The Mystery of the Magic Circle - M. V. Carey [33]
“But … but what’ll I discuss with Gray?” said Beefy.
“Someday you’re going to have to tell him about the missing manuscript,” said Bob.
“But … but you were going to get it back!”
Jupiter shook his head. “It’s been gone for three days, and few things are easier to destroy than a manuscript. We are probably not going to get it back, and sooner or later Marvin Gray will have to be told. You can call him now and ask him to meet with you to discuss something very important.”
Beefy groaned. “Okay. I’ll do the best I can.”
Beefy went into the den to make the telephone call. When he came back into the living-room a few minutes later, he said, “Okay. I’m meeting Gray tomorrow at twelve-thirty at the Coral Cove in Santa Monica.”
“Good,” said Jupiter.
Peter was scowling. “You’re so sure we’re going to get in to see Madeline Bainbridge,” he said. “Maybe she doesn’t answer the door when Gray’s not around.
Or maybe that Clara Adams will block you. And don’t forget there’s a dog there — a big Doberman!”
“I haven’t forgotten anything,” said Jupiter. “I think we can see Madeline Bainbridge — if we’re determined enough.”
But at noon the next day, even Jupiter had some qualms. He and Pete and Bob had ridden their bicycles up the Coast Highway, and then had taken the paved mountain road to the turn-off a quarter of a mile from Madeline Bainbridge’s front gate. There they took shelter with their bikes amid the oleanders that grew raggedly on the edges of Bainbridge’s fields.
“We’ll see Marvin Gray when he drives down to the highway,” said Jupe to his friends. “Let’s hope that he doesn’t let the dog out on to the grounds before he goes.
If he does and we meet the dog, we’ll just stand still and call for Madeline Bainbridge to come and rescue us.”
He looked out from behind the oleanders. A car was turning on to the road from the Bainbridge ranch.
“Here comes Gray,” said Bob.
A dark grey Mercedes swept past the boys, throwing up a cloud of dust. When it had disappeared down the road towards the highway, Jupiter, Pete, and Bob pushed their bikes out on to the gravel road. They pedalled through the gate and up through the lemon grove. The dog did not appear, but when the boys reached the house and got off their bicycles a frantic barking began inside the house.
“Oh, great!” moaned Pete.
They went up the steps to the porch and Jupiter rang the bell. They heard it buzz angrily somewhere in the back of the house. They waited.
When no one came, Jupiter rang the bell again. “Miss Bainbridge!” he shouted.
“Miss Adams! Please open the door!”
The dog began to leap at the door. The boys could hear him clawing at the wooden panels.
“Let’s go, huh!” said Pete.
“Miss Bainbridge!” called Jupiter.
“Who is it?” cried a voice on the other side of the door. “Quiet, Bruno! Good boy!”
“Miss Adams?” said Jupiter. “Miss Adams, please open the door. My name is Jupiter Jones and I have something important to say to you.”
There was a fumbling with the locks. The door opened a few inches, and a pair of faded blue eyes looked out in sleepy wonder. “Go away,” said Clara Adams. “Don’t you know you’re not supposed to ring this doorbell? No one rings this doorbell.”
“I have to see Miss Bainbridge,” said Jupiter. “I’m from her publisher.”
“Publisher?” echoed Clara Adams. “I didn’t know that Madeline had a publisher.”
Clara Adams stepped back, letting the door open wide. Her hair straggled around her face and her eyes, which looked full at Jupe, did not really seem to see him.
“Miss Adams?” said Jupe. “Are you all right?”
She blinked sleepily, and the dog growled.
“Could I ask you to shut the dog up someplace?” said Jupe. “He’s … he’s making us all nervous.”
Clara Adams took the dog’s collar and, walking unsteadily, led him back to the kitchen, where she shut him in. Then she came back into the hall.