Mystery of the Stolen Sword by Charles Tang Read Free Book Online Page A

letter from someone?”
    The owner nodded and pushed her wire-rimmed glasses on top of her head. “I believe I did. I don’t remember buying that letter at a yard sale. I think I would have remembered that.”
    “Was this person who sold you the letter a woman or a man?” Violet continued.
    “A man, I believe,” Mrs. Holmes answered.
    “Did this man have long blond hair and a beard? Did he say he was an author?” Violet asked.
    Mrs. Holmes frowned. “No, I don’t remember meeting anyone like that. I usually remember faces. That’s about all I do remember well.”
    The Aldens waited while Mrs. Holmes rummaged through a few more cardboard boxes stuffed with papers, but she never found any record of the letter.
    “I don’t want to keep you here any longer,” the owner finally said. “I know Seymour’s number. If I find anything, or remember who sold me the letter, I will give you a call, I promise.”
    “Thanks for all you have done,” Jessie said as the Aldens waved good-bye and filed out the door. Once outside, they were surprised to find that the sun was low.
    “We should try to get home before dark,” Henry warned the others.
    “I didn’t realize we had been in that store so long,” Jessie remarked. “Everything was so old in there, it was almost like being in another century.”
    The others laughed.
    “I wish Mrs. Holmes had been able to remember who brought her the letter,” Violet remarked as the Aldens were mounting their bicycles.
    “That would have made our job a little easier,” Henry remarked as he began to pedal away.
    Jessie was about to follow when she noticed a large blue car parked under some trees near the antique store’s driveway. The car flashed its lights and began to move toward the Aldens.
    “Who is that?” Jessie asked out loud.
    The car pulled alongside Jessie, Violet, and Benny. “How about a ride home?” a deep voice asked.
    “Mr. Ambrose!” Jessie was so startled she almost shouted.
    “What are you doing here?” Benny wanted to know. He was right behind Jessie.
    “I was out exploring the area,” Mr. Ambrose answered smoothly.
    “We don’t want a ride home,” Benny said firmly.
    “It’s true,” Jessie agreed. “What would we do with our bicycles?”
    “I would probably have room for them in my trunk,” Mr. Ambrose answered.
    “We still don’t need a ride.” Benny remained firm.
    “Were you driving out here to visit the antique store?” Jessie asked. She stood with one foot on the ground, the other on a bicycle pedal.
    “Uh, no,” Mr. Ambrose answered.
    “Have you ever been in this store before?” Jessie persisted.
    “I was here once or twice when I first began my research,” the author answered. Then he cleared his throat. “Well, if you don’t need a ride, I really must be on my way,” he added. Before the Aldens could say anything more, the author pulled the car away and sped down the road.
    “You know I saw a big blue car like that following us to the antique store,” Benny informed his family when they were back on Seymour’s farm. The four were walking their bicycles to the shed to put them away.
    “I noticed that car, too,” Henry remarked. “I’m sure it was Blake’s car.”
    “But why would he want to follow us?” Violet asked as she walked her bicycle beside Henry’s.
    “Well, if he is involved in these burglaries, he probably wants to find out how much we know,” Henry suggested.
    “And he probably doesn’t want us to get in his way,” Jessie added.
    That evening, after dinner, Violet and Benny decided to take a walk in the orchard with one of Seymour’s flashlights. Benny wanted to hear the ghost for himself, and Violet thought it might be good to keep him company.
    It was a windy night and as Violet waved the flashlight at the scarecrow, it looked like he was waving at them.
    “Poor scarecrow,” Violet said sadly. “He’s probably going to need to be restuffed after this windy night.”
    “I bet we’ll hear