Encyclopedia Brown Keeps the Peace Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Christmas Miracle.” Beside it was pinned a white card on which was written:
    This photograph was taken December 16, at 9:30 P.M., by Winthrop Ledbetter, age 11, in the living room of his parents’ apartment. At the moment Winthrop snapped the picture of his teenage sister Mary, Miss Abigail Greer was toppling from the apartment house roof one story above. Miss Greer’s falling body made this startling background for a photograph that was meant to be used as the Ledbetter family’s Christmas card.
    Miss Greer later said she had lost her footing in the storm winds that reached 40 miles an hour. By a miracle, she landed on an awning and suffered only a broken leg.
    The picture was taken with a Crown camera and flashgun.

    She could be seen falling outside the large window behind the teenage girl.
    Encyclopedia said slowly, “There’s something wrong in that picture....”
    “Find out what it is, but hurry!” said Sally. “Here come the judges.”
    Three men were marching toward Winthrop’s photograph. One of the men carried a blue ribbon.
    “They’re going to give Winthrop first prize —and the bicycle!” said Sally. “Encyclopedia, you’ve got to tell them the picture is nothing but a fake! It is ... isn’t it?”
    Encyclopedia didn’t seem to be listening. He was gazing intently at the picture.
    Suddenly he smiled.
    “It’s a fake, all right,” he said. “Winthrop couldn’t have snapped that picture without a real miracle!”
     
    HOW DID ENCYCLOPEDIA KNOW?
     
     
     
    (Turn to page 95 for the solution to The Case of the Falling Woman.)

The Case of the Red Boat
    “All set for the fish, son?” asked Chief Brown.
    Encyclopedia lifted his fishing pole. “All set,” he answered smiling.
    He didn’t really feel like smiling. He felt like asking questions. He had seen his father slip a gun into the lunchbox.
    During the drive to the docks, Encyclopedia finally got up courage to ask, “Are we really going fishing, Dad?”
    “Of course,” replied Chief Brown. “Why do you ask?”
    “You brought a gun,” said Encyclopedia.
    “Oh ...” said Chief Brown. “You saw it? Well, I don’t expect we’ll meet trouble. I brought it along just in case.”
    “In case of what?”
    “Do you remember the robbery four days ago down in the islands?” Chief Brown said.
    “Two armed men robbed one of the millionaire’s homes,” said Encyclopedia. “They got away with three hundred thousand dollars worth of jewels and furs.”
    “The robbers escaped by motorboat,” said Chief Brown.
    “That was four days ago. You don’t think they’re still at sea! ” exclaimed Encyclopedia.
    “It’s possible,” said Chief Brown. “About the time the robbers made their escape, a storm broke. The rains lasted only an hour or so. But there have been high winds until today.”
    “Do you believe the winds blew the robbers’ boat out to sea?” asked Encyclopedia.
    “The robbers could still be at sea, out of gas and drifting,” said Chief Brown. “But let’s forget about them. Let’s think about fish.”
    At the docks, Encyclopedia helped his father unload the car. They bought ice and bait at the little store by the gas pumps. When everything was aboard, Chief Brown started the motor.
    “Cast off,” he called.
    Encyclopedia undid the lines. The boat was a twenty footer with an outboard motor. Chief Brown rented her three or four Sundays each summer.
    “We’ll try our luck in the ocean first,” said Chief Brown. “If nothing is biting, we can come closer to shore and try for snapper and flounder.”
    The boat moved smoothly across the calm waters of the bay. Once in the ocean, Chief Brown speeded up. As the shore fell farther and farther behind, Encyclopedia thought of the robbers.
    What if he and his father met them at sea?
    The robbers were armed. Would they try to come aboard like pirates? Or would they throw the stolen jewels and furs into the ocean and say they were harmless boatmen?

    For several