Chapter 21 Summary

When the Pea-Tack Squad arrives to shut Mr. Posey's plant down, they find the doors barricaded with hundred-pound bags of peas. When the squad and the fire department attempt to get in, Mr. and Mrs. Posey begin to throw bags of peas down on them. Several firemen and squad members are injured, so when they finally get inside, the men are angry. They begin to search the plant, assuming that Mr. Posey did not want them inside because he was hiding something. First they think he was hiding dynamite, then diamonds. The squad tears into several bags of peas searching for something. When they find nothing, the chief turns to business practices and begins to search Mr. Posey's books. By the time he reaches the end of his search, the chief feels guilty because it is clear Mr. Posey simply does not want...