"Carey, M.V. - The Three Investigators 32 - The Mystery of the Blazing Cliffs" - читать интересную книгу автора (Carey M.V)

Elsie poured a cup of coffee for herself. As she sat down and took a spoonful of sugar, Jupe noticed that there was a slight deformity on her right hand--a jutting bit of bone and flesh on her smallest finger.

"I don't think we're getting ready for the kind of revolution where we drag the President out and shoot him," she said. "I think what Mr Barron has in mind is a time when everything sort of falls apart and we have famine and looting and confusion and bloodshed. You know. He thinks the world is really going to the dogs, and we have to be prepared if we're going to survive."

"Mr Barron believes that gold and land are the only safe investments, doesn't he?" said Jupiter. "Obviously he expects a collapse of the prevailing monetary system."

Elsie Spratt stared at him. "Do you always talk that way?" she asked.

Pete chuckled. "Jupe doesn't believe in using short words if long ones will do as well."

Jupe ignored this jibe. "Do you think our world is coming to an end?" he asked Elsie and Detweiler.

Elsie shrugged. "No, I suppose not."

"I think Mr Barron's the only one who really believes it," said Detweiler. "He claims the government is poking its nose into places where it doesn't belong, and people nowadays don't have to work if they don't want to, and so most people don't. He says that sooner or later our money won't be worth anything--"

"Shhh!" said Elsie.

She put a hand on Detweiler's arm and looked past him to the door. Mrs Barron stood there on the other side of the screen. "May I come in?" she said.

"Of course." Elsie got up. "We were just having coffee. Would you like a cup?"

"No, thank you." Mrs Barron stepped into the kitchen and smiled at Jupiter, Pete, and Bob. "I saw you boys come in," she said. "I wonder if you could stay a bit longer and have dinner with Mr Barron and myself?"

Konrad scowled. "Jupe, it is after five," he said. "We should go now."

Mrs Barron turned to Elsie. "We could eat early, couldn't we?" she said.

Elsie looked startled. "I guess so."

"There now!" Mrs Barron smiled again, and Jupe looked questioningly at Bob and then at Pete.

"That would be swell," said Pete.

"Don't worry," said Bob to Konrad. "We'll get to San Jose sooner or later."

"Then it's settled," said Mrs Barron. "We'll sit down at five-thirty."

She went out and down the back steps of the ranch house.

"I do not like this," said Konrad. "I think we should go."

"In a little while, Konrad," said Jupe. "Another hour or so won't make any difference."

Jupiter's deductions and predictions were usually right. But this time he couldn't have been more wrong.