Three Investigators - The Curse of the Mysterious Traveler, page 5
The wind swished through the scraggily leaves of the maze. Off in the distance a crow cawed. But even with the overgrown state of the hedge, it wasn’t difficult to find the center of the maze. It was, after all, designed for children, and the bushes barely came up to their shoulders.
Within minutes they were at the center. Jupe shined his light on the shiny bronze statue of Rocky Beach’s renowned philanthropist, Philip Fulmer.
“Here it is!” he said excitedly. “We know that Gregorio’s son was a sculptor that lived in Rocky Beach. We also know that the clue on the monkey’s paw said to come to this park. The Gypsy’s inheritance must be hidden somewhere near here. Perhaps inside the statue!”
With excitement, they all turned on their flashlights and began searching the area. Pete even climbed up on top of the statue and
www.threeinvestigatorsbooks.com 49
50 The Curse of the Mysterious Traveler examined it thoroughly. After several minutes, Jupiter stopped and pinched his lip.
“Have you given up already?” Allie scoffed.
Jupe paced back and forth in front of the statue, his hands behind his back.
“Something’s not right here,” he said finally.
“What is it, First?” asked Bob.
Before Jupe could answer, Pete hissed a warning.
“Fellows – someone’s coming!”
Everyone strained to see through the growing darkness.
Pete was right! At the entrance to the maze stood two men.
They advanced through the bushes, moving at a quick pace.
Suddenly, Jupiter gave the secret code that meant to run for it.
“Ramble and scramble!” he ordered.
The four darted off through the murky growth of the hedge maze, zigging and zagging as fast as they could move their feet.
They were near the end when Allie stumbled over a root and went sprawling to the ground. She cried out and her flashlight clattered away.
Pete skidded to a stop and raced back. The men were gaining on them! He helped Allie up and they ran hand in hand toward the exit. The two thugs were close enough now that Pete could see that one of them had a large nose that was smashed flat, and the other had a wicked scar that went from one side of his throat to the other!
www.threeinvestigatorsbooks.com 51
Chapter Nine
Ghost to Ghost
“RUN FOR IT!” Pete cried. The fastest runner in their school, Pete was practically pulling Allie along as they sprinted through the darkness.
When they reached their bicycles, Pete let Allie ride his as he climbed on her antique. All four pumped their pedals furiously, throwing occasional glances behind them to make sure they weren’t being followed.
As Jupe looked over his shoulder, he noticed lights blinking on and off around the statue. The two men were searching the area!
“Who were they?” Bob gasped.
“They must be the two men Gregorio mentioned. The men who stole the paw and slashed their way out of his tent,” was Jupiter’s reply.
A short time later they were back in a familiar neighborhood.
Feeling more confident, they eased their pace as they rode back to the salvage yard.
“Some detectives you guys turned out to be!” Allie smirked.
“The first sign of danger and you high-tail it!”
“Remember, you were right behind us!” countered Bob.
“What do we do now, First?” asked Pete. “Those two men may have found the Gypsy’s treasure. We’ve failed!”
“On the contrary,” Jupiter said solemnly. “I believe we are still very much in the thick of things!”
“How can you be so sure?” Allie said skeptically. “Those two goons just chased us off like a bunch of scared little kids. Jujab’s probably counting his loot by now!”
But Jupiter would say no more. He remained silent for the rest of the ride back to the junkyard.
52 The Curse of the Mysterious Traveler When they reached the front gates, they pulled up their bicycles in the gravel drive beneath a streetlight, each breathing hard.
“I suppose I should get home,” said Bob. “Mom’s going to start nagging me about being out so late.”
“Me too,” said Pete. “It’s been a crazy night anyway. My nerves need to rest for awhile!”
“I guess I should get home, too,” Allie conceded. “Indian Queen needs a brushing and some fresh water.”
Everyone looked at Jupiter expectantly.
“It is barely nine o’clock,” he said finally. “There is still time to carry out the next stage of the operation before we each depart for our homes.”
