Encyclopedia Brown Finds the Clues (2 page)
Read Encyclopedia Brown Finds the Clues Online
Authors: Donald J. Sobol
John Morgan knocked him out.
“He had to be,” said Encyclopedia. “Now you should have no trouble finding the man who struck and robbed him.”
“No trouble?” said Chief Brown. “The woods come out on the railroad tracks. It’s a sure bet that the tramp hopped a ride on a freight train. He’s probably in Georgia by now.”
“You’ll find him where John Morgan lives—and the two hundred dollars besides,” said Encyclopedia.
“Do you think John Morgan helped the tramp rob Mr. Clancy?” asked Mrs. Brown.
“No,” answered Encyclopedia.
“Well, what do you think?” asked Chief Brown.
“I think that when Mr. Clancy stopped the truck in the woods, John Morgan saw his chance,” answered Encyclopedia. “While Mr. Clancy was checking the radiator, John Morgan sneaked from the truck, knocked him out, and stole his wallet with the two hundred dollars.”
“What about the tramp?” asked Chief Brown.
“There never was a tramp, Dad,” said Encyclopedia. “John Morgan made him up. John Morgan robbed Mr. Clancy by himself and then drove him to the hospital.”
Chief Brown rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “That could be what really happened,” he said. “But I can’t prove it.”
“The proof is down in black and white,” said Encyclopedia. “Just read over what John Morgan told you. He gives himself away!”
HOW DID JOHN MORGAN GIVE HIMSELF AWAY?
(Please see solutions section)
The Case of the Rubber Pillow
During the summer Encyclopedia ran a detective agency for children of the neighborhood. He opened his office every morning after his father left for work.
Encyclopedia always waited till his father drove off. He had no choice. His office was in the garage.
After his father left, he hung out his sign:
Late in the morning Danny Landis hurried into the Brown Detective Agency. He laid a quarter on the gasoline can beside Encyclopedia.
“I want you to find my pillow,” said Danny. “It’s missing.”
“I’ve seen a match box and a boardwalk, but I’ve never had to solve a pillowcase,” said Encyclopedia thoughtfully.
“My pillow doesn’t have a case,” said Danny. “It’s made of rubber. I blow it up on camping trips.”
“Hmm,” said Encyclopedia. “It gave you the air. When?”
“Half an hour ago,” said Danny. “I think Bugs Meany stole it.”
“Bugs?” Immediately Encyclopedia became serious.
Bugs Meany was the leader of the Tigers, a gang of older boys who caused more trouble than woodpeckers around a Maypole.
“I’ll take the case,” said Encyclopedia. “Let’s have the facts.
“Early this morning,” said Danny, “Dad and I were painting the wood on the front of our house—the three front steps, the porch railing and posts, and the front door. We painted everything white.”
“Where was the rubber pillow?” asked Encyclopedia.
“It was hanging on the clothesline at the side of the house,” said Danny. “After we finished painting, Dad went in the back to clean the brushes. I saw Bugs running away from the clothesline. He was carrying the pillow.”
“Did your father see him, too?”
“No, worse luck,” said Danny. “It will be my word against Bugs’s.”
Encyclopedia closed his eyes. For several minutes he did some deep thinking.
Then he said, “We’ve got to trap Bugs. We’ve got to catch him in a lie!”
“It won’t be easy,” said Danny. “He’s smart enough to be the leader of the Tigers.”
“That’s not saying much,” replied Encyclopedia. “Why, half of them have been left back so often they ought to start a football team. They could call themselves the Left Halfbacks. Come on.”
The two boys rode their bikes to the Tigers’ clubhouse, an unused tool shed behind Mr. Sweeny’s Auto Body Shop.
Bugs was alone. He was practicing drawing aces from the bottom of a deck of cards.
“Scram,” he said.
“I will when you return my client’s pillow,” said Encyclopedia.
“You stole my rubber pillow from the clothesline at my house half an hour ago,” said Danny.
“Rubber
pillow? Man, has this kid’s mouth heard from his brain lately?” growled Bugs. “I’ve never been near his house in my life.”
pillow? Man, has this kid’s mouth heard from his brain lately?” growled Bugs. “I’ve never been near his house in my life.”
“Why don’t you tell that to Danny’s father?” said Encyclopedia. “He was behind the house. He must have seen you steal the pillow.”
Bugs nearly swallowed the blade of grass he was chewing. He recovered himself and said, “I’ve been right here all morning.”
