"Carey, M.V. - The Three Investigators 31 - The Mystery of the Scar-Faced Beggar" - читать интересную книгу автора (Carey M.V)

"You ask about a wallet," she said. "That is strange. Last night I dreamed of a wallet."

The younger woman smiled. "My mother-in-law is a terrifying person," she told Jupiter. "She dreams dreams that sometimes come true."

"It is not I who am terrifying," said the older woman. There was a trace of accent in her speech, and it grew stronger now. "Sometimes the dreams make me afraid. Last night I dreamed that a man came who is a stranger. He picked up a wallet from the ground and put it in his pocket, fast.

"He was a strange man, that one. He had grey hair like my Vincenzo's hair before he died, but he was not small and old like Vincenzo. He was younger, and he had black glasses. On his face was a scar, like someone cut him once with a knife. He tapped his way with a stick like a blind man, but he knew that I was watching him. He was a danger to me, I knew. It was a bad dream, and very real."

She looked around to the younger woman. "It makes me uneasy, Eileen."

Next to Jupe there was a sound that was almost a gasp.

Jupe turned. Ernie had gone pale, and it seemed to Jupe that he shook slightly.

"What's the matter, Ernie?" said the younger woman. "Does that description fit anyone you know?"

"Oh, no!" Ernie spoke quickly and too loudly. "It's just scary when Mrs. Denicola does that."

"I know what you mean," said the younger woman.

No one spoke for a moment. Then Jupe thanked the two women and backed out of the office. He hurried across the highway to Pete, who was still watching the surfers in a dreamy way.

"We have just hit the jackpot!" said Jupe. "The old lady in the office there is Mrs. Denicola, and the younger woman is her daughter-in-law, and she says the old lady dreams true dreams."

"You mean she dreams about things that are going to happen?" said Pete.

"Maybe," said Jupe, "but she also dreams about things that have happened. She just dreamed of a man who found a wallet and put it in his pocket. He was a man who tapped his way with a stick--a blind man. And he was a danger to her!"

Pete stared. "You made that up!" he accused.

"I didn't. I'm repeating exactly what she said. She's afraid, and so is that guy who was out on the boat when we first got here. Hearing about that dream scared him stiff. He knows something about the blind man, and he doesn't want anyone to know that he knows! He has something to do with our puzzle. I intend to find out what it is!"





7

Pete Gatecrashes a Meeting



IT WAS PETE who decided that he would stay near the Denicola pier and watch the man named Ernie.

"If he's up to something, we'd better find out what it is," said Pete, "and he's seen you. He'll think it's funny if you hang around. He hasn't seen me, so I can stick close. He'll never notice."

"Be careful," warned Jupe.

"You know I'll be careful--which is more than I can say for you!"