said. “That makes it look as though we have fingerprints we aretryingtosave.Thethiefmaytrytowipethemoff,andgivehimselfaway.We’llhavetowatchalltheLions.Let’sgo—”
Encyclopediagot intoMr.Patch’s truck.Theydroveover toWoodburnAvenue.FourLions—John,Frank,Corky,andBuster—wereoutsidetheclub,workingontheengineofanoldblackcar.
Although few innumber, theLionswereallbigboys—bigger thanBugsMeany.ButMr.Patchwasbiggerthananyofthem.Hehadstronghandsandbigarms.SotheLionslistenedwhenEncyclopediaspoke.
“Do you see this watermelon?” he asked. “Now I take off the handkerchief. There!Whatdoyousee?”
“Thehandle…”saidBuster.
“…ofaknife,”saidCorky.
“Veryinteresting,”saidJohn.
“Sowhat?”saidFrank.
“Therearenofingerprints,”saidMr.Patch.
“Theknife,”saidEncyclopedia,“wasusedinanattempttorobMr.Patch’sstore.”
“Theknife…”saidBuster.
“…doesn’tbelong…”saidCorky.
“…toany…”saidJohn.
“…ofus,”saidFrank.
“Maybenot.Butthepolicewillprobablytakeyourfingerprints,”saidEncyclopedia.“Iftheguiltyboystepsforwardnow,Mr.Patchwillaskthepolicenottobetoohardonhim.”
TheLionslookedserious.Mr.Patchlookedserious.Theonlyboydetectiveinthestatelookedserious.
Butthatwasall.
“It’snotworkingthewayyouplanned,”saidMr.Patchinawhisper.“Noneofthemhastriedtowipethehandleoftheknife.”
Encyclopedianodded.“Leavetheknifeinthewatermelon,justasitis.Don’ttouchit,”
hewhisperedback.
TotheLionshesaid,“Thepolicewillbreakupyourclubif theyfindoneofyouisathief.”
TheLionsstoppedlookingserious.Theylookedscared.
SuddenlyJohnsaidsoftly,“Frankownsaknifelikethat.”
“Alotoffellowsownkniveswithcarvedhandles,”retortedFrank.“Cutitout!”
“Youshowedmeyoursyesterday,”Johnshotback.“Youeventriedtogetmetoholdit.Why,myfingerprintsmightbeonthathandle!”
“It’snotthesameknife,”saidFrank.“Soquitworrying.”
“Ilostmyknifelastmonth,”Bustersaid.“EveryoneknowsIdid.Whereisyourknife,Corky?”
“I lostmine, too,” saidCorky. “This one couldn’t bemy knife, anyway.Mine has abladeahalfinchlonger.”
NoneoftheLionsrememberedwhattheothers’knivesreallylookedlike.Theybegantoargueloudly.Eachboytriedtoputhimselfintheclear.
“Toobad,”mutteredMr.Patch.“Theyarescaredandfightingamongthemselves.Butnoneofthemhastouchedtheknifetotrytogetridofthefingerprints.Yourplandidn’twork.”
“Yes,itdid,”saidEncyclopedia.“Iknowwhoseknifeitis.”
HOWDIDHEKNOWWHOSE
KNIFEITWAS?
TheCaseoftheMissingRollerSkatesBetween nine and nine-thirty on Tuesday morning Sally Kimball’s roller skatesdisappearedfromthewaitingroominDr.VivianWilson’soffice.
AndwherewasEncyclopediaBrown,boydetective?Hewasnottenfeetawayfromthesceneofthecrime.Hewassittinginachair,withhiseyesshutandhismouthwideopen!
Inaway,hehadanexcuse.
Dr.WilsonwaspullingoneofEncyclopedia’steeth.
“There!”saidDr.Wilson.Hesaiditcheerfully,asifhewerehandingEncyclopediaanicecreamconeinsteadofatooth.
“Ugh!”saidEncyclopedia.
Dr.Wilsonsaid,“Allright.Hopdownfromthechair.”
Encyclopediahoppeddownandputthetoothinhispocket.HewasgoingtogiveittoCharlieStewart,whocollectedteethandkepttheminafloweredcookiejar.
Encyclopediawentintothewaitingroom.ThechaironwhichhehadleftSally’srollerskateswasempty!
Helookedbehindthechair.Hedroppedtohiskneesandlookedunderthechair.
“Theskates—they’regone!”heexclaimed.
“Areyousureyoubroughtthemwithyou?”askedDr.Wilson.
