Mystery of the Lost Mine by Charles Tang Read Free Book Online

off.
    Henry, who was sitting next to Violet, gently nudged her.
    “Look out there,” he whispered. “Do you see anything strange?”
    Violet stared beyond the fire. The last light of the day silhouetted cacti and rocks on the ridge. Then she saw it, an armless saguaro. Or was it a man?

    “That cactus,” she whispered back. “It looks like a person!”
    “I wonder if it’s the prowler,” Henry said. “Watching us. Two of our suspects are right here, Mr. Clark and Tom. That leaves Mr. Tobias.”
    “And Janine,” Violet said, reminding him the mysterious stranger could be a woman. “Maybe it’s just a person-shaped cactus.”
    “You could be right. The night plays tricks on our eyes.” But the more Henry stared at the “cactus,” the more he was certain it was human.
    Across the circle, Mr. Clark let out a big yawn. “Well, I think it’s about time to head on back to the bunkhouse.”
    “I agree,” said Grandfather. “We all have another busy day tomorrow.”
    Very busy, thought Jessie. Time was running out. They would have to find Jake.
    Mrs. Clark came over. “Oh, your little brother fell asleep. He’s so cute. Here, let me help you with him.”
    “That’s okay,” Jessie said, shaking Benny awake. “We’re fine.”
    But Mrs. Clark insisted on taking Benny’s arm and helping him to his feet.
    After a while, the cool desert air woke Benny up completely. He reached into his pocket to touch his lucky rock.
    The pocket was empty.
    “My rock!” he exclaimed. “I can’t find it!”
    “Not your lucky rock?” Jessie cried. “Oh, Benny!”
    Benny turned all his pockets inside out. “It’s missing!”
    “You mean that shiny rock?” said Mrs. Clark. “Oh, it’s probably back at the trailer. Or the restaurant. You could have left it anywhere.”
    “No, I didn’t,” Benny insisted. “I put it in my pocket before we left for the hike. And now it’s gone!”
    It was too dark to search the area. Grandfather and the others were waiting for him.
    Benny slipped his hand nervously into Jessie’s. He didn’t trust Mrs. Clark.
    When he first showed her his gold rock, she had eyed it enviously. It was obvious she liked pretty things from all the shiny jewelry she wore.
    Could Mrs. Clark have stolen his lucky rock?

CHAPTER 8
The Storm
    “O ne more day,” Grandfather announced at breakfast the next morning. “Gerald and I have only one more day of work, then his cabin will be finished. We’ll spend tomorrow relaxing, and then we’ll head back home Saturday.”
    Henry and Jessie looked at each other. One more day. That’s all they had to find Jake.
    A beep outside indicated Gerald was there to pick up Grandfather. He left in the battered orange Jeep.
    The restaurant wasn’t very busy this morning. Mr. Tobias was never at breakfast, and the Clarks, sitting at their regular table, seemed unusually quiet. Jessie noticed that Mrs. Clark wasn’t wearing any of her flashy jewelry. Mr. Clark looked as if he hadn’t slept.
    Even more odd, Tom didn’t come in to greet the guests.
    “He’d better be fixing the pool filter,” Janine said, when Henry asked about Tom. “I’ve been after him over a week.”
    Luis breezed in. “Has Jake been in yet?” he asked anxiously.
    Violet shook her head. “We haven’t seen him.”
    Jessie told Luis that they were only staying until Saturday.
    “We want to look for Jake,” Henry added. “We’re afraid something has happened to him, especially since he got that threatening note.”
    Luis agreed. “It’s still pretty early. I’m sure our horses will be available.”
    They split up to pack food and water for the expedition.
    At Mountain Shadows Stables, Rex seemed glad to see them.
    “Benny,” he said, “Ginger has been pining away for you. Now she’ll perk up.”
    In no time he had the horses saddled and ready to go.
    “Here, Ginger,” Benny crooned to the pony. “I brought you some sugar.” He felt in his pocket for the sugar cube he saved from