“Next stage?” Allie cried. “I’ve had enough excitement for one evening, thank you very much!”
“I’ll take a double helping of that!” Pete agreed. “I’m going to have nightmares as it is after coming face to face with those two crooks!”
“You will not face any immediate danger,” said Jupe. “We only need to call on a few ghosts!”
“Ghosts?” Allie gasped. “That’s it – old Jones has finally lost his marbles! Now he believes in ghosts!”
“Not real ghosts, Allie,” laughed Bob. “It’s a code word we use for one of Jupe’s schemes. It’s a real beauty, too. When we need help on a case, I call five of my friends. Pete calls five different friends. And Jupiter calls five more. In turn, each “ghost”
calls five of their friends, and so on. In no time at all we’ve got the entire population of kids in Rocky Beach helping us out! We call it the Ghost to Ghost Hookup!”
“Say, that’s a swell plan,” Allie said with genuine admiration.
“And you say Sherlock Jones came up with that? That’s pretty clever – even for him! But wait… I don’t know anyone in Rocky Beach other than you three and Aunt Pat!”
“You can simply observe the operation,” said Jupiter, pushing
www.threeinvestigatorsbooks.com 53
his bicycle along the long fence that surrounded the yard. “But since it is so late, we had better utilize the phone in Headquarters.
Our folks might be displeased if we began calling up half the town at this late hour.”
After about a hundred yards, Jupiter stopped near the corner.
On the boards of the tall fence was painted an ocean scene. A single fish looked out of the green waves of the water, watching a two-masted ship founder in a fierce storm. Jupe pushed the eye of the fish and two boards swung up. The boys called this entrance Green Gate One.
They all shoved their bikes through into Jupiter’s outdoor workshop, and then admitted themselves into Headquarters through Tunnel Two.
Blackbeard fluttered crankily in his cage as Pete snapped on the light, then tucked his head under his wing and went back to sleep.
“What are our ghosts going to be looking for, Jupe?” Bob wondered. “The two crooks that got the treasure?”
Jupiter shook his head. “They didn’t get the treasure. At least, I’m fairly confident they didn’t get it.”
“How can you be so sure?” Allie quizzed him. “Do you have a crystal ball you’re not telling us about?”
“Nothing as fanciful as that,” Jupiter replied somewhat pompously. “As an Investigator, I rely on observation and simple deduction. Pete, you were actually on top of the statue tonight.
Pray tell, what exactly did you see?”
Pete thought for a moment. “Well, it was made out of bronze.
It was on a cement base about four feet tall by four feet wide. And it’s a prime spot for pigeons!”
“But describe the statue,” Jupe urged.
“The statue was of a man,” Allie helped out. “A Philip someone. The philanthropist guy the park was renamed for. But what does that have to do with…”
54 The Curse of the Mysterious Traveler
“Oh!” Bob cried, snapping his fingers. “I get it! We didn’t go there looking for a statue of a man - we went there looking for a statue of the minotaur! We got so wrapped up with finding the treasure; no one noticed the statue had changed!”
“Precisely,” Jupiter agreed. “When the park was renamed for Philip Fulmer fifteen years ago, the statue of the minotaur was taken down and a statue of a man was put in its place. That’s why the name ‘Daedalus’ meant nothing to Gregorio. Had the park still been named Labyrinth Park, he might have made the connection.
We need to know what happened to that statue! If we’re lucky it’s still here in Rocky Beach somewhere.”
With renewed vigor, Bob began the Ghost to Ghost Hookup by calling five of his friends. Then Pete and Jupiter did the same.
Jupe had just hung up from his last call and they were about to exit the trailer when the telephone suddenly rang. They looked at each other in surprise. The Ghost to Ghost had never worked so quickly before! Jupiter snatched up the phone.
“The Three Investigators, Jupiter Jones speaking.”
Pete, Bob, and Allie watched Jupiter as he cradled the phone by his shoulder and jotted down an address on a notepad.
