Text Leveling System

Encyclopedia Brown Keeps The Peace

RDQ:	1313	Max Word/Sent	29	Total Words	3277		Diff Words	955
Lex	800	Ave Word/.Sent	7	Hi Freq occurs	2280	69.6%	Hi freq	426	44.6%
AR	4.1	Long Sentences	2.2	Low Freq occurs	151	4.6%	Low freq	99	10.4%

"Stay away from Idaville!"
Across the nation the warning sped from crook to crook.
Big and small, they knew what to expect if they tried anything funny in Idaville a quick trip to jail. For more than a year, no child or grown up had gotten away with breaking a law there.
How did Idaville do it? What secret lay behind its war on crime? No one could guess. Idaville looked like many other seaside towns its size.
It had two car washes, two delicatessens, three movie theaters, and four banks. It had rich families and poor families,]]
churches and a synagogue, lovely beaches, and good places to fish.
And on Rover Avenue it had a red brick house with a white picket fence in front. This was the real headquarters of Idaville's war on crime. For within the red brick walls lived Encyclopedia Brown. Encyclopedia's father was chief of the Idaville police. For more than a year now Chief Brown had brought home his hardest cases. Encyclopedia solved them at the dinner table.
It pained Chief Brown not to tell the world. He wanted' to shout from the rooftops, "My son is the greatest detective who ever walked in sneakers!"
But how could he?
Who would believe that the mastermind behind Idaville's crime cleanup was ten years old?
Encyclopedia never let drop a word about the help he gave his father. He didn't want to seem different from other fifth graders.
His nickname was something else. There was nothing he could do about it.
Only his parents and teachers called him]]
by his real name, Leroy. Everyone else in Idaville called him Encyclopedia.
An encyclopedia is a book or set of books filled with facts from A to Z. So was Encyclopedia's head. He had read more books than anybody, and he never forgot a word. You might say he was the only library in America that could play second base.
One evening his father ate his soup very slowly. Encyclopedia knew what that meant. Chief Brown had come up against a case he couldn't solve.
Chief Brown put down his spoon. He leaned back and said, "Mr. Holt says he was robbed this afternoon."
"Says?" questioned Mrs. Brown. "You make it sound. as if you don't believe him." "I'm not sure, " replied Chief Brown. "Mr. Holt owns the Silver Shop on Main Street. He claims that eight fine silver dishes were stolen: No one saw the holdup, however."
"Why should he lie?" asked Mrs. Brown. "Mr. Holt won't lose any money because of the robbery," said Chief Brown. "He doesn't own the silver dishes that were stolen."]]
"Who owns them?" asked Encyclopedia. "Mrs. Cartwright," answered Chief Brown. "Mr. Holt agreed to show the dishes in his store. If he sold them at the price Mrs. Cartwright was asking, she was to pay him for his time and trouble."
"Do you think he claimed the dishes were stolen so that he can sell them himself out of town and keep all the money?" Asked Encyclopedia.
"It has' been done before," said Chief Brown.
"Did Mr. Holt see who held him up?" inquired Mrs. Brown.
"A single gunman," said Chief Brown. "Mr. Holt is sure he can recognize the man if he sees him again."
Chief Brown unbuttoned  his shirt pocket. He took out a notebook.
"I wrote down everything Mr. Holt told me about the holdup," he said to Encyclopedia. "Here is what he said happened." Chief Brown read:
"I was alone in the store shortly after one o'clock. 1 had my back to the door. I was locking a wall showcase in which I keep]]
eight very fine silver dishes belonging to Mrs. Cartwright. Suddenly I heard the door open. A man's voice said, 'Don't turn around this is a stickup!' I felt a gun in my, back. 'Just hand over everything in the showcase,' the voice said. After I had given him everything it sounded as if he put the dishes in a suitcase  he left."
Encyclopedia said, "Mr. Holt's back was to the holdup man all the time. So how can he say he could recognize the man if he saw him again?"
Mrs. Brown looked at Encyclopedia proudly. She was always pleased when. he solved a case: before she got up to bring the main course.
"Mr. Holt said something else," replied Chief Brown. He read again :from his notebook.
"All the silver dishes , were highly polished. When I was passing back the largest, a fruit bowl made by Falco of  Italy, I tipped it up. By looking inside it, I saw the holdup man's face just as though I were looking into a mirror."]]
Mrs. Brown glanced worriedly at Encyclopedia.
Encyclopedia had closed his eyes. He always closed his eyes when he did his heavy thinking.
Chief Brown put his notebook into his pocket. "It's not such a simple case after all," he said. "I can't be sure that Mr. Holt isn't telling the truth."