“I’msure,”answeredEncyclopedia.“Theywerebroken.Ifixedthemlastnightformypartner,SallyKimball.Iwasgoingtotakethemovertoherhouseonmywayhomefromyouroffice.”
Dr.Wilsonshookhisheadsadly.“I’mafraidyouwillnevergetthemback.”
But Dr. Wilson knew nothing about detective work. Encyclopedia liked the dentist,thoughhefeltthatVivianwasabetterfirstnameforawomanthanaman.
“Theskates—they’regone!”
“I’llfindtheskates,”saidtheboydetective.Hespokewithcertainty.Buthefeltnosuchthing.Whathefeltwastheblowtohispride;ithurtworsethanhisjaw.
Imagineadetectivebeingrobbed!
In the corridor outsideDr.Wilson’s office,Encyclopedia leaned against thewall.Heclosedhiseyesanddidsomedeepthinking.
Dr.Wilson’sofficewasonthegroundfloorofthenewMedicalBuilding.Thebuildinghadthreefloorsandfifteenoffices.Alltheofficeswereusedbydoctorsordentists.
Whatifthethiefhadfollowedhimintothebuildinginordertostealtheskates?Thenthe casewas closed. “I could spend the rest ofmy life looking through closets, schoollockers,andgaragesalloverIdaville,”Encyclopediathought.
Butsupposethethiefhadsimplycomeintothebuildingtoseeadoctor.Suppose,onhisway in, hehadnoticed a boy carrying a pair of roller skates.Well, thatwas somethingelse!
Encyclopediareasonedfurther.“Thethiefcouldbeagrownup,aboy,oragirl.”
Heruledoutagrownup.First,because itwasunlikely thatagrownupwouldstealanoldpairofsmallskates.Second,becauseagrownupwouldbetoohardtocatch.ToomanymenandwomenwentinandoutoftheMedicalBuildingeveryhour.
“I’ll have to act on the idea that the thief is a boy or girl,” he decided. “It’s a longchance,buttheonlyoneIhave.”
Heopenedhiseyes.Thecasecalledforplain,old-fashionedpolicelegwork!
Encyclopediabeganon thegroundfloor.Heasked thesamequestion ineveryoffice:“Wereanyboysorgirlsheretoseethedoctorthismorning?”
Theanswerwasthesameineveryoffice:“No.”Thingslookedhopeless.Butonthetopfloorhefinallygotalead.Thenurseinroom301toldhimaboynamedBillyHaggertyhadbeentherethismorningtohaveasprainedwristtreated.
Encyclopediaasked in the last twooffices, just tobesure.Neitherdoctorhad treatedchildrenthatmorning.
BillyHaggertybecamesuspectnumberone!
EncyclopediagotBillyHaggerty’saddressfromthenurseinroom301.HehurriedbacktoDr.Wilson’soffice touse the telephone.HecalledSally.He toldher tomeethim infrontoftheHaggertys’houseinhalfanhour.
“Wemayhavesomeroughgoingaheadofus,”hewarned.
ButBillyHaggertyturnedouttobeonlyaninchtallerthanEncyclopedia,andshorterthanSally.
BillydrewhimselfuptohisfullheightatEncyclopedia’sfirstquestion:
“WereyouinDr.VivianWilson’sofficethismorning?”
“Naw,”snappedBilly.“Idon’tknowanyDr.Wilson.”
“Youdidn’taskanyoneaboutDr.Wilson?”putinSally.
“Ineverheardofhimbeforeyouspokehisname,”saidBilly.
“Thenyouwentstraighttoyourowndoctoronthethirdfloor?”saidEncyclopedia.
“Yeah.Dr.Stantoninroom301.What’sittoyou?”
“Dr. Wilson’s office is down the hall from both the stairs and the elevator,” saidEncyclopediathoughtfully.“Youwouldn’tpasshisofficegoinguporcomingdown.”
“I don’t know where his office is, and I don’t care,” said Billy. “It’s none of yourbusinesswhereIwas.”
“Wejustwanttobesureyouweren’tinDr.VivianWilson’sofficethismorning.That’sall,”saidSally.
“Well, Iwasn’t. Ihada sprainedwrist,nota toothache.Sowhyshould Igonearhisoffice?”demandedBilly.“Idon’tlikesnoopers.Whatareyouafter?”
“A pair of roller skates,” said Encyclopedia. “Do youmind returning them? You’vegivenyourselfaway.”
