The Puppy Investigators and The Case of the Cricketing Catastrophe

By M. Lazarus

Eliza Macintosh-Huffleboots and her noble dog, the Captain, are both terribly pleased that the weather is looking up and the annual local cricket match is about to take place. However, when some very unsporting behaviour is uncovered and the Gardeners Eleven, the Captain's favourite team, appears to have been sabotaged, only the skills of Eliza and the Captain can give them a fighting chance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M. Lazarus
• Release date: Aug 16, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476306971

M. Lazarus

Mordechai Lazarus writes things that he hopes you will find entertaining.

Book preview

The Puppy Investigators

and

The Case of the Cricketing Catastrophe

by M. Lazarus

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012 M. Lazarus

The sharpness in the air had finally faded and, as if in celebration, the roses out the front of the little stone cottage of Eliza Macintosh-Huffleboots and the Captain had begun to bloom. Nature gave sighs of relief that the season of warmth had finally arrived. Just down the road from the cottage, that scruffy yet noble dog promenaded through the park, looking about him at the trees in a proprietorial manner. A few steps behind him walked his companion Ms. Macintosh-Huffleboots, dressed in a light blue blazer and carrying a cream parasol, enjoying the delightful smell of the day and appreciating the manner in which the Captain's park (for the venerable canine considered it as such) was bursting with bright colours.

The Captain paused to thoughtfully munch on a flower with a connoisseur’s consideration, nodding to himself in a pleased manner. For the sake of his paws, he was particularly pleased that the sun was now warming up the earth.

On a vast grassy area in the distance, several children were running around with their dogs, happily falling to the ground in heaps before picking themselves up again to run in energetic circles. The cricket nets had been put up for practice and at the crack of a bat on ball, the Captain's scraggly left ear pricked up. Swallowing the rest of his carefully chewed-up flower, he sped instinctively into action and galloped over to the source of the sound, where he expertly seized the cricket ball in his teeth, running back to the bemused bowler before eventually and somewhat reluctantly depositing the ball in his hand.

Eliza sighed and quickened her pace over the grass to catch up with the sporting dog. A familiar voice shouted out to them.

Oh Hullo, Captain! Jolly good fielding, old boy. What ho, Eliza, you here too?

The speaker who had knocked the ball past the bowler was a tall dapper man with a thin moustache, dressed in a casual grey polo-shirt and old school cap. He beamed, the bat dangling from his right hand.

Good afternoon, Tom, it has been a while. Eliza answered, waving demurely. The Captain barked a greeting and Tommy Tipper Fulshom ruffled the Captain's fur, a liberty the dignified canine would permit of few people.

Cricket practice starting already?

Tipper tipped his cap and assumed a serious expression.

Oh, you know, Miss Eliza, can never start too early. The club has a standard to maintain after all - and the Cup is coming up. I only wish that our boys here could field the ball as well as the old dog here. he added, winking at the Captain. The Captain accepted the compliment graciously.

The slightly plump young man who was bowling to Tommy Fulshom reddened somewhat at this gentle criticism of the team's skill.

Honestly, Tip, you caught me by surprise. I couldn't stop the ball.

Not to worry, old bean, Tipper responded with a smile, That's what the fielding practice tomorrow afternoon is for, what?

Eliza and the Captain had been firm friends with Tommy Fulshom for a good many years now, although the cricket-mad fellow was rarely seen when in those colder months when the sport could not be played. The Captain suspected that Tipper, like much of the local wildlife, tended to go into the deep sleep of hibernation until cricket practice started once again in the spring. His return to training and playing cricket in the parks was as much a part of the turning of seasons as the bulbs flowering and the birds performing their songs.

You'll come and see us play for the Cup, won't you, old girl - you and your sterling fielder?

Eliza tilted her head and smiled.

Of course, Tom. The Captain and I would be delighted. When is the Gardner team playing for the Cup?

The contest in