The Dragon Done It Read Free

desk.
    "On the other hand, the night's a pup," said Mallory. Suddenly Felina hissed. "Or a kitten, anyway."
    "It began about two weeks ago," said Macro. "At first I thought I was losing a little weight, because my clothes were just a bit loose. I didn't mention it to anyone, because, to be honest, I could do with a little less weight."
    "And at the same time," chimed in Micro, "I noticed that my shoes were getting tight, and that my pants seemed a little shorter."
    "It took us almost a week to understand the full magnitude of what was happening," said Macro. "Some fiend has been making me shrink down to normal size . . ."
    ". . . and me grow up to it," said Micro.
    "You have to help us, Mallory!" Macro implored the detective. "All we've ever been is a giant and a midget. We have no other skills. What do I know about tightrope walking or lion taming?"
    "There are other occupations," noted Mallory.
    "We don't want any other occupations!" shouted Micro. "We want you to find the bastard who did this to us and make him restore us to our former glory."
    "We'll pay you a thousand dollars a day and a bonus if you succeed," said Macro.
    "Of course," added Micro, "you'll have to succeed in four days or less. We're just about tapped out, what with buying new clothes every day."
    "I'll do what I can," said Mallory. "Now, who do you think might have a grudge against you?"
    "We're the salt of the earth," replied Macro. "You could look far and wide and not find two more lovable souls. Everybody knows that."
    "So no one you know has any reason to do this to the pair of you?"
    "Well, there's Atlas, the Strong Man," said Micro. "He found out that we were having a little fun with his wife."
    "Both of you?" asked Mallory.
    "We're a team."
    "So I should start by questioning the strong man?"
    "And the lion tamer," added Macro. "And the tightrope walker. Oh, and two of the bareback riders."
    "Don't forget the clowns," said Micro.
    "How could they know?" asked Macro. "After all, we were wearing clown make-up the whole time."
    "There aren't a lot of ten-foot clowns in the circus," said Micro. He turned back to Mallory. "And probably you should ask two of the jugglers. Don't bother with the one in the middle; he's a bachelor."
    "I think what you're telling me is that if it works for the circus and has a wife or a girlfriend, it has a grudge against you," said Mallory.
    "In essence," admitted Macro.
    "What about the sideshow acts?"
    "Well," said Micro, "there's the sword swallower. And of course the fire eater. And the contortionist's husband."
    "Oh my goodness yes!" said Macro, a blissful smile. "The contortionist!"
    "I'm surprised you guys had time to go on display," said Mallory dryly.
    "We never missed a show," said Macro.
    "Or a woman," added Micro.
    "Anyone not connected with the circus got a grudge against you?" asked Mallory. "After all, there are probably three or four million husbands wandering around Manhattan."
    "No, we always keep it in the family."
    "I can't tell you how many filthy puns spring to mind," replied Mallory.
    "If you'll tell them to me as soon as these two leave, I'll tell you the one about the explorer and the three belly dancers," said Perriwinkle.
    "What was that?" ask Macro.
    "My magic mirror," said Mallory. "Say hello to the gentlemen, Perriwinkle."
    "Hi, guys," said Perriwinkle.
    "It talks!" exclaimed Micro.
    "Of course I talk."
    "I don't think I ever saw a talking mirror before," said Micro.
    "That's your loss," said Perriwinkle. "I come from a long line of magic mirrors, so don't you go acting as if I'm a mere object . I have hopes and fears and sexual needs, just like anyone else."
    "Not like these two, I hope," interjected Mallory.
    "How did you get such a wondrous thing?" asked Macro.
    "I kind of inherited it," said Mallory.
    "He gave me to the army, but I was bored there," added Perriwinkle. "All they wanted were battle scenes, so I came back here. At least John Justin enjoys black-and-white movies and