Mystery of the Orphan Train by Gertrude Chandler Warner Read Free Book Online

Hadn’t the professor tried to convince Kate to sell her family heirloom? Didn’t he say she’d be better off with a little money tucked away for her old age?
    “There’s somebody else we should consider,” Henry told them.
    “Who’s that?” Benny wanted to know.
    “Lindsay” Henry said.
    “Oh, Henry!” cried Jessie. “I don’t think Lindsay has the heart to be a thief.”
    “We have to consider everybody,” insisted Henry. “And remember what she said on the phone?”
    Jessie nodded. “She said, ‘I just don’t think I can pull it off.’”
    “And that’s not all,” Benny recalled. “She was talking about something old and blue.” He looked around at the others. “Kate’s necklace is old and blue!”
    “That does sound suspicious,” admitted Jessie.
    “But why would she want to hurt Kate like that, Henry?” Violet couldn’t believe Lindsay would do something so awful.
    “I’m not sure, Violet,” Henry said. “But maybe we should keep an eye on all of them for a while—Vanessa, Lindsay, and the professor.”
    After finishing the dishes, the Aldens headed for the reading room. Sitting cross-legged on the rug, they searched carefully through Sally’s book for clues. But once again they were disappointed.
    Benny drew his eyebrows together in a frown. “It doesn’t make sense,” he said. “The clue should be here.”
    “But … where?” asked Violet.
    Henry shrugged. “That’s a good question.”
    Just then, Kate walked into the room. “Oh, I didn’t know you were in here,” she said, looking surprised when she saw the Aldens. “I’m trying to tidy up a bit while I’m searching,” she told them, glancing down at her armful of old novels. “My night table was buried under books.”
    “You sure have a lot,” Benny remarked, as Kate added to the stack of books on the coffee table. “Almost as many as the Greenfield Public Library.”
    Kate laughed at this. “Well, most of my books are old and dog-eared, Benny. But I still treasure them.”
    As Kate turned to go, Violet said, “No luck yet?”
    Kate shook her head. “No, but it’ll turn up by the end of the day,” she said, trying to sound upbeat. “Just wait and see, Violet.” Then she closed the door behind her.
    The Aldens soon turned their attention back to Sally’s book. They were more determined than ever to solve the mystery for Kate.
    “There must be something we’re not seeing,” Jessie said. “Don’t you think, Henry?”
    Henry didn’t answer. As he looked down at Sally’s book, an idea began to form in his mind. Then he suddenly slapped his forehead with the palm of his hand. “Of course!” he exclaimed, laughing a little.
    “Don’t keep us in the dark, Henry,” Benny said. “What’s up?”

    “Remember what Kate said about her books?” Henry sounded excited.
    The others stared at their older brother. They looked totally confused.
    Seeing their puzzled faces, Henry explained, “She said they were old and—”
    Jessie’s eyes widened as she caught Henry’s drift. She finished her brother’s sentence for him. “Dog-eared!”
    “Oh, I can’t believe we didn’t think of that!” Violet clapped her hands.
    “Dog-eared?” Benny repeated, not understanding.
    “They say a book’s dog-eared, Benny,” Jessie was quick to explain, “when some of the pages have been turned down at the corners. You know, from people marking their spot.”
    “Oh, I get it!” Benny said in sudden understanding. “The turned-down part looks like a dog’s ear, right?”
    “Right,” said Henry.
    “No wonder we weren’t getting anywhere,” Jessie realized, flipping to the end of the book. “Thane must’ve hidden the clue under a corner of the page.”
    They all held their breath, as Jessie lifted the flap. Sure enough, a message had been scribbled under the little dog’s ear.
    The Aldens let out a cheer. Figuring out clues was always fun.
    “What does it say, Jessie?” Benny gave his sister a