THE BROWNIE SCOUT MYSTERY
By
Similar to her Cub Scout Mystery (1952, p. 124) Dorothy Sterling (who is better known for her non-fiction) tells an amusing little New Hampshire small town adventure complete with a legitimate thief, legitimate loot and legitimate detecting. It is the Brownies of the Poodle Patrol- Tony, Susie, Betsy and the rest- who do the detecting and their senses are first alerted when Susie's poodle, Herman disappears. The girls are certain they have seen Herman being whisked away in a mysterious car headed for a nearby town, and, taking up the scent, they trot on out after him. The trail leads straight to a Mr. Gilbert's Canine Beauty Parlor. Herman is there, though dyed to an unrecognizable shade. The girls must gather sufficient proof that Mr. Gilbert is grooming Herman and other stolen dogs, for resale and as they go about it there are some wacky and hairbreadth moments that show good scouts in the making .