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Mooch lost his head and tried to separate the fighting animals. He was
promptly bitten in two places.
Bob, white-faced and frightened, peeked over the fence. Then he reached
down and opened the gate between the yard and the driveway. At that
moment the dog fight which had become a magnificent barking, growling,
biting, leaping free-for-all surged toward the open gate.
Mooch screamed and snatched and dodged and made futile waving mo-
tions. The German shepherd backed away from the fight and streaked out
of the yard.
Suddenly the fight evaporated. Four dogs erupted onto Speedway and
raced off in four different directions. Mooch ran after them, whistling and
calling and trying to chase first one and then another.
Bob sat on the curb, doubled over with laughter. Just then the truck
belonging to Mooch s roommate came rolling down Speedway.
The young man pulled over and jumped from his truck. He tried to head
off one of the dogs, but stopped as a pair of squad cars turned onto the street.
Mooch ran. He vaulted fences and bushes and disappeared through the
yard next to his.
65
Jupe Causes a Fight
The roommate went in the opposite direction, but he went just as rapidly.
The dogs had already gone, but several neighbors were out on their
porches watching the excitement. The policemen were getting out of their
patrol cars.
Jupe felt a glow of satisfaction as he and Bob strolled quietly away. What-
ever else they had done, they had at least wrecked Mooch s dog-stealing
operation.
66
15
Secret Treasure!
Jupe left Bob on the north side of Mermaid Court, where he could watch
the back door and stairs of Burton s gallery. Jupe went around and into the
court and found Pete sitting on the edge of the cafe s terrace.
I dropped a tray full of dishes, said Pete happily. Tony Gould thinks
he needs a more experienced busboy.
You did that on purpose, Jupe accused.
No. It was an accident, but I can t say I m choked up about it.
Above the yarn shop a door opened. Miss Peabody came out onto the
balcony and looked down. I would like to speak to you boys, she said.
Jupiter and Pete looked questioningly at each other, then climbed the
stairs to the balcony. Miss Peabody was waiting in her doorway, and she
beckoned them to come in.
Mr. Conine was in her living room. He sat in a high-backed chair and
stared happily across the court. He was watching Clark Burton s windows.
You boys are painfully conspicuous down in that court, said Miss Pea-
body. If you wanted to conduct a surveillance of Clark Burton s gallery,
why didn t you come here?
Jupiter and Pete both stared. The two old people were obviously having
a good time. Also, it was plain to see that they hoped Burton would be
detected in some misdeed.
You really don t like him, said Pete.
How can anyone like Burton? Conine replied. He isn t real.
There it was again that observation that Burton appeared to be a man
whose whole life was an impersonation a piece of role playing.
Jupe glanced out the window. He could see Burton in his gallery. He was
just coming from the pantry with a mug of coffee in his hand.
Jupe s gaze then rested on the old hotel at the back of the court. He
decided that it might be interesting to know what Miss Peabody thought
about the inn.
Secret Treasure!
Odd, he said, that Mr. Burton has done nothing with the Mermaid
Inn.
It is supposed to be haunted, said Mr. Conine. He had said it before.
The boys suspected that he enjoyed the idea of living so close to a ghost.
The talk in the neighborhood is that the ghost of Francesca Fontaine walks
there. He sighed. She was a lovely thing!
Mr. Conine s voice was dreamy, but the emphatic snort from Miss Pea-
body that immediately followed this remark brought him up short.
She was as skinny as a rail, she told the boys, and never wore proper
underwear. And I don t think Clark Burton has that much reverence for any
ghost! He s got some other reason for not turning that old inn into another
source of cash!
But what reason could he have? questioned Jupe. It must be very
valuable property, right here facing the ocean. If he hasn t got the money to
renovate, I m sure he could borrow it. Mermaid Court is obviously a good
investment.
Dear child, one would go mad trying to fathom Clark Burton. Miss Pea-
body shook her head. A strange person, she said.
Jupiter did not care to be called a dear child, but he controlled his an-
noyance. A determined look came over his face.
The windows on the top floor of the inn are not barred, he said. I
wonder if it would be possible to get in there, if we stood on the roof of this
building.
Pete was startled. Why should we do that? We ve already searched the
place.
We have not been in the suite where Francesca Fontaine usually stayed,
Jupe reminded him.
That s the one that s haunted, said Mr. Conine. Look there. Do you
see those windows on the second floor the ones at the north end of the
building? Right next to the gallery? Those were Fontaine s windows, and
that s where I ve seen lights moving sometimes, after dark.
You ve seen the reflections of the lights on Ocean Front, that s what
you ve seen, said Miss Peabody.
Mr. Conine ignored this. If you like, he said, I ll go over and talk with
Burton. I ll keep him so busy he won t look out and see you climbing from
my roof into his inn.
Thank you, Mr. Conine, said Jupe.
I ll keep watch here, said Miss Peabody. If you aren t back in an hour,
I ll get Mr. Conine and Mr. Finney to come after you.
Mr. Conine set out jauntily. Soon he and Clark Burton were talking
together in the gallery.
68
Secret Treasure!
Burton had his back to the courtyard.
Let s go, said Jupiter to Pete.
You sure this is a good idea? said Pete nervously. I mean, what if the
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