“Oh – hello! Of course. I see,” he was murmuring into the phone. “You don’t say? Are you sure about that? Hmmm…
You’re absolutely positive? Well, The Three Investigators thank you for your help. Please stop by the salvage yard tomorrow to pick out one free item under five dollars. We appreciate your swift reply. Goodbye.”
Jupiter hung up the phone and plopped down in his office chair. He let out a long sigh and itched at his cast.
“Well?” Pete cried. “Spill it!”
Jupiter looked at his friends and sighed again. “We’ve found the statue. Unfortunately it is presently presiding over the garden of one E. Skinner Norris!”
www.threeinvestigatorsbooks.com 55
Chapter Ten
House Call
“SKINNY NORRIS?” Pete howled. “Anyone but him!”
E. Skinner Norris spent part of each year in Rocky Beach with his family, who had a second mansion in another state. As his second home provided driver’s licenses to juveniles, Skinny was able to drive his own car. This fact, along with a considerable weekly spending allowance, led Skinny to trouble more often than not.
He tried to make himself a leader among the kids in town by paying for their friendship.
Skinny’s ultimate goal each summer was to prove that he was smarter and more clever than Jupiter Jones. He had tried many times in the past – but he never succeeded! Still, this didn’t stop him from snooping into Jupe’s business, and that of The Three Investigators; making him a genuine, Grade-A headache!
“Who’s Skinny Norris?” Allie wanted to know. “Why can’t we just ask him if we can look at his statue?”
“We might as well try to build a rocket ship and fly to the moon,” Bob said dejectedly. “If the statue is at Skinny’s house, we’re sunk! He hates Jupe – and The Three Investigators!”
“It’s the curse,” Pete said finally. “The curse is working against us! Nothing has gone right on this case from the start. And now the minotaur statue is at Skinny’s house.”
“Nonsense,” Jupiter snapped. “Jujab must know we have the monkey’s paw – he could come and get it anytime he wanted. But he hasn’t! I don’t think he’s interested in the paw at all. Somehow he knows about the treasure and is using us to find it!”
“But he wasn’t counting on Skinny Norris!” Bob added.
“It certainly is an obstacle,” Jupiter said lamely. “Naturally, Skinny won’t let us within a half mile of his garden, much less the statue!”
56 The Curse of the Mysterious Traveler Feeling glum at this new development, they sat quietly around the desk, each trying to figure out a way to get past Skinny Norris.
After a moment, Jupe cleared his throat.
“Of course, there is one way we could circumvent this unfortunate predicament.”
“And what is that, Encyclopedia Jones?” Allie snorted.
Jupiter gave her a smug grin. “Skinny knows us – but he doesn’t know you!”
“Oh no you don’t!” cried Allie. “I didn’t sign on for this!”
“You were the one who was bored and insisted on tagging along on this investigation,” Bob exclaimed.
“That’s right!” agreed Pete. “Besides, if you want to solve this mystery you have to do it. There’s no other way we can get past Skinny!”
Allie knew they were right, but she pretended to think about it just to get under their skin.
“I’ll do it on one condition,” she grinned.
“Name it!” Pete said.
Allie opened the trap door to Tunnel Two and started climbing down. “That you three clean Indian Queen’s stable when this case is all over!”
The boys just sat there, their mouths hanging open. Before they could think up a reply, Allie had disappeared. They could still hear her laughing as she made her way down the long corrugated pipe.”
“She’s got some nerve!” Pete seethed.
“She certainly has,” Jupe agreed. “And unfortunately we have no other alternative.”
The next day, the boys put in a few hours of work at the salvage yard and then took their lunch in Jupiter’s workshop, where they waited for Allie to arrive.
They had just cleaned their plates when the boards for Green
www.threeinvestigatorsbooks.com 57
Gate One swung open and she pushed her Aunt’s old bicycle through. Pete was the first to notice her clothes. Instead of faded jeans and a t-shirt, she was wearing a fashionable yellow sun dress and matching designer shoes!
“Whiskers! What’s got into you?” he cried.
