"Carey, M.V. - The Three Investigators 23 - The Mystery of the Invisible Dog" - читать интересную книгу автора (Carey M.V)

M. V. Carey

The Mystery of the Invisible Dog





A Word from Alfred Hitchcock



Greetings, mystery fans!

Again it is my pleasure to introduce that trio of young detectives known as the Three Investigators. They specialize in unusual cases, bizarre happenings, and eerie events. And unusual, bizarre, and eerie their new adventure certainly is! In it, they encounter one haunted man, a phantom priest, a would-be mystic with the ability to walk through walls, and also the image of a demon dog--a very solid image which manages to be completely invisible.

For any reader who is meeting the Three Investigators for the first time, I shall duly state that Jupiter Jones, the leader of the group, is a plump young lad with a keen mind and insatiable curiosity. Pete Crenshaw is quick and athletic, and Bob Andrews, a bookish fellow, keeps the records for the group and has a decided talent for research. All three reside in the coastal town of Rocky Beach, California, on the outskirts of Los Angeles.

So much for introductions. You may now turn to Chapter One and commence reading!



ALFRED HITCHCOCK





1

The Haunted Man



IT WAS TWILIGHT--the abrupt, chill twilight of late December--when Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw, and Bob Andrews first came to Paseo Place. They walked up the street past a park where a few late roses still bloomed in spite of the cold. Next to the park was a stucco house with a sign announcing that this was St Jude's Rectory. Beyond the rectory, lights glowed behind the stained-glass windows of a little church and an organ boomed and droned. The boys could hear children's voices piping phrases from an old hymn.

They passed the church and came to an apartment house which looked very private. On the street level it had a row of garages. Above these were two storeys of apartments. All of the windows had carefully closed curtains, as if the tenants wanted to shut out the world.

"This is it," said Jupiter Jones. "Number 402 Paseo Place, and it is now exactly half past five. We're right on time."

To the right of the garages, broad flagstone steps led up one flight towards a gate. A man in a camel-coloured jacket was coming down them now. He passed the boys without looking at them.

Jupe started up the steps, with Pete and Bob close behind him. Suddenly Pete jumped and let out a startled exclamation.

Jupe stopped. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a small, dark shape glide away down the stairs.

"It's only a cat," said Bob.

"I almost stepped on it." Pete shivered and pulled his dark ski jacket closer around him. "A black cat!"