Mystery of the Pirate's Map by Charles Tang Read Free Book Online

James Alden decided they would eat dinner that night in the kitchen rather than on the front porch, where they might be seen.
    As they all quietly ate their meals, Tom read the latest article about John Finney’s treasure in a paper called the Atlantic Informer. The picture of Benny that Meredith Baker had taken on the beach was still the only one the newspapers had, so they kept running it over and over again.
    â€œSays here John Finney’s treasure is probably worth more than ten million dollars,” he announced. He stroked his chin and added, “I wonder who made up that number?”
    Violet, who was looking down at another paper while cutting her steak, said, “This one says it’s worth only four million.”
    â€œMine says six,” Benny chimed in through a mouthful of mashed potatoes.
    â€œMine says six, too,” Jessie added. Her newspaper was the same one that ran the first story and picture a few days before.
    Tom said, “Maybe it is six.”
    Henry shook his head. “I don’t know. This one here says twelve.”
    Tom whistled. “Wow, twelve million dollars. That’s quite a high price to put on a treasure no one’s even seen in nearly two hundred years.”
    All the wild stories surrounding the map and the treasure had become so silly that neither Tom nor the Aldens could take them seriously anymore.
    â€œHey, Benny, according to this story, you’re eleven,” Violet said, giggling. “I didn’t know you were older than me!”
    Grandfather said in a grumpy voice, “And the Atlantic Informer thinks you’re from California.”
    â€œThe next one will say I’m from Mars!” Benny told them, and everyone, including Grandfather, broke out into laughter.
    When things settled down, Grandfather said, “We really will have to do something soon, before the situation gets any worse.”
    â€œLike what?” Henry asked.
    â€œLike either you try to find the treasure or you let Winston Walker have the last piece of the map,” suggested Grandfather.
    â€œI . . . I don’t like that second idea,” Benny said.
    â€œI don’t, either,” said Jessie. Violet and Henry nodded in agreement.
    â€œThen you’ve got to find the treasure without that missing piece,” said Grandfather. “And that’s not going to be very e—”
    The front doorbell rang. Tom got up to answer it. He knew it couldn’t be one of the guests because they all had keys.
    The man Tom found on his front porch was so tall and muscular that he almost looked like a giant. A tiny blue knapsack was slung over his shoulder.
    â€œCan I help you?” Tom asked.
    â€œIs this the house where the boy who found the old bottle is staying?” the man asked.
    â€œCan I ask what your interest in the boy is?” Tom wanted to know.
    â€œMy name’s Jack Ford. I used to work for Winston Walker,” said the man. “I was with him in Brazil when he found the third piece of the map. I have a feeling you’d like to know what it looks like.”
    Tom just stood there, speechless. Then he invited Jack Ford inside.
    They all went into Tom’s study. Jack sat in the comfortable chair by the fireplace, his knapsack lying beside him like a sleeping dog.
    â€œFirst of all, you should know that Winston Walker is a bit crazy. He’s obsessed with that treasure,” Jack began.
    â€œObsessed?” Benny repeated, not sure what the word meant.
    â€œHe thinks about it all the time,” Jack said, pointing to his own head. “It’s like the only thing in the world that he cares about.”
    â€œOh . . . yeah,” Benny said. “We already noticed that. ”
    â€œWhy were you in Brazil with him?” Henry asked.
    â€œI was a digger, which means I was good with a shovel,” said Jack. “I’d been all around the world doing that kind of work. But working for Winston