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Show "In addition to our fine Jericho police force, we have these two Pinkerton detectives we hired for round-the-clock surveillance of our gold-until we can deliver it to Governor Simms on Saturday in a ceremony to which you are all invited." Josh stared at the two detectives, straining to see if he could make out the bulge of their pistols beneath their coats. They looked just like ordinary people, one tall and grim, with eyes that snaked from side to side over the audience as if looking for an assassin. The other was shorter, with a drooping mustache and eyes set back in his head so that it was difficult to see where he was looking. They didn't look much like the detectives on television, but Josh had never seen a real detective before. After a time his arms ached from hanging onto the tree, so Josh lowered himself to the ground. When he clucked his tongue at the dog, Chinook sprung up, eager to get underway again. As he untied the dog he felt a tug on his shirt. It was Mary Alice Okleberry, the mayor's daughter who was in his sixth grade class at school. It was true that Mary Alice could peg a baseball as well as any boy in his class. But she was usually a pain in the neck, always reminding Josh he should comb his hair or wear a belt or tie his shoes. Ever since school had started two weeks ago she had seemed intent on reforming him. Wherever he looked Mary Alice was there, offering suggestions as to what he should or shouldn't do to improve himself. Josh didn't want to be improved. "Oh Josh," she bubbled, "did you see the gold? Daddy says it's going to put this town on the map." "Hi. Yeah, I saw it." |