By Koopiana Jones
"I hate to bother you, Mr. Holmes."
Koopy's neighbor, Mrs. T, led him across the street from his house to hers, a tidy Victorian gem set in the pristine white of a recent snowfall. The elderly widow was remarkably self-sufficient and walked with a strong, confident gait.
"I know I ought to go to the police," she said in a fluttering voice, "but Gus T. and Goombar are both such good friends. If you could find some way of getting my pot back without calling in the authorities..." She pressed her hands into Koopy's. "You're so very clever about these things."
Koopy blushed and cleared his throat. "Tell me about the pot, Mrs. T."
She spoke eagerly. "You know that TV program, Mushroom Kingdom's Treasures, the one where people bring antiques and experts tell where they came from and how much they're worth? Well, I had this old pot handed down to me by my mother. I took it over to the armory yesterday, where they were filming the show. An expert appraised it at 20,000 coins. It was all very exciting, being on TV and having such a rarity."
"And you think either Gus T. or Goombar broke into your house and stole it?"
"I don't know what else to think. Look."
Koopy looked. In the middle of the snow-filled lawn sat a flowerpot on top of a stump. A single set of medium-sized footprints crossed the white sleeted lawn to the stump, then crossed away again toward the front door. Mrs. T. trampled through the snow to the stump.
"The house door was wide open when I got home from shopping a few minutes ago. I never leave it unlocked. I ran up to the house to check it out. Sure enough, the antique pot was gone. Then I saw these medium-sized footprints out here. I came right over to you." She lifted the flowerpot and pointed to a key hidden beneath it. "I know it's stupid to leave a key out here like this, but everyone does it."
"Both Goombar and Gus T. know where you keep your spare key?" asked Koopy.
"Yes. And they knew about the pot. I just had to tell my wonderful news."
Once inside the house, Koopy telephoned Gus T, Dawn's next door neighbor; and Goombar, a gentleman friend who lived two blocks away. Gus T. was first to arrive.
"I've been home all morning," Gus T. explained. He was a slightly younger bachelor and didn't seem outraged to be considered a suspect. "I was paying bills at my desk. It's got a view of the street and I didn't notice any cars stopping or anyone walking by. Of course, I wasn't staring out the window every moment." Koopy checked the man's shoes. They were wet from snow, but his trouser legs appeared dry.
Goombar rang the bell a few minutes later. He seemed more annoyed by Koopy's inquiries. "I took my dog for a walk this morning. I passed by this block, but didn't see anyone. And I certainly didn't go into Dawn's house."
Koopy left the men and joined Mrs. Toad in the kitchen. "I'm not sure I can help you," he admitted. "Was the vase insured?"
She thought for a moment. "I suppose it's covered by my homeowner's policy. Does this mean you don't know who took it?"
"Oh, I know who took it. I just don't think you'll like the answer."
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