Selby Scrambled by Duncan Ball Read Free Book Online Page B

on,’ he thought. ‘What was it Tats said? “It’s hard to argue with a photograph.’”
    In a second, Selby was through the gate and peering through the windows of Denis Dorset’s house. Soon he was looking into the mayor’s study.
    ‘The laptop!’ he thought, as he quietly raised the window and climbed in. ‘It’s sitting right there. Oh boy, oh boy.’
    Selby turned on the computer.
    ‘And there’s the photo.’
    Selby was about to hit the DELETE button when he had a second thought.
    ‘I’d better check to see if there are other copies saved somewhere.’
    Selby clicked his way through the computer files, looking for copies of the photo until suddenly —
    ‘Whoa!’ he cried in his brain. ‘He took stacks of photos! Me walking along. Me walking alongsome more. Powderpuff chasing me into Poshfield.’
    Suddenly Selby heard the unmistakable sound of Powderpuff’s claws clicking down the hall outside the study. In a second the dog was standing in the doorway, his fangs dripping with saliva.
    ‘Hey, Powderpuff,’ Selby whispered. ‘Have you ever seen a dog disappear? Watch me!’
    Selby dived out the window and was running again.
    ‘That’s two escapes in one night,’ he thought. ‘And now for one more. Only this’ll be an inscape instead of an e-scape.’
    And it was a startled Tats who woke up the next morning and looked over at the other bed.
    ‘Selby!’ he said. ‘You’re back!’
    ‘Yes, I’m back,’ Selby said. ‘And I have a plan.’
    ‘This court is now in session,’ the judge said, banging his hammer. ‘Now to sentence Selby Trifle to prison.’
    ‘One moment, please,’ Mrs Trifle said. ‘Could we see the evidence again?’
    ‘I can’t see that it will do any good,’ the judge said, ‘but all right.’
    Denis Dorset again opened his laptop and showed the photo of Selby on the screen.
    ‘I think that’s proof enough,’ he said. ‘Now, Mrs Trifle, have you considered our little proposal? It’s still possible to get your dog off.’
    ‘I love Selby,’ Mrs Trifle said. ‘He’s the most wonderful, kind and loving dog in the whole world and I will miss him. I’ll visit him every day in prison and bring him lots of those Dry-Mouth Dog Biscuits that he loves so much. But I can’t let Bogusville be ruined by you!’
    ‘Poor Dr and Mrs Trifle,’ Selby thought, his eyes filling with tears.
    Suddenly Mrs Trifle reached over to Denis’s laptop and clicked the mouse. The photo on the screen changed. There was Selby walking along. Another click and there was Powderpuff chasing Selby.
    ‘What are you doing?’ Denis yelled. ‘Leave my computer alone!’
    ‘Stay away from me, you … you … you worm!’ Mrs Trifle yelled back.
    There was a gasp in the courtroom as the photo came up of Selby being chased past the sign that said: ENTERING POSHFIELD.
    ‘Denis Dorset, you are a sneak and a scoundrel!’ Mrs Trifle cried. ‘You planned all this just to get your grubby hands on Bogusville.’
    ‘I-I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ Denis Dorset said.
    ‘Well I do,’ the judge said. ‘And it is clear that Selby is innocent …’
    The police undid Selby’s paw-cuffs and Selby bounded across the courtroom and into the Trifles’ arms.
    ‘… and,’ the judge continued, ‘that you are guilty, Denis Dorset.’
    ‘Of what, you silly man?’ Denis said. ‘There’s no law against chasing dogs.’
    ‘But there
is
a law against dogs being out without a leash in Poshfield. I believe you and your council wrote that law. And your dog Powderpuff was running down the street in Poshfield without a leash. Look at your own photos.’
    ‘This isn’t fair!’
    ‘Oh, yes it is! Now which will it be: ten years in prison for the dog or a ten thousand dollar fine for you?’
    ‘I’m thinking, I’m thinking,’ Denis said, sheepishly. ‘Oh well, I guess I’ll pay the fine. I
    wouldn’t feel right about little Powdie going to Jail.’
    ‘That was brilliant!’ Dr