Read Online The Case of the Three Rings by John R. Erickson - Free Book Online Page B

eyes grew wide. “Gosh, what comes next?”
    I swept my gaze over the ceiling. “In the Worst Case Skinnerio, Slim will sit in the bathtub for days or weeks, until someone finds him. He’ll miss his date with Miss Viola and she’ll figure the engagement is off. Broken-hearted, she’ll move to California, and we never see her again.”
    Drover almost choked on that. “Oh no! We can’t let that happen!”
    â€œYes, well, we don’t have much choice. There’s nothing we can do. The man has really done it this time.”
    He stared at the floor and a tear rolled down his cheek. “We’ll never see Viola again, ever?”
    â€œI’m afraid that’s where this is heading.”
    Another tear rolled down his cheek, then his eyes came up. “Wait! What if we barked?”
    I studied on that. “You know, I didn’t think of that. When all else fails, we should bark, right? It’s worth a try. Come on, son, maybe there’s still a chance!”
    We dashed across the room and stood in the open door of the bathroom. Inside, we saw Slim, sitting in the tub. His face was buried in his hands and he was shaking his head and moaning, “I ain’t believing this! These things just don’t happen in the real world!”
    I turned to Drover. “All right, soldier, begin filling your tanks.” We both took deeps breath of air. “We don’t have a specific bark for shattering water spigots, so punch in the All Purpose Barking Program.”
    â€œGot it. I’m ready.”
    â€œOkay, here we go. Mark and bark!”
    Boy, you talk about some great barks! We leaned into the task and cut loose with round after round of deep, manly All Purpose Barks. After we had barked for about ten seconds, Slim stopped covering his face with his hands and used them to…well, to cover his ears, you might say.
    And he screeched, “Dry up! I know you’re trying to help, but I don’t need my ears put out.” The angry expression on his face melted into one of deepest despair. “What in the cat hair am I going to do!”

    For a long time he sat there, groaning and shaking his head. Drover and I switched over to The Sharing of Pain. I wasn’t sure it would help, but I couldn’t think of a better idea.
    Then Slim cut his eyes toward something on the floor. “My Leatherman’s tool. It’s on my belt. It’s got a saw and a file.” He turned his eyes on me. “Hank, you’ve spent most of your life being a bozo, but this time, I really need your help. Bring my pants over here!”
    I turned to Drover. “What did he say?”
    â€œWell, let me think. He’s keeping a file on Bozo, but he doesn’t have any pants.”
    â€œRight, that’s what I heard, but it doesn’t make any sense.”
    Slim raised his voice. “Hank, bring my pants!”
    Drover and I traded puzzled looks, and I whispered, “Something about plants . Maybe he wants us to water his plants.”
    â€œYeah, but they all died ‘cause nobody ever watered ‘em.”
    â€œHmm, good point.”
    â€œMaybe he said planets . He wants us to bark at the stars.”
    â€œYes, but the stars won’t be out for another hour.”
    Slim seemed to be getting more and more agitated, and he roared, “Hank, bring my pants! Bring my jeans. Blue jeans! Pants!”
    Drover’s eyes popped wide open. “Wait a second. His jeans are lying on the floor, right over there. Maybe he wants you to bring his pants.”
    â€œThat’s ridiculous. He’s sitting in water and one foot’s plugged into the water hydrant. There’s no way he could put on his pants.”
    â€œHank, bring my pants…now!”
    My mind was racing. “Wait, hold everything. He wants me to bring his pants .”
    â€œI’ll be derned.”
    â€œAnd I think I can do it. Stand by.” I marched over