The Case of the Shipwrecked Tree. John R. Erickson

break this case and expose Murphy the Spy, neither of us will be getting much sleep.”

      “Well, can I scratch my ear?”

      I gave that some thought. “Okay, go ahead, if it’ll make you feel better. Oh, and Drover, don’t feel too bad about being confused. This guy’s a real pro. Even I might have been thrown off the track of the train.”

      At that very moment, my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a vehicle. An unauthorized vehicle was approaching our ranch headquarters compound. Even though I was in the middle of the Murphy Case, I had to tear myself away and find out who had entered our territory without permission.

      “Come on, Drover, we’ve got a trespasser on the ranch! It’s time to launch all dogs!”

      He was still scratching his ear. “Yeah, but what about this itch?”

      “Bring it along. We might have to use it for evidence later on.”

      And with that, we launched ourselves into the morning breeze and went streaking up the hill to find out just what the heck was going on. Little did we suspect . . . well, you’ll see.