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‘Now, Doug,’ he said, ‘I’ve been reading one of my favorite authors, Mr Conan Doyle, and one of my favorite characters in all the books by Conan Doyle is Mr Sherlock Holmes He has honed my spirit and sharpenedverytio’

‘Yes, sir,’ said Douglas, quietly

‘I’ve been putting together bits and pieces of inforht now the town is afflicted by lots of boys who are suddenly staying ho or other Nu a full report from your house next door It see poorly’

‘I wouldn’t say that exactly,’ said Doug

‘Well, if you won’t, I will,’ said Grandpa ‘He feels poorly enough to stay home from school It’s not often Toy, I rarely see hi You have any idea about his affliction, Doug?’

‘No, sir,’ said Doug

‘I would hate to contradict you, boy, but I think you do know But wait for ot a list here of the boys in your group, the ones I regularly see running under the apple trees, or cli the can down the street They’re usually the ones with firecrackers in one hand and a lit match in the

other’

At this Douglas shut his eyes and sed hard

‘I made it my business,’ said Grandpa, ‘to call the hoe to say, they’re all in bed That seeive me any reason why? Those boys are usually like squirrels on the sidewalk, you can’t see ’e late How about you, Doug?’

‘I’m fine’

‘Really?’

‘Yes, sir’

‘You don’t look so fine tothat together with the boyspoorly and here you are, looking kind of pale around the gills, I figure there ht’

Grandpa stopped and picked up a piece of paper he’d been holding on his lap