Haunted Cabin Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Read Free Book Online

couldn’t believe Cap’s cabin was haunted … by what?
    At the table Cap turned to Henry. “So now you’re a carpenter,” he said. “Did you get the barn back in shape?”
    Henry nodded. “I like carpenter work.”
    â€œI sure appreciate all you’re doing,” Cap said, reaching for the bowl to take another serving of applesauce.
    â€œAnd I appreciate applesauce,” Benny said, taking the bowl from Cap to serve himself again.
    That night before going to bed, they turned on the big new floodlight. The yard and barn were almost as bright as day.
    Jessie had heard the scary whistling sound the first night they spent in Cap’s cabin. She and Henry and Benny had all seen the flickering light. Benny had kept talking about a strange scraping sound. Later Henry had heard the whistling, and Violet had heard it the morning she saw the strange creature running off into the dark woods.
    After Henry put up the big floodlight, everything stopped. For several days there was no strange whistling sound, no light, no scraping sound, and no more sign of the awkward dark creature that Violet had seen.
    Henry was puzzled. “Did we imagine all that stuff?” he asked.
    â€œThat can’t be it,” Violet told him. “The holes were real, and Cap talked to me about that whistling.”
    â€œMaybe that strange creature got scared when Violet saw it out by the barn that morning,” Jessie suggested.
    â€œOr maybe it’s been afraid to come back since you put that floodlight up,” Violet said.
    â€œOh, I don’t like those ideas at all,” Benny said.
    The others stared at him. “Why not?”
    He shrugged. “That would mean we haven’t helped Cap at all. Those things could come back and scare Cap again, or make him have another accident after we’re gone.”
    Jessie sighed. “Benny hit the nail on the head again,” she said. “What’s more, this trip was only supposed to last ten days. We only have about three days left.”
    â€œMaybe Grandfather will be too busy to come get us on time,” Violet said hopefully. “Grandfather always keeps promises,” Benny told them.
    The mailman hadn’t stopped at Cap’s cabin once since the children came. The very next day he stopped out in the road and tooted his horn twice. Cap looked up in surprise. “That’s a change,” he said. “I don’t get much mail. You boys want to run and get it for me?”
    After Henry took the letter, Benny carried it back to Cap on the porch. “How’s the old man doing?” the mailman asked Henry. “I was sorry to hear about his fall.”
    â€œHe’s getting better every day,” Henry told him.
    â€œI thought about stopping but I always run late. Then when I saw that he had help out here, I quit worrying.”
    â€œYou mean us?” Henry asked. He hadn’t thought of them as “help,” but he liked the way that sounded.
    The mailman shrugged. “Maybe I’m wrong. I keep seeing a strange man on the road. I thought he worked for Cap.”
    Henry frowned. “What does this man look like?”
    â€œSober fellow, never smiles,” the mailman said. As he described the man, Henry caught a quick breath. The mailman was describing Mr. Jay from the riverboat perfectly.
    â€œTell Cap to get well soon,” the mailman added, putting his car in gear and starting off. Henry walked back to the porch thoughtfully. It was one thing for Mr. Jay to hang around town and act strange, but hearing that he was walking up and down Cap’s road really bothered Henry.
    Cap’s letter was from Mr. Alden. He read it aloud. Grandfather Alden had gotten the children’s message from Mrs. McGregor and appreciated hearing from them. He told Cap not to worry about the kids, that they were doing what they liked to do best. He said to expect him this coming Saturday. He was