Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of Pablos Nose Read Free

doors.”
    â€œMind if I check the kitchen?” Encyclopedia asked.
    Bugs sneered. “Be my guest.”
    In the kitchen the detective flipped a wall switch. The light above the breakfast table went on.
    On the table stood a can of soda. Beside it on a paper plate was the thickest sandwich Encyclopedia had ever seen. Between two pieces of white toast were layers of ham, salami, liverwurst, cheese, lettuce, and tomato.
    â€œI’d just finished making my lunch,” Bugs said, “when I heard you in the garage.”
    â€œYou
framed
us,” Sally accused him. “Tell Mr. McCann the truth or you’ll be sorry.”
    â€œAsk a Tiger to tell a lie? I ought to give you this,” Bugs said, raising a fist.
    â€œWhat’s in it?” Sally asked.
    Bugs came to a fast boil. “I’ve always gone easy on you, you smart skirt. Now it’s fight time for real!”
    â€œSo fight,” Sally said, and stuck out her chin.
    Bugs flew into a rage. He forgot whom he was up against and lunged wildly, trying to get in the first punch.
    Sally ducked. “Sock-a-doodle-do,” she cooed, and fired a one-two to the chops.
    Suddenly Bugs was not feeling like himself. He walked around like a dumb squirrel trying to remember where he’d hidden the acorns.
    Sally fed him a stiff left.
    Bugs landed on his back. After a few gurgles and twitches, he lifted his head and looked around goofy-eyed.
    â€œWhose buffalo was that?” he moaned.
    Sally rubbed her knuckles. “Encyclopedia, we still have to
prove
that Bugs tried to frame us.”
    â€œNo we don’t,” Encyclopedia said. “Bugs proved it for us.”
What Was the Proof?
    (Turn to this page for the solution to The Case of the Peace Offering.)

The Case of the Masked Man

    S unday morning the detectives heard strange noises as they walked past Professor Irvin’s house.
    Sally stopped. “Someone is in trouble.”
    â€œMaybe it’s just a pooch beating its tail on the floor,” Encyclopedia offered hopefully.
    â€œThat’s thumping,” Sally said. “This is stamping. We’d better check it out.”
    Encyclopedia wished Sally were a little less fond of checking things out. Professor Irvin, who taught American history at State University, was a smart man. He could take care of himself.
    Sally walked to the front door. It was unlocked.
    She poked her head in. “Is anyone home?”
    The stamping grew faster and louder.
    The detectives stepped inside.
    â€œProfessor Irvin?” Sally called. “Are you all right?”
    The stamping grew even faster and louder.
    Sally pointed to a closed door. “It’s coming from in there.”
    She pushed the door open a crack, and then all the way.
    Encyclopedia looked into a room walled with bookshelves. A woman sat in a chair in front of a desk. She was bound and gagged.
    The detectives quickly freed her.
    â€œCall the police!” she wailed. “Professor Irvin has been kidnapped!”
    Encyclopedia sped to the telephone on the desk and made the call.
    â€œThe police will be here in a few minutes,” he reported.
    The woman had risen to her feet. She stretched her limbs and rubbed the soreness from her wrists.
    â€œEvery time I heard someone passing the house, I stamped on the floor,” she said. “Thank heaven you children caught on. My legs were about to give out.”
    â€œWho are you, ma’am?” Encyclopedia asked politely.
    â€œMrs. Witten. I’m Professor Irvin’s secretary.” She pulled out a small handkerchief, wiped her eyes, blew her nose, and told them what had happened.
    Half an hour ago she’d been making coffee in the kitchen when a masked gunman entered through the back door. He marched her to the den. Professor Irvin was at his desk.
    â€œAs the masked man was tying me up,” she said, “he noticed Professor Irvin writing on a sheet of paper. The professor