by Jennifer M Scott

Created on: December 27, 2007

THE CASE OF THE MISSIGN SCARECROW
Every year in Shady, Kansas they hold a fall festival. It always falls right around Halloween. Ever since I was a little kid, I had a lot fun going there but don't tell my friends. The smaller kids dress up in costumes and win prizes while us big kids hide the corn fields and scare anyone who comes through. The crown jewel of the festival is the scarecrow contest. Mr. Libely wins the contest every year, really he deserves to win his scarecrows are the best. When I found out his scarecrow was stolen, I knew there had to be foul play.

I'm Billy Larson, my dad is private eye but I help him out and cases like this one, I take over. Someday, I will be a private eye like my dad. Four people sprang to mind when I heard about the missing scarecrow. Jada Brown, she is Mr. Libely's neighbor and constantly competes with him on everything including the scarecrow contest. Since she never won a ribbon not even an honorable mention, I thought she might have taken the scarecrow to give herself a fair chance. Next on the list, Timothy Sayers, he and Mr. Libely are always at odds. Dad told me that they have been squabbling over everything since they were boys. Margaret Peese, I wouldn't normally think of her as a suspect but her and Mr. Libely argued about an outstanding bill he hasn't paid in the past few days. Finally, Sarah Christian, she loathed the fall festival and wants it stopped. Could it be she stole the scarecrow to try and have the festival stopped?
First, I went and talked with Mr. Libely. He lives on a farm a couple of miles from town. Parking my bike beside his porch, I knocked on the door. I told him why I was there and he let me inside.
"Mr. Libely, could you tell me anything about the night the scarecrow was stolen? Did you hear anything?"
"Well, what got me stirred up was the cows. It was late at night and the cows started mooing. These cows never moo. I got my boots and my coat and went to investigate. I heard a dog bark and I saw a darkened figure move across the field dragging something behind them. The bar door was open and I knew I closed it for the night. I went into the barn and discovered Freddie was gone. I don't know who could've done this," he summed up the details.
"Don't worry, I will find out who stole the scarecrow. With any luck Freddie should be at the festival," I told him.
"I hope so. Thanks so much for looking into this, Billy; it really means a lot to me."
"No problem," I said as I left his house. He said

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