Backyard Bandit Mystery Read Online Free Page A

she muttered.
    She stood there alone in the moonlight.
    Rats!
    She brushed herself off. No more icky insects crawling on her!
    Silently, she ran to the house.
    She felt terribly upset. And she smelled like a trash heap.
    So she took a bath and went to bed.
    Later, in the darkness, she reached for her beanbag angel.
    Then she remembered. . . .
    It was gone.
    Sold to Eric for fifty cents!

NINE
    It was Sunday morning. Church day.
    But Stacy’s thoughts were somewhere else.
    â€œI have to talk to Eric before Sunday school,” she told her puppy. Sunday Funnies had already found the Sunday paper. And the comics.
    She hurried to the teeny-weeny attic window. She pushed her face against it. “Can’t see a thing,” she muttered.
    So she combed her hair and got dressed.
    Before anyone else was up, she went outside. She dashed across the street.
    Brr-i-i-i-n-g!
    She rang the doorbell one long ring.
    Eric just had to answer it.
    She waited.
    And waited.
    At last, he opened the door. “What are you doing over here?” he asked.
    Stacy stared at him. Blond hairs were sticking out. Every which way!
    â€œI came for my beanbag angel,” she said.
    He raised his eyebrows. “It’s mine. I already told you.”
    â€œWell, sorry,” Stacy said.
    Eric frowned. “I paid for it, Stacy.”
    â€œI know, but I want it back,” she said.
    He argued. “It was on the sale table!”
    Stacy shook her head. “Well, I never should’ve put it there.”
    â€œBut you did.” Eric bunched up his mouth.
    â€œI HAVE TO HAVE IT BACK!” shouted Stacy.
    She crossed her arms and made a big frown. She tapped her toe and waited.
    Surely, Eric would come to his senses.
    â€œWell? Are you gonna give it back?” she asked.
    â€œI said it’s mine,” Eric grouched.
    â€œYou’ll be sorry, Eric Hagel,” she said. And marched home.

    After church, Stacy saw Eric again. He was standing outside, waiting for his mother.
    â€œDid you listen to the preacher today?” she asked.
    â€œUh-huh,” he answered.
    â€œWell? Are you gonna be a cheerful giver?” she asked.
    Eric stared at her. “Are you gonna be a grumpy giver?”
    Stacy didn’t answer. Eric was right about her, but it didn’t sound so nice.
    Then she remembered the missingsale stuff. “Have you heard about the robbery? I think there’s a bandit in our cul-de-sac,” she said.
    Eric scratched his head. “What are you talking about?”
    She told him. “Lots of our sale stuff has disappeared.”
    â€œSince when?” he asked.
    â€œLast night, during supper. That’s when the robber must’ve come,” she explained.
    He shook his head. “Don’t know anything,” he said.
    â€œSome of your stuff is gone, too,” she said.
    Eric’s eyes got big. “My stuff? Don’t you mean the stuff I donated ? I’m no grumpy giver,” he insisted.
    â€œVery funny, Eric,” she said.
    And she spun away on her heels.

TEN
    Stacy looked at her watch.
    Almost two o’clock.
    Eric was being a big pain. He refused to give back the angel. He just wouldn’t.
    Stacy felt horrible.
    Abby Hunter would be home soon. Very soon.
    Stacy didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t get Eric to budge.
    Besides that, there was a mystery to solve.
    Who was the backyard bandit?
    Stacy didn’t know.
    She raced down the cul-de-sac to Dee Dee’s house. “We have a problem,” she said.
    Dee Dee opened the door and let her in. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œThere’s a bandit on the loose,” Stacy said.
    â€œA what?” Dee Dee’s eyes were wide.
    â€œLots of our sale stuff is missing,” she explained.
    â€œOh, that.” Dee Dee grinned.
    Stacy stared at her. “Do you know who the bandit is?” she asked.
    â€œFollow me,” Dee Dee said.
    They went upstairs.
    â€œIs this what