Encyclopedia opened his eyes. "Is his business doing well?" he asked.
"No," said Chief Brown. "I: checked with his bank. He has borrowed a lot of money to keep the store going. I think he faked the robbery. With the money he will get from selling the silver dishes out of town, he can pay back the bank."
"You aren't being fair," said Mrs. Brown. "Just because Mr. Holt needs money doesn't mean he stole Mrs. Cartwright's silver."
"Have you ever seen the silver bowl he used as a mirror, Dad?" asked Encyclopedia.
"Your mother and I nearly bought the bowl last month, as a matter of fact," said Chief Brown. "It's about eleven inches]]
across and rounded inside like a big spoon."
"We just loved it," said Mrs. Brown. "But it cost too much."
"I'm glad you didn't buy it," said Encyclopedia.
"Why?" asked Chief Brown.
"Because Mr. Holt needed the fruit bowl for his story," said Encyclopedia. "He was afraid he might not get away with a simple story of a holdup man. He had to.add something that showed he acted to get back Mrs. Cartwright's silver dishes. So he put in the part about using the fruit bowl as a mirror to see the holdup man's face."
"I'm afraid that part doesn't matter," said Chief Brown. "We can't prove that he didn't see the holdup man's face any more than we can prove he made up the whole story. Maybe there was a holdup man, maybe there wasn't. We're back where we started."
"Not quite, Dad," said Encyclopedia. "We know that Mr. Holt is lying!" WHAT MADE ENCYCLOPEDIA SURE?]]
During the winter Encyclopedia solved cases in the dining room. In the summer he solved them in the garage as well.
When school let out, he opened his own detective business. He wanted to help the children of the. neighborhood. Outside the garage each morning he hung a sign. It read:]]
One morning Gary Hale brought in a beer can. The bottom was missing. "Look at this," exclaimed Gary.
He poked his thumb through a hole in the side of the can:
"The hole is for air," said Gary. "Bugs Meany made it before he stuck the can over my dwarf."
Encyclopedia stayed calm. He tried to recall the last time anyone had stuck a beer can over a dwarf. Only Bugs Meany would do such a thing.
Bugs was the leader of a gang of tough older boys who called themselves the Tigers. They should have called themselves the Tea Bags. They were always getting into hot water.
"I want to hire you," said Gary, putting twenty five cents on the gasoline can beside Encyclopedia. "Somebody's got to stop that Bugs Meany, and I'm too small."
"I think I can handle Bugs," said Encyclopedia. Since opening his detective agency, Encyclopedia had been hired to stop many of Bugs's shady deals. "What are the facts?"
"Did you know about Mr. Whitten's jellybean contest?" asked Gary.]]
"Sure. Children had to guess the number of jelly beans in the window of his toy shop."
"My guess was closest," said Gary. "But I'm not proud of winning."
"Is Mr. Whitten your uncle or something?"
"No," said Gary. "My guess was honest seven thousand and twenty three jelly beans. The real number was eleven thousand and six. My guess was closest, so I won. But I looked bad:"
"It hurt your standing to miss by so much," said Encyclopedia sympathetically.
"Right," said Gary, whose hobby was entering contests.
So far this year Gary had finished eighty first in a national TV hair tonic contest, winning two free shaves at a. barbershop in Denver, Colorado. He had also won a year's: subscription to The Hardware Store News and many smaller prizes.
"First prize in the jellybean contest was seven candles shaped like Snow White's dwarfs," said Gary. "Last night I picked up the candles at Mr. Whitten's shop. I'd]]
hardly got out the door before Bugs Meany and his Tigers took them away."
"What did you do?"
"Nothing," said Gary. "I told you, I'm too small. But I followed the Tigers to the highway. They used a candle to light firecrackers. When a firecracker went off, it sounded like a tire blew. Cars were stopping all over the place."
"What about the empty beer can?" "There was a strong breeze," answered Gary. "Bugs Meany put the beer can over the candle so it wouldn't go out. He lighted the firecrackers through the hole in the side."
"Hmmm," said Encyclopedia. "We better pay Bugs a visit."
The Tigers' clubhouse was an unused tool shed behind Mr. Sweeny's Auto Body Shop;  Bugs Meany was alone. He had a deck of playing cards and was marking the backs of the aces and king's.
"Get off the earth," he snarled upon seeing the boy detective, "or I'll twist your nose so far around you'll part your hair every time you sneeze."
Encyclopedia was used to Bugs's welcomes. He stepped inside. Immediately his]]
gaze fell upon an object standing on an orange crate.
