“At first I thought he had taken my money,” Midge explained. “I’ve got my wallet, all right, but my program’s missing. Why would he steal a five-cent program?” she cried, more bewildered than angry.
“I’ll bet you just dropped it, Midge,” Cherry piped up. “What possible reason could someone have for stealing your program?”
“You’re right, Cherry, I probably left it in the cafeteria,” Midge sighed after a quick look around. “And it’s got all my notes about my favorite dogs in it!” Midge looked decidedly downcast.
“I’ll get you another,” Cherry cried as she fished a nickel from her coin purse, walked over to a vendor and purchased a crisp new program.
“Thanks, Cherry,” Midge grinned. Then an expression of alarm crossed her face. She checked her watch. “We’ve got just seconds to go before the Pageant of Poodles starts, and I promised Miss Pansy we’d be there!” Quick as a wink, the girls took off for Exhibition Hall D, but as they got close to the room they heard a terrible cry, one that sent a chill through the gay little group.
“Help! Help!” someone cried. “Someone’s—kidnapped—the—miniature—poodles!”
They raced to the Petite Poodle Room, which proved a pandemonious place indeed. People were milling about, talking excitedly. “That’s the third dognapping this summer in Central Illinois!” they overheard one man exclaim.
“So that’s why the police are here,” Midge realized.
“They must have suspected something like this might happen,” Nancy surmised.
Meanwhile, Cherry had begun fussing over Miss Pansy, who was lying flat on her back on the cold tile floor. Cherry noted with approval that the Veterinarian Nurse she had met earlier in the ladies’ lounge had loosened the woman’s garments and had made a pillow for her out of a pile of small woolen dog sweaters. The color was coming back in the elderly woman’s face and soon she was able to sit up and tell the girls the dreadful details of the tragic event.
“It’s the most awful thing,” Miss Pansy said in a shaky voice. Tears welled in her soft brown eyes. “I left Pierre and Patsy alone in their stalls for just a moment so I could purchase a cucumber sandwich and a cup of coffee. In the excitement of the day, I had forgotten to have any breakfast,” she explained weakly.
Cherry kept a cheery expression on her face, but inwardly she frowned. Of all people, a librarian should know that breakfast provides the fuel that powers the human engine! Cherry sent a bystander off for a cup of tea and some dry toast. As soon as Miss Pansy had had some nourishment and regained her strength, Cherry would set her straight about the most important meal of the day!
Miss Pansy continued her story. “When I came through these doors and looked over and saw this, why, I must have fainted,” she said in a tremulous tone. She gestured limply toward a row of tiny stalls, each outfitted with a plush pillow, rubber toy, colorful ribbons, and a gay sign bearing the occupant’s name.
But Tiny, Stella, Precious, Bubbles, Patsy and Pierre were gone!
Tears welled in Cherry’s eyes. She had never seen a sadder sight than those six, small empty beds.
“Oh, Frank, you’ve simply got to do something,” Miss Pansy begged Midge. “Oh, and Nancy Clue, you’re here, too,” the woman sighed in relief as she spotted the well-known girl detective.
Setting aside her own desire to frolic on this gay day, Nancy got right on the case. “Miss Pansy, was there anyone in here when you came through the door? Did you see anyone suspicious milling around earlier?”
But Miss Pansy was too perturbed to pay attention. “Pierre and Patsy have never spent the night away from me,” she cried. “Why, they’ll be petrified!”
“Maybe they’ll escape and find their way home,” Cherry said brightly. “Why just today at the Cavalcade of Collies I overheard a heartwarming story about a dog named—”
Nancy stepped in. “I must question Miss Pansy before she forgets important details that might crack this case,” Nancy told Cherry. Cherry nodded. She made a mental note to tell Miss Pansy the rest of the inspirational story later, for surely she would find comfort in it!
“Miss Pansy, did you see or hear anything suspicious earlier today?”
Miss Pansy shook her head. “Nothing happened that indicated a crime of this nature was about to be committed here!” Miss Pansy shuttered. Lake Merrimen was a gay little town where people were friendly and nothing bad had ever happened. Until today!
“There must be some—” but before Nancy could continue, a familiar person interrupted her. It was Mrs. Milton Meeks, well-known society matron, president of the River Depths Women’s Club, and a Wiener Race judge. She was clad in a stylish navy blue linen suit accessorized with an ornate diamond and sapphire starburst brooch and matching earrings, and reeked of the most odorous rose perfume. By the looks of it, Mrs. Meeks wasn’t at all pleased to have been called away from her post.
“What’s going on in here?” she huffed. “The Pageant of Poodles was scheduled to begin five minutes ago. We’re all going to fall dangerously behind,” she cried as she checked the small, diamond-encrusted watch on her wrist.
“At-ch-oo!” Miss Pansy gave a little sneeze. Quick as wink, Cherry handed her patient a fresh handkerchief. Could Miss Pansy be malnourished and catching a cold? In that case, she would need medical care—and quick!
Miss Pansy sneezed three more dainty little sneezes, then explained. “It’s your perfume, Myra. I’m terribly allergic to roses.”
Mrs. Meeks rudely ignored her. She just stood there in her blue and white spectator pumps and looked annoyed.
“Mrs. Meeks, all the poodles are missing!” Cherry cried. She stood by with her portable first-aid kit in hand in case Mrs. Meeks fainted from shock, for she knew from a recent feature in The River Depths Defender that Mrs. Meeks owned an apricot poodle the exact color of her new sectional sofa.
“My Precious is gone?” Mrs. Meeks gasped. “It can’t be,” she cried. She turned pale as a ghost. “Who’s the fool who left these valuable dogs alone? Where’s the Poodle Room Monitor? Why, I’ll make sure that particular individual never darkens the door of the Dog Show again!”
Cherry put a comforting hand on her elbow. “There, there,” she said. She knew Mrs. Meeks’ angry words were just a cover-up for jangled nerves. “Surely your Precious will turn up, and in good health, besides,” she said in a calm tone.
“You don’t understand,” Mrs. Meeks said in a huffy tone as she shook off Cherry’s effort. “It’s not only that someone’s stolen my prize poodle, worth over one hundred dollars, but he was wearing a white leather collar my jeweler made special just for today, using diamonds from
