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Did you miss Part I or II?

Harry's Adventures - Part III
by Harry Plymate / R.S. (Registered Schnauzer)

"Oh Harry," Lucille whispered, "I thought we were going to get out of this." 

We could hear Baron Von Monday's angry voice and the steel door had no knob on the inside. 

"Well Tub, what do we do now?" 

"Ah, you Schnauzers always bog down when there is trouble," Tub retorted. As he whistled and called out "Squeeky, are you there?" The door suddenly came open and there on the outside, still holding the doorknob in his paw was the biggest, fattest cat that I had ever seen. We all made a mad dash for the door with Baron Monday right behind us. Baron Monday had grabbed Lucille's tail; She let out a howl you could hear for miles. But just as we got through the door Squeeky stuck out his paw and tripped Monday. As we ran from the castle and jumped into the back of the pick up, we could hear Baron Monday hollering that we had not seen the last of him. Down the mountain road we sped. Bob never was too good of a driver, even in Nebraska. I could see little beads of sweat run down Bob's forehead as he turned and asked "Harry, who is that mad man back there? Was that Baron Von Monday? If it was, we are really in trouble." 

"It was and we are," I answered. 

"Who is the panther with Tub?" 

"That is no panther, Bob. Tub says that he is a forty-pound Maine Coon. He works for Tub in his Pet detective agency. He was a bouncer in Buffalo at one of those Kitty Clubs." 

I don't want to hear about it, and I hope he is not moving to Nebraska with us. The worried look on Bob's face intensified as he thought about our pet food factory's profits. And good grief, another cat's box! 

Back in Nebraska City at their regular corporate meeting for Harry's Best Pet Foods, Tub now wanted a star put on his office door, and of course a wet bar with fresh milk and sardines delivered every day. Sometimes that cat really irritates me, but he had saved our life. I was still worried about the Baron and what he might do to us. Bob says that he didn't think that Von Monday got our license number and that we would never hear from him again. But the thought of the puppy shredder chilled me to the bone. It had to be stopped. Somehow I knew I had to go back. Bob said that it needed to be done and he would buy me a ticket to Portland. 

Tub let me go through his closet of disguises, you know, the Batman suit, the Gorilla suit, etc. I selected the Hunchback suit complete with inflatable hump. Little did I know at the time that there was a real Hunchback in the bell tower of Baron Von Monday's Castle. This time I traveled by air, Coach of course - Tub is the only one that gets to travel first class. As I squeezed into the center seat of the packed plane, I had to let out a little air from my hump. Yes, from my HUMP. And as the flight attendant placed my bag up above in the overhead bin you could hear the hack saw and pliers rattle around that I had brought along to dismantle the puppy shredder. I was trying to keep a low profile, but everyone's eyes seemed intensely upon me. The lady sitting next to me was a very distinguished-looking, high society type. Probably from Omaha or something. Anyhow when they brought lunch, I asked for Harry's Best Pet Food made from clean ingredients (Have to plug our pet food). I had my tail taped up to make it look like I had been in an accident and it made things very uncomfortable, and my foot was still sore from being caught in Von Monday's shredder. Well, after a very bumpy flight we passed over MT. Hood and landed in Portland. North West Airlines was so good and they have always been my favorite. Bob says that they are one of the best.

Needless to say, I was more then a little nervous as I rented a motorcycle and helmet and in the misty rain I sped away headed for Vania again. This time I will be under disguise. I waited until midnight at the base of the mountain with only a horse and carriage going by with a mysterious driver dressed in a long flowing cape. As the carriage rumbled by, I jumped on the back and hung on for dear life, as we wound up that treacherous mountain road. We went right into the castle courtyard and I hunkered down under the carriage as the driver opened the door and a large man dressed in black stepped out. This must be the Baron himself. He walked with a slight limp as he went in the huge front door, and as it slammed shut the cold rain began to soak me to the bone. I could see a window way up in the bell tower and decided to climb up there and sneak into the castle. It was hard climbing, and of course I am afraid of heights (don't tell Tub). The Hunchback costume was now soaking wet and weighed a ton. I kept saying to myself "Schnauzers are brave, Schnauzers are brave". Finally, after almost slipping, I reached the window. I crawled in the opening and dropped to the floor. In the dimly lit room of the bell tower, I started toward the door. All of a sudden I heard a squeaking of boards as though someone was in the room with me. As my eyes became accustomed to the darkness I could see the faint outline of someone there in the darkness! Oh no, as I turned to run for the window, I would rather take my chances out the window than face that monster. Then a strong hand grabbed me and pinned me to the floor. So strong I could not move. I almost swallowed my fake teeth. This is the end. Goodby Bob, Goodby Tub, goodby Lucille.

"Shhhh a deep voice said. I won't hurt you I am Hiram, deformed from birth and sold to Baron Von Monday as a youngster. I have had to serve him for years and I have been a prisoner here. Who are you and will you help me to escape this prison, and the horrible things that Von Monday does to small animals?" 

A sigh of relief as I assured him I was there to help, and as this poor pitiful person cried upon my shoulder, I assured him that not only will we get out of here but we will stop Baron Monday too. But how? We needed a plan and as the dark cold night gave way to the dawn, we decided how we would accomplish all this. We would wait until tonight and then... 

To be continued... 

Be good to your pet...