A Study in Temperance (The Adventures of Ichabod Temperance Book 4) by Ichabod Temperance Page B
Authors: Ichabod Temperance
Ads: Link
Temperance.”
“There’s no accounting for taste, sir, but now that I think about it, I wonder if those weren’t their real clothes. Maybe they were trying to throw us off the track of discovering their true identities by wearing a clever disguise.”
“I had considered that possibility,” our consultant concurs bemusedly.
Mr. Temperance waggles his eyebrows at me in a show of pride at having received agreement with this clever man in his assessment of the kidnappers’ attire.
“I understand that there was some sort of lightning show?” asks the data devouring deducer.
“Yessir, that came right after their diabolical plan involving Miss Plumtartt fizzled. When that didn’t work out, the Priestess magically brought an ancient stone crocodile to life and sicked it on us. Miss Plumtartt flashed her shiny red orbs at the monster and he heaved to. If you don’t believe us, check out that library back there. There’s ’sploded gator meat all over that learned institution.”
“At this juncture I shall accept your outrageous account as true. Please continue. How did you effect your escape from the locked museum?”
“Well, after we offed the giant crocodile, I could tell Miss Plumtartt was gettin’ tired. We just went ahead and ducked back out the way we came in so as to give Miss Plumtartt a break from police interrogation.”
“I see, then you are unable to continue the pursuit tonight?” our eager detective asks.
“Heck, I sure would like to get them boys off the streets, and it’s best to stay on a trail while it’s still fresh, but of course, it’s up to Miss Plumtartt, whether or not she wants to mount a midnight manhunt in this majestic metropolis.”
“In truth, anger rejuvenates my spiritual power cells. I am not happy about being kidnapped. If there is a chance that we can catch the miscreants that are capable of such a dastardly deed, then I say lead on.”
“Capital, Madame!”
“Attagirl, Miss Plumtartt! I’d rather bring this nefarious gang to heel than eat my weight in chocolate.”
“Let us make haste as I am eager for a hunt and it is imperative that we begin at once.”
“Yes, Ma’am, Miss Plumtartt, Ma’am!”
“I do have one request though, gentlemen, if I may? As I did not leave the hotel with a thought to scrambling through hastily dug tunnels, the footwear that I chose is rather lightweight. As we just checked in today, I dropped off my favorite riding boots to be polished. They should be directly at hand.”
“Of course, Madame.”
“Yoo, hoo, oh, bellboy? Please retrieve my riding boots and do hurry, as we are in a decided hurry.”
“Yes, mum!”
The lad flies away on his errand. Moments later, I see him reappear to pass a message to his superior. This message I visually track through the rising chain of hospitality in a wave of negative head pans until at last, the head clerk himself brings the bad news.
“Miss Plumtartt, I am very embarrassed to inform you that one of your boots is missing. I do not know how such a thing could have happened. This hotel prides itself in the security of our guests’ items. Our search continues, but as it is, only one boot remains where there should be two.”
“I say, that is disappointing, yes, quite, rather.”
“Hmmm, it could be very telling, too.” Our new friend the sleuth pulls his brows together in concerned thought at this news.
“Does that mean we oughtta be on the lookout for a one-legged lady horserider, y’all?”
“Perhaps, Mr. Temperance. C’est la vie . I shall endure with the shoes I have, gentlemen. Let us be on our way. The trail grows cold. Now that we are on our way, maybe our privately hired investigator could offer a little background information on himself, eh hem?”
“I exist to explain the inexplicable. Give me problems, mysteries and conundrums. This is the spice of life; that which stimulates the little gray cells. I discovered at an early age my powers of observation were
“There’s no accounting for taste, sir, but now that I think about it, I wonder if those weren’t their real clothes. Maybe they were trying to throw us off the track of discovering their true identities by wearing a clever disguise.”
“I had considered that possibility,” our consultant concurs bemusedly.
Mr. Temperance waggles his eyebrows at me in a show of pride at having received agreement with this clever man in his assessment of the kidnappers’ attire.
“I understand that there was some sort of lightning show?” asks the data devouring deducer.
“Yessir, that came right after their diabolical plan involving Miss Plumtartt fizzled. When that didn’t work out, the Priestess magically brought an ancient stone crocodile to life and sicked it on us. Miss Plumtartt flashed her shiny red orbs at the monster and he heaved to. If you don’t believe us, check out that library back there. There’s ’sploded gator meat all over that learned institution.”
“At this juncture I shall accept your outrageous account as true. Please continue. How did you effect your escape from the locked museum?”
“Well, after we offed the giant crocodile, I could tell Miss Plumtartt was gettin’ tired. We just went ahead and ducked back out the way we came in so as to give Miss Plumtartt a break from police interrogation.”
“I see, then you are unable to continue the pursuit tonight?” our eager detective asks.
“Heck, I sure would like to get them boys off the streets, and it’s best to stay on a trail while it’s still fresh, but of course, it’s up to Miss Plumtartt, whether or not she wants to mount a midnight manhunt in this majestic metropolis.”
“In truth, anger rejuvenates my spiritual power cells. I am not happy about being kidnapped. If there is a chance that we can catch the miscreants that are capable of such a dastardly deed, then I say lead on.”
“Capital, Madame!”
“Attagirl, Miss Plumtartt! I’d rather bring this nefarious gang to heel than eat my weight in chocolate.”
“Let us make haste as I am eager for a hunt and it is imperative that we begin at once.”
“Yes, Ma’am, Miss Plumtartt, Ma’am!”
“I do have one request though, gentlemen, if I may? As I did not leave the hotel with a thought to scrambling through hastily dug tunnels, the footwear that I chose is rather lightweight. As we just checked in today, I dropped off my favorite riding boots to be polished. They should be directly at hand.”
“Of course, Madame.”
“Yoo, hoo, oh, bellboy? Please retrieve my riding boots and do hurry, as we are in a decided hurry.”
“Yes, mum!”
The lad flies away on his errand. Moments later, I see him reappear to pass a message to his superior. This message I visually track through the rising chain of hospitality in a wave of negative head pans until at last, the head clerk himself brings the bad news.
“Miss Plumtartt, I am very embarrassed to inform you that one of your boots is missing. I do not know how such a thing could have happened. This hotel prides itself in the security of our guests’ items. Our search continues, but as it is, only one boot remains where there should be two.”
“I say, that is disappointing, yes, quite, rather.”
“Hmmm, it could be very telling, too.” Our new friend the sleuth pulls his brows together in concerned thought at this news.
“Does that mean we oughtta be on the lookout for a one-legged lady horserider, y’all?”
“Perhaps, Mr. Temperance. C’est la vie . I shall endure with the shoes I have, gentlemen. Let us be on our way. The trail grows cold. Now that we are on our way, maybe our privately hired investigator could offer a little background information on himself, eh hem?”
“I exist to explain the inexplicable. Give me problems, mysteries and conundrums. This is the spice of life; that which stimulates the little gray cells. I discovered at an early age my powers of observation were
Similar Books
