The younger children wriggled and squirmed Pete glanced out of the window into the growing darkness and called for order again It’s kind of late already so we’d better get right down to business he said Besides the monster mystery there is also the new toy library in Washington School you know What’s that Dave Mead asked He was a tall boy of Pete’s age Pam will tell us Pete replied Pam Hollister rose and smiled This is going to be fun she said and told them about a project in the grade school located in another part of town They have a new kind of library there Pam continued Instead of borrowing books the children can borrow toys I think the Shoreham Detective Club should help to find toys for the library Yikes said Ricky Doesn’t everybody have toys Some children don’t his sister answered There’s not enough money to buy them That’s right put in Dave We’re just lucky And we should help But where will we get the toys asked dark haired Jeff Hunter who was eight years old Ask people for them his sister Ann replied Sure Pete said I know Dad will be glad to offer some from his store Mr Hollister had a combination hardware and sporting-goods store in downtown Shoreham It also included a fine toy department 8
made the motion which was seconded by Pam Let’s vote on it Donna Martin suggested She All in favor Pete said raise your right hand As all hands shot into the air a terrifying shriek pierced the room Everyone whirled to look at Holly Hollister She stood white-faced trembling and pointed at the cellar window I saw it I saw the monster she gasped What Pete stared at his sister It just came and went Holly was still shaking Calm down her brother said and went over to the window Nothing could be seen outside but the gray sky and the only sound was the chirping of crickets Pam put her arm around Holly Are you sure it wasn’t Zip looking into the window Just then the Hollisters beautiful big collie dog padded down the steps into the basement No it wasn’t Zip Ricky declared He’s been upstairs all the time Since Holly insisted that she had seen the face of the Shoreham monster Pete trotted upstairs went out the back door and searched around the house Nothing Mr and Mrs Hollister were out shopping Pete heard Domingo their pet burro braying from his stall in the garage The boy quickly checked on him but found him alone Pete patted Domingo’s nose then returned to the basement Nothing out there he said Did anybody else see the face 9
Nobody had What did it look like Ricky wanted to know Holly frowned Well it was wrinkled like an old man with great big teeth Yikes Ricky sighed Now we’ve got to look around for a little old man with big teeth The others laughed and Holly banged her brother with her elbow I’m not kidding Well Pete what are we going to do about the monster anyway Dave Mead asked The detective club members discussed the mystery which was being talked about all over town Hikers had reported seeing odd footprints along the edge of a wooded trail in the State Park which was located north of Shoreham The creature who had made those impressions seemed to have hoofs with three hornlike toes and a small delicate finger at the end of each toe So our little old man has not only big teeth but fingers on his toes said Ricky Everyone laughed but Pete raised his hand Now listen this is serious The whole town is scared Some people won’t even go out at night They’re afraid they might meet the monster Little Sue wriggled on the bench There aren’t any monsters she said Mommy told me True But something or somebody’s making those funny tracks Pete replied and explained that other clawed prints had been seen near the shore of Pine Lake which bordered the back yard of the Hollisters home 10
Do you think somebody’s playing a joke Dave asked Well that’s what we have to find out Pete declared All the club members agreed to join in the search Any clues they found would be reported to Pete And don’t forget the toy library Pam reminded them It was May and school was nearly over The library would be dedicated in a short time and would be open during the summer for children of the Washington School district After Pete had closed the meeting and the children had left the sound of tires could be heard in the driveway outside Four headlights shone into the window Two cars Pete said I wonder who’s with Mother and Dad The children thumped up the cellar stairs through the house and onto the front porch Mr and Mrs Hollister had parked the car and were carrying several packages inside A tall man in uniform followed them Hi everyone he called out Officer Cal Holly ran over to the policeman who picked her up in his arms Officer Cal Newberry was a handsome young man with red cheeks and clear blue eyes He belonged to the Shoreham Police Department and was a great friend of the Hollisters He had helped them solve 11
