"I don't believe, just for the moment, I'd tell anyone what happened to that fire plug," he said. "I won't tell if you won't tell," said Clarence. Officer Comstock was suspicious. "There's only seven possible explanations. One of the seven Willoughby kids did it. I dunno how. It'd take a bulldozer to do it, and then there'd be something left of the plug. But however they did it, one of them did it." Officer Comstock had a talent for getting near the truth of dark matters. This is why he was walking a beat out here in the boondocks instead of sitting in a chair downtown. "Clarissa!" said Officer Comstock in a voice like thunder. "Resuscitator, resuscitator, anybody wanna resuscitator?" chanted Clarissa. "Do you know what happened to that fire plug?" asked officer C. "I have an uncanny suspicion. As yet it is no more than that. When I am better informed I will advise you." Clarissa was eight years old and much given to uncanny suspicions. "Clementine, Harold, Corinne, Jimmy, Cyril," he asked the five younger Willoughby children. "Do you know what happened to that fire plug?" "There was a man around yesterday. I bet he took it," said Clementine. "I don't even remember a fire plug there. I think you're making a lot of fuss about nothing," said Harold. "City hall's going to hear about this," said Corinne. "Pretty dommed sure," said Jimmy, "but I wont tell." "Cyril!" cried Officer Comstock in a terrible voice. Not a terrifying voice, a terrible voice. He felt terrible now. "Great green bananas," said Cyril, "I'm only three years old. I don't see how it's even my responsibility." "Clarence," said Officer Comstock. Clarence gulped. "Do you know where that fire plug went?" Clarence brightened. "No, sir. I don't know where it went." A bunch of smart alecs from the water department came out and shut off the water for a few blocks around and put some kind of cap on in place of the fire plug. "This sure is going to be a funny-sounding report," said one of them. Officer Comstock walked away discouraged. "Don't bother me, Miss Manners," he said. "I don't know where to look for your cat. I don't even know where to look for a fire plug." "I have an idea," said Clarissa, "that when you find the cat you will find the fire plug the same place. As yet it is only an idea." Ozzie Murphy wore a little hat on top of his head. Clarence pointed his weapon and winked. The hat was no longer there, but a little trickle of blood was running down the pate. "I don't believe I'd play with that any more," said Nokomis. "Who's playing?" said Clarence. "This is for real." * * * * *