Part 15 (1/2)

Mike looked mystified. ”What does it mean?”

”It means a man we never suspected is behind it all,” Jupe said. He shook his head ruefully. ”It's all perfectly clear now.”

”What are you trying to tell us now, Jupe?” asked Jim Hall.

”You won't like it,” Jupe said. ”It's Doc Dawson.”

Jim Hall smiled thinly. ”I don't think you know what you're talking about, son.

Doc's an old friend. Let me see that piece of paper.”

As he held out his hand, the front door opened.

A burly figure stood there. Head close-shaven, arm tattooed. ”I came to pick up Doc's bag,” he said. ”He forgot it here.”

His eyes narrowed as he saw the open medical bag, and then the small slip of yellow paper in Jupe's hand. His lips twisted angrily. ”I'll take that, you snooping kid!” he roared.

Before Jupe could move, Bo Jenkins had s.n.a.t.c.hed the paper from his hand. He crumpled it in his huge fist and reached for the leather bag.

Jim Hall spoke up mildly. ”Hold it just a second, Bo. There's something going on here and-”

Jenkins made a sudden movement and pulled out a gun. ”Stay out of it, Hall, if you know what's good for you. We got it all now and nothin's stopping us.”

Jupe gulped. ”You're the man who bought all the cages from my uncle - and gave Jim Hall's name!”

Jenkins grinned. ”Wise apple, huh?”

Jim Hall whistled softly as the animal handler grabbed the black bag.

Heavy, padding steps sounded across the room. An ominous rumbling made Jenkins turn and stare. His jaw sagged and he paled.

A large, yellow-eyed lion stood there, head down and long tail twitching restlessly.

The growling continued.

Instantly Jupe leaned against the door, closing it.

Jenkins whirled again at the sound, his gun jerking.

”Forget it, Jenkins,” Jim Hall said calmly. ”You're not going anyplace. One more step and George will have you for dinner.” Hall turned to the lion. ”Won't you, George?”

The lion slowly opened its cavernous mouth and moved forward.

There was a clattering sound as the gun fell from Bo Jenkins's fingers.

”That's better,” Jim Hall said. He bent forward to retrieve the gun and waved the frightened man to a chair. The lion came forward and stopped at Bo's side, opening its mouth in a huge yawn.

”Now then, Bo,” Jim Hall said pleasantly. ”What can you tell us about some smuggled diamonds?”

Chapter 20.

End of the Puzzle As they rounded a turn in the trail, Mike pointed ahead to a small house next to a barn. ”That's Doc Dawson's place,” he said. ”The dispensary is in the back.”

Sounds of hammering came from the barn.

Jupe smiled. ”That's one thing he never figured on. When my Uncle t.i.tus has something fixed, he does a very thorough job.”

”What do you mean, Jupe?” asked Mike.

”You'll see in a minute,” Jupe said mysteriously.

A small pickup truck stood in the driveway by the barn. Alongside it four cages lay tumbled on the ground. The grizzled vet stood next to one with a hammer raised in one hand. In the other he held a long pair of pliers.

He paused as Jim Hall strode up, flanked by the boys. His eyes nicked past them and narrowed.

”Howdy, Jim,” he said. ”Anything wrong?”

Jim Hall shook his head. He tossed the black leather bag at the vet's feet. ”Heard you were looking for your bag, Doc. You left it at the house.”

”Thanks, Jim,” Dawson said. He gazed beyond them and frowned. ”I sent Bo Jenkins - I thought -” He looked at the cages, scowling. ”I need him to help -”

Hall nodded. ”Bo's all tied up at the moment, Doc. Maybe we can give you a hand. What's the trouble?”

The vet looked at the hammer in his hand. ”No trouble, Jim. Just wanted to make sure the bars are good and tight. Don't want any more accidents. That fellow Eastland will have every nickel of yours if one more animal gets away.”

Hall smiled. ”Thanks, Doc. I appreciate your concern.” He looked at Jupe. ”Can you tell which bars?”

”I think so, sir,” Jupiter said. ”But I'd need to borrow his hammer.”

”No problem,” Hall said. ”Can you loan this young fellow your hammer for a moment, Doc?”

Dawson hesitated, then handed it to Jupe. ”Guess so. What's up?”

”These young fellows are The Three Investigators. I hired them, you recall, to find out what's been making old George nervous. They've come up with some c.o.c.k-eyed notion that it's all because of some smuggled diamonds.”

Dawson grinned. ”No kidding? c.o.c.k-eyed is right.” He looked at Jupe. ”Any idea where they might be?”

”Yes, sir,” Jupe said. ”If you would just step aside for a moment, please.”

”Why, sure,” Dawson said easily, moving away. ”Only go easy with that hammer, son. I wouldn't want those bars loosened after all the trouble I've been to tightening them up.”

”You didn't tighten them up,” said Jupe. ”Hans and Uncle t.i.tus did, back at our junkyard.”

Doc looked surprised.

”You'll notice,” Jupe continued, ”they didn't put back the bars the way they were.