Danny Dunn and the Weather Machine by Jay Williams, Raymond Abrashkin Page A

so much about him, and about those horror movies of yours, that probably what you saw was Vanderbilt looking through the window, and you thought it was Mr. Elswing. You’ve always been unfair to that poor little pup,” Irene said.
    â€œPoor little pup!” Joe rolled over on his back, and moaned. “Sweet little lap dog! Miniature poodle! Oh, man! I always knew there was something wrong with girls.”
    Irene frowned and began to reply. But Danny got to his feet, and said, “Never mind that. Come on, let’s get this nozzle back on the machine. Joe, you put it on. I swear I won’t touch it again—and this time I mean it!”

CHAPTER TWELVE
    The Lemonade Clue
    The laboratory in the back of Professor Bullfinch’s house had its own private entrance. As the three made their way to it, Mrs. Dunn stuck her head out the kitchen window.
    â€œHello, wanderers,” she called. “Anyone for a little snack?”
    â€œIn a few minutes, Mom,” Danny answered. “We’ve got some work to do in the lab, first.”
    â€œAll right. Oh—Danny.”
    â€œYes, Mom?”
    â€œDon’t make a mess in the laboratory. I’ve just had a wire from Professor Bullfinch. He’ll be back tomorrow.”
    Danny stopped short. “Tomorrow?”
    â€œYes, he said he might be back in time for lunch, if he could make an early plane. Isn’t that good news?”
    â€œEr—yes. Yes, it sure is,” Danny stuttered. He pulled open the laboratory door and fairly flew inside.
    â€œWe’ve got no time to waste,” he told the others. “Give Joe the nozzle, Irene.”
    She had been carrying it all this time, and now passed it over. With shaking hands, Joe screwed it back in place. Irene aimed the machine at the sink, once again, and told Joe to turn on the faucet. Then she threw the switch.
    Nothing happened. There was no sign of the pale beams, no sign of cloud or moisture.
    Danny gave a yelp and sank down in a chair.
    Irene wrung her hands. “What’ll we do?” she wailed.
    Danny pulled himself together. “I’ll have to break my promise to myself again,” he said piteously. “Help me, Joe. Let’s get it up on the lab bench.”
    Between them, they lifted it to the stone surface. The back plate of the machine was held on by six screws. Danny got a screwdriver and unfastened them. He lifted the plate off.
    Inside was a tangle of wires, tubes, and oddly shaped pieces of apparatus. Danny looked at it hopelessly.
    â€œEven if I had seen this before,” he said, “I wouldn’t be able to figure out what’s wrong. We’re in trouble.”
    â€œI expected it.” Joe leaned back against the edge of the sink, and folded his arms. “Now what?”
    â€œIt’s all my fault,” Danny groaned. “I should never have touched it. This is what always happens—I jump into things without thinking, and then—boom! Why don’t I ever learn?”
    â€œAw, take it easy, Dan,” Joe said, looking sympathetically at his friend. “Even the Professor said that scientists have to be curious.”
    â€œYes. And curiosity killed this cat—I mean, this machine,” said Danny bitterly. “What’ll I tell the Professor? Gosh, I don’t know. I don’t know what to do.”
    He rubbed his face hard, as if that way he could start his ideas percolating. “I’ll take another look inside,” he said, but without much enthusiasm. He put his hands on the sides of the machine and pushed it straight, so that the work light would shine more directly into it. Then he said, “Ow!”
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” Irene asked.
    â€œI cut my finger on something.” He popped his finger in his mouth. Slowly, a strange expression spread over his face. He removed his finger and stared at it.
    â€œIs it bleeding?” Irene said. “I’ll get a