Read Online Encyclopedia Brown Gets His Man by Donald J. Sobol - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Donald J. Sobol
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even.”
“He’s just a big bully,” said Sally. “He can’t match your fast brainwork.”
But the next morning Sally was worried.
“Look what was under my front door!” She handed Encyclopedia a business card. It read:
Tigers, Inc.
Private Detectives
Staff of Experts
20¢ A Day Plus Expenses
Office Behind Sweeny’s Body Shop
“Bugs is out to steal your customers,” said Sally angrily. “He’s charging a nickel less.”
“Bugs can’t charge anything till he gets a case,” replied Encyclopedia.
“He has a case,” said Sally. “Mario Martinelli hired him to find his violin.”
Encyclopedia gasped. “Golly, Mario has been practicing hard for the summer symphony orchestra. Tryouts are tomorrow!”
“Bugs will never find the violin in time. His experts couldn’t find a clam in a sand pail,” said Sally. “If we don’t help Mario, he won’t make the orchestra. Come on!”
Encyclopedia agreed reluctantly. He reached for his bike. “Bugs has every right to complain if we butt in,” he said.
As the partners neared Mario’s house, they could not believe their eyes.
Tigers were crawling over the lawn, peering through magnifying glasses for clues. Bugs was dusting fingerprint powder on a windowsill.
Mario, a slender boy of eleven, watched uneasily.
“No fingerprints here,” called Bugs. “The thief wiped the windowsill clean. We’re up against a master criminal!”
“Won’t you be able to find my violin?” asked Mario.
“Don’t worry, maestro. I’m a regular blood-hound,” said Bugs. “I’m onto something right now.” He grinned mysteriously.
The grin vanished as he spied Encyclopedia and Sally. “Hey, you Tigers,” he shouted. “Let’s go. This place is getting crowded with amateurs.”
After the Tigers had trooped off,. Encyclopedia asked Mario about the theft.
“Someone climbed through my open bedroom window last night and stole the violin,” answered Mario.
“Why did you hire Bugs Meany?” asked Sally.
“He came by early this morning. He was passing out his business cards,” said Mario. “I told him about the violin. I said my mother had already telephoned the police. Bugs insisted he was smarter than any policeman.”
“All those Tigers working for twenty cents,” mused Sally. “Something is fishy!”
“Oh, there is a ten-dollar reward,” said Mario. “Bugs told my mother we would have a better chance of getting the violin back if she offered a reward.”
“That no-good Bugs!” cried Sally. “I’ll bet anything he stole the violin himself!”
“If he did, I’ll surely get it back,” said Mario hopefully.
The three children sat down on the porch. There was nothing to do but wait for Bugs to return with the “stolen” violin and claim the reward.
An hour later the Tigers paraded back. Sure enough, Bugs was carrying the violin.
“Man, oh, man!” he sang. “I guess you know now who is the greatest detective in Idaville!”
The rest of the Tigers threw up their arms and cheered like mad. “Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!”
“While certain private detectives were sitting around helpless, I was using my head,” said Bugs. “To find stolen goods, you have to think like a thief.”
“You’ve had enough practice,” snapped Sally.
The Tigers cheered like mad.
Before Bugs could take a fighting stance, Encyclopedia spoke up. “How did you find the violin, Bugs?”
“I’ll show you,” said Bugs, relieved at not having to defend himself against Sally.
They all walked to the woods past Rolling Road.
“I figured some kid had swiped the violin, hoping to collect a reward for its safe return,” said Bugs. “A grownup thief would have stolen the silverware instead.”
“That makes sense,” said Mario.
“The thief couldn’t take the stolen violin home,” went on Bugs. “And if he wanted a reward, he had to hide it where it wouldn’t get damaged. A tree seemed a good place—that’s exactly where I saw it. Up in the
“He’s just a big bully,” said Sally. “He can’t match your fast brainwork.”
But the next morning Sally was worried.
“Look what was under my front door!” She handed Encyclopedia a business card. It read:
Tigers, Inc.
Private Detectives
Staff of Experts
20¢ A Day Plus Expenses
Office Behind Sweeny’s Body Shop
“Bugs is out to steal your customers,” said Sally angrily. “He’s charging a nickel less.”
“Bugs can’t charge anything till he gets a case,” replied Encyclopedia.
“He has a case,” said Sally. “Mario Martinelli hired him to find his violin.”
Encyclopedia gasped. “Golly, Mario has been practicing hard for the summer symphony orchestra. Tryouts are tomorrow!”
“Bugs will never find the violin in time. His experts couldn’t find a clam in a sand pail,” said Sally. “If we don’t help Mario, he won’t make the orchestra. Come on!”
Encyclopedia agreed reluctantly. He reached for his bike. “Bugs has every right to complain if we butt in,” he said.
As the partners neared Mario’s house, they could not believe their eyes.
Tigers were crawling over the lawn, peering through magnifying glasses for clues. Bugs was dusting fingerprint powder on a windowsill.
Mario, a slender boy of eleven, watched uneasily.
“No fingerprints here,” called Bugs. “The thief wiped the windowsill clean. We’re up against a master criminal!”
“Won’t you be able to find my violin?” asked Mario.
“Don’t worry, maestro. I’m a regular blood-hound,” said Bugs. “I’m onto something right now.” He grinned mysteriously.
The grin vanished as he spied Encyclopedia and Sally. “Hey, you Tigers,” he shouted. “Let’s go. This place is getting crowded with amateurs.”
After the Tigers had trooped off,. Encyclopedia asked Mario about the theft.
“Someone climbed through my open bedroom window last night and stole the violin,” answered Mario.
“Why did you hire Bugs Meany?” asked Sally.
“He came by early this morning. He was passing out his business cards,” said Mario. “I told him about the violin. I said my mother had already telephoned the police. Bugs insisted he was smarter than any policeman.”
“All those Tigers working for twenty cents,” mused Sally. “Something is fishy!”
“Oh, there is a ten-dollar reward,” said Mario. “Bugs told my mother we would have a better chance of getting the violin back if she offered a reward.”
“That no-good Bugs!” cried Sally. “I’ll bet anything he stole the violin himself!”
“If he did, I’ll surely get it back,” said Mario hopefully.
The three children sat down on the porch. There was nothing to do but wait for Bugs to return with the “stolen” violin and claim the reward.
An hour later the Tigers paraded back. Sure enough, Bugs was carrying the violin.
“Man, oh, man!” he sang. “I guess you know now who is the greatest detective in Idaville!”
The rest of the Tigers threw up their arms and cheered like mad. “Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!”
“While certain private detectives were sitting around helpless, I was using my head,” said Bugs. “To find stolen goods, you have to think like a thief.”
“You’ve had enough practice,” snapped Sally.
The Tigers cheered like mad.
Before Bugs could take a fighting stance, Encyclopedia spoke up. “How did you find the violin, Bugs?”
“I’ll show you,” said Bugs, relieved at not having to defend himself against Sally.
They all walked to the woods past Rolling Road.
“I figured some kid had swiped the violin, hoping to collect a reward for its safe return,” said Bugs. “A grownup thief would have stolen the silverware instead.”
“That makes sense,” said Mario.
“The thief couldn’t take the stolen violin home,” went on Bugs. “And if he wanted a reward, he had to hide it where it wouldn’t get damaged. A tree seemed a good place—that’s exactly where I saw it. Up in the
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