WHATGAVEBILLYAWAY?
TheCaseoftheChampionEggSpinnerMr.O’Haramade thebiggestandbestchocolate icecreamsodas in Idaville.Heusedadoublehelpingoficecreamineachandeveryone.
Encyclopediawent toMr.O‘Hara’s drugstore on hot afternoons.When the detectivebusinessbegantopayoff,hewentthereoncoolafternoons,too.ButheneverthoughthewouldonedaysolveacasesittingatMr.O’Hara’ssodafountain.
PeoplewhosatatMr.O’Hara’scounterorderedasoftdrink.Oricecream.Sometimestheyorderedboth.
Nobodyeverbroughthisownfood.
ButoneSundayaboyabouttwelveyearsoldcameintothedrugstorecarryinganegg.HeputitonMr.O’Hara’scounter.
Encyclopediawassurprised.Hehadfinishedhissoda,buthesatandwatchedtheboywiththeegg.
Hewasevenmoresurprisedwhentheboyspuntheeggonthecounter.
“Stillpracticing?”Mr.O’Haraaskedtheboy.
Theboysmiledasifheownedthewholeworld.“Justkeepingmytouch.I’vegotabigmatchtomorrow.”
Hegavetheegganotherspin.
“He’s good,” thoughtEncyclopedia. “He really knows how to spin an egg to keep itgoing.”
Theboyorderedachocolatesodawithatriplehelpingoficecream.Thatcosttencentsextra.
Mr.O’Haramadethesoda.Heplaceditbeforetheboy.Hedidnotseetheeggspinningtowardtheglasstillitwastoolate.
The egg knocked against the glass and spun away. It dropped out of sight on Mr.O’Hara’ssideofthecounter.
Mr.O’Haralookeddown.“That’stheendofyouregg.I’msorry.”
“Forgetit,”saidtheboywithagrandwaveofhishand.“Ihavetouseanotheregginthespinningmatchtomorrowanyway.”
“I’d better sweep up the mess,” said Mr. O’Hara. He walked to the back of thedrugstore.
Encyclopedialefttwenty-fivecentsonthecountertopayforhissoda.Ashewentoutthedoor,hesawMr.O’Harareturningwithabroomandadustpan.
Encyclopedia rode home slowly on his bicycle. He stopped to look at the stuffedmountainlionMr.Eckstrom,thetaxidermist,hadjustputinthewindowofhisshop.Theboy detective was in no hurry. It was Sunday, and the Brown Detective Agency wasclosed.
AsheturnedthecorneronRoverAvenue,hesawthatsomethingwasup.Bicycleswereparkedonthelawninfrontofhishouse.Justaboutthewholegangwaswaitingforhimatthegarage.
HemadeoutJodyandBillyTurner,CharlieStewart,HerbStein,PinkyPlummer,andSally.Theylookedashappyassixflattires.
Sallygreetedhim.
“Theboysneedyourhelp,”shesaid.
“Withwhat?”
“WithEddiePhelan,”saidCharlieStewart.“Hiseggbeatseverything.”
“WhoisthisEddiePhelan?”askedEncyclopedia.“Ahumaneggbeater?”
“Stopbeingsilly,”saidSally.
“Eddie is the champion egg spinner,” explained Pinky. “He keeps his egg spinninglongerthananyoneelse’s.”
“Theboysthinkhedoessomethingsecretandunfairtowin,”saidSally.
“Ah,youfearfoulplay?”askedEncyclopedia.
“Be serious!” cried Sally. “Eddie won everything at the last match—Pinky’s glove,Jody’sbat,Charlie’shockeystick,Billy’smagicset,andHerb’sjackknife.”
“There’s another match tomorrow,” said Jody. “Eddie is out to win Charlie’s toothcollection.”
“AndIjustgottwozebrateeth,”groanedCharlie.“Mr.EckstromgavethemtomefordeliveringDr.Webster’sstuffedsailfishFriday.”
“Hmmm,”saidEncyclopedia. “Ineverheardofaneggspinningcontestbefore.Whothoughtitup?”
“Eddie,”saidthefiveboystogether.
“Imighthaveknown,”saidEncyclopedia.
“The boys have been practicing for days,” said Sally. “But Eddiewillwalk offwithCharlie’stoothcollectionjustthesame!”
“Andeverythingelse,”saidBilly.
“Thiscasesmellsrotten,”saidEncyclopedia.“Wheredoyougettheeggs?”
“Atthesupermarket,”answeredPinky.“Allofusgotogether.”
