The Missing Book by Lois Gladys Leppard Read Free Book Online Page B

her grandmother had come to live in the old Conley place.
    â€œAmanda, finish pinning up that new hem,” Mrs. Shaw told her, bringing her back to the present.
    â€œYes, ma’am,” Mandie replied, folding up the material on the edge of the skirt of her summer dress. Then she remembered Mrs. Clifton’s saying she had seen someone at the old house. “Have you heard of anyone being seen around Mrs. Chapman’s house, Mr. Lester?”
    â€œNo, I haven’t,” Mr. Lester replied. Looking at Mr. Shaw, he added, “Mrs. Clifton declares she has seen someone there at night, but no one else has seen this person, so I’m wondering about that.”
    â€œMaybe she has,” Mr. Shaw said. “Or maybe the lady’s eyesight is not too good after dark.”
    Mr. Lester smiled. “That might explain it.”
    Mandie wasn’t so sure. Mrs. Clifton’s eyesight was good enough to do the dainty needlework for Mrs. Chapman. She was sure Mrs. Clifton had seen someone. And she was going to find out for herself if there really was someone prowling around Mrs. Chapman’s house at night.

6
    Plans Canceled
    â€œMAMA, MR. LESTER didn’t say anything about going to Bryson City,” Mandie said as she pinned up the remaining narrow hem on her dress. Mr. Lester and Tommy had left without anyone even mentioning their planned journey.
    â€œI know, Amanda,” Mrs. Shaw replied, still working on the ruffle for Irene’s dress. “If I remember rightly, Mr. Lester does not plan such things. It’s Mrs. Lester I have to speak to.”
    Mandie frowned as she thought about that. Her parents shared everything. Evidently Mr. and Mrs. Lester did not. Mrs. Lester must be the boss.
    â€œThat’s right,” Irene said. “It’s Mrs. Lester who is planning the Bryson City journey.”
    â€œAnd the weather may prevent them from going,” Mrs. Shaw said. “But I will speak to Mrs. Lester at church tomorrow. Now, let’s get these dresses finished.”
    Mandie kept watching all day, but it didn’t snow. Though the clouds hovered low and thick, no moisture fell.
    And no one else came visiting at the Shaws’ house that day. The alterations on the two dresses were finished by suppertime. Mandie and Irene were both pleased with the results.
    Everyone went to bed early that night. Mandie was not sleepy, and she tossed and turned so much that Windy jumped off of her bed and climbed onto the foot of Irene’s bed. Mandie held her breath, waiting for her sister to yell at the cat, but there was no sound, and Mandie decided Irene was asleep. Maybe Windy would come back to her before Irene woke up the next morning.
    â€œOh, me, oh, my,” Mandie muttered to herself. She pulled the quilt up closer around her shoulders as she thought about Mrs. Chapman going for the job interview. Mrs. Chapman had been a schoolteacher for many years before she and Faith had moved to Charley Gap, so Mandie believed she would get the position. And Faith would move away. Mandie wouldn’t have a friend living anywhere near her except for Joe. All her schoolmates lived in the other direction from the schoolhouse, too far away to visit. She felt a little chill of sadness pass over her.
    Maybe she and Faith and Joe could solve the mystery of the unknown visitor seen by Mrs. Clifton at Mrs. Chapman’s old house before Faith left for her new home. That would give Mandie something to think about besides Faith’s departure.
    â€œThere’s always an answer to a mystery,” she whispered to herself. All she had to do was figure out how she was going to solve this one. If the person was only seen at night, it wouldn’t do any good to spy on the place in the daytime. On the other hand, she didn’t know how she could get permission to go over there at night. In fact, she knew it was impossible.
    Maybe she could spend the night with Faith. She could also