“Not another word!” Allie warned. “I’m only doing this for the case. My Aunt Pat bought this crazy get-up last summer. I never even took the price-tags off of it! But I figured I would never get past this Skinny character as a reporter for the Junior Girl’s League wearing torn jeans and a western shirt!”
“The old Junior Girls League ploy,” Jupiter said with admiration. “An excellent cover story.”
Allie wasn’t sure if Jupiter was serious or giving her a genuine compliment, but she let it slip. “That’s right. As far as Skinny Norris knows, I’m simply a reporter for the JGL doing an editori-al on strange works of art in Rocky Beach for our monthly newsletter.”
Jupiter took her bicycle and leaned it against the printing press. “Fortunately, you won’t need this today. The Norris’s live in a big mansion on the far side of town. I wouldn’t dream of having you ride this contraption all that distance in a dress. I have arranged for far more suitable transportation.”
Just then a car horn honked out front. The four hurried to the front gates where they found Worthington waiting for them beside the gleaming, gold-plated Rolls Royce. Pete gave a low whistle.
No matter how many times he saw it, he was always impressed by the automobile’s fabulous black luster and gleaming golden adornments.
“Good afternoon, sirs,” Worthington said in a crisp British accent. “Good afternoon, ma’am.” He tipped his cap to Allie and then opened the back door for them. “The Rolls is filled with petrol and at your disposal, Master Jones.”
“Very good, Worthington,” Jupiter grinned. As Worthington
58 The Curse of the Mysterious Traveler drove them up through the hilly section of Rocky Beach where much of the town’s ritzy population lived, Jupiter explained their current case to the chauffeur. Worthington always took a keen interest in their cases.
“Your client last week,” said Jupiter. “The one with the fez and the white suit. Can you tell us anything about him?”
Worthington shook his head. “As you know, I am always grateful when I am given the opportunity to assist The Three Investigators. It is much more fulfilling work than catering to bored millionaires. However, as I’m sure you can understand, it is against regulations to provide details about another client. My apologies, Master Jones.”
“Of course, Worthington,” said Jupe. “I understand. It looks like we have arrived. Continue on down the block and park around the corner. We want to attract as little attention as possible.”
“Very good, sir,” said Worthington.
When the big car had been parked, the four climbed out and began walking back toward the Norris’s sprawling estate.
“Remember your cover story,” Jupiter was instructing Allie.
“Skinny may be a nuisance, but he’s no dummy. He’ll suspect something if he thinks that you’re lying. We’ll be observing the garden from a distance. If you can, try to get him to leave you alone with the statue. Look for a hidden compartment of some kind.”
“All right, all right!” she sighed. “Just leave it to me!”
The boys watched her enter the front gate of the giant mansion and stroll up to the front door. Then they hurried along the side of the property’s large stone wall and found a tree that allowed them to see over.
Jupiter held binoculars up to his eyes and scanned the Norris’s vast garden.
“I see the statue,” he reported. “It’s the only bronze one out
www.threeinvestigatorsbooks.com 59
there. All the rest are white marble.”
Five minutes passed before he saw movement at the back door. “There she is!” Jupe hissed. “And Skinny’s with her!
They’re walking over to the statue. Skinny’s saying something.
Now they’re laughing.”
Jupiter watched quietly for a moment, but his next words made Pete and Bob’s hair stand on end.
“Uh-oh!”
“What’s wrong?” Pete demanded. He grabbed the glasses from Jupiter and peered at the garden. It didn’t take him long to see what had alarmed Jupiter.
“Creeps! It’s those two thugs from the park! Where’d they come from?”
60 The Curse of the Mysterious Traveler Chapter Eleven
Masher & Croaker
“THEY MUST HAVE scaled the wall,” Jupiter said grimly.
“Come on!”
Without a second thought, Jupe leapt from the branch he was perched on to the top of the large stone wall. Pete and Bob followed suit and all three dropped down into the Norris’s garden.
