he Phoenix plunged headlong toward
the window--and tripped over the sill. There was a resounding crash
outside as the bird landed on the rose arbor, a brief but furious
thrashing and muttering, and then the receding flurry of wings.

Dad burst into the room with his revolver, followed by Mother and Aunt
Amy (with two frying pans, this time).

"He stuck his head in the window and said _pssssst!_ at me!" David
cried. "A big dark shape in the window!"

This time Dad telephoned the police. In no time at all, three carloads
of weary policemen were swarming over the house and yard, with guns
and flashlights drawn. It was the fifth--or was it the sixth?--call
they had received from the neighborhood that night, they explained.
There followed an hour of questions, arguments, and theories, during
which everyone became very excited. Everyone, that is, except
David--although he acted excited to avoid suspicion. But he was happy.
He had warned the Phoenix, the Phoenix was going to stay, and there
was nothing to worry about until tomorrow.

6: _In Which the Phoenix Has a Plan, and David and the Phoenix Call On
a Sea Monster_

[Illustration]

"Well, you're in all the papers this morning, Phoenix," said David, as
he sat down beside the reclining bird next morning. "They don't know
who you are, but they're all talking about what happened last night.
They call you the 'Whispering Burglar.' The police are pretty
worried."

"My dear chap," said the Phoenix apologetically, "let me repeat my
sincere regrets for causing alarm. It was not my desire to--the
_police_, did you say? Have they discovered any clues?"

"No," said David reassuringly. "They can't find a thing. They think
the Whispering Burglar climbed up a ladder to say _pssssst!_ into the
upstairs windows. Only they can't find the ladder. They call it the
'Missing Mystery Clue.'"

The Phoenix gazed at the sky and mused. "In all the papers, you say?
Well, Fame at last--although hardly the kind I had expected. What a
pity that there can be no photographs with the story. Imagine a
picture of me on the front page! A profile, perhaps--or would a
full-length shot be more effective? Or both, let us say, with--"

"I know you'd look very handsome, Phoenix," David interrupted, "but
what we _should_ be thinking about is the Scientist. What are we going
to do?"

"Oh, _that_," said the Phoenix. "I was coming to that, my boy. The
battle is already half won. I have a Plan."