It was a candle shaped like a dwarf!  Although the head had melted away, Encyclopedia could tell that the front of the dwarf faced the door. All the drippings had slid down the chest and legs, forming a beard clear to the little wax boots. "That's one of the candles you stole from Gary last night," said Encyclopedia. "He won seven of them in Mr. Whitten's jellybean counting contest."
"You've got bubbles in your think tank," jeered Bugs. "If I had nothing better to do than enter contests, I'd go jump in the lake."
"You used one of my candles to light firecrackers by the highway last night," said Gary.
"Man, oh, man!" sang Bugs. "I'm accused of everything! I bought that candle two days ago and put it there on the orange crate. I haven't touched it since!"
"How come it's burned down," demanded Gary.
"I said I didn't touch it," replied Bugs. "I didn't say I didn't light it. I. lit it last night to]]
show the other Tigers I was in the clubhouse."
"They couldn't see the light. The clubhouse has no windows," pointed out Encyclopedia.
"What I put up with!" groaned Bugs, rolling his eyes. "I left the door open, you blubberbrain!"
"There was a strong breeze last night," said Encyclopedia. "It probably would have blown out the candle."
For a moment Bugs looked as if he'd taken a karate chop to the throat. "W well, the breeze wasn't strong enough," he insisted. "You can see the candle burned pretty well."
"Too well," corrected Encyclopedia. WHAT DID ENCYCLOPEDIA MEAN?]]
The world of Bugs Meany was divided in two.
One half was filled with mischief. The other was filled with the desire to get even with Encyclopedia:
Bugs hated having Encyclopedia outsmart him all the time. He longed to knock the boy detective colder than the paint on an icehouse floor, and twice as flat.
Bugs didn't dare throw a punch, however. It wasn't because Encyclopedia's father was chief of police. It was because of Sally Kimball.
Bugs had never dreamed that a pretty ten year old girl could beat the ground]]
with him till Sally had caught him bullying a Cub Scout.
Bugs had laughed when Sally had told him to pick on someone his own size. He had roared in surprise when she had dropped him with her first punch. He had gotten up, but after she had served him a helping of lefts and rights, he had just lain on the grass and groaned.
Because of Sally, Bugs never threatened Encyclopedia with his muscles. Sally was the boy detective's junior partner.
"Bugs hates me, and he won't ever live down the licking you gave him," warned Encyclopedia.
"We'd better keep on our guard," agreed Sally. "He's like a spinning restaurant always trying to turn the tables."
"I suppose we ought to thank him," said Encyclopedia. "His trouble making brings in business."
"That reminds me," said Sally. "I came by around noon and saw Duke Kelly, one of Bugs's Tigers, stealing out of the detective agency. Where were you?"
"Out," said Encyclopedia. "I received a telephone call from a boy who called himself]]
Mike Gaither," said Encyclopedia. "He asked me to meet him out by the old lighthouse right away. I waited there an hour. He never showed up."
"A phony telephone call.... Then, while you were gone, Duke Kelly...."' Sally frowned. "I smell Bugs Meany!"
"I doubt that Bugs will bother us for a while," said Encyclopedia. "He's too busy building himself into Mr. Junior Idaville."
"Mr. Junior Idaville?" asked Sally. "The Y.M.C.A. is holding a body building contest next week," said Encyclopedia. "The man with the best build will be crowned Mr. Idaville. The title Mr. Junior Idaville will go to the boy with the biggest muscles."
"If Bugs takes off his hat, he's a cinch to said Sally.
Just then a police car stopped in the Brown driveway. Officer Friedman got out, followed by Bugs Meany. The Tiger leader wore a bathing suit and a beautiful suntan.
"I've said all summer this detective business isn't on the level. It's just a front]]
for passing stolen goods!" exclaimed Bugs.
"Cool off, Bugs," said Officer Friedman. And to Encyclopedia he said, "Bugs claims you have his wristwatch."
"I don't know what you're talking about," said Encyclopedia.
"Oh, yes you do!" bellowed Bugs. "Those two gorillas gave it to you!" "Huh!" said Encyclopedia.
"Don't look so sweet and innocent," growled Bugs. "Those two big guys came up on me while I was lying on the beach at noon today. They took the watch right off my wrist. I followed them to the road. I saw them give the watch to you."
"Where were you at noon today?" Officer Friedman asked Encyclopedia.
"I was out at the old lighthouse," answered Encyclopedia, and he explained about the mysterious telephone call.
"Did anyone see you at the lighthouse?" asked Officer Friedman.
"No one saw me. I waited an hour and then came home," said Encyclopedia. "He was out at the lighthouse, but no one saw him!" jeered Bugs. "Boy, if I couldn't]]
think up a better alibi, I'd eat my head!" "Your mouth is big enough," snapped Sally. "What were you doing on the beach anyway?"
