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Encyclopedia.
    â€œSomeone’s stolen the donations,” Mr. Freeman said. “I put them in an inside pocket in my apron, and now they’re gone.”
    â€œAre you sure that’s your apron?” Chief Brown asked.
    Mr. Freeman examined it again. “It sure looks like mine. But new Shelter from the Storm aprons were issued to us just last month, and they all look the same.”
    Fred and Dan came over as soon as they could get away. Chief Brown asked to see their aprons. Mr. Freeman was right. They were exactly the same. The inside pockets of all three aprons were empty.
    â€œHundreds of dollars—gone!” Mr. Freeman shook his head. “That money would have helped build new houses for people who need them.”
    â€œOne of the volunteers must have taken the money,” Dan said.
    Chief Brown surveyed the group, who were still busy hammering, sawing, and building. “The aprons were in plain view all during lunch,” he said. “If someone picked up an apron and removed a stack of bills, they would have been seen.”

    â€œSomeone’s stolen the donations,” Mr. Freeman said.
    Encyclopedia cleared his throat.
    â€œDid you see something, Leroy?” Chief Brown asked.
    â€œAre you left-handed?” he asked Mr. Freeman.
    â€œNo, I’m right-handed,” he asked with a puzzled expression.
    Fred looked worried and confused. “Chief Brown, don’t you think you had better start questioning the volunteers?” he asked. “What if the thief sneaks away?”
    â€œYou don’t have to do that, Dad,” Encyclopedia said. “I can tell you who took the money.”
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    ENCYCLOPEDIA KNEW WHO TOOK THE MONEY. DO YOU?
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    (Click here for the solution to “The Case of the Missing Money.”)

The Case of the Stolen Confederate Stamps
    Encyclopedia’s stomach rumbled. He put down his book and checked his watch. It was ten minutes past dinnertime, and no one had called him to the table.
    He followed the smell of spaghetti and meatballs to the kitchen.
    â€œYour father will be a little late tonight,” Mrs. Brown said. “He’s tied up with a case at the convention center.”
    Encyclopedia’s eyes lit up at the prospect of a case. “Do you think Dad needs help?” he asked. Then his stomach rumbled again.
    â€œYour stomach and your curiosity will have to wait a few more minutes,” Mrs. Brown said.
    At half past six, Chief Brown came home.
    â€œWhat’s happening at the convention center this week?” Mrs. Brown asked, after he had washed up and sat down at the table.
    â€œThe Philatelic Society is having its annual convention,” he answered.
    â€œThe stamp collectors,” Encyclopedia said. “Sally and I plan to bike there tomorrow and look at the new stamps.”
    â€œTwo very old stamps were stolen this afternoon,” Chief Brown said. “We recovered them, but we don’t know who stole them.”
    â€œGive Leroy all the details,” Mrs. Brown said. “He’s helped you out before.”
    Chief Brown pulled his notebook out of his pocket with a sigh. “I don’t know,” he said. “Even Leroy might have trouble with this case. It’s got me licked.”
    Encyclopedia ate his spaghetti while he waited for the details.
    â€œA dealer named Mr. Sansbury brought two rare stamps to the show,” Chief Brown said. “Both were issued by the Confederate government after the Civil War began. The first was a five-cent green Jefferson Davis stamp. The second was a ten-cent stamp with a picture of Thomas Jefferson.”
    â€œThere must be lots of suspects,” Mrs. Brown said.
    â€œNo.” Chief Brown shook his head. “Mr. Sansbury didn’t put these stamps on display. He kept them locked in a small office. But he gave three collectors, all of them longtime friends, the key to the office so they could view the stamps in