The Berenstain Bears in the Wax Museum Read Online Free PDF Page B

everybody? Who’d be dumb enough to try that?”
    All of a sudden, the lights went out. The reception was plunged into total darkness. There were a few gasps of surprise, some shuffling of feet, then a crash. The lights came back on.
    â€œRemain calm,” said Madame Bearsaud, standing by the light switch. “Zere is nuzzing wrong wis zee lights. Someone must have bumped zee switch by accident.”

    â€œWhat was that crash?” said Squire Grizzly.
    â€œSomething brushed against me, dear,” said Lady Grizzly, “and made me drop my plate. Oh, my goodness. There’s caviar all over my feet!”
    The last words were barely out of Lady Grizzly’s mouth when the police dog lunged forward and began licking her feet. “Ha-ha-ha!” cried Lady Grizzly. “Stop that, you brute! It tickles!”

    The dog lapped up all the caviar in an instant. But then the dog did something very strange. It jumped up, put its paws on Lady Grizzly, and began to sniff at her necklace.
    â€œDown, Spike!” said Officer Marguerite. “That’s not caviar!”
    â€œNo, it isn’t,” said Lady Grizzly, lifting the necklace to her nose. “But—how odd—it actually smells a little like caviar … Would you have a look at this, dear?”
    Squire Grizzly, who knew a thing or two about the jewelry business, sniffed at the necklace and frowned. “This isn’t your necklace!” he said. “It’s paste—paste with a fish glue base! It’s a cheap imitation!”
    â€œCheap imitation?” wailed Lady Grizzly. “That means my precious necklace has been stolen!” And with that she fainted, keeling over and falling flat on her back.
    Squire Grizzly reached down and patted his wife’s face as Chief Bruno and Officer Marguerite rushed to his side. “Get back, folks!” barked the chief. “Give her some room!”
    â€œShe said something brushed against her!” Fred said to Brother. “Someone must have switched the necklaces while the lights were out!”
    â€œAnd I think I know who it was,” said Brother, looking all around. “Just before the lights went out, I saw Igor hanging around the light switch. I’ll bet he turned out the lights and switched the necklaces. And now he’s gone …”
    â€œWhen the lights came back on,” said Fred, pointing, “I noticed that door closing, as if someone had just gone through it. Let’s check it out!”

Chapter 12
    In the Wax Museum
    When the cubs had slipped through the door, they found themselves in another large room. It was dimly lit, except for spotlights shining down on a collection of lifesize wax figures of famous bears.
    â€œIt’s a side entrance to the wax museum,” whispered Brother. “Maybe Igor’s behind one of the statues. Let’s split up and check ’em out.”
    â€œWait,” whimpered Fred. “What do I do if I find him?”
    â€œGrab ahold of his leg and scream your head off,” said Brother. “I’ll run and get Chief Bruno. And if I catch him, you do likewise.”

    Fred nodded, but he was trembling with fear. Brother gave him a little push, and off he went to look behind Blackbear the Pirate, Genghis Bear, and Count Bearcula. Meanwhile, Brother looked behind Queen Elizabear, Bearjamin Franklin, Gullibear, and the Frankenbear Monster.
    But no Igor.
    â€œHey,” called Fred. “There are three new statues over here! Wax statues of the Bogg Brothers! And they’re perfect!”
    Brother hurried over and looked. Then he took Fred by the arm and pulled him away from the statues of the Bogg Brothers. “Don’t look now,” he said in a hushed voice, “but they’re too perfect.”
    â€œHuh?” said Fred, looking back at the statues.
    â€œI said, don’t look now!” said Brother. “Listen to me. Doesn’t it seem odd to you that