自考英语综合一下册课文 lesson 3

 

Text Detective on the Trail
　　Bob Sugg read only certain bits of the papers he sold.
　　Robberies,killings,and things like that.
　　And that was funny,too,because he didn't like crime
　　and meant to stop it whenever he could.
　　Already in his free time he had helped catch several wrongdoers.
　　Bob's favourite part of the newspaper was the page of personal advertisements.
　　The one he was reading right now said:"Remember Aunt Mary on next Sunday.
　　Quarrel upsetting all.Report evening 25th.N.E.Cross."
　　"That's a funny one,"Bob thought.He reread the notice.
　　Why pay more money to say"on next Sunday"
　　when"next Sunday "would have been enough?"Cross.Cross."
　　Bob felt sure he had come upon that name in the personals before.
　　But he didn't remember those initials.What did N.E.stand for?
　　For some reason that advertisement haunted Bob Sugg.
　　Here was a mystery he wanted to solve.
　　Four days later,a headline about a burglary caught his eye.
　　He quickly read the story.
　　A few minutes later,the man in charge of the newspaper files
　　saw an excited boy rush into the room.
　　"May I see the back number files,sir?"the boy asked.
　　The man motioned toward a wide shelf.Bob intently studied a paper.
　　"Look!These two personals,"Bob was breathless with excitement.
　　"They appeared on different dates,but it's the same advertiser,Cross."
　　"Wait,"the man interrupted."The initials aren't alike.
　　One is W.Cross and the other is S.W."
　　"Here's another Cross that was in the paper last Thursday.
　　Now,who sent in these three ads?"asked Bob.
　　"We can't give you that information,"the man said.
　　"Well,"said Bob,"
　　if you don't get this very question from the police inspector today,
　　my name's not Bob Sugg."The next moment he was gone.
　　Bob hurried into Inspector Hamelin's office,and showed him the headline in the paper.
　　"It's about this burglary in Ramon Square,"he said.
　　"I can tell you the number of the house,though it isn't in the paper.
　　Number 25.The burglar's Mr.N.E.Cross this time.
　　Before,he was W.Cross,and before that,S.W.Cross.
　　Remember Aunt Mary on next Sunday.Quarrel upsetting all.Report evening 25th.'
　　Mr.Hamelin,the first letters of the words spell'Ramon Square.'
　　"And the initials N.E.stand for North East?"
　　"That's right,"said Bob."25,Ramon Square,North East;that was the address.
　　And Sunday was the day chosen for the job!"
　　"Smart work.Cognratulations!"Hamelin said.
　　"I found two more ads in the news files,from weeks ago.
　　Read them,sir!"Bob urged.
　　Inspector Hamelin did so.The first one ran:"Friday.
　　Reasons of safety take Lewis away North England 30th.S.W.Cross."
　　The second ran:
　　"Meet usual spot early unless Mary rings on Wednesday 5th.W.Cross."
　　Bob pointed a forefinger at each word in turn.
　　"The first spells out 30,Frost Lane,South West.
　　The second is 5,Museum Row,West.
　　When it gives the day of the week,that's the day for the burglary."
　　"Bob,"Hamelin said,"you've given us the key to something.
　　There were burglaries in both Frost Lane and Museum Row on the dates you've noted here.
　　Both crimes still unsolved.Lieutenant,
　　call the paper and find out exactly where these advertisements came from!"
　　The lieutenant learned that Mr.Cross had mailed the ads to the paper with payment.
　　The city directory showed no such return address as the advertiser had left.
　　"Well,the only way to get him is to watch the papers,"said the inspector.
　　"There'll be another ad signed'Cross.'Then we'll trip him up!"
　　The following week Bob saw the ad he wanted:

　　"Susan.Awaited letter eight months,can't rest,eat,sleep.
　　Come early next Thursday 8th.N.Cross.
　　"8,Salem Crescent,North,"Bob said.
　　]When Bob reached Inspector Hamelin's office,the police already got the information
　　and Bob was told to return to his job
　　and read about what was going to happen in the newspaper.
　　But for Bob Sugg,that was too uninteresting a way of learning the news.
　　After dark on Thursday night
　　he made his way to Salem Crescent,and hid himself.
　　Every little while he peeked out and looked at Number 8.
　　Now and then he saw men walking along the street.
　　Then they disappeared in the dim shadows.
　　They must be plain clothes men,Bob decided,
　　who would hide until the time was ripe to swoop down on the criminals.
　　Hour after hour Bob waited.Now a distant clock was striking one.
　　Then a voice asked,"What are you doing here?"
　　It was a man in police uniform.
　　"I'm just hanging around Salem Crescent to see the fun,"Bob answered.
　　But there isn't going to be any because the crooks have got on to it.
　　Why haven't you gone home with the rest of the police?"he went on.
　　"Who said the rest had gone home?"asked the man.
　　"The inspector told me,"Bob lied."
　　He said Mr.Cross had learned we're on to him,
　　and put that last ad in just to mislead us."
　　"That's right,"nodded the man."So why didn't you go home,too?"
　　Bob looked intently at the man.
　　"I thought I'd stay in case Mr.Cross does turn up."
　　"It's lucky for you I'm the one you met,"the man said,smiling."
　　If it had been that criminal with no police around,
　　he'd probably have twisted your neck."
　　Suddenly Bob clapped his hand against his jacket pocket.
　　It's gone!The inspector's money belt!I found it,and now I've mislaid it!
　　I must have dropped it!"
　　Quickly the man looked down.
　　The next instant he received a hard kick that sent him flying.
　　Then Bob Sugg yelled,and dim figures came running and surrounded the man.
　　"The rest of you were in plain clothes,"Bob explained after wards to the inspector.
　　"So I thought,'Why isn't this one?'
　　Maybe Mr.Cross had put that last ad in as a test
　　and might come along later to see if he'd been found out.
　　He thought being dressed like a policeman would make him safe.
　　But he looked like a liar to me."