Copycat Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Read Free Book Online Page A

nice,” Violet commented.
    “Which one is that?” asked Jessie, looking over.
    “The one Gwen took of us standing in the office,” replied Violet, passing the snapshot to her older sister, “when we were still in our costumes.”
    “Oh, that was just after we finished the laundry demonstration,” said Jessie as she had a turn flipping through some of the photographs. “This one of Miss Pennink sitting on the porch is good, too,” she said. “You’re a terrific photographer, Violet!”
    “Miss Pennink deserves the credit,” Violet said modestly. “She has such a beautiful face. The camera loves her.”
    As they were nearing the old Wagner farm, Benny suddenly cried, “Look, isn’t that Jake’s car?”
    Sure enough, a little red sports car pulled out of the driveway onto the dirt road. Benny raised a hand to wave, but Jake passed by without noticing them.
    “What’s Jake doing here again?” Violet wondered aloud.
    Then Jessie added another question. “And why is he here so late at night?”
    “Do you think he was coming to do a copycat trick?” Benny asked.
    “Maybe we shouldn’t be too hasty,” Henry broke in. “There might be a very good reason for Jake being at the farmhouse. It doesn’t necessarily make him a suspect.”
    “You’re right, Henry,” said Violet. “We shouldn’t jump to any conclusions.”
    Aunt Jane was quick to agree. “Sometimes the Elmford newspaper runs a color picture on the front page of its weekend edition,” she told them. “Maybe Jake wanted to photograph the farmhouse at sunset.”
    Benny sighed. “This is going to be a tough mystery to solve!”
    Jessie put an arm around her younger brother. “It might take us a bit of time, but we will get to the bottom of this,” she said encouragingly. “Isn’t solving mysteries our specialty?”
    Benny nodded. “We are good detectives.”
    “And we can’t let Gwen lose her job,” added Henry.
    Violet spoke up hopefully. “Who knows? Maybe the copycat won’t bother playing any more practical jokes.”
    “Maybe,” said Jessie. But none of them believed it for a minute.

CHAPTER 7
The Double Take
    The next morning, Benny stepped out of the changing room and announced, “I’m growing like a weed!”
    Violet looked over at Benny. “What in the world . . .?”
    “What happened?” asked Jessie.
    Benny scratched his head. “I guess I sprouted up last night.”
    Sure enough, Benny’s pants were now at least five inches too short.
    “I think you’ve got the wrong pants on, Benny,” Violet guessed.
    Jessie nodded. “Those are way too short.”
    Benny shook his head. “See?” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the thaumatrope Sharon had given him. “These are my pants. I put this in my pocket yesterday.”
    When Henry came into the room, everyone cried out in surprise. Benny wasn’t the only one wearing pants that were too short!
    “What . . .?” Benny couldn’t believe his eyes.
    For a long moment, the two brothers stood staring at each other. Then they suddenly burst into laughter.
    “We sure look funny!” Benny exclaimed.
    “You can say that again!” admitted Henry, looking down at his own too-short pants.
    “Hmmm.” Jessie was kneeling on the floor, inspecting the bottom of Benny’s pants. “Looks like somebody took the hem up another five inches.”
    “Are you sure?” Violet hurried over to take a look for herself.
    “See?” Jessie lifted the hem. “This isn’t the careful stitching that Miss Pennink did yesterday.” And Violet agreed.

    Benny looked from Jessie to Henry. “You mean somebody played a joke on us?”
    “A practical joke,” Henry said with a quick nod.
    The children heard a gasp and whirled around. It was Miss Pennink standing in the doorway.
    “I see Horace has been busy again,” she said in a whispery voice.
    Jake North suddenly appeared behind Miss Pennink. “What’s going on?” he asked. When he caught sight of the pants Henry and Benny were wearing, his