The Mystery at the Calgary Stampede by Gertrude Chandler Warner Read Free Book Online

Young
Canadians, one from the past and one from
the present, were up onstage together. They
audience stood and clapped when Daisy
finished. Aunt Judy stepped forward and
clapped for her niece too.
    Jessie turned to Henry. “Daisy really
doesn’t need that pin, does she?” she said.
Henry grinned. Violet and Benny shook
their heads.
    “No, she doesn’t,” said Benny. “She can be
brave all on her own.”
    The side of Aunt Judy’s special bus folded
up and closed. It drove back down the ramp
and out of the stampede arena.
    The fireworks show followed the musical
program, and Violet and Benny both said it
was even better than the previous night. “It
wasn’t this long,” said Jessie, remembering
how she and Henry had felt very short on
time looking for the pin in the dressing room.
    “There’s more purple tonight!” said Violet
happily, looking skyward to the colorful
explosions.
    The show ended with a series of deep
booms that echoed across the fairgrounds.
The children stood to go.
    “We still need to find the pin,” said Henry,
“even if Daisy doesn’t need it to perform.”
    Jessie turned to Mr. Sutton, who was
looking through his bag.
    “Mr. Sutton,” she began, “Marian gave you
a costume.”
    “That’s right,” he said. He didn’t even ask
how she knew. “She finds some wonderful
pieces for my collection. Whatever I don’t add
to the collection, I give to our little neighbor.”
    “Your little neighbor?” Jessie asked.
    “I think you’ve met her,” he said. “Clay’s
little sister.”
    “You’re neighbors?” Henry asked.
    “Yes, she and Clay live just a few doors
away. She loves costumes.”
    “What about other collectible pieces? The
other day, we saw Marian give you something
small. Was it a Young Canadian pin, by any
chance?” asked Jessie.
    Mr. Sutton gave her a sharp look. “Marian
said you’re looking for that missing pin and
seem to think she had something to do with
it. I can assure you, she doesn’t. I do think that
pin should be in the museum, but I wouldn’t
take it.”
    He put his bag over his shoulder and got
up to leave.
    They watched him go.
    “I don’t think he liked being questioned
like that,” Henry said.
    “What should we do now?” Jessie asked.
    “I don’t know what to do about the mystery,”
said Henry, “but we should really find Aunt
Judy and Daisy and tell them how much we
enjoyed their show!”

CHAPTER 8
A Good Catch
    B ack in the dressing room, the mood was
festive. Everyone seemed pleased to have
Aunt Judy sing in the show. Young Canadians
gathered around her to hear stories of her
time in their shoes. Daisy’s cheeks were pink
and her eyes were shiny.
    Henry noticed that Clay had changed into
a T-shirt and shorts. He was sitting at the
makeup counter, though the bright lights
around the mirrors were off, and it was a bit
dark on that side of the room. The counter
was covered with bouquets of roses and other
flowers sent to congratulate the performers.
Marian was nearby putting the bouquets
in vases.
    Clay seemed to be the only person in the
room who was not happy.
    “I think that’s because he dropped the
wagon wheel,” whispered Benny. “I’m going
to cheer him up.” He and Henry approached
Clay.
    “I like how you caught that wheel before
anyone noticed,” Benny said.
    “ You noticed,” Clay said glumly.
    “But you caught it so quickly. My
grandfather says that takes lots of practice,”
Benny replied.
    “Your grandfather says it takes lots of
practice to drop a wheel?” Clay asked.
    “No, it takes lots of practice to make a
mistake and fix it before anyone can notice,”
Henry said.
    Henry noticed that Marian, who had been
listening nearby, looked startled when he said
that. For a moment she even looked at Henry.
    “Is something wrong?” Henry asked her.
    “Nothing,” she said quickly. She grabbed a
broom leaning against the wall and began to
sweep the floor. She kept her face down and
didn’t look at them again.
    Clay