Bugs strutted in the doorway. "I was getting this suntan," he said. "Meet the next Mr. Junior Idaville."
He lifted his arm and made a muscle. "A suntan makes your muscles stand out better," he went on. "You  can't just lie down to bake. You've got to keep turning so you don't burn too much on one side." Encyclopedia had to agree that Bugs had done a good job of tanning himself. There wasn't a spot that was too light or too dark on his arms, legs, or body.
"I'll bet this little crook hid my wristwatch right here," said Bugs. "He's planning to sell it when things cool down."
"Search the place," Encyclopedia invited. "You won't find your wristwatch." "Oh, yeah?" sneered Bugs.
He began searching the shelves at the back of the garage.
"Getting a suntan is a real art," he boasted. "I'd been tanning myself on the beach three hours when those two big guys]]
jumped me. One more hour and I'd have been ready to walk off with the Mr. Junior Idaville title."
As he talked, his smoothly tanned hands and wrists dipped into the boxes on the top shelf. Suddenly his face lighted up. He pulled out a wristwatch.
"Here it is!" he cried. "My own mother gave it to me. I treasure it above life itself!" He glared at Encyclopedia and added, "You dirty little thief!"
"Stop acting, Bugs," said Encyclopedia calmly. "You're only, trying to get even. It won't work. Your wristwatch was never stolen."
WHAT WAS ENCYCLOPEDIA'S PROOF?]]
Elmer Evans came into the Brown Detective Agency. He was breathing.
Elmer never breathed if he didn't have to. Although only nine, he. could hold his breath for two minutes and fifty seconds.
Every day Elmer tried to keep from breathing another second. He went around with his lips pressed together, his eyes popping, and his face ready to bust.
"You're looking fine," Encyclopedia greeted him. "Is something wrong?" "Plenty," answered Elmer. "Who is the champion .breath holder around these parts?"
"You," said Encyclopedia.
"That's what I thought," said Elmer. He]]
drew a long, heavy breath. "Until yesterday.
"Somebody locked his lungs for longer than two minutes and fifty seconds?" asked Encyclopedia. "Who?"
"Wilford Wiggins," said Elmer. "He must have swallowed a cork."
Wilford Wiggins was a high school drop out with more get rich quick ideas than Texans around a spot of oil.
"What's Wilford up to now?" asked Encyclopedia.
"Down to," corrected Elmer. "He climbed down that hole in the old bear cave yesterday. So I had to try, too."
"Good grief!" exclaimed Encyclopedia. "Children are supposed to stay away from the bear cave. The hole is dangerous. Poisonous gases have built up in it. You could have died!"
"I held my breath," said Elmer. "Did you reach bottom?"
"Missed," said Elmer glumly. "I let myself down with a clothes line. After a minute I hadn't reached bottom. So I pulled myself back up before I ran out of breath. But Wilford said he made it."]]
"How do you know, he did?" demanded Encyclopedia.
"Wilford has called a secret meeting for five o'clock at the cave," said Elmer. "He's going to tell all the kids what he found in the hole. He says he'll make us all rich."
"Wilford didn't invite me to the meeting," said Encyclopedia pointedly.
"He's probably still sore at you," said Elmer. "He'll never forget how you ruined his sale of Hercules Strength Tonic last month."
"The stuff was nothing but sugar water," muttered Encyclopedia. "I think I'll go to the meeting with you."
The bear cave was a mile outside the town line. When Encyclopedia and Elmer arrived, a crowd of boys and girls had already gathered to hear Wilford.
Wilford raised one hand and called for quiet.
"Do you kids know what's inside this cave?" he asked.
"Sure we know," said Bugs Meany. "A lot of rock and a hole in the floor that goes down to China."
Wilford laughed. "That hole is filled with]]
gases that can kill you," he said. "Nobody but me ever dared go down."
"How come you didn't get gassed to death?" asked Charlie Stewart.
"Because I breathed through air tanks, the same kind skin divers use," replied Wilford.
"Air tanks!" whispered Elmer gleefully. "Then I'm still the champion breath holder!"

Subjective Criteria

Illustrations: No support

Dialog: Multiple speakers

Dialog: Broken dialogue

Vocabulary: Some difficult words

Language: Many descriptive words

Sentences: Multiple phrases

Text structure: Story/Poem

Inferences: Some implications

Complexity: Several unrelated ideas

Concepts: Concrete/Simple Social

Features

Character traits

Complex Problem/Solution

Topic

Laws

Problem Solving

Crime

Detectives

*Citizenship & Laws

Low Frequency Words

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sympathetically	synagogue	texans	theaters	threatened
tonic	unbuttoned	unused	warned	wiggins
wilford	worriedly	wrist	wrists	wristwatch