“How do you know the egg Eddie got at the supermarket will be the one he usestomorrow?”
“Eachboypicksanegg,”saidPinky.“Hemarks itwithapencilandgiveshiseggtoanotherboy.Thatwayweknownoonecanchangeaneggbeforethematch.”
“WhomarkedEddie’segg?”askedEncyclopedia.
“Idid,”saidCharlie.“ImadeadoubleXonit.”
“Tomorrowyou’llhavetosignaltome,”saidEncyclopedia,“beforeyoustartspinning.Iftheeggistheoneyoumarked,raiseonefinger.Ifitisn’ttheone,raisetwofingers.Gotit?”
“Gotit,”saidCharlie.
“Nowwhereandwhendoesthematchtakeplace?”
“Behindtheschoolatnineinthemorning,”saidJody.
“I’llbethere,”saidEncyclopedia,startingintothehouse.
TheboysandSally felt letdown.TheyhadexpectedEncyclopedia to solve thiscaserightaway.
“Oh, stop worrying,” Encyclopedia called to them. “I have a pretty good idea whyEddiealwayswins.”
The next morning when Encyclopedia reached the schoolyard, Sally rushed to meethim.Shewasbreathless.
“Ithoughtyouwouldn’tgethereintime!”shesaid.
“Icouldn’tfindoneofmysneakers,”theboydetectivesaid,lookingaroundhim.
Sureenough!Eddie,thechampion,wastheboyhehadseeninthedrugstore.
“Thecaseofthechampioneggspinneriscracked,”Encyclopediasaidmysteriously.
EddiewassmilingashefingeredthefloweredcookiejarthatheldCharlie’scollectionofteeth.
Against the teeth,Eddiewasputtingupa footballuniform. Itwasabetterprize thanfifty-threeteeth,Pinky’susedsciencekit,Jody’srubberboots,Billy’sfishingpole,orevenHerb’soldtelescope.
“Thematchisgoingtostart,”SallytoldEncyclopedia.
CharlieandEddiegotdownontheirknees.Thespinningfieldwasthesmoothmarble
slabunderthestatueofThomasEdison.
Each boy handed the other his egg. Eddie hardly glanced at Charlie’s. But Charliepeeredatthechampion’seggalongtime.Heturneditoverslowly.Thenhehelduponefinger.
Eddiehadn’tchangedeggs.HewasusingtheoneCharliehadmarked.
“Ready?”askedEddie,smiling.
“Dosomething—fast!”SallywhisperedtoEncyclopedia.
“Getset—”Eddiecalled.
“Excuseme,”saidEncyclopedia.“Isthisacontestofskillalone?”
“Huh?”saidEddie.“Why…ofcourse.”
“Thenyouwon’tmindchangingeggs,”saidEncyclopedia.“LetCharliehaveyouregg,andyoutakehis.Theboywhospinshiseggthelongestwinsthematch.”
Charliepeeredattheegg.
Eddie’s smile disappeared as fast as pancakes at Sunday breakfast. His hand closed
quicklyoverhisegg.
“Are you saying someone’s cheating?” he demanded. “Not that it’s any of yourbusiness,butCharlieknowsthisismyegg.It’sthesameonehemarked.”
“Of course, it’s the same egg,” said Encyclopedia. “Butwith one big difference thatnobodycansee!”
WHATWASTHEDIFFERENCE?
SolutiontoTheCaseoftheScatteredCards
BugsMeany said that Clarence had stolen the tent from the Tigers’ clubhouse“thismorning.”Thatis,ontheseconddayoftherain.Therefore,thegroundunderthetentshouldhavebeenwet.
ButwhenEncyclopediascattered thecardswithhis foot,hediscovered that thegroundinsidethetentwasdry.Thisprovedthatthetenthadbeenputupbeforetherain,asClarenceclaimed—andnotduringtherain“thismorning,”asBugssaid.
SolutiontoTheCaseoftheCivilWarSword
Assoonashehadreadthewordsontheblade,Encyclopediaknewtheswordwasafake.
ThetwoclueswerethewordsBullRunandFirst.
Jackson’smen, being Southerners, would have called the battle by the South’snameforit,theBattleofManassas.BullRunwasthenamegiventothebattlebytheNorth.
Also,theswordwassupposedtohavebeengiventoStonewallJacksoninAugust1861.Noonecouldhaveknownthenthattherewouldbeanotherbattleonthesamespotthenextyear,in1862.
