Haunted Cabin Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Read Free Book Online Page A

eager to see all of them.
    â€œWe need to fix a good fancy meal for my old friend,” Cap said. “You probably need to ride Pilot into town again. I’d hate not to give your grandfather a hearty welcome.”
    â€œWe could use a few things,” Jessie said. “Maybe we could go tomorrow. That would leave us time for other jobs.”
    â€œWhat other jobs?” Cap asked. “You’ve done plenty!”
    Violet grinned at him. “Oh, Cap,” she said. “Even though your ankle is ever so much better, you’ll still have to use that cane for a while. We’ve thought of lots of little things to help with before we leave.” She didn’t add what she was really thinking — that they meant to solve the mysteries before they went off and left him alone.
    â€œLike climb the trees and pick the apples,” Benny said.
    â€œAnd weed and thin the garden,” Violet put in.
    â€œAnd I’d like to clean up the barn,” Henry said. “I want to sweep up the loose hay to save it for Pilot.”
    Cap threw up his hands. “I give up,” he said. “But groceries for your grandfather’s dinner come first. Agreed?”

CHAPTER 9
    Storm Clouds
    W e need a really good grocery list,” Jessie told the others. “Cap wants Grandfather’s dinner to be special.”
    â€œAnd it’s our last chance to cook for Cap,” Henry added. Everyone wanted to add something. It was late when they finally finished the list and went to bed.
    They were barely asleep when the wind rose. Before Jessie and Henry could even get the windows closed, a cold rain came blowing in, too. Lightning sliced across the sky, followed by crashing thunder.
    â€œCome on, Henry,” Jessie cried, pulling the yellow oilskin ponchos from the hooks by the door. “I’ll check the chicken house windows. You check on Pilot.”
    Leaning into the driving rain, Jessie ran to the henhouse while Henry closed the windows and doors of the barn. Violet and Benny were huddled together under a dry blanket watching the storm when they got back inside. The thunder had wakened Cap. He stood in the door, frowning. “You kids all right? Not scared, are you?”
    Violet shook her head. “It’s beautiful,” she said.
    The thunder finally growled away, but the rain kept coming. It settled into a slow steady drumming against the closed porch windows. It was still falling the next morning.
    â€œWe’re stuck here today,” Cap told them. “Possum Creek is probably up over our road.”
    Violet made hot biscuits to eat with honey and scrambled eggs. “Maybe you’d like some of that canned ham with these biscuits,” Cap suggested.
    â€œLet’s save it for when Grandfather comes,” Jessie said. “In case the storm keeps us from getting to town.”
    Since they couldn’t work outside, the children cleaned the inside of Cap’s windows. After supper they made a hearth fire and roasted marshmallows until Cap went off to bed.
    Henry went out to check on Pilot one last time. He came back within minutes, his poncho dripping. Jessie could tell from his face that he was upset. He motioned to the others to gather close. “Somebody’s been out there since I shut the barn up. One of the windows I had closed was open, and hay was scattered all over the barn floor again.”
    â€œThe wind could have done that,” Violet said, looking thoughtful. “Did you turn on the lights and look around?”
    Henry shook his head. “I was afraid Cap would see them from his bedroom window.”
    â€œI know where there’s a big flashlight,” Benny said. “I found it when I was straightening some shelves.”
    Jessie reached for her shoes. “That’s wonderful. Let’s go out with the flashlight.”
    â€œThat’s a good idea,” Violet said. “We need to find an answer, even if it’s