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Greg, Bert, and Juile were relaxing. Then the phone rang. Greg answered it.
“Hello. This is Greg teen-age detective. What’s wrong,” he said.
It was Mr. Banit he said that he was robbed by a ghost. So they got in the car and were driven up to Mr. Banit’s mansion.
Mr. Banit told his story, “I was in the shower and the jewelry was on the table I heard the ghost sneak in. As he was leaving I saw him in the mirror. A pale green suit and his face was white.”
While he talked to Bert, Greg, and Juile they looked around.
“Footprints,” said Greg.
“Where?” said Mr. Banit.
“Right here,” said Greg.
“Impossible ghosts don’t have footprints,” said Mr. Banit.
“Well this one does,” said Greg. “They lead to the table and downstairs.”
“I’ll keep you all here,” said Mr. Banit.
“Good idea,” said Bert.
“O.K.” said Juile.
“No thanks,” said Greg. “I’m going downstairs.”
So he did he found it went outside to the swimming pool and put the jewels down then came back and picked them up and went back upstairs. When Greg came back in Bert, Juile, and Mr. Banit were talking about what had happened. Greg saw something red and shiny sticking out of Mr. Banit’s pocket. He walked over to him and got it out.
“Here’s one of your rubies,” said Greg. “It’s a clue.”
“That’s just one out of lots of rubies missing,” said Mr. Banit. “I thought you would solve it by now! I’m all steamed up at you!”
“All steamed up,” said Greg.
“All steamed up,” repeated Juile.
“All steamed up,” said Bert.
Greg went on, “You couldn’t have seen the thief in the mirror. It was covered with steam.”
“You can’t solve it. Go home!” Mr. Banit said impolitely.
“No,” said Greg. “We’ll stay here 2 more days.”
That night they saw the ghost just like Mr. Banit described it. Juile, Bert, and Greg followed it close behind it.
“Quiet you two,” whispered Greg.
The ghost turned around and saw them.
“Leave at once or you must pay,” said the ghost.
“We won’t leave until we know who you are,” said Greg.
Then they went to bed but Greg stayed up the ghost was gone so he too slept. The next day when they got up Greg said something that surprised Juile and Bert.
“I know you did it,” he said.
“Who?” asked Bert and Juile.
“I can’t tell you yet I don’t have real proof. You know I could be wrong. But again I could be right I just need proof,” said Greg.
“One more day to find out,” said Mr. Banit.
“Greg thinks he knows,” said Juile.
“He does?” asked Mr. Banit.
“Yes,” said Bert. “But he doesn’t have proof.”
“I see,” said Mr. Banit. “1 more day or else.”
Then he left them. Nobody said anything at last Greg spoke.
“Come on I think we can find the answer in Mr. Banit’s room,” said Greg.
“Why his room?” asked the butler coming in the room.
“Never mind,” said Greg. “You can help us search.”
So they went in and looked.
“I can’t find anything,” said Juile.
“Me too,” said Bert.
“Wait,” exclaimed Greg. “Here are more rubies that he said was stolen! Now that’s proof. I know who stole them.”
Nobody said anything suddenly the lights went out when they came back on Greg was gone. Meanwhile the ghost had Greg. But Greg quickly squeezed the ghost’s hand as hard as he could forcing the ghost to let go. Then he ran back to Bert and Juile. Meanwhile Bert and Juile were chatting about what happened then the lights went out again. When they came back on there was Greg leaning by the wall.
“Fooled you,” said Greg.
“Now when will you tell who it is,” said Juile.
“Tonight,” said Greg.
“Why wait ‘till then,” said Bert.
“You’ll see,” said Greg.
“Look there’s Mr. Banit,” said Bert.
“I see him,” replied Juile.
Then the butler, the maid, and the chief came in.
“One of you is guilty of robbing rubies and tonight you will know,” declared Greg.
“Not me,” said the butler.
“Could be you,” said Bert.
“Could be you,” said Juile to everyone.
“Where did you go when the lights went out?” wondered Juile and Bert.
“The ghost tried to keep me from telling,” answered Greg.
Greg looked at the rubies while the 4 suspects left.
“Jeff’s Jewelry Store it has carved in it these weren’t his to begin with,” said Greg. “But to make sure I’ll call Jeff.”
