Chapter 3

Chapter 3 The kids waded back into the river. A few minutes later, they were squishing their way up River Road to Ron's Bait Shop. Ron Pinkowski lived in an old house next to the river. On the ground floor, he sold bait, boating supplies, and groceries. He also repaired and painted boats and fixed boat motors. The kids trudged down a dusty driveway to the house. Several small boats were lined up in Mr. Pinkowski's big yard along the riverbank. A striped cat slept on the back step. Out the back

door trailed a long orange extension cord. The kids followed the cord around the side of the house. They spotted Mr. Pinkowski under a shady tree, sanding a boat bottom. "Hi, Mr. P," Dink said. Ron Pinkowski switched off the electric sander. He was tall and sandy-haired, and sported a curly beard and droopy mustache. "Well, hi, kids. What're you up to today?" he asked, smiling. Ruth Rose pulled the hundred-dollar bill out of her pocket. "I just found this on Squaw Island," she said. "Goodness," Ron said. "Aren't you a lucky gal!" "We saw some marks in the sand from a boat," Dink said. "And some footprints, too," Josh added. "Really big ones!" "We think whoever was out there might have lost the money," Ruth Rose said. "Hmm, wonder who it coulda been." Ron leaned against the boat and tugged on his beard. "Not many folks go out there. The poison ivy grows somethin' fierce in all that sand."

"Yeah, and I think I walked right through some!" Josh said, scratching his leg. Ron smiled. "All I have to do is look at the stuff and I swell up like a balloon," he said. "Could we leave a note here about the money?" Ruth Rose asked. "Good idea, Ruth Rose. I'll stick it up near my bait tanks." The kids followed Ron into his bait shop, where he handed Ruth Rose a pencil and pad. She thought for a minute, then wrote: If you lost money on Squaw Island, call 555-9916. "Shouldn't you say how much you found?" Josh asked. Ruth Rose shook her head. "If I write the amount, anyone could call and claim it, even if they didn't lose it." Ron tacked Ruth Rose's note to a small bulletin board. "Lots of people will see it here,"

he said. "Thanks, Mr. P," Ruth Rose said. "I hope whoever lost the money sees the note." Ron grinned. "Wish it was me!" The kids laughed. They said goodbye and headed for Duck Walk Way. "So what're you gonna do with the money?" Josh asked Ruth Rose. "I'll be glad to hold on to it for you!" Ruth Rose shook her head. "Nope. I'm giving it to Officer Fallon. It'll be safe at the police station." Josh scratched his arm. "Let's stop at Ellie's on the way. Maybe an ice cream cone will help me forget about this lousy poison ivy!" The kids crossed the elementary school's wide lawn and hiked down Main Street. As they opened the door to Ellie's Diner, cool air washed over them. After they ordered cones, Ruth Rose asked Ellie if she knew anyone who had lost money on Squaw Island. "Someone with really huge feet!" Dink added. Ellie shook her head. "Hon, I don't even know anyone who goes out there. I hear it's covered with poison ivy!"

She noticed Josh scratching. "Looks like someone else is covered with the stuff!" The kids thanked Ellie and left. They worked on their cones on the way to the police station. "I can't believe we're gonna just give away a hundred bucks," Josh said. "If I get a reward," Ruth Rose said, "I'll split it with you guys." Josh grinned. "Now you're talking!" They found Officer Fallon sitting at his desk. He was watching his computer screen and sipping a glass of lemonade. "Howdy" he said as the kids trooped in. "What can I do for you?" "Look at this!" Ruth Rose said. She placed the hundred-dollar bill on his desk. Officer Fallon picked up the bill and examined it. "Where'd this come from?" he asked.

"Ruth Rose found it on Squaw Island," Josh told him. "We were out there having a picnic, and it was in the sand!" "I'm trying to find out who lost it," Ruth Rose said. "Mr. Pinkowski let me put a note on his bulletin board. I left my phone number." "This bill could've been lost a long time ago," Officer Fallon said. "Not many folks go to Squaw Island." He grinned at Ruth Rose. "If no one claims it, the money is yours to keep." "Really?" Ruth Rose said. "Cool!" Officer Fallon put the bill in an envelope and sealed it. He wrote the date and Ruth Rose's name on the outside. "I'll put this in our safe," he said. "If it's still here in thirty days, I'll let you know." The kids thanked Officer Fallon and left. "Gee, Ruth Rose," Josh said as they waited for the light on Main Street. "Will you split the hundred three ways if you get to keep it?" "I might," she said. "If you're extra nice to me!" "I'm always nice to you!" Dink whispered something in Ruth Rose's ear.