1997 - The Chocolate Money Mystery
Page 4
“Thank you, Rudolf,” he said. “I think that you and your friends saved my life up there.”
Rudolf gave a bark in reply. It had been a pleasure for him to do what he did. He knew that his grandfather—who had once saved two climbers trapped by an avalanche for three days—would be proud of him. And that was enough reward for a dog.
Down in the village, the local policeman listened to the children’s breathless account of what had happened.
“I see,” he said. “I’ve been a bit suspicious of what’s been going on up there, but I had no idea that it was the bank robbers we’ve been hearing about. Well done! You’ve certainly done a very good job!”
While the policeman telephoned Mr Huffendorf, the children were given a warm and reviving cup of piping hot chocolate, and each dog was given a large bowl of steaming milk.
Half an hour later, Mr Huffendorf arrived, together with some more senior policemen wearing skis and carrying all sorts of ropes and ice axes. Mr Huffendorf shook hands solemnly with the two children and listened in astonishment to their account of what had happened. Then they all set off up the hill to the marked tree where the money had been buried, and the policemen, assisted by Rudolf and his friends, dug the crate out from underneath the snow.
In the meantime, some of the other policemen went off in search of Professor Sardine and his assistant. They combed the hillside, and then went up to the farmhouse, but they found no sign of the wicked pair. It seemed as if both of them had just vanished into thin air.
But they did find something. Up at the top, pinned to the trunk of a tree just beyond the cable station, they found a hastily scribbled note.
“He’s always like that,” explained Max. “Nobody ever really catches him. They get close, but he always slips away.”
“One day,” said Mr Huffendorf. “One day he’ll be caught, and I rather think it’ll be you two who do the catching!”
“Perhaps,” said Max. “Who knows?”
Back at Professor Huffendorf’s house a large party had started. Mr Huffendorf had telephoned all his banker friends to tell them the good news and invite them to come and thank Max and Maddy in person. The money had been counted and returned to the banks and then a telephone call had been put through to Mr and Mrs Twist to tell them of the successful outcome of the case.
“I shall always be grateful to you,” said Mr Huffendorf. “Indeed, all Swiss banks will be grateful to you.”
At this, all Mr Huffendorf’s banker friends clapped their hands and cheered. This was quite unusual for the Swiss, who are normally rather quiet, but it was a very special occasion, after all.
Max and Maddy left Switzerland the next day. But before they left, Mr Huffendorf invited them into his study to discuss their payment.
“You’ll remember that I said you could have it in money or chocolate,” he said. “That offer still holds. Which would you prefer?”
Max turned to Maddy and the two of them had a quick, whispered discussion. Then he turned back and announced their choice.
“Chocolate money,” he said. “If that’s all right with you.”
Mr Huffendorf clapped his hands with delight. “What a clever choice,” he said. “In that way you get both. I shall immediately arrange for it to be delivered to you at the station.”
They said farewell, and they both gave Rudolf and the other dogs a very special hug.
“These dogs will all be returned to their owners,” said Mr Huffendorf. “All of them, except Rudolf, were the victims of kidnapping by those wicked men. Now their owners will get them back.”
Mr Huffendorf drove them to the station and said goodbye on the platform, then the two children climbed into their carriage and settled down in their seats.
“Oh,” said Maddy suddenly. “We forgot about the chocolate money!”
Max smiled. “Look up,” he said.
Maddy did. There, above their heads, neatly stacked on the luggage racks, were ten large sacks, each of them stuffed full of delicious-looking chocolate coins.
“That’ll keep us going for years!” exclaimed Maddy. “What a generous present.”
Max nodded. “Perhaps we should try just one or two,” he said. “I promise not to eat too many before we get home.”
Max really meant that promise, but there are some promises which are really just too hard to keep. I’m sure you understand what I mean, don’t you?
THE END
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7