Freddy and the Flying Saucer Plans by Walter R. Brooks Read Free Book Online Page B

the second floor, Freddy dashed out through the kitchen. He was bending down, pulling up things in the garden that he hoped were weeds, when the trooper came around the side of the house.
    â€œWhere’d that guy go?” the officer demanded.
    â€œWhat guy?” Freddy asked, wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead.
    â€œGuy on a horse just rode in your front door.”
    â€œIn the front door!” Freddy exclaimed. “Mister, you—excuse me, but you ought to wear glasses.”
    â€œI saw what I saw,” said the trooper crossly. “He rode in the front door. And what’s more, he didn’t ride out the back door, because I was watching it. He’s inside and I’m going to go in and get him.” He drew a large pistol and turned back into the house.
    Freddy went on pulling things up.
    The trooper searched the downstairs rooms; then he went back into the hall. He opened the cellar door and looked down and shook his head. He looked at the stairs leading to the upper floor and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Got to be somewhere!” he muttered, and started slowly up.
    â€œWell.” said Freddy to himself. “I can’t desert Cy. He’s sure to be discovered.” He came back into the house and followed the trooper upstairs just as the latter, having looked through several rooms, tried a door which was locked. He shook the handle.
    And from behind the door came a terrible falsetto screech, which Freddy could hardly recognize as Cy’s. “Who’s there?”
    The trooper started violently. “Moses!” he exclaimed. Then he looked suspiciously at Freddy. “This some monkey business?” he demanded.
    â€œIt’s my wife,” said Freddy quickly. He spoke in a voice loud enough so that the horse could hear. Then: “Hey, Minnie,” he called, “there’s a policeman here looking for a man on a horse.”
    â€œWell, he ain’t in here,” Cy shrieked. “I’m takin’ a bath, and this tub ain’t no public swimmin’ pool.”
    The trooper stepped next to the door. “I’m sorry to disturb you, ma’am,” he said. His voice shook, for the dreadful screech had pretty well unstrung his nerves. “I saw them come into the house, and I thought they must be hiding here.”
    â€œAnd you want to look in here, hey?” Cy yelled. “Well now, you just wait a minute till I get some duds on. I’ll come down and make you a nice cup of tea. You go down with pa and I’ll be right along. It’s always a pleasure to see new faces.—And say,” Cy added, as the trooper began a hasty retreat, “I ain’t seen your face yet, have I?” And with that the key turned in the lock, the door opened part way, and a terrible brown face over which a bath towel was draped, a face with an immense long nose and huge teeth showing in what was evidently meant to be a hospitable smile, appeared in the opening.
    â€œGreat Jehoshaphat Peabody!” whispered the trooper, and he fairly tumbled down the stairs.
    â€œ Great Jehoshaphat Peabody! ”
    Freddy followed him. “We don’t see many folks up here,” he said apologetically. “My wife gets kind of lonesome for company. We’d be pleased to have you stay for tea,” he added.
    But the man kept on going. “Yeah?” he said. “Well, you have my sympathy, mister.” And he hurried over to his car.
    After he had gone, Cy clumped downstairs. “Pretty quick thinking, eh, Freddy?” he said. “Golly, I ought to be on the stage.”
    â€œOr in the zoo,” the pig replied. “That grin of yours would scare little children into fits. Hey!” he exclaimed suddenly. “The cop’s coming back!” And indeed at that moment the whine of an engine re-climbing the hill was reinforced by the squeal of a police siren.
    â€œUpstairs, quick!” Freddy said, and made