Onlyafterbothbattleshadbeenfoughtwouldanyonehaveusedthewordfirsttodescribethebattlefoughtin1861.
SolutiontoTheCaseofMerko’sGrandson
BoththetallwomanandFredGibsonspokethetruth.
Although theGreatMerkowas not his grandfather, FredGibsonwas theGreatMerko’sgrandson.
The Great Merko, as Encyclopedia realized, was a woman. She was FredGibson’sgrandmother!
SolutiontoTheCaseoftheBankRobber
BlindTomwasnotexpectinganyvisitors,hesaid.Healsosaid thathehadnothadanyvisitors“inalongtime.”Yetthelightinhisroomwason,andanewspaperlayonthepillow.
Ablindmandoesnotneedalight,andhecannotreadanewspaper.SoBlindTomwasnotblindatall.
Encyclopediaknew thenwhy thebeggarhadnot steppedoutof thewayof thebankrobber.Thetwomenhadrolledonthesidewalktogetherwithapurpose—toexchangeyellowpaperbags!
BlindTomhadslipped the robber thebagholding the loafofbread, inorder tofool the police if they caught him. The robber had slipped Blind Tom the bagholdingthemoney.
Encyclopediausedatelephoneinthestoreonthecornertocallhisfather.ChiefBrown hurried to the hotel. He found the money, still in the yellow paper bag,hiddenunderthemattressofBlindTom’sbed.
BlindTomandthemanthepolicewereholdinginjailconfessedtheyhadrobbedthebank.
SolutiontoTheCaseoftheHappyNephew
John Abbot said he had reached his sister’s house only “five minutes” beforeChiefBrownarrived.IfJohnhadjustdriveninfromSundaleShores,themotorandhoodofhiscarwouldstillhavebeenburninghot.Remember,hesaidhehadmadeonlyone stop—forahamburgerandgas—during the twelve-hour trip. If thatwastrue, his little nephew, whowas barefoot, would have cried out in pain when hestoodonthehothoodofthecar.
Instead,thebabysmiledandgurgledhappily.Therefore,thehoodwasnothot.
Acoolhoodmeantthatthecarhadnotjustbeenparkedafteratwelve-hourdrive,asJohnAbbotsaid.
SolutiontoTheCaseoftheDiamondNecklace
MissStarksaidthatshedidnotseeorhearthethief.YetChiefBrownheardherscream,and“afewsecondslater,twoshotsrangout.”
MissStark’smistakewasscreamingbeforetheshotswerefired.
If she had not seen or heard anyone, she would have had no reason to befrightened.Onlyaftertheshotshadbeenfiredwouldshehavescreamed.
SolutiontoTheCaseoftheKnifeintheWatermelon
AsMr.Patchsaid,noneoftheLionstouchedtheknife.SothebladewasburiedinthewatermelonallthetimetheLionswerelookingatit.
Inotherwords,noneoftheLionscouldseehowlongthebladeoftheknifewas.
ButCorkysaidhisknifehadabladethatwas“ahalfinchlonger”thantheoneinthewatermelon.Thatwashismistake.
Hecouldnothaveknownhowlongthebladewasunlesshehadseenitbefore.
TheknifebelongedtoCorky!
SolutiontoTheCaseoftheMissingRollerSkates
Billy Haggerty said that he had never heard of Dr. VivianWilson and that hedidn’tknowwherehisofficewas.Butheknewtoomuchabouthim.
HeknewthatDr.VivianWilsonwas(1)aman,notawoman,and(2)adentist,notadoctor.
Whenhewastrippedbyhisfibs,BillyreturnedtherollerskatestoSally.
SolutiontoTheCaseoftheChampionEggSpinner
Mr.O’HarahadgivenEncyclopediathecluetothemystery.
RememberhowEddie’segghadfallenoffthecounterontothefloor?WhathadMr.O’Harasaid?Not,“I’dbettercleanup themess.”No,hehadsaid,“I’dbettersweepupthemess.”
Hehadnotfetchedatowelormop;hehadfetchedabroomandadustpan.
This toldEncyclopedia theegghadbroken intopieces.Herealized that theeggwasahard-boiledone.
Andahard-boiledeggwillspinlongerthananuncookedegg,everytime!
Eddiehadtouseanother(uncooked!)eggagainstCharlie,andhelostthematch.CharlieagreedtogivebackEddie’sfootballuniformifhewouldreturntheprizeshehadwonattheearliermatches.
Theex-championreturnedtheprizes.
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