[Jupiter] opened the zipper bag he caried and took out the screaming clock.
Mr. Felix started it for a moment.
A rather old electric alarm clock," he said. "Of little value. I do not believe
it is worth fixing."
"It doesn't need fixing, sir," Jupiter said. "Plug it in, if you don't mind."
The tiny man shrugged. He plugged in the clock.
"Now turn on the alarm, sir," Jupiter requested.
Mr. Felix did. Instantly the terrifying scream filled the little shop.
"Mr. Clock sent you an envelope, ma'm?" Jupiter asked. "When was this?"
"Let me see now, about two weeks ago. In his letter he said, 'If anyone comes
asking for a message from me, give him this envelope and my blessing.
Let him have fun with it.'"
She dug into a draw, chasing a cat out of the way, and handed Jupiter an
envelope.
He led them into an office where Chief Reynolds, a heavy-sat man, sat behind a big desk covered with paper. The chief looked up.
Five minutes later they were grouped around the desk with the first mysterious
message spread out before them.
"The first line of the message sais, 'It's quiet there even in a
hurricane,'"Jupiter read. "If Bob's right, the word that is meant
is 'eye.'"
Hugenay looked angry as well as disappointed.
"Well," he said. "We have failed. Bert Clock has hidden something so well
I cannot find it. I would not have believed it possible."
