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

Bob stopped and thought for a moment. "I guess none of us were acting as if we had much sense," he said. "The lady who was waiting with me at the bus stop just disappeared while I was in the alley. I suppose the bus came and she automatically got on it. And the driver of the car that hit the blind man drove off when I told him the man was gone. And I stood there like a dope with the wallet. I should have given the driver the blind man's name, and my name too."

"You were in shock," said Jupe. "In emergencies, people often behave in odd ways."

While listening to Bob, Jupe had been tinkering with an old television set that his Uncle Titus had brought into the salvage yard the week before. Jupe had replaced worn tubes with new ones and had made several adjustments to the inside of the set. Now he put the television upright on the workbench and plugged in the set.

There was a promising hum. "Aha!" said Jupe.

"You've done it again," said Pete, in mock admiration.

"Perhaps," said Jupe. He twisted a dial.

The three boys grinned. Jupiter Jones was something of a genius when it came to repairing things or making things out of salvaged parts. He had put together three walkie-talkie radios which the boys used with great enjoyment. He had repaired the old printing press that now stood in one corner of the workshop. He was also responsible for the periscope that was part of the equipment in Headquarters--an old mobile home trailer which was hidden away near Jupe's workshop, concealed by piles of junk and all but forgotten by Jupe's Uncle Titus and Aunt Mathilda.

Jupiter's aunt and uncle were aware that Jupe, Bob and Pete were interested in crime and detection. They knew that the boys called themselves The Three Investigators. But they did not know how really active the boys were in the field. The mobile home had been fitted with all sorts of equipment to help the Investigators solve the puzzles that came their way. It held a small crime lab, complete with fingerprint equipment and a microscope. The boys did their own film developing in the photographic darkroom. A filing cabinet was filled with notes on their cases, and there was a telephone which they paid for with money they earned helping out around the salvage yard.

It appeared that a television set would now become part of the furnishings in Headquarters. The set on Jupe's workbench squawked to life, and a picture flickered on to the screen and steadied.

".а.а.аcoming to you with a mid-morning news-break," said an announcer.

A newscaster appeared on the screen and wished everyone a good morning. He then said that the latest Pacific storm had passed through Los Angeles, and that Southern California could look forward to several days of clear weather.

"There have been mudslides in the hills above Malibu," said the newsman. "And in Big Tujunga Canyon, residents are mopping up after yesterday's flash flood.

"On the local crime front, our remote unit is on the scene of a daring robbery that took place at the Santa Monica Thrift and Savings Company less than two hours ago.

"Thieves entered the bank yesterday evening disguised as the cleaning crew. They imprisoned the security guard in the bank's board room, and were waiting this morning when employees reported to work. When the time lock was released at eight forty-five this morning, Samuel Henderson, executive vice-president of the bank, was forced to open the vault. The holdup men escaped with approximately a quarter of a million dollars in cash and an unknown amount in valuables from the safe-deposit boxes. Stay tuned for additional details when we return at noon."

"There!" said Jupe. He switched the set off.

"Good grief!" exclaimed Bob. "The Santa Monica Thrift and Savings! I was right across the street from that bank last night when the blind manа.а.а. whenа.а.а."

Bob stopped. He looked rather pale. "I must have seen one of the holdup men," he said.

Pete and Jupe waited, watching Bob.

"Yes, sure I did," he said. "From the bus stop I could look across the street right into the bank. I saw the cleaning people leave and go up in the elevator. Then the man came back--the cleaning man--and he knocked at the bank door and the security man opened it."

"He came back?" said Jupe. "The same man?"

"Well, I supposeа.а.а. I supposeа.а.а." Bob looked puzzled. "I don't know," he said. "The blind man dropped his cup and his money rolled all over the place. So the lady and I picked it up, and after we gave the cup back to the blind man, that's when I saw the cleaning man at the bank door."

"So it could have been a different man?" said Jupe.

Bob nodded.

"What a scheme!" cried Pete. "The cleaning people finish their work and go upstairs. Then somebody who's dressed up to look like a cleaning man comes and knocks at the door. The security guy lets him in and whammo! The security guy winds up stashed in a back room and the crooks are inside the bank and they're home free. No alarms. Just sit and wait for the employees to show up."

"Why sure!" said Bob. "It must have been that way."