Bobbsey Twins Liveblog 2009: So It's Updated
Chapter Six: A Funny Hiding Place
(Those of you playing the USPDG, take a shot!)
For those of you who have forgotten the previous chapter, it ended with Slippery Jenks demonstrating about one third the stealth level of these beverage-snatching monkeys. He climbed to the top of a mountain monument in broad daylight and signaled one of his cohorts with something reflective, unaware that he had been followed despite the Bobbsey crew's lack of cover and the aforementioned broad daylight. He's called "Slippery Jenks" for a reason, folks! I just have no idea what that reason might be. Actually, that's not true--I have several ideas. But they're all rather filthy, so I shan't share them.
So the twins and Toony watch Slippery Jenks flashing away atop the monument (those of you playing the USPDG, take another one!). At least, they think it's Slippery Jenks. Flossie is the only one who got a good look at him, and Toony's the only one who would know him if he saw him. Flossie insists that the man had fancy silver buttons, but can't remember if one of them was missing or not.
Bert decides they should just "'go up and talk to him,'" but by that time, probably-Slippery-Jenks has vanished behind the monument. They rush up to look for him.
In a few minutes they reached the monument, breathless. Freddie and Flossie dashed around to the far side.
"He isn't here!" they cried out.
I like to imagine them crying out in perfect unison. Also, is there any particular reason it's the two youngest twins who wind up scoping out the monument? I guess it could be purposeful: "There could be a dangerous criminal behind there! Quick, send in the expendable ones!"
Anyway.
They eventually spot their mystery man hauling ass down the mountainside and elect not to follow him in favor of making presumptions about his motivations.
"Say," Bert said excitedly, "do you suppose he came up in the train before we did and lost this map on the seat?"
"And didn't want to go back on the train because Flossie recognized him and he was afraid we'd ask him questions!" Nan cried.
Yes, that makes perfect sense. We all know that trains designed for inclined railroads are made of one big continuous car, so it would be difficult--nay, impossible!--for Slippery Jenks to get into a different car. And it goes without saying that a hardened smuggler type would find the mere idea of being interrogated by children terrifying; so much so that he'd rather hike down a mountain than risk an onslaught of queries peppered with words like "jeepers" and "golly." Plus, Toony tells us that the direction probably-Slippery-Jenks is headed would eventually lead him to the river, and it's not as if Slippery Jenks owns a boat.
In a moment of startling sensibility, Flossie suggests they go back to the gift and snack emporium and ask the girl behind the counter if she recognized the cherry-soda-slurping villain.
They hurried back to the restaurant and up to the pretty young woman behind the counter. Flossie put her question.
I'd just like to take a moment to post a close-up of the artist's rendering of the "pretty young woman:"
You rock that jaunty little cap, sister!
The lunch counter girl (*cough*) doesn't know who the mystery man is, though she sees him often. He always buys a soda, goes up to the monument, and rides the train back down.
Speaking of riding the train back down, that's just what the Bobbseys do. Bert and Nan spend the ride puzzling over the map, but beyond identifying obvious landmarks, they can't make much of it. Until...
"Wait a minute!" Nan exclaimed. "This cross at Aunt Alice's island is on the south side. That's where Flossie and I saw the queer bobbing lights!"
"Do you suppose there's a connection between the cross and the lights?" Bert asked.
"There might be, but what is it?" Nan said. "Do you think the man at the monument might have been signaling to someone on the island?"
"But there's no one on the island except Aunt Alice, Toony, and Trudy!" Bert objected.
And the goblins; let's not forget them! I'm starting to think Trudy might be in on it. Never trust a woman with snapping eyes.
Upon their return, the twins decide to explore the south side of the island, where Nan and Flossie saw the lights. They find jack-all, then head back to the house, where Mrs. Bobbsey and Aunt Alice are sorting china. Flossie spies a tiny tea set, which Aunt Alice is "'saving[...] for another little girl.'" Flossie, of course, is too polite to ask for clarification regarding this little girl's identity. I'm just going to assume Aunt Alice has a completely different moppet in mind and is rubbing it in like the vindictive old bat that she is.
It turns out that a police officer visited the island while the twins were away to ask about the missing box. The officer figured that any stolen antiques would wind up in one of the area's antique stores eventually. Aunt Alice and the Bobbseys make plans to go antiquing the very next day, borrowing a car from Mrs. Myers--Cliff's mother.
The twins are privately mortified at the idea of running into that no-account Cliff again, but he isn't there the following day when they show up (to the twins' relief). Mrs. Myers is nice, though, and intrigued by their hunt for the missing heirlooms. She happily lends them her car.
The Bobbseys and Aunt Alice start their search at Hickory Hill Antiques. The owner hasn't seen the fashion doll or the wooden flute, but discusses antiques with Mrs. Bobbsey and Aunt Alice while the twins amuse themselves in the shop. Nan examines some maps, Bert checks out some old muskets (uh oh), and Freddie and Flossie decide to play hide and seek. I'm sure nothing bad could possibly come of this situation.
Or, you know, Freddie could hide in a grandfather clock and eventually come tumbling out, knocking Flossie over and miraculously not breaking anything.
Except for my brain.
The shop owner suggests several other places they might check, but to no avail; none of the other shopkeepers have or have seen a doll or a flute. Finally, there is only one more shop on their list.
A tiny white-haired woman opened the door and invited them in.
Aunt Alice asked about her fashion doll, but the woman said, "I haven't had one for years. They are not very common around here."
"Have you an old wooden flute?" Bert asked.
The shop owner brightened. "Yes, I have," she answered. "I bought one from a man just yesterday. I'll get it for you!"
