“Wow!” said Barry. “Ralph’s pretty darn smart! He stole the cars, then tied himself up to make it look as if he didn’t do it!”
Brother and Bonnie just stared at Barry in amazement.
“If Ralph’s pretty darn smart,” said Brother, “then you’re a regular genius, Barry. Come on, let’s untie him.”
“Squawk!” cried Ralph the moment the gag was out of his mouth.
“He’s forgotten how to speak!” gasped Barry.
“You ninny!” snapped Ralph. “I’m talking about my parrot! Are you all right, my little pet?” He reached behind him and held up his pet parrot, Squawk, who was also bound and gagged. “Don’t worry, little fella! I’ll set you free!”
Squawk had been quiet all tied up, but as soon as he could open his beak, he let out a stream of shrieks. “Help!” he squawked. “Help! Stop, thief! STOP, THIEF!”
“Shut up, birdbrain!” barked Ralph. “It’s all over now!”
“Who did it, Ralph?” asked Brother. “Who tied you up and took your houseboat?”
Ralph’s face twisted into a grimace. “Captain Billy and Otto,” he muttered.
“You mean the crooks who tried to swindle Dr. Gert Grizzly out of money for the new hospital wing?” said Bonnie.
“And threw you into Great Roaring River?” added Barry.
“That’s right,” said Ralph. “The former owner and strongman of Captain Billy’s Colossal Circus and Carnival. They just loaded two cars on the houseboat and took off. Did the same thing twice last night. Apparently, trying to drown me last summer wasn’t enough for them. They had to come back and torment me some more. I’ve been lying here all tied up for over twenty-four hours!”
“But I thought Captain Billy and Otto were in Bear Country Prison,” said Brother.
“You and everyone else,” said Ralph bitterly.
Well, not everyone. When Brother, Bonnie, Barry, and Ralph joined the rest of the Bear Detectives at the police station, they found that Chief Bruno had suspected Captain Billy and Otto from the beginning.
“A couple of days before the car show,” said the chief, “the state police called all us local chiefs to tell us that Billy and Otto had escaped from prison.” He pointed to a jail cell, where two bears in white dusters stood glowering at him. “These two jokers escaped with them. Shifty Sheldon and Clarence the Crook. They all must have sneaked into Beartown disguised as classic car owners. But now these creeps are headed straight back to Bear Country Prison. And in a few minutes so will Captain Billy and Otto.”
Chief Bruno picked up the phone and punched in a number. “Hello, river police? Bruno here. I’ve got two of the classic car thieves in my jail cell. The other two are headed down Old Grizzly River in Ralph Ripoff’s houseboat. Nab ’em!”
Chapter 11
Recovering the Loot
It was dawn when the river police called Chief Bruno to report that they had captured Captain Billy and Otto. The chief immediately phoned Squire Grizzly, Papa Bear, and the other owners of the stolen cars to tell them the good news. Within minutes, Papa and the squire reached the police station, both in chauffeured Grizzillacs.
“Any news about my cars, Chief?” asked Squire Grizzly eagerly.
“And mine?” asked Papa.
“We found the ’32 Bearsenburg and ’38 Grizzillac at Parts R Us,” said Chief Bruno. “But so far there’s no news about the ’27 Bearcedes or the ’22 Bear MW. Or your red roadster, either, Papa.”
All the air seemed to go out of Papa and the squire.
The chief turned to Ralph and said, “But your houseboat is being brought back up Old Grizzly River right this minute.”
Ralph’s eyes twinkled. “Well, I hope you get your cars back, gentlemen,” he said to Papa and the squire. Then he turned and tipped his straw hat to the bears in the jail cell. “And I hope you two have a pleasant trip up the river! Toodle-oo!” And with a twirl of his cane, he was out the door.
Just then the phone rang. Chief Bruno answered, “Bruno here … Yes … That’s great … I’ll tell them.”
“Our cars?” said Papa and the squire in unison.
“Right,” said the chief with a smile. “The Big Bear City police just found them in an abandoned warehouse on Great Roaring River, not far from where Old Grizzly River feeds into it. And they’re all in perfect condition.”
“Hooray!” shouted the Bear Detectives. Papa and the squire locked arms and did a little victory dance right there in the police station.
Chapter 12
Collector’s Dreams
The Big Bear City police brought the stolen cars back just in time for their owners to enter them in the big show before the final judging. To no one’s surprise, Squire Grizzly’s 1922 Bear MW won first prize and his 1927 Bearcedes won second prize. To everyone’s surprise but Papa Bear’s, third prize was awarded to the Bear family’s shiny red GG roadster. Most bears weren’t aware of the history of the 1954 model. But the judges, who were all from the Classic Car and Truck Museum in Big Bear City, knew that only a handful of the ’54 roadsters had been made before Grizzly Garage went out of business. And as far as anyone knew, the Bear family’s roadster was the only one left in all Bear Country! That made it even more valuable than many of the much older antique cars in the show.
By the end of the afternoon, it became clear to everyone that the classic car show had been a huge success despite the Great Car Robbery. It had raised a carload of money for Bear Country School.
After Mayor Honeypot gave the closing speech, the Bear family crowded around Papa to admire the prize he’d won. It was a beautiful silver loving cup.
Meanwhile, Squire Grizzly wasn’t even looking at his own prizes. Instead, he was greedily eyeing Papa’s prize. First prize and second prize weren’t enough for him. He had expected to win all three. And the squire was a bear who was used to getting his way.
The squire pushed his way through the crowd and approached Papa. “Well, friend,” he said with a big smile, “you stole—er, I mean, won—third prize fair and square. I had no idea yours was the only 1954 GG roadster left in Bear Country. Would you consider selling it?”
For just a moment, Papa got a far-off look in his eye. Perhaps he was thinking of all the money his red roadster would bring. “I’m afraid not,” he told Squire Grizzly. “After all, this car is my entire collection.”
“Oh, yes, I forgot,” said the squire. “You’re a collector now, aren’t you?”
“Sure am,” said Papa, beaming. “In fact, I’ve been thinking of looking for another classic car to add to my collection.”
Mama and the cubs looked at Papa as if he’d gone crazy.
“Well,” said Squire Grizzly, “if that’s the case, I just might be willing to part with my 1946 Grizzillac sedan.”
“You would?” said Papa.
“And since you’re such a good friend, I’ll sell it to you cheap,” said the squire. “How does a million dollars sound?”
Papa swooned. Mama and the cubs had to hold him up as his knees buckled. He made a loud gulping noise and tried to catch his breath.
“Are you all right?” asked Squire Grizzly.
“Oh … er, uh … sure,” mumbled Papa. “Come to think of it, Squire, we don’t really have room in the driveway for another car …”
Nodding in agreement, Mama and the cubs led Papa quickly to the red roadster. It was high time to head for home.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 1997 by Berenstain Enterprises, Inc.
; Cover design by Andrea Worthington
ISBN: 978-1-5040-2057-2
This edition published in 2015 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
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The Berenstain Bears and the Ghost of the Auto Graveyard Page 4
