The Kids From B.A.D.
	Stories by Allen Morgan
	detective story collection
	no illustrations
	six stories - 128 pages

The Lunch Box Phantom (part 7)

When Eddie and Shane finally got back on their feet again there were four kids holding each of their arms and a whole mob of angry classmates surrounding them on all sides. There was no hope of escape. Eddie looked a little scared. Shane was worried too. His hands were shaking and his voice cracked.

"Keep them off us," he told John. "You want to get us killed?"

"If they kill you it's your own fault," John said. "You've been ripping off their lunch boxes for weeks."

"Let's cream them," shouted one of the grade twos, and some of the others took up the cry. Eddie and Shane looked quite frightened then, but John held up his hand and quieted the mob.

"Hold on a minute," he shouted. "We've got to get the evidence."

He gestured to Mike and Ben to check for the money. There was no doubt about it. Eddie had six five dollar bills and Shane had five. Each of the bills had the letters B.A.D. written right on Laurier's collar. John showed the crowd the marked money. Everyone cheered and pressed closer.

"They're the ones," shouted a kid from grade one.

"The money proves it," shouted another from grade two.

"Now let's cream them," shouted a third.

"Nobody's creaming anyone here," John told them. "Eddie and Shane are under arrest by the Barton Avenue Detectives and we aren't letting them get hurt. We're taking them in to the principal. Don't worry, when he gets done with them they'll wish we'd let you guys cream them instead."

Mike took Eddie by the arm and Ben took Shane; John led the way. Neither of the criminals tried to escape. They came along peacefully, maybe because Sally and Jessica were right behind them the whole way, but more likely because of the mob of little kids who hung around the edges of the group like a pack of hungry wolves.

As everyone marched into the office the school secretary looked a little surprised to see them. "What's the matter?" she cried. "What happened?"

"Don't worry, Mrs. White," John told her. "The Barton Avenue Detectives have everything under control. We'd like to see Mr. Talbot right away, please. We've just arrested a couple of crooks and we want to know what to do with them."

"Good heavens," said Mrs. White.,"You can't go in there now. Mr. Talbot is having a meeting with the area superintendent."

She was too late. The principal's door opened and Mr. Talbot looked out. All the little kids cheered and pushed forward. The crowd spilled into Mr. Talbot's office and things got a little confused.