Encyclopedia Brown Double Mystery #3 by Donald J. Sobol

Author:Donald J. Sobol
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2012-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

The Case of the Happy Nephew

The Browns were having left-over meat loaf for dinner one night when the telephone rang.

“It must be important,” said Mrs. Brown worriedly. “Otherwise why would anyone call during the dinner hour?”

She hurried to the telephone. In a moment she called to her husband, “It’s Officer Carlson, dear.”

Chief Brown went to the telephone and spoke with his officer for several minutes. When he returned to the dining room, he wore a frown—and his gun.

“The Princess Bake Shop on Vine Street was robbed less than an hour ago,” he said. “I’ll have to go out.”

“Any clues, Dad?” asked Encyclopedia.

“We have an eyewitness,” answered his father. “A man passing the bakery says he saw John Abbot running out the door.”

“Hasn’t John Abbot been in prison?” asked Mrs. Brown.

“Five years ago,” said Chief Brown. “But he’s gone straight ever since he came out. The eyewitness only got a quick look at the robber; he might be mistaken.”

Chief Brown shrugged. “Still, I suppose I’ll have to stop by and question John. I hope he has a good alibi.”

“Can I go with you?” cried Encyclopedia.

“May I go with you,” his mother said. “And drink your milk first.”

“May I go with you, Dad?” Encyclopedia asked. He gulped his milk.

“Come along if you like,” said his father. “But you will have to stay in the car—and be quiet.”

“I’ll be as quiet as a cat at a dog show,” promised Encyclopedia.

He sat quietly beside his father in the police car on the drive to the house where John Abbot lived with his sister and her family.

“Staying in the car won’t be so bad,” Encyclopedia decided. “The car will be a lot closer to the case than our dining room.”

On the west side of town his father stopped the car. “Here’s the house.”

Encyclopedia saw a small white house in need of paint. An old yellow car stood in the shaded driveway.

“There’s John,” said Chief Brown.

A tall young man had come out of the house. He was carrying a barefoot boy about a year and a half old.

Chief Brown reminded Encyclopedia to sit quietly in the car. Then he got out and walked toward John Abbot.

“Put the child down, John,” Chief Brown called. “And keep your hands where I can see them.”

John Abbot started to lower the barefoot baby onto the sharp stones of the gravel driveway. Then he changed his mind and put the child on the front fender of the yellow car, and raised his hands.

“What’s this all about, Chief?” he asked.

“Robbery,” replied Chief Brown. “You were seen running out of the Princess Bake Shop on Vine Street an hour ago. The door was broken and all the money in the cash register was stolen.”

John Abbot laughed. “I wasn’t near Vine Street an hour ago. Why, all day—”

“Look out!” shouted Chief Brown. He leaped for the baby.

The child had climbed onto the hood of the yellow car. He smiled and gurgled happily. Suddenly he stood up and walked close to the edge of the hood.

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