“Prejudiced me?” Mr. Silverton paused and turned angrily toward Brad and Dan. “I saw the evidence with my own eyes!”
“Evidence?” Brad caught him up. “You mean footprints in the restricted area?”
“I mean dead pheasants. Two of my most valuable cocks imported from Burma were killed!”
“When, sir?” gasped Brad, stunned by the disclosure.
“Saul Dobbs found them yesterday not far from the creek.”
“Surely you don’t think the Cubs had anything to do with it,” said Dan in quick protest.
For reply, Mr. Silverton dug into the pocket of his sports jacket and brought forth a tarnished badge bearing the design of a wolf with two pointed ears.
“This was found close to the two dead pheasants,” he informed cuttingly. “Recognize it?”
“A wolf rank badge,” Brad admitted. “Maybe it’s the one Red lost.”
“Furthermore,” Mr. Silverton went on, “Dobbs has been making a check of the pheasants. A large number of the common variety seem to be missing. Some may have flown over the fences, but others have been taken.”