John Blaine - Rick Brant 09 by Stairway To Danger

Author:Stairway To Danger [Danger, Stairway To]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-06-05T11:38:55+00:00

CHAPTER XI

Shots in the Dark

“I suppose it isn’t really strange that those men should leave a perfectly good car behind,” Barby remarked. “After all, it wasn’t their car.”

Rick grinned. “The owner is going to be surprised when the police return it. He loses a maroon sedan and gets a black one back.”

“I hope it isn’t a girl who owns it,” Barby said.

The two boys and Barby were sitting on the front porch of the big house looking at the ocean, waiting until time for Scotty and Rick to go to the pier to meet Mike. Scotty hadn’t been paying much attention to the small talk between Rick and Barby, but he looked up at her last remark.

“Why do you hope it isn’t a girl?”

“She probably picked all her clothes to go with the color of the car,” Barby said seriously. “Now she’ll either have to have the car repainted or get a whole new wardrobe.”

The boys laughed so hard that Hartson Brant came out on the porch to see what had happened. When Barby repeated her remark, the scientist grinned. “I don’t know what all the laughter is about. That’s a

good theoretical conclusion, based on empirical data.”

Rick lifted his eyebrows. “And just what is empirical data?”

His father chuckled. “You’ll find a dictionary in the library.”

Scotty looked at his watch. “We have time enough for a little research. I’ll go look it up.”

While Scotty was gone, Hartson Brant asked, “Do you feel well enough to go out tonight, Rick? I could go to meet Mike for you.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Rick replied. “I’m fine, honestly.”

“I knew you’d get into trouble if you tried finding that car,” Barby said.

Hartson Brant smiled“More empirical data.”

“Now I’m really getting curious,” Rick replied. “What’s keeping Scotty?”

Barby looked in through the front door. “Here he comes now.”

Scotty was grinning. “Add a new word to the vocabulary,” he told Rick. “Empirical means based on observation and experience, rather than on science or theory. In other words, it’s the way girls reach conclusions.”

“Well,” Barby said smugly, “if I may make an observation, it’s my experience that every time you two start to unravel a mystery, you get into trouble.” She looked pointedly at Rick. “That may be empirical, but it’s true!”

“I can’t deny it,” Rick said. “But this case has taught me a lesson.”

“You mean you won’t try to solve any more mysteries?” Barby asked quickly.

“Not exactly,” Rick replied with a grin. “The lesson is to be more careful and to invent a new warning system for the next plane I get.One that can’t be disconnected by some smart guy like the one who sabotaged us.”

“Listen, Rick,” Scotty said with a glance at his watch> “we’d better get started. Mike should be arriving in the next fifteen minutes.”

“I hope he has something that will give us a new lead,” Rick said. “An empty amusement park isn’t much help to Captain Douglas. Chances are the caretaker and hispal are out of the area by now in some other car.”

“I’m afraid you’re right, Rick,” Hartson Brant agreed.

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