With Pete in the lead, The Three Investigators made their way along a stone walkway; past various marble statues and beds of exotic flowers and plants. When they reached the statue they were out of breath. The minotaur presided over the small gathering of people; its blue-green body, highly polished, gleamed majestically in the afternoon sunlight.
Within minutes they were at the center. Jupe shined his light on the shiny bronze statue of Rocky Beach’s renowned philanthropist, Philip Fulmer.
“Here it is!” he said excitedly. “We know that Gregorio’s son was a sculptor that lived in Rocky Beach. We also know that the clue on the monkey’s paw said to come to this park. The Gypsy’s inheritance must be hidden somewhere near here. Perhaps inside the statue!”
With excitement, they all turned on their flashlights and began searching the area. Pete even climbed up on top of the statue and
www.threeinvestigatorsbooks.com 49
50 The Curse of the Mysterious Traveler examined it thoroughly. After several minutes, Jupiter stopped and pinched his lip.
“Have you given up already?” Allie scoffed.
Jupe paced back and forth in front of the statue, his hands behind his back.
“Something’s not right here,” he said finally.
“What is it, First?” asked Bob.
Before Jupe could answer, Pete hissed a warning.
“Fellows – someone’s coming!”
Everyone strained to see through the growing darkness.
Pete was right! At the entrance to the maze stood two men.
They advanced through the bushes, moving at a quick pace.
Suddenly, Jupiter gave the secret code that meant to run for it.
“Ramble and scramble!” he ordered.
The four darted off through the murky growth of the hedge maze, zigging and zagging as fast as they could move their feet.
They were near the end when Allie stumbled over a root and went sprawling to the ground. She cried out and her flashlight clattered away.
Pete skidded to a stop and raced back. The men were gaining on them! He helped Allie up and they ran hand in hand toward the exit. The two thugs were close enough now that Pete could see that one of them had a large nose that was smashed flat, and the other had a wicked scar that went from one side of his throat to the other!
www.threeinvestigatorsbooks.com 51
Chapter Nine
Ghost to Ghost
“RUN FOR IT!” Pete cried. The fastest runner in their school, Pete was practically pulling Allie along as they sprinted through the darkness.
When they reached their bicycles, Pete let Allie ride his as he climbed on her antique. All four pumped their pedals furiously, throwing occasional glances behind them to make sure they weren’t being followed.
As Jupe looked over his shoulder, he noticed lights blinking on and off around the statue. The two men were searching the area!
“Who were they?” Bob gasped.
“They must be the two men Gregorio mentioned. The men who stole the paw and slashed their way out of his tent,” was Jupiter’s reply.
A short time later they were back in a familiar neighborhood.
Feeling more confident, they eased their pace as they rode back to the salvage yard.
“Some detectives you guys turned out to be!” Allie smirked.
“The first sign of danger and you high-tail it!”
“Remember, you were right behind us!” countered Bob.
“What do we do now, First?” asked Pete. “Those two men may have found the Gypsy’s treasure. We’ve failed!”
“On the contrary,” Jupiter said solemnly. “I believe we are still very much in the thick of things!”
“How can you be so sure?” Allie said skeptically. “Those two goons just chased us off like a bunch of scared little kids. Jujab’s probably counting his loot by now!”
But Jupiter would say no more. He remained silent for the rest of the ride back to the junkyard.
52 The Curse of the Mysterious Traveler When they reached the front gates, they pulled up their bicycles in the gravel drive beneath a streetlight, each breathing hard.
“I suppose I should get home,” said Bob. “Mom’s going to start nagging me about being out so late.”
“Me too,” said Pete. “It’s been a crazy night anyway. My nerves need to rest for awhile!”
“I guess I should get home, too,” Allie conceded. “Indian Queen needs a brushing and some fresh water.”
Everyone looked at Jupiter expectantly.
“It is barely nine o’clock,” he said finally. “There is still time to carry out the next stage of the operation before we each depart for our homes.”
“Next stage?” Allie cried. “I’ve had enough excitement for one evening, thank you very much!”
