Free Encyclopedia Brown Solves Them All by Donald J. Sobol Page B

bullied Encyclopedia. Sally was the detective’s junior partner.
    “Bugs hates you more than he hates me,” En cylopedia said as the partners sat in the Brown Detective Agency one afternoon. “You can be sure he’ll try to get even.”
    Sally agreed. “He’s like a thermometer in hottest Africa,” she said. “He’s always up to something.”
    Just then Duke Kelly, one of Bugs Meany’s Tigers, entered the garage. He put twenty-five cents on the gasoline can. “Bugs wants you,” he said.
    “He wants to hire us?” gasped Sally.
    “No, he wants you to come to the judo show this afternoon,” said Duke. “The twenty-five cents will pay for your time.”
    Encyclopedia and Sally exchanged questioning glances.
    “The judo show starts at two o‘clock in the junior high school gym,” said Duke.
    “Judo?” Encyclopedia repeated half to himself. “The gentle art of self-defense?”
    “Judo is the art of using your opponent’s strength against him,” said Duke, “or her.”
    With that he departed, grinning slyly.
    “Bugs has more up his sleeve than his elbow,” said Encyclopedia thoughtfully. “But I’m curious.”
    “So am I,” said Sally. “Let’s find out.”
    The junior high school gym was already filled with boys and girls when the detectives arrived. Coach Richards, who ran the summer sports program, spoke briefly. He explained the aims of judo.
    Then four men from the Idaville Judo Center took places on the mat in the middle of the floor. They wore white trousers and a loose jacket bound at the waist by a knotted belt. For half an hour they demonstrated holds, locks, throws, and escapes.
    After the children had stopped clapping, Coach Richards spoke again.
    “Judo is not only for grown-ups,” he said. “Three of our own junior high school students will now show you what they have learned in two short weeks.”
    Bugs Meany and two of his Tigers, Spike Larsen and Rocky Graham, trotted onto the mat. They wore the same white costumes as the men.
    “Gosh, he’s really good,” said Sally as Bugs began flipping Spike and Rocky to the mat like baseball cards.
    “They know how to fall without getting hurt,” said Encyclopedia. “But the throws are an act. Bugs couldn’t toss Spike and Rocky if they didn’t let him.”
    After a whirlwind five minutes, the Tigers lined up and bowed. Coach Richards stepped forward to thank them.
    Bugs held up his hand. “I’m not finished,” he said.
    Coach Richards moved back, surprised.

    Bugs repeated the grip on Rocky.
    Spike strode toward Bugs. He stopped within a foot of his leader.
    Bugs shot a hand to Spike’s throat. When he pulled the hand away, Spike fell over on his back and did not move.
    Bugs repeated the grip on Rocky. He, too, fell over on his back and lay unmoving.
    “You just saw my super-secret hold,” announced Bugs. “I completely knocked out Rocky and Spike. But I didn’t hurt them. If I really wanted to, though, I could break their necks for life.”
    Rocky and Spike stirred. They crawled off the mat shaking their heads.
    The gym had grown silent. All eyes were on Bugs.
    “Now you’re asking yourselves, ‘Where did Bugs learn this terrible hold?’ ” he continued. “I’ll tell you. I wrote to a famous professor in Japan for the secret.”
    Bugs strutted up and down the mat. “A lot of you have heard about a certain girl who is supposed to have licked me,” he went on. “Now you know I wasn’t trying. I could have put her in the hospital, only I’m a gentleman.”
    His meaning was clear, and all the children understood. Bugs was challenging Sally to a rematch, then and there! If Sally refused to fight, or if she were beaten, Bugs would rule the neighborhood. The Brown Detective Agency would be powerless to halt his bullying.
    A small boy near Sally pleaded, “Don’t fight him. He could kill you!”
    But Encyclopedia whispered into Sally’s ear. As she listened, her lips tightened. “Super-secret hold, phooey!” she