Free Encyclopedia Brown Finds the Clues by Donald J. Sobol Page A

on crime.
    So the name Leroy Brown was missing from the honor roll of the world’s great detectives.
    “I’m sorry to be late, dear,” said Chief Brown as he sat down to eat. “A terrible thing happened this afternoon.”
    After he had said grace, he raised his head and looked at Encyclopedia. “Mr. Clancy, the plumber, was beaten and robbed.”
    “Was he badly hurt?” asked Mrs. Brown.
    “He’s in St. Mark’s Hospital,” Chief Brown said. “The doctors say he’ll be all right. I’m afraid we’ll never catch the man who attacked him.”
    “Why not, Dad?” asked Encyclopedia. “Didn’t anyone see what happened?”
    “John Morgan saw everything,” said Chief Brown. “He’s Mr. Clancy’s helper. He was sitting in the truck when a tramp attacked Mr. Clancy.”
    Chief Brown unbuttoned his breast pocket and drew out his notebook. “I wrote down everything John Morgan told me. I’ll read it to you.”
    Encyclopedia closed his eyes. He always closed his eyes when he did his heavy thinking on a case.
    His father began to read what John Morgan had told him about the beating and theft.
    “Clancy was driving the truck and I was sitting beside him. We had turned onto the dirt road near the Benson farm when the motor overheated. Clancy stopped, walked around to the front of the truck, and lifted the hood. As he took off the radiator cap, a tramp jumped out of the woods. The tramp struck Clancy on the head with a piece of pipe.
    “Clancy fell over the radiator and slid down the front of the truck. I leaped out of the truck, but the tramp was already racing into the woods. He carried the pipe and Clancy’s wallet. I let him go in order to get Clancy to the hospital right away.”
    Chief Brown finished reading and closed his notebook.
    Encyclopedia opened his eyes. He asked but one question: “Did Mr. Clancy have an unusually large amount of money in his wallet?”
    His father looked startled.
    “Why, yes,” he answered. “It so happened that Mr. Clancy had two hundred dollars in his wallet. He had just been paid for work on a new apart ment house. What made you think he was carrying a lot of money?”

    John Morgan knocked him out.
    “He had to be,” said Encyclopedia. “Now you should have no trouble finding the man who struck and robbed him.”
    “No trouble?” said Chief Brown. “The woods come out on the railroad tracks. It’s a sure bet that the tramp hopped a ride on a freight train. He’s probably in Georgia by now.”
    “You’ll find him where John Morgan lives—and the two hundred dollars besides,” said Encyclopedia.
    “Do you think John Morgan helped the tramp rob Mr. Clancy?” asked Mrs. Brown.
    “No,” answered Encyclopedia.
    “Well, what do you think?” asked Chief Brown.
    “I think that when Mr. Clancy stopped the truck in the woods, John Morgan saw his chance,” answered Encyclopedia. “While Mr. Clancy was checking the radiator, John Morgan sneaked from the truck, knocked him out, and stole his wallet with the two hundred dollars.”
    “What about the tramp?” asked Chief Brown.
    “There never was a tramp, Dad,” said Encyclopedia. “John Morgan made him up. John Morgan robbed Mr. Clancy by himself and then drove him to the hospital.”
    Chief Brown rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “That could be what really happened,” he said. “But I can’t prove it.”
    “The proof is down in black and white,” said Encyclopedia. “Just read over what John Morgan told you. He gives himself away!”
     
    HOW DID JOHN MORGAN GIVE HIMSELF AWAY?
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    (Please see solutions section)

The Case of the Rubber Pillow
    During the summer Encyclopedia ran a detective agency for children of the neighborhood. He opened his office every morning after his father left for work.
    Encyclopedia always waited till his father drove off. He had no choice. His office was in the garage.
    After his father left, he hung out his sign:
    Late in the morning Danny Landis hurried