GASP!!!!!!!
So ends chapter six!
(Those of you playing the USPDG, take a shot!)
For those of you who have forgotten the previous chapter, it ended with Slippery Jenks demonstrating about one third the stealth level of these beverage-snatching monkeys. He climbed to the top of a mountain monument in broad daylight and signaled one of his cohorts with something reflective, unaware that he had been followed despite the Bobbsey crew's lack of cover and the aforementioned broad daylight. He's called "Slippery Jenks" for a reason, folks! I just have no idea what that reason might be. Actually, that's not true--I have several ideas. But they're all rather filthy, so I shan't share them.
So the twins and Toony watch Slippery Jenks flashing away atop the monument (those of you playing the USPDG, take another one!). At least, they think it's Slippery Jenks. Flossie is the only one who got a good look at him, and Toony's the only one who would know him if he saw him. Flossie insists that the man had fancy silver buttons, but can't remember if one of them was missing or not.
Bert decides they should just "'go up and talk to him,'" but by that time, probably-Slippery-Jenks has vanished behind the monument. They rush up to look for him.
In a few minutes they reached the monument, breathless. Freddie and Flossie dashed around to the far side.
"He isn't here!" they cried out.
I like to imagine them crying out in perfect unison. Also, is there any particular reason it's the two youngest twins who wind up scoping out the monument? I guess it could be purposeful: "There could be a dangerous criminal behind there! Quick, send in the expendable ones!"
Anyway.
They eventually spot their mystery man hauling ass down the mountainside and elect not to follow him in favor of making presumptions about his motivations.
"Say," Bert said excitedly, "do you suppose he came up in the train before we did and lost this map on the seat?"
"And didn't want to go back on the train because Flossie recognized him and he was afraid we'd ask him questions!" Nan cried.
Yes, that makes perfect sense. We all know that trains designed for inclined railroads are made of one big continuous car, so it would be difficult--nay, impossible!--for Slippery Jenks to get into a different car. And it goes without saying that a hardened smuggler type would find the mere idea of being interrogated by children terrifying; so much so that he'd rather hike down a mountain than risk an onslaught of queries peppered with words like "jeepers" and "golly." Plus, Toony tells us that the direction probably-Slippery-Jenks is headed would eventually lead him to the river, and it's not as if Slippery Jenks owns a boat.
In a moment of startling sensibility, Flossie suggests they go back to the gift and snack emporium and ask the girl behind the counter if she recognized the cherry-soda-slurping villain.
They hurried back to the restaurant and up to the pretty young woman behind the counter. Flossie put her question.
I'd just like to take a moment to post a close-up of the artist's rendering of the "pretty young woman:"
You rock that jaunty little cap, sister!
The lunch counter girl (*cough*) doesn't know who the mystery man is, though she sees him often. He always buys a soda, goes up to the monument, and rides the train back down.
Speaking of riding the train back down, that's just what the Bobbseys do. Bert and Nan spend the ride puzzling over the map, but beyond identifying obvious landmarks, they can't make much of it. Until...
"Wait a minute!" Nan exclaimed. "This cross at Aunt Alice's island is on the south side. That's where Flossie and I saw the queer bobbing lights!"
"Do you suppose there's a connection between the cross and the lights?" Bert asked.
"There might be, but what is it?" Nan said. "Do you think the man at the monument might have been signaling to someone on the island?"
"But there's no one on the island except Aunt Alice, Toony, and Trudy!" Bert objected.
And the goblins; let's not forget them! I'm starting to think Trudy might be in on it. Never trust a woman with snapping eyes.
Upon their return, the twins decide to explore the south side of the island, where Nan and Flossie saw the lights. They find jack-all, then head back to the house, where Mrs. Bobbsey and Aunt Alice are sorting china. Flossie spies a tiny tea set, which Aunt Alice is "'saving[...] for another little girl.'" Flossie, of course, is too polite to ask for clarification regarding this little girl's identity. I'm just going to assume Aunt Alice has a completely different moppet in mind and is rubbing it in like the vindictive old bat that she is.
It turns out that a police officer visited the island while the twins were away to ask about the missing box. The officer figured that any stolen antiques would wind up in one of the area's antique stores eventually. Aunt Alice and the Bobbseys make plans to go antiquing the very next day, borrowing a car from Mrs. Myers--Cliff's mother.
The twins are privately mortified at the idea of running into that no-account Cliff again, but he isn't there the following day when they show up (to the twins' relief). Mrs. Myers is nice, though, and intrigued by their hunt for the missing heirlooms. She happily lends them her car.
The Bobbseys and Aunt Alice start their search at Hickory Hill Antiques. The owner hasn't seen the fashion doll or the wooden flute, but discusses antiques with Mrs. Bobbsey and Aunt Alice while the twins amuse themselves in the shop. Nan examines some maps, Bert checks out some old muskets (uh oh), and Freddie and Flossie decide to play hide and seek. I'm sure nothing bad could possibly come of this situation.
Or, you know, Freddie could hide in a grandfather clock and eventually come tumbling out, knocking Flossie over and miraculously not breaking anything.
Except for my brain.
The shop owner suggests several other places they might check, but to no avail; none of the other shopkeepers have or have seen a doll or a flute. Finally, there is only one more shop on their list.
A tiny white-haired woman opened the door and invited them in.
Aunt Alice asked about her fashion doll, but the woman said, "I haven't had one for years. They are not very common around here."
"Have you an old wooden flute?" Bert asked.
The shop owner brightened. "Yes, I have," she answered. "I bought one from a man just yesterday. I'll get it for you!"
GASP!!!!!!!
So ends chapter six!