The Mystery of the Magic Circle - M. V. Carey [0]
OF
THE MAGIC CIRCLE
M. V. Carey
A Word from Alfred Hitchcock
Greetings, mystery lovers.
Again it is my privilege to introduce to you The Three Investigators, those young detectives whose specialty is mystery — and the more unusual, the better. In this adventure, the intrepid sleuths encounter a witch who hides from the world, performing secret rites and brooding on an accident that happened long ago. Or was it an accident? It may have been murder done in a magical fashion!
If you have not already met The Three Investigators, you will wish to know that Jupiter Jones, the leader of the group, is a stocky boy with an astonishing talent for deduction. Pete Crenshaw, the second investigator, is quick and athletic, while Bob Andrews, a studious fellow, uses his talent for research to help solve the problems the youths encounter. The boys live in Rocky Beach, California, not far from Hollywood.
So much for the formalities. You may now turn to Chapter One and proceed with the adventure.
ALFRED HITCHCOCK
Chapter 1
Fire!
“EXACTLY WHAT are you boys up to?” demanded Horace Tremayne. He stood in the doorway of the mail room of Amigos Press and scowled at Jupiter Jones, Bob Andrews, and Pete Crenshaw.
“Up to?” said Pete. “We’re … we’re just sorting the mail.”
“Don’t give me that!” snapped Tremayne. His face, which was usually quite pleasant, looked threatening. “You’ve got some nerve, pretending to be mail clerks when you’re really private detectives!”
With that, Tremayne — the young man who was publisher at Amigos Press, and who was called Beefy by everyone on the staff — relaxed and began to chuckle. “You are private detectives, aren’t you?” he said.
“Hey,” said Pete, “you really scared me!”
Bob Andrews smiled. “The private detective business is slow this summer,” he said. “We thought we’d get some experience with office work.”
“How did you find out about us?” asked Jupiter Jones, his round faced filled with curiosity.
“Last night my uncle Will hired a limousine to take us to a premiere in Hollywood,” said Beefy Tremayne. “It was a gold-plated Rolls-Royce, driven by a British chauffeur named Worthington.”
“I see.” Jupe laughed, for Worthington was an old friend. Some time before, Jupe had entered a contest sponsored by the Rent-’n-Ride Auto Rental Company and had won the use of the gold-plated Rolls for thirty days. Worthington had chauffeured the car for the boys, and had become fascinated with their detective work.
“Your names came up when Worthington started telling me about his regular clients,” Beefy explained. “When he heard that you three had summer jobs here, he said I was in for a lively time. He said that trouble just seems to happen when you’re around.”
“It doesn’t just seem to happen,” said Pete. “Jupe stirs it up!”
“Then we all help settle it,” put in Bob.
Jupiter took a card from his wallet and handed it to Beefy. It read: THE THREE INVESTIGATORS
“We Investigate Anything”
? ? ?
First Investigator — Jupiter Jones
Second Investigator — Peter Crenshaw
Records and Research — Bob Andrews
“Very professional,” said Beefy. “What are the question marks for?”
The stocky First Investigator looked smug. People always asked about the question marks. “They’re the universal symbol of the unknown,” said Jupe. “The unknown is always intriguing.”
“Yes, it is,” agreed Beefy. “If I ever need a private detective firm, I might call you.
Worthington says you’re very clever.”
“We’ve been able to solve a number of interesting cases,” said Jupe. “We think our success is due to the fact that we believe almost anything can happen.”
“You’re young enough not to be prejudiced, eh?” Beefy commented. “That could be a great help in an investigation. Too bad there’s nothing around here that needs investigating — besides why the coffee machine makes such lousy coffee!”
The boys heard footsteps outside the mail room. Beefy stepped back into the hall and looked towards the front of the building. “Uncle Will, what took you so long?” he called.
A second later, a tall, thin man with sandy hair and a small