“I’ll take a double helping of that!” Pete agreed. “I’m going to have nightmares as it is after coming face to face with those two crooks!”
“You will not face any immediate danger,” said Jupe. “We only need to call on a few ghosts!”
“Ghosts?” Allie gasped. “That’s it – old Jones has finally lost his marbles! Now he believes in ghosts!”
“Not real ghosts, Allie,” laughed Bob. “It’s a code word we use for one of Jupe’s schemes. It’s a real beauty, too. When we need help on a case, I call five of my friends. Pete calls five different friends. And Jupiter calls five more. In turn, each “ghost”
calls five of their friends, and so on. In no time at all we’ve got the entire population of kids in Rocky Beach helping us out! We call it the Ghost to Ghost Hookup!”
“Say, that’s a swell plan,” Allie said with genuine admiration.
“And you say Sherlock Jones came up with that? That’s pretty clever – even for him! But wait… I don’t know anyone in Rocky Beach other than you three and Aunt Pat!”
“You can simply observe the operation,” said Jupiter, pushing
www.threeinvestigatorsbooks.com 53
his bicycle along the long fence that surrounded the yard. “But since it is so late, we had better utilize the phone in Headquarters.
Our folks might be displeased if we began calling up half the town at this late hour.”
After about a hundred yards, Jupiter stopped near the corner.
On the boards of the tall fence was painted an ocean scene. A single fish looked out of the green waves of the water, watching a two-masted ship founder in a fierce storm. Jupe pushed the eye of the fish and two boards swung up. The boys called this entrance Green Gate One.
They all shoved their bikes through into Jupiter’s outdoor workshop, and then admitted themselves into Headquarters through Tunnel Two.
Blackbeard fluttered crankily in his cage as Pete snapped on the light, then tucked his head under his wing and went back to sleep.
“What are our ghosts going to be looking for, Jupe?” Bob wondered. “The two crooks that got the treasure?”
Jupiter shook his head. “They didn’t get the treasure. At least, I’m fairly confident they didn’t get it.”
“How can you be so sure?” Allie quizzed him. “Do you have a crystal ball you’re not telling us about?”
“Nothing as fanciful as that,” Jupiter replied somewhat pompously. “As an Investigator, I rely on observation and simple deduction. Pete, you were actually on top of the statue tonight.
Pray tell, what exactly did you see?”
Pete thought for a moment. “Well, it was made out of bronze.
It was on a cement base about four feet tall by four feet wide. And it’s a prime spot for pigeons!”
“But describe the statue,” Jupe urged.
“The statue was of a man,” Allie helped out. “A Philip someone. The philanthropist guy the park was renamed for. But what does that have to do with…”
54 The Curse of the Mysterious Traveler
“Oh!” Bob cried, snapping his fingers. “I get it! We didn’t go there looking for a statue of a man - we went there looking for a statue of the minotaur! We got so wrapped up with finding the treasure; no one noticed the statue had changed!”
“Precisely,” Jupiter agreed. “When the park was renamed for Philip Fulmer fifteen years ago, the statue of the minotaur was taken down and a statue of a man was put in its place. That’s why the name ‘Daedalus’ meant nothing to Gregorio. Had the park still been named Labyrinth Park, he might have made the connection.
We need to know what happened to that statue! If we’re lucky it’s still here in Rocky Beach somewhere.”
With renewed vigor, Bob began the Ghost to Ghost Hookup by calling five of his friends. Then Pete and Jupiter did the same.
Jupe had just hung up from his last call and they were about to exit the trailer when the telephone suddenly rang. They looked at each other in surprise. The Ghost to Ghost had never worked so quickly before! Jupiter snatched up the phone.
“The Three Investigators, Jupiter Jones speaking.”
Pete, Bob, and Allie watched Jupiter as he cradled the phone by his shoulder and jotted down an address on a notepad.
“Oh – hello! Of course. I see,” he was murmuring into the phone. “You don’t say? Are you sure about that? Hmmm…
You’re absolutely positive? Well, The Three Investigators thank you for your help. Please stop by the salvage yard tomorrow to pick out one free item under five dollars. We appreciate your swift reply. Goodbye.”
