Ghost Town Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Read Free Book Online Page A

fall in.”
    But the Tincup Silver Mine was easy to locate. All they had to do was follow the tramway tracks. At the end they found a ramshackle shelter that covered the mine entrance. The entrance had been boarded over, though some of the planks were rotted.
    “Let’s stay away from it,” Jessie said. “The idea of a deep mine shaft makes me nervous.”
    “Time for lunch anyway,” said Benny. At least today he’d have something good.
    The kids found some square gray stones not too far from the mine. The sun-warmed stones made a perfect picnic table.
    As she munched raisins, Violet stroked the hand-tooled granite. “You know what I think this is?” she said.
    “What?” asked Jessie.
    “What’s left of Rose and Duncan Payne’s mansion!”
    Henry glanced around. “I bet you’re right, Violet. These stones are the foundation. Over there is part of a wall. And those smooth flat stones are roofing slates.”
    She snapped a picture of the tumbled brick. “This was probably a beautiful place. It’s a shame it’s fallen down.”
    After lunch, the Aldens wandered around what was left of the Payne mansion. Benny found a teardrop-shaped piece of glass that sparkled in the sun.
    “Oooh,” he exclaimed. “Is this a diamond?”
    “It’s a crystal prism,” said Jessie. “It’s cut so it catches the light and throws rainbows. It probably came off a chandelier or a light fixture.”
    Benny held up the prism, letting the sun create rainbows. “Mrs. McGregor told me a story once, about a little boy who found a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. I wonder if I can find one today!”
    He scampered off, the prism dangling from his fingers.
    “Benny, wait!” Jessie called.
    Henry quickly gathered their lunch trash so they could follow him. “Why are we always running uphill?” he said, laughing as they caught up with their little brother.
    Even Benny was tired. “I don’t think I’ll ever find the end of this rainbow!” He sank down on a log.
    The others gratefully collapsed around him.
    “I’m warm,” Violet remarked.
    “So am I,” Henry said.
    “No, I mean, I feel warm air.” She put her arm out. “Stick your hand out there.”
    Henry put out his arm. “You’re right. I do feel warm air. Where is it coming from?” He explored the stony outcropping and found a hole between two rocks. Warm air drifted from the hole.
    “It’s a cave,” said Jessie, peering inside.
    “I’m going in,” Henry declared. “I have to find out about this air.”
    Violet was concerned. “Be careful, Henry.”
    “I will,” he promised, wiggling his legs, then his body, through the hole.
    The others gathered anxiously at the mouth of the cave.
    “What do you see?” Benny called.
    Silence.
    Then Henry’s voice echoed, “There are pools of water that are warm like baths! This is so neat!”
    “Maybe you should come out now, Henry,” said Jessie.
    Seconds later, Henry’s head and shoulders popped through the rocks. “You should see those steamy pools.”
    As they left the cave area to head home, the children discovered more small pools hidden among the rocks. The water was warm, as Henry had said. They took off their shoes and socks and soaked their feet.
    “This feels great,” Jessie said. “My feet were tired, but now I feel I could hike for ten miles!”
    “Please,” Henry protested. “Let’s not! In fact, we should be getting back.”

    After putting their shoes and socks on again, the children struck off down the mountain.
    Suddenly they heard a crashing sound. Something was thrashing in the woods!
    Jessie stared at Henry. “Is it a bear?” Bears lived in the Rockies.
    They flew down the trail. This time even Benny was scared.
    After they had run well past the thrashing noise, Henry stopped.
    “What is it?” panted Violet.
    “We’re lost again. This is the trail to Old Gert’s cabin,” he said regretfully. “Sorry, guys.”
    Jessie said, “I don’t think Old Gert is so bad. Mrs. Harrington