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Show 115 Chapter Sixteen At the celebration in the park, the band was playing "Yankee Doodle," the banners were flying, the watermelons were on ice, and the crowd was jolly. All was ready for the appearance of the governor. Except for Mayor Okleberry. The portly mayor sat with his head hung, eyes glazed, staring at the floor. Alongside him, the city councilmen and other prominent citizens sat on the bandstand where the program was due to get underway. The mayor himself was speechless, still in a state of shock. In a few minutes the governor would arrive to claim the gold for the state. But there was no gold. Jericho's city treasury was empty, bankrupt. And the mayor was to blame. Eyes red with worry, Mayor Okleberry sat with his round face in puckered disbelief that this could be happening to him. He knew he would be in total disgrace all over the state when word got out. After all, it had been his idea, his guarantee that the gold would be safe. How could he have known that those two Pinkerton detectives weren't really detectives at all? How could he have known that those two phonies would steal the gold and ruin his whole career? The mayor cradled his chin in his hands and heaved a mournful sigh. He ignored the music, ignored Councilman Snodgrass at his side, ignored the crowd, ignored everything around him. |