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

looking at?” he asked.
    â€œYes,” Jessie said.
    â€œI don’t see it,” said Henry.
    The other three walked slowly around the tables. After a moment Jessie said, “You’re right. It’s not here.”
    â€œNot again,” said Violet, putting down the books she’d been holding on Sam’s desk. “That’s the third piece missing!”
    â€œMaybe Dr. Snood just put it somewhere else,” Jessie said. “He looked very interested in it.”
    â€œYes, maybe that’s it,” Violet agreed.
    â€œWe’ll ask Sam when she comes in,” Henry said. “We’ve got to find those pieces before the exhibit opens, and we’ve got only two days left.” Then he noticed the books that Jessie and Violet had brought up. “It looks like you guys found a lot of books.”
    â€œWe did,” said Jessie. “Let’s go in the exhibit hall and take a look.”
    The Aldens went into the next room and sat down on the floor.

    Â They each took a book on their laps and began to flip through them. One book had beautiful photographs of pyramids and maps of Egypt. Another book contained pages of hieroglyphics. And Benny pulled out a book that told how to make a mummy. “Look at this.” He pointed to a picture of a shriveled body that had been unwrapped from a mummy. “Gross!”
    â€œBut isn’t it amazing that you’re looking at the face of a person who lived thousands of years ago?” Henry asked.
    â€œI guess so,” said Benny making a face.
    Sam arrived a few minutes later. “Why all the grim faces?” she asked.
    â€œBad news,” said Henry. “Another piece is missing. The little blue hippo.”
    The children all hoped that Sam would say something like, Oh, that’s okay. I just put it in a different room. But instead, she said nothing. She looked at the children and then walked into the prep room. The Aldens followed as Sam went from table to table, a worried look on her face. Then she sank down into a chair and buried her head in her hands. Henry stood silently beside her, unsure what to do.
    â€œThis is terrible,” Sam said at last, slowly lifting her head to look at Henry. “When did you notice it was gone?”
    â€œJust this morning,” said Henry. “I was looking for it because I remembered that Dr. Snood had been holding it yesterday when we left.”
    â€œDr. Snood was holding it?” Sam said slowly.
    â€œYes,” Henry said.
    â€œThat’s ... interesting,” Sam said.
    â€œYou don’t think he would have put it somewhere, do you?” Henry asked.
    â€œI don’t know,” said Sam. “I hope that’s the explanation. I’ll have to ask him.” She got up slowly and put her briefcase on her desk. “What have you been working on this morning?”
    â€œWe’re doing a kids’ guide for the exhibit,” Violet said. The children excitedly told Sam all about it.
    â€œThat’s a great idea!” Sam said. “I’ll take a look at it when you’re done, and we can print copies downstairs.” She unloaded some papers from her bag. When she had finished, she said, “I’m going down to speak to Dr. Snood. I’ll see you later.”
    After she’d left, Violet turned to the others. “I hate to think that someone would steal things from the museum.”
    â€œI do, too,” said Henry. “But what other explanation could there be for the missing pieces?”
    â€œI wonder if it has something to do with the Carson City Museum,” Benny said. He told the others what he and Violet had overheard the day before.
    â€œYou think someone at the Carson City Museum is so angry at the Greenfield Museum they would try to mess up the exhibit?” Jessie asked.
    â€œMaybe, to make the Greenfield Museum look bad,” said Benny.
    â€œI think it’s time we paid a visit to