THE BREAK IN

"There was a door!" he cried. "I can remember that part . . ."

"A door?" said Thomas as Mary hastened in from the kitchen. "What kind of door?"

"I don't know. But it seems that I was standing somewhere, looking at the stars, and I fell. And as I fell, I remembered something about a door . . ."

"Go on," Mary urged.

"That- that's all I can remember, as if it were part of a dream. Just stars and thinking of a door."

"Could you have been in a ship?" asked Thomas. "You might have fallen out of one in some way."

"No- no- it wasn't like that. I suddenly fell into some- thing- and when I woke up, I was here on a mountain, and it was morning."

Thomas stood snapping his fingers, frowning. "Mary," he said finally, "it's possible you've hit on the right idea. Jon, as soon as we've finished the chores and had breakfast, we're going hunting. I want to see that spot where you found yourself."

After breakfast Brooks and Sally went down to catch the school bus, and Thomas got his knapsack for Mary to fill with lunch. When it was ready, he thrust an odd-shaped hammer into his belt and started for the truck.

Jon looked curiously at the hammer. "That tool-it seems familiar. Do you-chip rocks with it?"

"It's a rock hound's hammer, Jon. Thought I'd take it along and examine a few ledges while we're out. Might find a thing or two for the shop. How did you know what it's for?"

"I had a feeling I know how to use it. Have you another I may take?"

"Why shore, ponder, we'll jest go prospectin' together."

Thomas found a second hammer, and they were returning to the truck when a car with a star on the side turned into the driveway. The car stopped behind them, and a lean, gray-haired man got out.

At the sight of him, Jon was aware of the sudden worry and alarm in Mary Bean, who stood watching from the steps. The man approached, studying them carefully with his hard, observant eyes. His nose was slightly hooked, and he made Jon think of a hawk searching for prey.

"Mr. Bean?" said the man in a grating voice. "I'm Deputy Anderson Bush, from the sheriff's office." He opened his coat and showed them a badge.

"Glad to know you, sir," Thomas said easily, extending his hand. "I've seen you around, but . . . This is Mrs. Bean, and my young partner here is Jon O'Connor. What can we do for you?"

"Like to ask a few routine questions, if you don't mind."

"Sure. Fire away."

Deputy Bush said, "Where were you Saturday?"

"In town most of the day. Er, is anything wrong?"

"We'll get to that. I understand you have two children. Were they with you?"

"Yes."

"All the time?"

"Well, most of the time, except when they were in the movies. I knew where they were all the time, if that's what you want to know."

The deputy wrote something in a notebook, then down at Jon. "What about this boy?"

"He didn't arrive until Saturday evening."

"Where was he before that?"

"Travelling-on his way here."

"His parents bring him?"

"No." Thomas lowered his voice and added, "Both Captain O'Connor and his wife were killed recently, and Jon's been pretty badly upset, must we . . ."

The deputy finished writing in his notebook before he spoke. "Mr. Bean, I only want to know where the boy was all day Saturday and Sunday. That also goes for your boy. I believe Brooks is his name."

"Yes. You see, this is Jon's first trip to the mountains. Took him all day to get here. He arrived about suppertime. Sunday he stayed home with Mrs. Bean, and I took my kids to church."

"And Sunday afternoon?"

"We were all here. No one left the place. What's this about?"

Deputy Bush made some more entries in his book. Again he glanced sharply at Jon. "Mr. Bean, have you heard anything about a wild boy in this part of the mountains?"

"Er-yes, I have," Thomas replied slowly. "Gilby Pitts told me about it but I'm afraid I don't take much stock in it. Do you?"

"Mr. Bean, I don't know what Mr. Pitts saw, but it seems to be very unusual. My job is to check up on the story. Have you noticed any strange boy around?"

"I certainly haven't seen any boy that looks wild to me," Thomas answered, smiling. "Is he accused of any crime?"

Deputy Bush carefully closed his notebookand returned it to his coat pocket. "No one," he said, "is being accused of anything yet. Do you know the location of Dr. Holliday's summer place?"

"Of course. Dr. Halliday is an old customer of mine. Gilby Pitts take care of the place while he's away. What about it?"

"Someone broke into it . . . either Saturday or Sunday. Mr. Pitts didn't learn about it until yesterday morning when he went to finish some work he'd started last week. Some things were stolen."

"And you think the boy did it?"

"No question of it. There are footprints and other signs. It was a boy about the size of this one, for he squeezed through a narrow window that a larger person couldn't have entered. He may have had a helper. Now, Mr. Bean, don't take any of this personally; I have to check on every boy in the area. Thank you for help. Good day, sir."

"Good day, Mr. Bush

Thomas stood, snapping his fingers, after the deputy left.

"Of all the things to happen!" he burst out angrily.

"Thomas," Mary began worriedly, "do you think it likely that Anderson Bush could find out the truth about this wild boy thing?"

"He certainly could! He's no fool. I've never talked to him before, but I know his reputation. He's a born ferret and a stickler for the law-that's why he'd sure give us trouble. He sure had me going with those questions. If only he doesn't get too curious and start asking more. Wish I didn't get this uneasy feeling whenever I have to talk to outsiders about Jon."

"There's no reason for him to," Mary said. "It should not be hard to find out who broke into Holliday's."

"Oh, he'll find out-but that's not what worries me. It's pretty obvious who did it. Only he doesn't know certain people like we do-he hasn't been here long enough. It'll take time to narrow things down and find out who's lying. Oh, confound Gilby Pitts for bringing up that tale."

"But he had to Thomas. After all, When there's been a robbery . . ."

"Oh, I suppose so. Well, the thing's happened, and there's nothing we can do about it now." Thomas sighed and turned back to the truck. Let's get on with our hunting, Jon."

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Happy Boxing Day Guys

I'm Sorry for not updating earlier.

Hope you Can all forgive Me for this