Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of Pablos Nose Read Online Free PDF Page A

eating just half a pound of feed, he said, a hen would lay scrambled eggs.
    â€œWilford has called a secret meeting at the city dump for five o’clock today,” Fifi said.
    â€œWhat’s he selling now?” Sally inquired. “A sauce that makes space suits taste like pot roast?”
    â€œWilford didn’t say,” Fifi replied. “But he promised to make us little kids so rich our banks will beg for mercy.”
    â€œWilford is long on promises but so short on memory he thinks he’s honest,” Encyclopedia said.
    â€œThis time is different,” Fifi insisted. “Wilford told me he isn’t lying anymore. I believe him. He hates liars.”
    â€œIs that why he goes around swearing at himself?” Sally snapped.
    Fifi suddenly looked troubled.
    â€œI’d better hire you,” she said, handing Encyclopedia a quarter. “I want you to make sure whatever Wilford is selling today is more than fast talk.”
    â€œIf we’re going to help, we better hurry,” Sally said. “It’s nearly five o’clock.”
    Wilford was standing beside a beat-up kitchen chair when the detectives and Fifi arrived at the city dump.
    â€œGather round,” he called to the crowd of small children, “and bring your ears. I don’t want any of my young friends to miss this chance of a lifetime!”
    The children moved closer. They were eager to hear his newest shortcut to Easy Street.
    Wilford threw up his hands. “Crime is rising every day. If it keeps going up, we’ll all be criminals.”
    â€œAw, lay off the laughs!” a boy hollered. “Show us your moneymaker.”
    â€œRight here, friend, right here,” Wilford said.
    From under his shirt he pulled a black tube.
    His voice rose with excitement. “You’re thinking this is just a flashlight. No way! It only looks like a flashlight. That is the beauty of it. A mugger won’t suspect a thing until it’s too late.”
    He peered at the ring of children.
    â€œWhat is it, you ask? It’s the Wilford Whammy! To show you its amazing power, I need a volunteer.”
    No one raised a hand.
    â€œI won’t hurt you,” Wilford called. “Trust me.”
    A blond boy whom Encyclopedia had never seen before pushed forward. “How about me, motormouth?”
    â€œYou’ll do,” Wilford answered coolly. “Make believe you have a knife. Demand all my cash.”
    â€œGimme your wallet,” the boy said, speaking as if he meant it.
    Wilford whipped the Wilford Whammy against the boy’s forehead.
    â€œI can’t move,” the boy croaked.
    Wilford quickly withdrew the Wilford Whammy. The boy shook his head and slunk away, meek as an off-duty cow.
    â€œYou saw for yourself,” Wilford sang. “The Wilford Whammy zapped him silly faster than you can hiccup!”
    â€œBaloney!” shouted Fifi. “Try it on someone we know. Try it on me.”
    Her challenge appeared to startle Wilford, but he gathered himself quickly. “I don’t use it on girls,” he said.
    The other children jeered. They also hissed, hooted, and howled until Wilford gave in.
    â€œOkay, okay,” he said. “Better sit on this chair, little girl. I don’t want you falling off your feet and cracking your pretty skull.”
    Fifi sat down.
    â€œChin up, head back, that’s it,” Wilford said as he pressed the Wilford Whammy to her forehead. “I’ll only use half power. Go on, stand up.”
    Fifi could not stand up.
    â€œOh, you better mousetrap, move over!” Wilford roared in triumph.
    The crowd of children stared wide-eyed as he removed the Wilford Whammy.
    â€œI’ll be honest with you,” Wilford confessed. “I need money to build a factory. So I’m going to let my little pals buy shares in the Wilford Whammy for five dollars a share. The more shares you buy, the more money you’ll