Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-04
CHAPTER I
Tho RirJ IN Ric1,,iso

GDRINCESS PEGGY, come here quick -
l. screeched a Bird voice outside Peggy IS
window. Peggy looked and looked, but
couldn't see the speaker Puzzled she opened
the door and searched the lawn.
Cant you me?" chuckled the voice,
almost from under her feet Peggy peered
closely, but there We're only piles of autumn
leaves before her. one of these piles stirred,
then out of it walked AN odd-appearing
bird. He was dressed from head to toe in
suit made of the leaves themselves, and
1t was no wonder that Peggy wasn't able
TO see him.
Fooled you, didn't -" screeched the
stranger.
''You surely did, admitted Peggy "who
are you, anyway"
Don't you know my voice?"
You talk like Red-Tailed Hawk" decided
Peggy doubtfully.
do I, indeed?" cried the stranger chang
ing to a whstng note
Now, you're like Pine Grosbeak' de-
clared Peggy, but the stranger only gave a
chuckiing laugh. Tell me who you are"
I'm detective in Disguise" answered the
stranger,
Gracious ME. what are you detcctlng?"
asked Peggy, quickly filed with curiosity
Right now I'm detecting that you got up
late this morning that you carelessly put on
ono black shoe and one brown shoe: that
you siimped in washing yourself, not giving
your heck II single dab of water; that you
didn't get all the tangles out of your hair ;
and that your mother sent you back up
stairs to change your shoes, to wash more
carefully, and to comb your hair all over
again. Am L right?'
Exactly" Peggy amazed at the
strange birds uncanny knowledge OF all
these supposedly secret happenings Are
you a bird Sherlock Holmes? How do you
know all that?'
Because / peeked into your window"
chuckled the stranger. This time Peggy
knew the chuclSle
Blue jay, it's you," she cried.
ITO be sure it's me, but had you guess
ing" laughed Blue Jay.
you've disappointed me. l thought you
might be truly detective"
"But I am detective. You come with
me, and you'll see. I'm running down an
awfuly mysterious criminal"
"a criminal? What has he done?" gasped
Peggy.
That's what I'm. tryIng TO nnd out"
whispered Blue Jay.
"But if you don't know what he has
done how do you know he is a crimnal?"
persisted Peggy.
'"rhe way every detective does-by put
ting two and two together. Don't criminals
sneak along with their caps over their
eyes? Don't they look back to see if any one
is following them? Don't they try to hide
what they are doing?" Peggy nodded. So
far as she knew that was precisely the way
criminals acted. "Wel then that proves
this chap is a criminal" declared blue jay,
triumphantly land il you want. further
proof. get behind this tree and watch him.
for here he comes
Sure enough, down the opposite side of
the street was coming very suspicious look
ing character. He had his hat pulled down
over his eyes, he looked cautiously around
every few minutes as If fearful of pursuit.
and he seemed to be trying 10 hide large
basket over which he had thrown flap of his
coat.
THE Man of Mystery" hissed Blue Jay,
just like Peggy had heard villains hiss upon
the stage. "come We must follow to de-
teot his dark deedsl''
Peggy hesitated II this man were crin-
inal this was a matter for the police, not
for a little girl. But maybe he wasn't a
regular criminal. Maybe he was German
spy He might even be one of the gang that
was supposed 10 be sending messages to
German submarines telling them how to
catch American ships.
This thought moved Peggy to prompt ac-
tion. The Man of Mystery was lodging
around the nearest corner. Hesitatlng no
longer. Peggy Joined Blue Jay in pursuit Of
him. sss 4 M