The Mystery of the Orphan Train Read online

  “I bet he didn’t do it,” Benny said.

  “Something about it sounds fishy,” agreed Henry.

  Kate was bending over the note again. “It doesn’t make any more sense than this rhyme,” she said. “I mean, why would Thane save Sally’s life and then steal from her family?”

  Violet had a thought. “Do you think that rhyme holds the truth?”

  Kate waved that away. “I doubt it, Violet. This was just a parlor game. I remember my grandmother talking about Thane’s rhymes and riddles, and how much fun she had trying to solve them.”

  But the Aldens weren’t convinced it was just a game. They had a feeling there was more to it than that. A lot more.

  CHAPTER 5

  Spotting a Leopard?

  The children worked on the old desk all morning. After a lunch of grilled cheese sandwiches and coleslaw, they took a break to play Frisbee and cool off in the pond. It wasn’t long, though, before they were hard at work once more. When Benny stopped to rub his shoulder, Jessie spoke up.

  “You’d better rest a while, Benny,” she advised, “or you’ll be sore in the morning.”

  The youngest Alden didn’t need to be coaxed. In no time at all, he was sprawled out on the floor nearby with a Wizard of Oz coloring book and a jar of crayons.

  “Boy, this desk has taken a real beating,” said Henry, shaking his head.

  Violet watched as her older brother ran a finger along a deep scratch in the wood. “I see what you mean, Henry,” she said. “I guess it needs a bit of a touch-up. You know, with some paint or stain.”

  “Well, if you ask me,” said Jessie, stepping back to admire their work, “it’s looking pretty good.”

  Violet went over and stood beside her older sister. “Now that you mention it, the walnut does have a nice shine to it,” she said. “I can’t wait to show Kate.”

  “I wish we could solve the mystery for her,” said Benny.

  “So do I,” agreed Violet. “I really like Kate.”

  “Which mystery?” Henry wanted to know. “The mystery of Ethan Cape or the mystery of Thane Pace?”

  Jessie laughed. “I guess we got more than we bargained for.”

  “Two for the price of one,” Henry said, half-joking.

  Violet pulled a clean rag from the wicker basket. “Maybe we should concentrate on one mystery at a time.”

  “I was thinking the same thing,” said Henry. “How about if we stick with Thane’s rhyme?”

  Jessie agreed. “At least we’ll have something to work with.”

  Violet wiped away a cobweb from under the desk. “I have a funny feeling there’s more to that rhyme than Kate thinks.”

  “You could be right,” said Henry as he rubbed wax into the wood. “It must’ve been hidden away for a reason.”

  Benny was deep in thought. “You don’t think …” he said, and then stopped.

  “Are you wondering if Thane really did take that money?” Violet asked in a gentle voice. Then she quickly added, “I’ve been wondering about that, too, Benny. But I have a strong hunch he didn’t.”

  Benny turned to Jessie. “Do you think Thane was a thief?”

  Jessie didn’t answer right away. Finally, she said, "No, I don’t.”

  Benny looked up at his older brother. “What do you say, Henry?”

  “Thane saved Sally’s life,” Henry answered, standing up straight. He arched his back and stretched. “I can’t believe somebody that brave could be a thief.”

  “I don’t believe it, either,” said Benny, looking relieved.

  “The important thing right now,” put in Jessie, “is to figure out that strange rhyme.”

  Benny frowned a little. “What did it say again?”

  Jessie smiled at her little brother. “Don’t worry, Benny,” she assured him. “I jotted it down in my notebook. We can check it out again later.”

  Henry and Violet exchanged smiles. They could always count on Jessie to be organized.

  Just then, Benny groaned. “Uh-oh.”

  “Oh, Benny, is your shoulder still bothering you?” Jessie asked him, a worried look on her face.

  Benny shook his head. “My shoulder’s okay, but … I can’t find a green crayon.”

  “Oh,” said Jessie, sounding relieved. “Well, just use another color.”

  Benny shook his head again. “It’s the Emerald City, Jessie, and emeralds are green.”

