The Secret of the Scarecrow by Carolyn Keene Read Free Book Online

better.”
    â€œUm . . . k-k-kind of,” Leanne stammered.
    Nancy could tell Leanne was nervous—as if she had something to hide.
    â€œIf your allergy is better,” Nancy said. “Then you’ll have no trouble being around scarecrows.”
    Leanne dropped her jump rope on the grass. “I don’t know where Autumn is!” she said. “I didn’t steal her—if that’s what you’re thinking.”
    Nancy stared at Leanne. “I never said Autumn was missing,” she said. “Or stolen.”
    â€œSo how did you know?” George asked.
    â€œI can’t talk anymore,” Leanne said quickly. “I promised Trixie I’d help out with her tea party.”
    â€œIs that why Trixie is wearing such a fancy hat?” Bess asked. “The same hat as Autumn’s?”
    â€œI told you, I’ve got to go!” Leanne insisted. She picked up her jump rope and ran straight into the house.
    Nancy, Bess, and George stood staring at the house.
    â€œHow are we going to get to Leanne’s room to see if Autumn is there?” George asked.
    â€œGood question.” Nancy sighed.
    â€œWait,” Bess said. “Do you hear someone?”
    The girls became quiet.
    That’s when Nancy heard someone singing “I’m a Little Teapot.”
    â€œIt’s coming from behind the house!” Nancy said.
    â€œEverything lately is behind the house,” George groaned. She waved toward the back. “Come on, let’s check it out.”
    Nancy, Bess, and George rounded the corner to see a garden filled with fall chrysanthemums. In the middle of the garden was a table covered with a lacy tablecloth, a vase of yellow flowers, and a toy tea set.
    â€œIt’s Trixie’s tea party,” Bess whispered.
    Trixie sat in one of the chairs, her back to the girls. She kept singing as she poured for herguests: a doll, a stuffed giraffe, a teddy bear, and—a scarecrow!
    â€œIt’s Autumn!” Nancy gasped.
    The Clue Crew marched straight to the table. When Trixie saw them she scowled. “You again?” she snapped. “Get away from my toys!”
    â€œWe don’t want your toys!” George said. “Just our scarecrow.”
    Trixie jumped up as George lifted Autumn out of her chair. “Let go!” Trixie shouted. “Leanne gave me the scarecrow fair and square. It’s mine!”
    â€œIt’s ours!” George said, holding Autumn.
    Trixie grabbed Autumn’s legs and began to pull. George pulled back. Soon Nancy and Bess were watching a full-blown scarecrow tug-of-war!

    â€œStop!” Bess cried as straw flew everywhere. “You’re going to break her!”
    A back door swung open. Leanne raced outside with a plate of cookies. She took one look at the tug-of-war and shouted, “Quit it, you guys. Quit it right now!”
    George and Trixie dropped Autumn. Instead of picking the scarecrow up, Trixie ran crying into the house.
    Leanne stared down at Autumn. “Um . . . what’s a scarecrow doing in my yard?” She gulped.
    â€œWhy don’t you tell us?” Bess said.
    â€œMaybe it walked over here!” Leanne said quickly. “Just like that scarecrow Harvey was talking about.”
    â€œHarvey admitted that Jake wasn’t for real,” George said.
    â€œOh,” Leanne said, casting her eyes downward.
    â€œWhy did you do it, Leanne?” Nancy asked gently. “Why did you take Autumn?”
    â€œI was afraid everyone would shop at Darcy’s Department Store because of that silly window,” Leanne said. “And no one would come to my family’s store anymore.”
    â€œSo you took the best part of the window—the scarecrow,” Nancy said.
    â€œHow did you know it was on my porch?” Bess asked.
    â€œI was wheeling home a new suitcase from Hudson’s Apparel,” Leanne explained. “We have tons of