“Hello,” said Jeff.
“Did Mr. Banit but any rubies from your store?” asked Greg.
“No, he did not,” replied Jeff. “But Mr. Hoffman robbed me last Wednesday.”
“Thank you and good-bye,” Greg said. “Now I know for sure who did it and what his real name is.”
At lunch Greg checked his drink.
“Poison,” he declared. “The jewel thief tried to poison me.”
He poured his drink out it burnt a big spot on the floor.
“I’d better tell who did it sooner than I planned,” Greg thought to himself. “The thief is doing everything possible to get rid of me.”
He got his drink from the drink machine next door. After lunch Greg rested when he woke up the ghost was taking him out of the house and set him down gently on the grass and started to sneak back in the house and locked the door.
“Let me in!” yelled Greg.
The butler opened the door and Greg walked in. Juile and Bert were chatting with the maid when Greg walked in.
“I just wish today would go quickly,” whispered Greg.
Just then Mr. Banit walked in.
“Greg I thought you were outside,” he said.
That afternoon Greg opened the closet door a boulder fell down right next to him.
“Now I have to watch out for traps,” thought Greg.
At supper the same old poison trick was tried.
“That’s twice I was wanted poisoned. Now two more hours and none of your tricks. Two more hours and you’re arrested.”
After supper Greg called Bert and Juile to a conference alone. They were just about to start when Greg saw something. He turned it off.
“A tape recorder,” he said. “Let’s turn it back on and make a false conference.”
“Good idea,” said Juile.
So they did they did then they went up to their office to have the real one.
“Now I think,” Greg started. “That the thief will go after me before I tell who it is.”
“Good thinking,” said Bert.
“What do we do?” asked Bert and Juile both.
“That’s what this conference is all about,” replied Greg. “O.K. now here’s what we do...”
Then they came back to the mansion. While they went back to the mansion the ghost got the tape recorder and listened.
“It’s a fake,” he yelled in anger then went away.
Just then the door opened and Greg came in. Then Mr. Banit, the maid, the chief, and the butler cam in.
Greg made his speech, “As we all know Mr. Banit complained that his rubies were stolen by a ghost. Now I know one of you is that ghost.”
He paused took a deep breath and started again, “ He is charged for robbing rubies and trying to kill me.”
“Go on let’s get it over with,” said Mr. Banit. “I should get another detective.”
“Stop interrupting me,” said Greg. “Now as I was saying.”
“Just tell who did it and don’t mope around,” said Mr. Banit. “I think that a good detective would...”
Greg continued, “All right it’s either the butler...the maid...the chief...or Mr. Banit.”
Nobody said anything. It was a long silence.
Finally Greg said, “All right by all the clues we have and the false story.”
Juile and Bert left.
“Go on,” said Mr. Banit. “Who stole my rubies.”
“O.K.” said Greg. “As the clues show the ghost robber is-”
Suddenly the lights went out. Greg ducks as a knife went speeding towards him. He ran as fast as he could while the ghost followed him. He was getting tired but he kept on running. Then he paused on the net on the floor Bert hidden had one end and Juile also hidden had the other. The thief came closer.
“Get ready,” whispered Greg.
“Now I got you,” said the ghost choking him by the throat.
Greg felt the tight pain so he bumped his elbow on his stomach no good he tried again and again, harder and harder. Finally the thief had to let go.
“Now!” yelled Greg as jumped off.
And Bert and Juile pulled as hard as they could. The net went up.
“Now for the official unmasking of the ghost,” exclaimed Greg as the butler, the maid, and the chief came in.
Greg pulled off the mask.
“Mr. Banit!” exclaimed the chief in surprise.
“No,” declared Greg getting a washcloth and wiping it on his face. “Mr. Hoffman famous jewel thief wanted in 7 states. He stole the rubies from Jeff’s Jewelry Store then hid the rubies to get insurance. The story was wrong, and to keep from being caught he tried to kill me.”
The police arrived very soon.
“Look there’s Mr. Hoffman,” said one.
“How did you catch him?” asked another.
Greg just smiled to himself.
“It’s a long story,” he said.
The next day Greg went to Miami for a free vacation.
“Do you know what?” asked Greg.
“What?” asked Bert.
Greg continued, “I like my work but I enjoy the rest best.”
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