  Violet went over to check it out. After digging through the crayons, she said, “You’re right, Benny. No green.”

  “Why don’t you call it the Ruby City?” Henry suggested, hiding a smile. “Then you can color it red.”

  Benny thought about this. “I guess that’ll work.”

  “Or …” put in Violet, “you can color it with a yellow crayon and then with a blue crayon.”

  “Two colors?”

  “Watch what happens, Benny.” Violet colored one of the towers in the Emerald City with a yellow crayon. Then she colored over it with blue.

  Benny’s jaw dropped. “It turned green!”

  “That’s what happens when you mix yellow and blue together, Benny,” Violet explained, smiling at her little brother. “The two colors make one brand new color—green!”

  “Cool!” Benny was grinning from ear to ear.

  Kate poked her head into the room. “Well, just look at that desk!” she said. “It’s amazing what can be done in a short time.”

  “We’re almost finished here,” Henry told her.

  “Well, I see you’ve added something new,” remarked Josh. He had come into the room behind Kate.

  Kate couldn’t help laughing. “Actually, Josh, I’ve added something old,” she told him. “Come and take a look.”

  “Well, it sure fits in nicely,” Josh said approvingly. Then he turned to his wife, who was trailing behind. “Don’t you think so, Vanessa?”

  Vanessa nodded a little. Then she picked up a magazine and began to flip through the glossy pages.

  “The desk belonged to my great-grandfather,” Kate explained. “I checked all the old photos, and this is exactly where it used to be. Right here in this very spot. And see that painting?” She pointed to a framed watercolor of green hills. “That painting always hung on the wall behind the desk.”

  “It’s such a lovely landscape,” said Violet, who was very artistic and had an eye for beauty. “I’ve been admiring it all day.”

  Kate smiled. “‘The Emerald Isle’ is my favorite painting in the house.”

  “The Emerald Isle?” Benny glanced over at the painting curiously. “Is that like the Emerald City in The Wizard of Oz?”

  Henry shook his head. “The Emerald Isle is another name for Ireland, Benny,” he said, putting an arm around his little brother.

  “Yes, the artist was from Ireland,” put in Kate. “Margaret O’Malley loved painting the green hills of her home.”

  “Oh, I get it!” Benny snapped his fingers. “Ireland has green hills, and an emerald is green!”

  Henry gave him the thumbs-up sign.” You catch on fast, Benny.”

  “Margaret O’Malley?” Vanessa tossed her magazine aside. “Never heard of her.”

  “Oh, she wasn’t famous. No, not at all. Painting was just one of her hobbies,” Kate was quick to explain. “You see, Margaret O’Malley worked for the family when my grandmother was growing up.”

  Vanessa was tapping her chin, her eyes fixed on the watercolor. “That’s just the right shade of green.”

  Josh gave his wife a puzzled look. “The right shade?”

  “To go with the chairs in our living room,” Vanessa told him. Then she turned to Kate. “I can write a check for it now.”

  The children all looked at one another. They couldn’t help thinking that Lindsay was right. Vanessa seemed to want everything she saw.

  “Nothing in this house is for sale,” Kate told Vanessa firmly. “Nothing at all.”

  The young woman clicked her tongue, then turned on her heel and stormed out
of the room.

  Josh apologized for his wife’s behavior. “Vanessa can be pushy sometimes. But she has a good heart.”

  After Josh left, Kate shook her head. “That man has his hands full, I’m afraid,” she said, keeping her voice low. Then, changing the subject, she reached into her pocket and pulled out some dollar bills. “Let me give you something for all your hard work.”

  Jessie spoke up. “Please put your money away, Kate.”

  “We like helping,” added Violet. And Henry and Benny nodded.

  Kate hesitated for a moment, then tucked the money away again. “Well, then, let me treat you to a night out. After dinner we can catch a performance of The Wizard of Oz. How does that sound?”

  It sounded wonderful. It wasn’t long before they were following a line of people into the theater. The children sat wide-eyed throughout the play. They could hardly believe they were right there in Kansas—Dorothy’s home. And when the actors took their bows, they joined Kate in clapping their hands as hard as they could.

