Philip and the Fortune Teller (9781619501317) by John Paulits Page A

gypsy’s tent.”
    “Wow! You committed a robbery so we can
report a robbery.”
    “Never mind that. Let’s get to the
phone.”
    The boys hurried back to the corner
store.
    “Stop here. Stop here,” Philip ordered. “We
gotta make sure nobody’s watching the phone.”
    “Who would watch it?”
    “The police, because of the stupid phone call
you made.”
    Emery scrooched his face, but didn’t argue.
He joined Philip in scanning the area.
    “See anybody?” Philip asked.
    “Nobody,” Emery answered in a sulking
voice.
    Philip ignored Emery’s discontent and crossed
the street.
    “Keep watch again,” he ordered as he dropped
the two quarters into the slot. He knew it would be useless to try
to disguise his voice the way Emery did. He would sound like a kid,
no matter what he tried. So in his own voice he answered the
operator’s greeting.
    “I can tell you where to find the box of
jewelry that got stolen from Mrs. Healy on Van Kirk Street.” He
thought quickly and decided not to mention that an elephant stood
guard over the box. It sounded way too crazy. “It’s hidden at the
circus right behind the tent of the gypsy in some straw. The gypsy
and the pharaoh at the circus stole the box. Go arrest them. That’s
all I can tell you.”
    The operator started to ask a question, but
Philip hung up the phone.
    “Let’s get away from here, Emery.”
    Philip walked quickly, Emery at his side.
They turned at the first three corners they came to. Philip made
the last turn in the direction of the circus.
    “Where you taking us? I thought we were going
to Mrs. Logan’s bushes.”
    “Back to the circus the long way. We have to
see what happens.”
    “You think they believed you?”
    “They better. If they didn’t, we’re
sunk.”
    “Even if the police show up, they may not
find the box.”
    “Why not?” Philip asked perplexed.
    “Maybe the elephant will eat it.”
    Philip stopped and stared at his friend.
    “You really think an elephant is going to eat
a big box of jewelry?”
    “Well, he could pick it up and throw it
somewhere when he finds out it isn’t food. My sisters throw food on
the floor if they don’t like it. He may throw it someplace the
police don’t look.”
    “Your sisters aren’t elephants. I don’t know
what the elephant’s going to do. Let’s just go watch.”
    A few moments later they had entered the
midway at the opposite end from the tents of the gypsy and the
pharaoh. They stepped lively until they reached a booth where you
threw balls and tried to knock down puffy, cloth-covered wooden
cats to win a prize. They could hear circus music playing in the
big tent off to their left. They stepped behind the cat booth, but
could still see the main entrance. They didn’t have to wait
long.
    “Look, look, look,” Philip cried.
    Emery was still in a bad mood, a result of
Philip’s description of his phone call, but his attention rose
quickly when he saw two police officers entering the midway.
    “They’re going to the gypsy’s tent,” Philip
said softly.
    “One’s going behind the tent.”
    “He’s talking to the gypsy. Look, the pharaoh
is watching from his tent.”
    “Boy!” Emery exclaimed. “I wish we could hear
what they’re saying.”
    “He’s coming back. Look! He’s got the box!
He’s got it! He’s putting it in a bag,” Philip squealed. “Look at
the gypsy!”
    The police officer had showed the box, now
safe in the clear plastic bag, to the gypsy. The gypsy’s arms
bounced up and down, and his mouth didn’t stop as he tried to
explain about the box to the police officer.
    One of the officers turned and walked toward
the pharaoh’s tent. The pharaoh saw him and ducked back inside, but
it didn’t matter. The police officer went in and brought him
out.
    “They’re taking them both away,” said Philip,
nearly jumping up and down.
    “We did it!”
    “ I did it,” Philip pointed out.
“ You made the dumbest phone call ever.”
    “It was my idea to