The Secret of the Haunted Mirror - M. V. Carey [0]
OF
THE HAUNTED MIRROR
M. V. Carey
A word from Alfred Hitchcock
For those of you who already know The Three Investigators, this introduction is quite unnecessary. You may turn immediately to Chapter One and proceed with the adventure.
If you have not yet encountered Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw, and Bob Andrews, however, I shall be pleased to provide some information about them and their detective firm.
These three remarkable young chaps reside in Rocky Beach, California, a small community near Hollywood. Jupiter Jones, the stout and brainy lad who is First Investigator and leader of the trio, has a mind that is maddeningly efficient and a manner that is, alas, rather pompous. Pete Crenshaw, the Second Investigator, is an athletic but cautious fellow who is often distressed by Jupiter’s daring. Bob Andrews, a quiet, bookish boy, is very thorough in his quest for information which may help The Three Investigators solve their cases.
The young detectives make their headquarters in an old mobile home trailer, which sits in a salvage yard owned by Jupiter’s uncle. Their activities are not always confined to Rocky Beach. In the case which you will shortly peruse, the boys encounter a ghostly presence in an old mansion in Hollywood — a mansion reputed to be haunted — and they try to find the secret of the man who disappeared into a looking-glass and never returned. Or did he?
Read on and decide for yourself.
ALFRED HITCHCOCK
Chapter 1
“Stop, Thief!”
“UNCLE TITUS IS having a wonderful time,” said Jupiter Jones. The stocky boy leaned against the bumper of a pickup truck belonging to The Jones Salvage Yard. “In one short afternoon he has acquired four stained glass windows, one marble mantelpiece, an antique bathtub, and seven mahogany doors.”
Pete Crenshaw groaned and sat down on the kerb. “I don’t think it was such a wonderful afternoon,” he complained. “Not when we had to load all that stuff on the truck. That bathtub weighed a ton!”
Bob Andrews grinned. “It was a lot of work,” he said, “but it’s fun to watch Jupe’s uncle when he’s on a buying spree.”
Jupe rubbed his forearm across his brow. Right after lunch he, Bob, and Pete had left Rocky Beach with Uncle Titus. An old house in the hills above Hollywood was to be torn down, and Uncle Titus was determined to salvage what he could from it. Now it was almost four o’clock, and the August sun beat fiercely on the hills. Below, the city seemed to shimmer in waves of heat.
“Jupe,” said Pete, “what’s your uncle doing in there so long?”
“Doubtless he is making sure that he has not overlooked any treasures,” said Jupiter Jones.
The other boys nodded. The Jones Salvage Yard, which was owned by Jupiter’s uncle and aunt, was famous up and down the Pacific Coast for the variety of items it offered for sale. Uncle Titus regularly scouted Los Angeles in search of antique doors, unusual lighting fixtures, gates, fences, hardware, and used furniture. Sometimes he bought things that were extremely difficult to resell. This caused Aunt Mathilda to scold a bit, but she always directed Hans and Konrad, the two Bavarian brothers who helped out at the salvage yard, to make room for the latest curiosity. In the long run, even the strangest pieces of furniture or panelling could be sold, and then Uncle Titus felt triumphant indeed.
Jupiter smiled as Uncle Titus finally emerged from the huge, mock-Victorian mansion which perched at the top of Crestview Drive. Mr. Jones stood for a moment talking to the boss of the demolition crew which would shortly tear the house down to make way for a new apartment complex. The two men shook hands, and Uncle Titus came down the drive to the truck.
“Okay, boys,” he said. “Nothing worthwhile left there. It’s a pity, too. They don’t build houses like that any more. It must have been magnificent when it was new. Now there are termites everywhere — and dry rot.” Uncle Titus sighed, brushed at his big black moustache, and climbed into the cab of the truck. “Let’s go!” he cried.
In seconds the boys had stowed themselves in the back