The Mystery of the Nervous Lion - West Nick. Страница 2

Jumping off the lorry, Jupe walked over to Headquarters and the junk surrounding the trailer. “Maybe Uncle Titus won’t need it,” he said. “Or we can work off the price.”

Pete wiped sweat from his brow. “I think we already did that. If you ask me, we did a good day’s work in an hour.”

“Okay, Jupe,” Bob said. “Now what —?”

At that moment the red light mounted over their printing press blinked!

“A phone call!” Pete cried. “Maybe it’s somebody wanting a mystery solved.”

“I hope so,” Jupe said excitedly. “We haven’t had any to investigate in a long time.”

Quickly they pushed aside the iron grillwork beside the printing press. Crawling through the box behind it, they entered Tunnel Two. This was a large corrugated pipe leading to a trap door in the floor of the hidden trailer. The boys rushed through on their hands and knees and surfaced in the small office of Headquarters.

Jupiter snatched up the ringing telephone.

“Jupiter Jones speaking,” he said.

“One moment, please.” A woman’s voice could be heard clearly through the loudspeaker attachment Jupe had rigged up. “Mr. Alfred Hitchcock is calling.”

The three boys exchanged surprised and happy grins. As a rule, they found an exciting mystery waiting for them whenever Mr. Hitchcock called.

“Hello there!” the famous director boomed. “Is this young Jupiter?”

“Yes, Mr. Hitchcock,” Jupe said.

“I hope you and your friends are not too busy just now. I have a friend who is in need of help, and I think you three lads are just the ones to solve his problem.”

“We’d like to try, sir,” Jupe said. “Can you give us an idea of your friend’s problem?”

“Certainly,” Mr. Hitchcock said. “If you boys can arrange to be at my office tomorrow morning, I shall be happy to tell you all about it.”

2

A Case in Lion Territory

Some time ago, Jupiter and his friends had won the use of an antique Rolls-Royce, complete with chauffeur, in a contest. Their prize time eventually ran out, but then they helped a youthful client to gain an enormous inheritance. The grateful client arranged for the boys to have the use of the Rolls whenever needed. It had proved invaluable to them as investigators. Distances in southern California are vast, and it is difficult to cover them except by car.

Now Jupiter leaned forward and tapped the shoulder of the tall, English chauffeur, Worthington. “This will be fine, Worthington,” he said. “Wait here. We won’t be too long with Mr. Hitchcock.”

“Very good, Master Jones,” Worthington replied. He guided the old, boxlike automobile to a careful stop. Then he got out and held the door open for the boys. “I trust Mr. Hitchcock has an interesting mission for you young gentlemen.”

“We hope so, too, Worthington,” Bob said. “Things have been kind of dull lately. We could use some excitement.”

He quickly joined Jupe and Pete as they entered the Hollywood studio building where Mr. Hitchcock had his office.

Alfred Hitchcock motioned them to seats in front of his big desk. He pushed some business correspondence aside and looked at the boys thoughtfully. Then casually he asked, “How comfortable are you lads with wild animals?”

Opposite him, The Three Investigators looked startled.

Jupiter cleared his throat. “It all depends on what kind of animals, sir, and the proximity involved. Given a reasonable distance between them and us and a measure of protection, I would say we are all quite at ease with them, and interested in their behaviour and habits.”

“Jupe means we like them,” Pete said. “It just goes against his nature to say something simple.”

“Why, Mr. Hitchcock?” asked Bob. “Is this about a mystery?”

“Perhaps,” Mr. Hitchcock said slowly. “And if not indeed a mystery, certainly a case that merits investigation. The wild animals I mentioned are part of the background where certain mysterious happenings are taking place.”

Alfred Hitchcock paused. “Have you lads heard of a place called Jungle Land?”

“That’s over in the valley near Chatwick,” Bob replied. “It’s some kind of wild-animal farm with lions and other animals roaming around. It’s supposed to be a tourist attraction, I think.”

“Yes,” Alfred Hitchcock said. “The owner, Jim Hall, is an old friend. Lately he’s run into a problem and I thought at once of you boys and your investigative talents.”

“What’s Mr. Hall’s problem exactly, sir?” asked Jupiter.

“It would appear he has a nervous lion,” Mr. Hitchcock said.

The boys looked at each other wide-eyed.

“To continue,” Mr. Hitchcock said. “Jungle Land is indeed open to the public. In addition, various movie companies at times rent the use of its premises. Its terrain and vegetation are suggestive of Western and African locales. Occasionally Jim Hall rents his animals. Some of them are wild, but several have been brought up gently and trained by Jim.

“Jim Hall’s favourite lion is a remarkable example of his way with animals. This lion has been featured in many commercials for TV and has been used in films. It has always been a great attraction at Jungle Land and a good financial asset to Jim Hall.”

“You mean, until now,” Jupe said. “Your friend’s lion is nervous and now he can’t depend on it. That’s his problem, isn’t it?”

Alfred Hitchcock gave Jupiter a penetrating stare. “As usual, my astute young friend, your powers of deduction are equal to the task at hand. A film unit has rented the farm now to shoot sequences for a jungle film. Naturally Jim Hall cannot afford any accidents that might interfere with the film’s speedy and successful completion. If anything were to go wrong, it would be ruinous to his entire operation.”

“And we’re supposed to go there and solve the mystery of the nervous lion,” Jupe said. “Is that it?”

“Precisely,” intoned Mr. Hitchcock. “Quickly and quietly. Without fuss or fanfare. And I need hardly add, without further disturbing the already unsettled lion.”

Pete Crenshaw licked his lips. “How close do we have to get to this crazy cat?”

Alfred Hitchcock smiled affably. “Closeness is its own definition, young Peter. You will all be on the Jungle Land premises. Jim Hall’s lion is there. And while ordinarily it might be considered reasonably safe to be in the lion’s vicinity, I must warn you the situation has changed. A nervous lion — any nervous animal — can be dangerous.”

The Three Investigators gulped.

“You can tell your friend Jim Hall not to worry,” said Bob. “His lion won’t be the only nervous one there anymore.”

“That’s right,” Pete added. “I’m not even there yet and I’m nervous already.”

Mr. Hitchcock turned to Jupiter. “Any further comment, young Jupiter, before I call my friend to say you lads are willing to undertake the assignment?”

Jupe shook his head. “No comment. But it might be a good idea to ask Mr. Hall to put in a word for us with his lion!”

Mr. Hitchcock smiled and picked up his phone. “I shall convey your message. And I shall expect a full report from you soon. Good-bye and good luck.”

The Three Investigators waved and walked out wondering what kind of luck they could expect dealing with a nervous lion!