Mystery in the Old Attic by Gertrude Chandler Warner Read Free Book Online Page A

Henry.
    â€œWell, then his records are wrong,” Adam said, frustrated. “If you want to file a charge against me, the police station is two blocks down on Main Street.”
    Henry held his breath for a moment. “We were hoping to clear this up without bothering the police.”
    â€œWell, you may have to bother them,” said Adam as he got up. “Because I’m not going to stand for any more of this questioning. Leave my house, at once.” He pointed to the door.
    The Aldens looked at one another, then got up and hurried out of the room without saying another word.
    â€œAnd don’t you children ever bother me again, you hear?” Adam called after them, just before he slammed the door.

CHAPTER 9
    The Evidence
    â€œI hope we never have to talk to Adam again,” said Benny as the Aldens hurried home. “He sure was unfriendly.”
    â€œI’ll say,” said Henry. The Aldens could see their footprints as the snow crunched underneath their boots. Snow was starting to pile up on the sidewalk.
    â€œAdam might be telling the truth,” said Violet as she pulled her purple scarf over her head.
    Henry thought a moment before he answered. “He could be, but I have a feeling he’s hiding something.”
    â€œYeah,” agreed Benny. “Why would he get so mad if he hasn’t done anything?”
    â€œOne possibility,” said Jessie, “is that Adam found the ring in the house when he was visiting the professor. We know he needs money. He probably couldn’t resist selling it. And now he feels guilty.”
    â€œThat may be why he got so angry whenever we mentioned the ring,” added Henry.
    â€œBut,” Violet said, “Adam did look very different from the person Sam described.”
    â€œThat’s true,” Henry was forced to agree. “Maybe we should go back to the pawnshop and ask Sam some more questions.”
    Jessie looked at her watch. “It’s four forty-five. If we hurry, we should have time to talk to Sam before the store closes.”
    Pink clouds dotted the sky as the Aldens rushed down Main Street. Sam was locking up the cash register as the Aldens walked in. “I’m locking up for the night,” he informed them.
    â€œWe just need to ask you a couple more questions,” said Henry. He sounded a little out of breath from running.
    â€œAsk away,” said Sam. “Did you find Adam?”
    Henry nodded. “We found him, but he wasn’t too helpful.”
    â€œReally?” Sam shook his head. “Sorry to hear that.”
    â€œHe said he never sold you that ring,” said Violet.
    Sam frowned. “I’m pretty sure he did.”
    â€œDo you have records we could check?” asked Violet. “That way, we could be sure.”
    Sam sighed. “I do keep records, but they’re not up-to-date.”
    â€œCould we see them anyway?” Jessie persisted.
    â€œWell, I don’t know how I feel about that,” said Sam. “You see, these records are confidential.”
    â€œOh, I understand,” said Jessie, but she looked very disappointed. They all did.
    â€œI’ll tell you what,” said Sam as he shuffled papers around the counter. “Give me a couple of days, then come back. I should have the information you need.”
    â€œThank you,” said Jessie and Violet together.
    â€œDo you think Sam knows more about this ring than he’s letting on?” asked Jessie as the Aldens walked down Main Street.
    â€œI don’t know,” said Benny as he broke an icicle off a low tree branch. “He’s been so nice to us.”
    â€œYes, he has, but he didn’t give us the right description for Adam. And he wouldn’t let us see his records,” Jessie pointed out. The sun had just set over the hills, and a full moon was rising.
    â€œOh, Benny. Don’t eat that icicle,” said Jessie, taking her eyes off the moon long