Mystery of the Missing Cat by Charles Tang Read Free Book Online

brother, giving him a warm smile. “You’re exactly right, Benny.”

CHAPTER 9
    Looking for Mr. Jones
    A s they turned down the street where they lived, Jessie suddenly exclaimed, “I have an idea! And I know it’s going to help us solve this mystery!”
    â€œWhat is it?” asked Violet.
    â€œYes, tell us,” urged Henry.
    â€œRemember that man who called you, Violet?” Jessie asked her sister.
    â€œMr. Jones.” Violet nodded. “I remember.”
    â€œHe gave you a post office box to write to. Why don’t we write him a letter and tell him we have a lost cat.”
    â€œBut won’t that be a lie?” said Violet.
    â€œNo!” crowed Benny. “Because we do have a lost cat. The cat Professor Madison gave us.”
    Jessie said, “That’s right. And when Mr. Jones gets our letter, he’ll call and we’ll tell him to come over and we can see who he is and ask him a few questions.”
    â€œThat’s a terrific idea,” said Henry.
    â€œThanks, Henry,” said Jessie. “We’ll write the letter this afternoon. If we take it to the post office, he might even get it tomorrow.”
    â€œWe could have another clue by tomorrow!” cried Benny. “Hooray, hooray!”
    â€œDon’t say hooray yet,” Jessie warned. “Let’s see if this works.”
    That afternoon, right after lunch, the Aldens sat down at the kitchen table to write the letter. Henry did the writing, since he was the oldest, but everyone helped compose the letter. It read:
    Dear Mr. Jones,
    We have a lost cat like the one you were looking for. Please call us and you can come and see if she is yours.
    Sincerely,
    Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden
    Then Henry folded up the letter and carefully put their address on it. Grandfather Alden gave them a stamp and they walked down to the mailbox on the corner to mail it.
    â€œWe got here just in time,” said Jessie, reading the sign on the mailbox. “The last time they pick up here is in fifteen minutes.”
    â€œHurry, let’s mail the letter!” Benny cried.

    â€œHere, Jessie,” said Henry. “You can mail it.” He gave the letter to Jessie. Henry held the mailbox open and Jessie carefully pushed the letter in.
    â€œWill Mr. Jones get the letter tomorrow?” asked Benny.
    â€œI hope so,” said Henry.
    Benny looked at Henry seriously. “Spotzie has been away from home a long time. I’ll bet she’s homesick.”
    But no one called about Spotzie the next morning, although the Aldens all stayed home.
    At lunch, Grandfather Alden looked around. “Why is everyone so quiet?” he asked.
    â€œWe still haven’t found Spotzie,” said Jessie.
    â€œAnd we don’t have any more clues,” added Violet.
    â€œYou mustn’t give up,” said Grandfather.
    â€œWe won’t,” said Jessie. “But it’s hard not to sometimes.”
    â€œStick to it,” said Grandfather. “That’s the important thing.”
    Everyone nodded. They knew their grandfather was right. But it was hard not to worry.
    Then, after everyone was finished with lunch, the phone rang.
    â€œI’ll get it!” cried Violet. She picked up the phone. “Hello?” She smiled. “Oh, hello Mr. Jones. You got our letter? Do you . . .” Violet’s voice trailed off. The smile left her face. “Oh. Oh, I see. Are you sure? What kind of cat is yours? Mr. Jones? Hello? Mr. Jones?”
    Slowly Violet hung up the phone.
    â€œWhat is it?” demanded Jessie. “What did he say?”
    Violet looked puzzled. “He said he’d found his cat. That we should keep the cat we have. She’s probably a very nice cat. But when I tried to ask him about his cat, he hung up on me!”
    â€œThis is very strange,” said Henry.
    â€œWhat are we going to do now ?”sighed Violet.
    The Aldens went outside