Encyclopedia Brown Shows the Way Read Online Free PDF Page A

cake. It had seven layers.
    “Chester could handle eight without even using his teeth,” thought Encyclopedia.
    Armed with the piece of cake and three cups of cherry fruit punch, the detectives returned to Chester. He should have been delighted.
    He wasn’t.
    “I lost my appetite,” he said. “Look.”
    The tip of the rattlesnake’s tail—the part with the rattle—was missing. Someone had stolen it.
    “They ought to call this the ‘Touch, Feel, and Take Exhibit,’ ” said Sally angrily.
    “Did you see anything suspicious?” asked Encyclopedia.
    “I was watching the cafeteria,” Chester confessed miserably.
    Suddenly he snapped his fingers.
    “Hey, I remember something,” he said. “Just as the ladies were bringing out the punch and chocolate cakes, Esmond Dinglehoofer asked me the time.”
    “What time was it?” inquired Encyclopedia.
    “A quarter to three,” said Chester. “Esmond said, ‘I’d better get home or I’ll miss the auto races on TV.’ But he can’t be the thief. The rattle was still on the snake when he headed for the front door.”
    “I lost my appetite,” Chester said. “Look.”
    “Esmond is in seventh grade,” said Sally. “What was he doing at an exhibit for little children?”
    “Let’s find out,” said Encyclopedia.
    Esmond was on his front lawn when the two detectives biked up. He was making stink bombs.
    “I thought you’d be watching the auto races on television,” said Encyclopedia.
    “Aw, I’ve seen faster action watching a zipper,” said Esmond. “Nobody cracked up. So I came outside.”
    “You were at the Touch and Feel Exhibit at quarter to three,” said Sally. “A little later the rattlesnake’s rattle was discovered missing.”
    “So what?” snarled Esmond.
    “We’ve come to get it,” said Sally.
    Esmond shook his fist. “What you see is what you’ll get,” he threatened.
    Encyclopedia wished Sally didn’t rush into things. “Someone stole the rattle while Chester Jenkins was looking away,” he said quietly.
    “Chester? That big tomato should have kept his eyes on the exhibit,” said Esmond.
    “He was watching the refreshments,” said Encyclopedia.
    “Listen,” said Esmond. “The ladies were bringing out the punch bowls and the seven-layer cakes when Chester told me it was a quarter to three. I came straight home to watch television.”
    “So Chester told us,” admitted Encyclopedia.
    “But you’re probably lying just the same,” said Sally.
    Esmond drew himself up to his full height.
    “A lie has never passed my lips,” he declared.
    “Stop talking through your nose! ” retorted Sally. She stamped her foot. “Ooooh ... I wish I could prove you’re guilty!”
    “I can,” said Encyclopedia.
     
     
    HOW?

The Case of the World Traveler
    A strange boy stepped into the Brown Detective Agency. He looked at Encyclopedia doubtfully.
    “If you were to walk around the earth, how much farther would your head travel than your feet?” he demanded.
    “That depends,” replied Encyclopedia, “on how tall you are and where you walk.”
    “Say you’re six feet tall, and you walk around the earth at the equator—twenty-five thousand miles,” said the boy.
    Encyclopedia did some pencilwork. “Your head would travel thirty-eight feet farther than your feet,” he answered.
    “Correct,” said the boy. “I was told you had no leaks in your think-tank. Now I’m satisfied. You’re my man.”
    He laid twenty-five cents on the gasoline can.
    “My name is Hector Ames,” he said. “I live on the west side, and I’m very interested in the earth. I want to hire you to listen.”
    “To the earth?” exclaimed Encyclopedia.
    “No, to Justin Mudd,” said Hector.
    He explained. He was president of the Idaville Junior Ecology Club. Justin Mudd wanted to join.
    “We always interview a boy before deciding whether to accept him as a member,” said Hector.
    “Why do you need me?” asked Encyclopedia.
    “Justin claims he’s been