The Mystery on Cobbett's Island by Kathryn Kenny Read Free Book Online

he was off over the wall like a deer.
    â€œGosh, what a great guy!” said Jim.
    â€œAnd did you notice what gorgeous eyes he has?” sighed Diana.
    â€œI wouldn’t say there was anything so special about his eyes,” said Mart. “You squaws always flip for someone just because he has broad shoulders or gorgeous eyes or something. Don’t you ever think about brains or character or anything?”
    â€œWhen it comes to brains and character, we always have you, dear brother,” Trixie flung back at him. “So allow us our little pleasures.” And then becoming serious again, with Peter out of earshot, she continued, “Say, you don’t suppose, since he lives on the island, he might be able to help us with the letter, do you?”
    â€œOh, we weren’t going to tell anyone about that,” cautioned Mart. “For gosh sakes, Trix, don’t always be so impulsive.”
    â€œI know, Mart,” said Jim, jumping to Trixie’s defense, “but he certainly looks like a dependable character if I ever saw one.”
    Stung by her brother’s criticism, Trixie sat down on the tree trunk, cupping her chin in her hands. After a short pause, she said, “I suppose Mart’s right. I know you can’t always trust first impressions. Remember what we thought of Dan when we first met him? Wewere sure he was a crook because he wore a black jacket and acted sort of anti-social. So it’s okay with me to wait until we know Peter better.”
    â€œGood girl,” said Mart, giving her a pat on the shoulder.
    â€œAll those in favor of waiting signify by the usual sign,” said Jim, rapping on the tree with a stone for a gavel, as everyone agreed.
    Peter was soon back, and after he had handed the saw over the wall to Jim, he himself jumped over. “Now, this is more like it,” he said as he got a firm foothold, adjusted the choke, and pulled the starter cord.
    The saw made short work of the tree. Under Peter’s direction, the boys took turns using it, but manfully insisted that it was too heavy for the girls to manipulate. They had to content themselves with piling the big pieces of wood near the wall to be split later on, and with taking the smaller ones to the rear of the house where the fireplace logs were stored.
    â€œHonestly,” said Trixie, throwing down an armful of wood with unnecessary vigor, “boys think they know everything!”
    â€œWell, it doesn’t hurt to let them
think
they do sometimes,” replied Diana with a knowing smile.

Chapter 5
The Letter
    It was well past the usual lunchtime when the lawn was finally cleared, but Honey had asked the cook to make a lot of sandwiches so they could eat whenever they got hungry. She invited Peter to stay for lunch, so he telephoned his mother that he wouldn’t be home until later.
    As they were eating, he said, “How about all of you coming over to my house? It’s sort of interesting because it’s the oldest house on the island.”
    â€œI can’t think of anything that would be more fun!” exclaimed Honey. “I love to explore old houses!”
    â€œWatch out for Trix and Honey, Peter. They’re always exploring something and coming up with a mystery,” Brian laughed. “Is your house haunted, by any chance?”
    â€œOh, there’s some story about Aunt Cornelia coming back to try to find a lost fan,” Peter answered, “but I never saw any signs of the old girl. Let’s go back by way of the Shore Road. It will be easier than going through the underbrush,” he added.
    They walked a short way down the road, and then they turned into a beautiful wrought-iron gate. As they were going down the long driveway, through thick woods where pink and white dogwoods were in bloom, Peter told them a bit about the history of the Oldest House, as it was known on the island. It dated from 1713 when Peter’s ancestors first