Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Bill Gives Directions


"Ahh, well--this is the way of it." said Barnacle Bill.

"You gets down and out the back way from this 'ear Golden Doubloon--and ya follows the prickly path between th' Urchins wot shelters in the cliffs an' crags o' the sea--an' mind the crashin' surf up above--then ya passes thru Glifford's Glate and yer best be ready then 'cause Crawly Crustacean's lair is just t'other side o' the Glate!

There I done it! I spilled th' beans fer sure an' I hope it does us all some good!"


...

Monday, March 30, 2009

The Barnacle Talks


"I'll talk!" whimpered the Barnacle, "I was never in favor of kidnapping anyone anyway--but who can talk back to Crawly?"

"Maybe WE can!" I snapped pointedly. "WHERE IS HE?!"

"N... N... Not so far from h...here." Barnacle Bill stammered. "I'll tell you how to get there--but I travels so slow, I better jus' wait right here for you--but please don't tell him who told you..."

"SHUT IT, BILL!" said Starry, "and if he's harmed Polly, I settle HIM and come back for YOU!!"


...

Friday, March 27, 2009

Serious Question


"And NOW, Mr. Barnacle Bill," I said, "are you going to give US the information we want or not?"


...

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Starry Will Help


"Perhaps then, starfish, we can work together to find this Crawly character and rescue Polly?"

"I will! I will! I'll join wit' cha and track that mis'rable CRAWDAD down and rescue Pretty Polly if it's the last t'ing I do--s'elp me!"

"Good!" I said--but still only half trusting the starfish--"I can use all the help I can get. My name is Constable Crab."

"And I am called 'Starry'." my new colleague said, in a strained voice--still choking and sniffling a bit--as we shook hands on the bargain.


...

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Starfish and Polyp


"SO." I said--now addressing the starfish--"You know this polyp?"

"I do! I DO!" sobbed the starfish with such genuine feeling I almost felt sorry for him.

"At one time--not so long ago either--we were a sort of item--as they say. But I was such a fool I...I.."

Here the starfish broke down sobbing.

"Ahh, well." I said. "Now she is being held--a victim of kidnap--by the old partner of your friend here, namely: Crawly Crustacean.

"Wha'!!" the starfish croaked, "CRAWLY CRUSTACEAN!!! That SCUM! Just wait 'til I get my hands on HIM!!


...

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Starry Starfish


"I want information and I want it NOW." I said--moving within easy reach of the barnacle.

"Whadda ya want wid me mate?" snarled the starfish menacingly. "Maybe he don' wanna talk wit' cha."

"Some starfish had better watch their manners." I replied, "Or they'll be sorry."

"Wait, Starry", Bill said. "This here Crab means wha 'e says! Don' cha make a move, Starry!"

"Wise Barnacle." I said. "I have received, by an unusual delivery method, a Cry for Help by a certain Polly Polyp who has been kidnapped by your old partner--I think you know where he is--and you are going to tell me.

"Polly!" gasped the starfish, "Not Pretty Polly Polyp!"


...

Monday, March 23, 2009

Barnacle Bill


"The Golden Doubloon was crowded with its usual mob of unsavory characters--but I was looking for my informant: Barnacle Bill.

And I soon saw him in the dim light--slouched at a back table with an evil-looking starfish.

I headed straight for him and
cornered him before he could move away--but I was on high alert--I knew from past experience he would try almost anything to avoid me.

When I came near I said in a cold voice: "Why if it isn't my old friend Barnacle Bill."

"Crab!" he exclaimed, looking wildly around for some way to escape, "What are ya doin' here?"

"I've come to see YOU, old friend, and perhaps to get a bit of information."

"I don't know nothin', Crab! I have changed my old ways and I don't know nothin' nor nobody--honest!"

"Of course not, Bill. I didn't think you would know the whereabouts of your old partner, Crawly Crustacean--so I won't even ask!"

"Crawly!" Bill said, turning white as chalk, "Nooooo!"


...


Friday, March 20, 2009

Attack!


"Just Me, Myself and I!" I said--waiting for my witty remark to penetrate the squid's thick skull.

When he finally "got it", he lunged at me with his tentacles wildly flailing.

"Oh--a WISE GUY!" he shouted as he grabbed for me.

"A little too wise for YOU!" I replied using one of my quickest GUNG FOO moves to counter his attack!

I flipped him away from the door and left him like a crumpled heap of dirty laundry--harmless now.

Then I walked calmly right in to the offensively odored old tavern--The Golden Doubloon.


...

Thursday, March 19, 2009

The Golden Doubloon



I scuttled as fast as I could to the hang-out of such disreputable types as Barnacle Bill -- a run-down tavern called The Golden Doubloon almost hidden by weed-covered rocks in the slummy part of the beach.

Of course I was stopped at the door by the bouncer--a tough looking squid with a patch over one eye and several salty tattoos.

"'Ear thare, Crab! Where does ya think yer-a goin' to?" said the squid--blocking the door with all eight tentacles.

"I plan to interview my old pal Barnacle Bill, friend." I replied.

"Oh, yeah?" burbled the squid, "You and WHO ELSE?"

...



Wednesday, March 18, 2009

To The Rescue



This sounded serious!

I had never heard of Polly Polyp--but I knew only too well of the infamous Crawly Crustacean!

He was a big, ugly lobster with only one claw--his left claw--which had grown to enormous size--as sometimes happens to the whole race of lobsters!

But in Crawly's case, this deformity had soured his temper and finally driven him to a life of crime.

And now--from the evidence of this message in a bottle, he had stooped to kidnapping!

Poor Polly Polyp!

I had to find out where Crawly was quickly! And my best source of underworld information was that sleazy character, Barnacle Bill!

And I knew very well where to find him!


...

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

A Cry for Help




"HELP!!!


I
am being held PRISONER
by That Infamous Bully,
Crawly Crustacean!


Please-- HELP ME!

Polly Polyp."


...


Monday, March 16, 2009

Ms. in a Bottle



"There, entangled in seaweed and driftwood and half buried in sand, was an odd bottle--sealed with a cork.

I lifted it out of the tangle, brushed off the sand--and looked at it more closely.

I could see through the smoky blue glass that the bottle contained something.

I drew out the cork, gave it a good shake
--and
out fell a scrap of paper.

And ON the paper was a scrawled message!


...

Sunday, March 15, 2009

The Strange Case of the Twisted Claw


Well, HELLO there!

SO nice to see you again!

Sit right down and listen to another story from my Casebook.

I call this next adventure: "The Strange Case of the Twisted Claw".

It started not so long ago, after a big storm on the sea.

I was walking down my familiar beach when I saw something strange tangled in the flotsam and jetsam littering the sand.


...