Jupiter hung up the phone and plopped down in his office chair. He let out a long sigh and itched at his cast.
“Well?” Pete cried. “Spill it!”
Jupiter looked at his friends and sighed again. “We’ve found the statue. Unfortunately it is presently presiding over the garden of one E. Skinner Norris!”
www.threeinvestigatorsbooks.com 55
Chapter Ten
House Call
“SKINNY NORRIS?” Pete howled. “Anyone but him!”
E. Skinner Norris spent part of each year in Rocky Beach with his family, who had a second mansion in another state. As his second home provided driver’s licenses to juveniles, Skinny was able to drive his own car. This fact, along with a considerable weekly spending allowance, led Skinny to trouble more often than not.
He tried to make himself a leader among the kids in town by paying for their friendship.
Skinny’s ultimate goal each summer was to prove that he was smarter and more clever than Jupiter Jones. He had tried many times in the past – but he never succeeded! Still, this didn’t stop him from snooping into Jupe’s business, and that of The Three Investigators; making him a genuine, Grade-A headache!
“Who’s Skinny Norris?” Allie wanted to know. “Why can’t we just ask him if we can look at his statue?”
“We might as well try to build a rocket ship and fly to the moon,” Bob said dejectedly. “If the statue is at Skinny’s house, we’re sunk! He hates Jupe – and The Three Investigators!”
“It’s the curse,” Pete said finally. “The curse is working against us! Nothing has gone right on this case from the start. And now the minotaur statue is at Skinny’s house.”
“Nonsense,” Jupiter snapped. “Jujab must know we have the monkey’s paw – he could come and get it anytime he wanted. But he hasn’t! I don’t think he’s interested in the paw at all. Somehow he knows about the treasure and is using us to find it!”
“But he wasn’t counting on Skinny Norris!” Bob added.
“It certainly is an obstacle,” Jupiter said lamely. “Naturally, Skinny won’t let us within a half mile of his garden, much less the statue!”
56 The Curse of the Mysterious Traveler Feeling glum at this new development, they sat quietly around the desk, each trying to figure out a way to get past Skinny Norris.
After a moment, Jupe cleared his throat.
“Of course, there is one way we could circumvent this unfortunate predicament.”
“And what is that, Encyclopedia Jones?” Allie snorted.
Jupiter gave her a smug grin. “Skinny knows us – but he doesn’t know you!”
“Oh no you don’t!” cried Allie. “I didn’t sign on for this!”
“You were the one who was bored and insisted on tagging along on this investigation,” Bob exclaimed.
“That’s right!” agreed Pete. “Besides, if you want to solve this mystery you have to do it. There’s no other way we can get past Skinny!”
Allie knew they were right, but she pretended to think about it just to get under their skin.
“I’ll do it on one condition,” she grinned.
“Name it!” Pete said.
Allie opened the trap door to Tunnel Two and started climbing down. “That you three clean Indian Queen’s stable when this case is all over!”
The boys just sat there, their mouths hanging open. Before they could think up a reply, Allie had disappeared. They could still hear her laughing as she made her way down the long corrugated pipe.”
“She’s got some nerve!” Pete seethed.
“She certainly has,” Jupe agreed. “And unfortunately we have no other alternative.”
The next day, the boys put in a few hours of work at the salvage yard and then took their lunch in Jupiter’s workshop, where they waited for Allie to arrive.
They had just cleaned their plates when the boards for Green
www.threeinvestigatorsbooks.com 57
Gate One swung open and she pushed her Aunt’s old bicycle through. Pete was the first to notice her clothes. Instead of faded jeans and a t-shirt, she was wearing a fashionable yellow sun dress and matching designer shoes!
“Whiskers! What’s got into you?” he cried.
“Not another word!” Allie warned. “I’m only doing this for the case. My Aunt Pat bought this crazy get-up last summer. I never even took the price-tags off of it! But I figured I would never get past this Skinny character as a reporter for the Junior Girl’s League wearing torn jeans and a western shirt!”
