The Dashing Dog Mystery Read Free Page B

pleasantly.
    â€œIs Petra home?” Nancy said.
    Mrs. Wylie smiled. “She’s out back, playing with the dog. The easiest thing would be to go around the side and through the gate.”
    â€œThank you,” Nancy said.
    Nancy headed for the backyard. Georgeand Bess followed her. Nancy’s boots made squishing noises as she walked. The ground was muddy from when it had snowed and then thawed recently.
    When they got to the backyard, Nancy glanced around. She didn’t see Petra anywhere. But she did see Prince Fabian. He was running around and around with a chew toy in his mouth.
    Chip ran over to join him. The two dogs chased each other, barking happily.
    â€œI wonder where Petra is —” Nancy began. And then she stopped.
    Then Nancy noticed that Prince Fabian was wearing a collar. A
jeweled
collar.
    Prince Fabian was wearing Chip’s missing collar!

4
Sniffing for Clues
    Nancy couldn’t believe her eyes. Prince Fabian was wearing the stolen collar!
    â€œWhat are you doing here?”
    Nancy turned around. Petra was walking out of the garage, carrying a big rubber ball.
    Petra threw the rubber ball down on the ground. Both Prince Fabian and Chip dived after it.
    Then Petra turned to Nancy with an angry expression. “I said, what are you doing here?” she repeated.
    â€œI think the real question is, what is your dog doing with my dog’s collar?” Nancy shot back.
    â€œWhat?” Bess gasped. She glanced at Prince Fabian. “Nancy, you’re right! Petra,
you’re
the collar thief!” she said accusingly.
    Petra looked surprised. “What? What are you two talking about? What collar thief?”
    George put her hands on her hips. “You stole Chip’s collar yesterday at the Dashing Dog!”
    Petra’s jaw dropped. “I did no such thing!”
    Just then Prince Fabian came running in the girls’ direction. “Come here, boy,” Petra ordered. “That’s right, over here. Heel!”
    Prince Fabian skidded to a halt in front of Petra and wagged his tail expectantly. Petra pointed to the terrier’s collar. “See? That is not Chip’s collar,” she said triumphantly. “It’s
another
Stella Sipowitz collar. It’s a lot prettier, if you ask me!”
    Nancy bent down and took a closer look. Petra was right. Prince Fabian was not wearing Chip’s collar.

    Prince Fabian’s collar was made out of stretchy red fabric, not leather. And the rhinestones were shaped like hearts, not bones.
    â€œUm . . . I’m sorry I accused you,” Nancy apologized. She explained to Petra that someone had taken Chip’s collar the day before at the Dashing Dog.
    When she had finished, she added, “Where did you get this collar, anyway?”
    â€œAt the Dashing Dog,” Petra replied. “When my mom picked me up, I told her about not winning the raffle. So she came into the salon and bought me this collar instead.”
    Nancy apologized to Petra again. Then she, Bess, and George turned to leave.
    Nancy had a hard time getting Chip to come with them. She was having such a good time playing with Prince Fabian. Nancy finally got her to part with her new friend after bribing her with a doggie biscuit.
    â€œNow what?” Bess asked Nancy once they were out on the sidewalk.
    â€œNow we go to my house to have lunch,”Nancy said. “Then, afterward, we check out Suspect Number Two.”
    After a yummy lunch of grilled-cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, courtesy of Hannah, Nancy and her friends got permission to pay Mrs. Vanderpool a visit. Mrs. Vanderpool lived near the park where the girls liked to play.
    This time Nancy left Chip with Hannah. It was Chip’s nap time, anyway.
    Mrs. Vanderpool’s house was an enormous white mansion with big, tall columns. The girls walked down a path lined with low bushes and stone statues of Yorkshire terriers.
    â€œOh, brother,” George