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

received extra points for looking so good.” She followed the judge, talking loudly and waving her hands excitedly.
    â€œOh, no,” Courtney said. “Mrs. Stephens is at it again.”
    â€œI wonder where Kristie is,” Violet said. “She was here before the contest started. I saw her when I was eating lunch but then she disappeared.”
    â€œThat’s strange,” Jessie said. “You’d think she’d want to be here since her mother was part of the competition.”
    â€œThis whole contest has been very peculiar,” Violet said.
    The girls hurried over to congratulate the prizewinners.
    â€œNow, you see,” Jessie said as she hugged Benny. “I told you that pie was a prizewinner.”
    â€œCongratulations, boys,” Courtney said.
    â€œI’m proud of all of you,” Violet said.
    â€œThank you,” Benny said. “Can we eat the rest of the pie now?”
    â€œOf course,” the judge said with a laugh. “I think I’ll have another piece myself. That’s one of the best blueberry pies I have ever tasted.”
    â€œYou seemed to enjoy Mrs. Stephens’s lemon cake, too,” Henry said.
    â€œNo, I was very disappointed by that cake,” the judge said.
    â€œWhy?” Violet asked. “It looks so pretty.”
    â€œYes, it is a beautiful cake,” the judge agreed. “But it tastes awful. This blueberry pie isn’t very pretty, but it tastes wonderful!”
    Everyone laughed. The judge cut a slice of pie for each one of them.
    â€œWe’d better go now,” Jessie said when everyone finished eating. “The crafts contest will be starting soon.”
    The children arrived at the crafts tent a few minutes before the contest started. Mrs. Stephens was talking to the judge. She had Susie’s rag rug in her hand.
    â€œAs you can see,” Mrs. Stephens said as she pointed to the rug, “a sewing machine was used to make these stitches. The rules state that every entry in the crafts competition must be handmade or hand-sewn. I have a copy of the rules right here.”
    â€œI know the rules,” the judge said. He examined the rug. Then he called for Susie to come forward. Susie talked with the judge for a few moments. She looked very upset. She folded her rug and ran out of the tent.
    â€œI’m going to see if she’s all right,” Jessie said.
    â€œWe’ll save you a seat,” Henry said as the other children began to climb up the bleachers.
    Jessie found Susie sitting outside on a bench.
    â€œWhat’s the matter, Susie?” Jessie asked. “Why are you taking your rug out of the competition?”
    â€œMrs. Stephens had me disqualified because I used a sewing machine!” Susie said. “I didn’t even know about this rule. I’m so disappointed. I was hoping that my rug would win that event.”
    Suddenly, Jessie noticed the man with the baseball cap. He was staring at them and writing something in a small notebook.
    â€œThere’s that man again,” Jessie said.
    â€œWho is he?” Susie said. “I saw him at the pie contest, too.”
    â€œI wonder what he’s up to now,” Jessie said. “He always seems to be around whenever there’s some trouble.”
    The man glanced at the girls and quickly walked in the other direction.
    â€œI’m sure it’s just a coincidence,” Susie said. “You better go now. The contest will be starting soon.”
    â€œMaybe you’ll have better luck with your painting,” Jessie said. “It’s lovely.”
    â€œThanks,” Susie said. “It’s my last chance to win.”
    Jessie returned to the tent and explained what had happened to Susie.
    â€œHow awful,” Violet said. “She must have really worked hard on her rug.”
    â€œI think we’d better check our necklace and earrings,” Courtney said. “After everything