Mystery of the Mummy's Curse by Gertrude Chandler Warner Read Free Book Online

away.
    As the Aldens watched, he put down the cat and picked up a bright blue sculpture of a hippo. He must have felt the children’s eyes on him, because he suddenly looked up. The look on his face changed abruptly. Now he looked as if he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t be. He quickly put the hippo down.
    â€œYou kids haven’t been touching these, have you?” asked Dr. Snood.
    â€œNo, we—” Henry began.
    â€œMake sure you don’t,” said Dr. Snood in a stern voice. “And make sure the lid on that coffin stays closed.”
    â€œOf course—” said Jessie. Before she could say any more, he walked out.
    The Aldens stood still for a moment, stunned by Dr. Snood’s harsh behavior.
    At last Jessie said, “I don’t know which was stranger: the way he was looking at those artifacts or the way he just spoke to us.”
    â€œI don’t know, either,” Henry agreed. “I wonder what he was thinking about when we first came in and he was holding the statues.”
    â€œIt was as if he were in another world,” said Violet.
    â€œAnd then he got so angry all of a sudden,” said Jessie. “And we would never touch the artifacts!”
    â€œMaybe Sam told him about the thief and so he’s worried the pieces aren’t safe,” said Henry.
    â€œHe doesn’t seem to trust us much,” Violet said.
    â€œThere was something else, too,” Jessie said. “Did you notice how he called Sam ‘our expensive Egyptian expert’ in that nasty tone?”
    â€œSounds as if he’s upset the museum is paying her so much money,” Henry said.
    â€œOr maybe he’s jealous,” Violet suggested. “Remember, Pete said Dr. Snood used to be a leading expert on Egypt? Maybe he doesn’t like the fact that Sam may know more than he does now.”
    â€œYou guys?” Benny spoke up at last. “Can we go? I want lunch!”
    â€œSure, Benny,” Violet said.
    She and Henry picked up their backpacks. But Jessie was still digging around in her backpack when the others were ready to go.
    â€œWhat’s the matter, Jessie?” Violet asked.
    â€œIt’s nothing ... I just can’t find ...” She continued to dig in her backpack. At last she stood up, a puzzled look on her face. “It’s not in there.”
    â€œWhat’s not in there?” asked Violet.
    â€œMy notebook,” said Jessie. “The one with the list of artifacts.”
    â€œAre you sure you put it in your backpack?” Henry asked.
    â€œI think so,” said Jessie.
    â€œHave you looked at it since yesterday?” Violet asked.
    â€œNo,” Jessie said, still puzzled. It wasn’t like her to lose things.
    â€œMaybe you left it around here somewhere,” Benny suggested.
    The children spent the next few minutes searching the prep room—under the tables, on Sam’s desk, behind the coffin. Then they moved on to the exhibit hall and looked all over the room. The blue notebook was nowhere to be found.
    â€œMaybe you left it at home,” said Violet.
    â€œI don’t think so,” said Jessie. “I didn’t look at it there.”
    Benny frowned. “The mummy’s curse strikes again!”

CHAPTER 7
The Feeling of Being Watched
    The next morning, Pete met the Aldens at the door to the prep room. “Sam isn’t here yet, but you can wait for her in there.”
    As Pete headed back down the hall toward the stairs, the children pushed open the door to the prep room. It was dark and quiet inside.
    At the end of the room the Aldens could make out the coffin where the mummy lay.
    For a moment no one said or did anything. The room felt creepy with no one around but the mummy.
    Then Jessie broke the silence. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go in.” She led the way inside and turned on the light. Suddenly it was just an ordinary room.
    â€œWhen do