“Then you wouldn’t mind going with us to Danny’s house,” said Encyclopedia. “You’re going to have to speak with his father sooner or later.”
“W-well, ahh, okay,” mumbled Bugs. “But you lead the way. Remember, I don’t even know where he lives.”
Outside, Danny whispered, “My father went off fishing. My mother is at Grandma’s. There’s nobody at home.”
“Don’t worry,” said Encyclopedia. “Bugs is far too cocky. He’ll make a mistake.”
The three boys rode over to Danny’s house. It was a green stucco house with a white wood porch, door, and front steps.
“Go up and ring the doorbell,” Encyclopedia dared Bugs.
Bugs kicked down the stand of his bike. He looked at Danny’s house. He looked at Danny. He seemed to be getting up courage.
Suddenly the older boy made up his mind.
“Watch my style,” he said.
He ran across the lawn and leaped over the three white wood steps. His heel struck the slate floor of the porch. He skidded but righted himself without having to grab the railing. He looked back at Danny and Encyclopedia and grinned cockily.
When he got no answer to the doorbell, Bugs walked a step to the window that faced onto the porch. He rapped on the glass.
“There’s nobody home,” he yelled to Encyclopedia. He left the porch, again jumping over the three steps.
“Your plan to trap him didn’t work,” said Danny.
“Oh, yes it did!” corrected Encyclopedia.
He went to Bugs and spoke into the bigger boy’s left ear.
Bugs listened. His fists clenched and tightened. Pea green stars of anger seemed to shoot out his ears. Low, fighting sounds rumbled in his throat.
But he said, “Awh.... ”
He leaped over the three white wood steps.
He got on his bike, a tame Tiger. Five minutes later he was back with Danny’s rubber pillow.
“What did you say to him?” asked Danny, after Bugs had ridden off.
“Not very much. I simply pointed out his mistake,” said the boy detective, and added, “In this case, actions spoke louder than words.”
WHAT WAS BUGS’S MISTAKE?
The Case of Bugs’s Kidnapping
Bugs Meany would have liked to get even with Encyclopedia by punching him in the eye four or five times.
But he didn’t dare—for two reasons.
The first reason was the quick left fist of pretty, ten-year-old Sally Kimball. The second reason was Sally’s right. It was even quicker than her left.
One day Sally had seen Bugs bullying a Cub Scout. “Stop it!” she had cried, hopping off her bike.
“Go powder your nose,” Bugs had jeered.
Zam!
went Sally’s right.
went Sally’s right.
Wham!
went Bugs against the ground. He bounced up, red as a Jersey apple.
went Bugs against the ground. He bounced up, red as a Jersey apple.
Sally’s rights and lefts were a blur—
zing! zap! zam!
Bugs was something of a blur, too. He went up and down like a
yo-yo-wham! whap! whomp!
zing! zap! zam!
Bugs was something of a blur, too. He went up and down like a
yo-yo-wham! whap! whomp!
Finally, Sally dusted his chin with an uppercut and left him panting on his back.
The news raced through the neighborhood. A
girl
had laid out big, bad Bugs Meany flatter than a smoked herring.
girl
had laid out big, bad Bugs Meany flatter than a smoked herring.
The next day Encyclopedia invited the new champion to join the Brown Detective Agency as a junior partner. Sally accepted on the spot, and Encyclopedia stopped worrying about Bugs Meany’s muscles.
But Bugs didn’t stop plotting. He just plotted farther behind Encyclopedia’s back, and harder.
“Look out for him,” warned Sally. “He’s like a set of false teeth—always trying to get even.”
“I sort of hope he keeps trying,” said Encyclopedia. “Business would fall off without Bugs causing trouble.”
“Trouble has just arrived,” whispered Sally.
A police car drew up by the Brown Detective Agency. Out stepped Bugs, his mother, and Officer Carlson.
“The Meanys have brought a serious charge against you,” Officer Carlson said to Encyclopedia.
“This little do-gooder here was part of the gang that kidnapped me!” said Bugs.
Encyclopedia and Sally stared at each other.
“Tell him what you overheard, dear,” said Mrs. Meany.
“I heard the kidnappers say Encyclopedia Brown was going to pick up the money,” said Bugs.
“I don’t know what he’s talking about,” said Encyclopedia. “What kidnappers? What money?”
“Don’t play dumb,” sneered Bugs. “The ransom money.”
“Start from the beginning,” Officer Carlson said to Bugs.
“About five o’clock yesterday afternoon,” began Bugs, “I was walking home from the clubhouse.
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