Encyclopedia Brown Solves Them All by Donald J. Sobol

Author:Donald J. Sobol [Sobol, Donald J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781101042335
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 1968-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

The doctor examined Mr. Jorgens’s head and frowned.

“Whom did you tell that you were going to the bank today instead of Friday?” asked Officer Wilson.

“Only my wife,” replied Mr. Jorgens.

At that moment Mrs. Jorgens returned with the doctor. He examined Mr. Jorgens’s head and frowned. “You had better come to the hospital. I want to take X rays,” he said.

“Can I have another minute to question him?” asked Officer Wilson.

“One minute,” said the doctor. “No more.”

“You said the only person who knew you were going to the bank today was your wife,” said Officer Wilson. “Couldn’t someone else have overheard you tell her?”

“They could have seen me, but they couldn’t have overheard me.” said Mr. Jorgens.

“What do you mean?”

“There were three customers here,” said Mr. Jorgens. “They were sitting under those hair driers. The hair driers make so much noise that the three women couldn’t have heard a word, even if I had shouted.”

“Perhaps you were overheard by someone else—someone who works for you?” suggested Officer Wilson.

“I have only one assistant,” said Mr. Jorgens. “Today is her day off.”

“How long after you told Mrs. Jorgens that you were going to the bank today did you leave?”

“I told my wife about two o’clock,” answered Mr. Jorgens. “It was shortly after the fire engines arrived at the theater. I left for the bank about two-thirty.”

“And how much money was stolen?”

“Seven hundred and twenty dollars,” said Mr. Jorgens.

Officer Wilson had carefully written everything down. He put his notebook away and thanked Mr. Jorgens. He went outside shaking his head, as though he believed the thief would never be caught.

Encyclopedia said nothing. He did not offer to solve the crime till the Browns sat down to dinner that evening.

Chief Brown brought up the case as he was finishing his mushroom soup.

“The only person who knew that Mr. Jorgens was going to the bank was his wife,” he said. “She couldn’t be guilty. The Jorgenses have been happily married for thirty years.”

“It wasn’t Mrs. Jorgens,” said Encyclopedia.

“I know that,” said Chief Brown. “But who was it?”

“It was one of the three women sitting under the hair driers,” said Encyclopedia.

“Impossible!” objected Chief Brown. “The hair driers make too much noise. None of the women could have overheard Mr. Jorgens tell his wife about going to the bank.”

“The guilty woman didn’t overhear him, Dad,” said Encyclopedia.

“Well, who did?” said Chief Brown.

“No one,” said Encyclopedia. “That’s what makes the case so simple.”

“Leroy!” said his mother sharply. “Are you making a joke?”

“I’m not joking, Mom,” said Encyclopedia. “All Dad has to do is find out which one of the three women is—”

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