“The old Junior Girls League ploy,” Jupiter said with admiration. “An excellent cover story.”
Allie wasn’t sure if Jupiter was serious or giving her a genuine compliment, but she let it slip. “That’s right. As far as Skinny Norris knows, I’m simply a reporter for the JGL doing an editori-al on strange works of art in Rocky Beach for our monthly newsletter.”
Jupiter took her bicycle and leaned it against the printing press. “Fortunately, you won’t need this today. The Norris’s live in a big mansion on the far side of town. I wouldn’t dream of having you ride this contraption all that distance in a dress. I have arranged for far more suitable transportation.”
Just then a car horn honked out front. The four hurried to the front gates where they found Worthington waiting for them beside the gleaming, gold-plated Rolls Royce. Pete gave a low whistle.
No matter how many times he saw it, he was always impressed by the automobile’s fabulous black luster and gleaming golden adornments.
“Good afternoon, sirs,” Worthington said in a crisp British accent. “Good afternoon, ma’am.” He tipped his cap to Allie and then opened the back door for them. “The Rolls is filled with petrol and at your disposal, Master Jones.”
“Very good, Worthington,” Jupiter grinned. As Worthington
58 The Curse of the Mysterious Traveler drove them up through the hilly section of Rocky Beach where much of the town’s ritzy population lived, Jupiter explained their current case to the chauffeur. Worthington always took a keen interest in their cases.
“Your client last week,” said Jupiter. “The one with the fez and the white suit. Can you tell us anything about him?”
Worthington shook his head. “As you know, I am always grateful when I am given the opportunity to assist The Three Investigators. It is much more fulfilling work than catering to bored millionaires. However, as I’m sure you can understand, it is against regulations to provide details about another client. My apologies, Master Jones.”
“Of course, Worthington,” said Jupe. “I understand. It looks like we have arrived. Continue on down the block and park around the corner. We want to attract as little attention as possible.”
“Very good, sir,” said Worthington.
When the big car had been parked, the four climbed out and began walking back toward the Norris’s sprawling estate.
“Remember your cover story,” Jupiter was instructing Allie.
“Skinny may be a nuisance, but he’s no dummy. He’ll suspect something if he thinks that you’re lying. We’ll be observing the garden from a distance. If you can, try to get him to leave you alone with the statue. Look for a hidden compartment of some kind.”
“All right, all right!” she sighed. “Just leave it to me!”
The boys watched her enter the front gate of the giant mansion and stroll up to the front door. Then they hurried along the side of the property’s large stone wall and found a tree that allowed them to see over.
Jupiter held binoculars up to his eyes and scanned the Norris’s vast garden.
“I see the statue,” he reported. “It’s the only bronze one out
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there. All the rest are white marble.”
Five minutes passed before he saw movement at the back door. “There she is!” Jupe hissed. “And Skinny’s with her!
They’re walking over to the statue. Skinny’s saying something.
Now they’re laughing.”
Jupiter watched quietly for a moment, but his next words made Pete and Bob’s hair stand on end.
“Uh-oh!”
“What’s wrong?” Pete demanded. He grabbed the glasses from Jupiter and peered at the garden. It didn’t take him long to see what had alarmed Jupiter.
“Creeps! It’s those two thugs from the park! Where’d they come from?”
60 The Curse of the Mysterious Traveler Chapter Eleven
Masher & Croaker
“THEY MUST HAVE scaled the wall,” Jupiter said grimly.
“Come on!”
Without a second thought, Jupe leapt from the branch he was perched on to the top of the large stone wall. Pete and Bob followed suit and all three dropped down into the Norris’s garden.
With Pete in the lead, The Three Investigators made their way along a stone walkway; past various marble statues and beds of exotic flowers and plants. When they reached the statue they were out of breath. The minotaur presided over the small gathering of people; its blue-green body, highly polished, gleamed majestically in the afternoon sunlight.