  It was late by the time they finally got back to Wiggin Place. After getting ready for bed, the Aldens met for a late-night meeting in the room that Violet and Jessie shared.

  “Read it again, Jessie,” urged Benny, who was swinging his feet from the edge of the bed.

  “Maybe it’ll make sense this time,” added Violet.

  Nodding, Jessie opened her little notebook and read aloud. “Where leopards get spotted/ a clue will appear./ Just take a look under/ the little dog’s ear.”

  Nobody said anything for a moment. Then Jessie glanced up from her notebook. “Leopards get spotted at the zoo,” she pointed out.

  “That’s true,” said Henry.

  “Don’t forget about the jungle,” Benny reminded them with a big smile. “I bet you can spot plenty of leopards there.”

  This made Violet think. “Wait a minute,” she said, looking over at her brothers and sister. “Where have we heard that before?”

  Jessie looked puzzled. So did Henry and Benny.

  “Oh!” Benny’s eyes widened as he suddenly caught Violet’s meaning. “That’s what Sally called the woods out back.”

  “Exactly!” Violet nodded.

  “Do you really think Thane hid a clue in the woods?” Jessie asked doubtfully.

  “It’s possible,” said Violet.

  “Even so,” Henry pointed out, “I’m not sure it’d still be there after all these years.”

  “Maybe not,” admitted Violet. “But it’s worth checking out.”

  Jessie and Henry weren’t sure about this. Still, it couldn’t hurt to take a look around the woods in the morning.

  CHAPTER 6

  The Jungle

  “You know, Kate,” Vanessa said at breakfast the next morning, “if it’s a check that bothers you, I can arrange to give you cash for your painting.”

  Josh was frowning at his wife. But she didn’t stop.

  “And that goes for the necklace, too, of course,” she said.

  Kate was pouring syrup over her pancakes. “You really must stop this, Vanessa,” she said.

  The professor suddenly spoke up. “Don’t be too hasty, Kate. None of us is getting any younger, right?” he said with a forced laugh. “We could all use a bit of money tucked away for our old age.”

  Jessie caught Henry’s eye. Why did Professor Brewer care about this?

  “Yes, yes, that’s worth considering!” Vanessa shot the professor a grateful smile. “A little nest egg, Kate. Isn’t that more practical than a cluttered-up house?”

  Violet didn’t like to hear this. She just had to say something. “Kate’s house isn’t filled with clutter. It’s filled with her family history.”

  Josh turned to his wife. “Violet’s right. That’s part of its charm.”

  Vanessa frowned. “Josh, please!” She looked sharply at her husband. “You’re not helping matters.”

  Kate shook her head firmly. “I won’t part with my family’s past.”

  Vanessa looked as if she wanted to argue, but she didn’t. She just shrugged a little. “Suit yourself,” she said.

  Turning to the professor, Kate added,” Thank you for your concern, Professor Brewer, but I’ll manage just fine in my old age.”

  Jessie glanced at the professor. His mouth was set in a hard, thin line.

  “I was thinking of baking this morning, Benny,” Lindsay said as she stood up to clear the table. “How does a batch of peanut-butter cookies sound?”

  Benny broke into a grin. “Sounds great!”

  “Better watch out,” Henry said, half-joking. “Cookies have a way of disappearing when Benny’s around.”

  This made Kate smile a little. “Any plans for today, kids?” she asked, pushing her chair back.

  “We thought we’d explore the jungle,” said Jessie.

  “If you don’t mind, Kate,” Violet was quick to add.

  Kate didn’t mind at all. “Just watch out for tigers and lions!” she said with a teasing twinkle in her eye.

  After helping with the dishes, the Aldens filled a thermos with pink lemonade. Then they filed out the door. “Anything unusual can be a clue,” Henry reminded his brother and sisters.

  “Thane might’ve carved something on a rock,” added Violet, “or into a tree.”

  Benny fell into step beside Henry. “And don’t forget to keep a sharp eye out for leopards.”

  Jessie couldn’t help laughing. “I doubt we’ll come across any leopards in Kansas, Benny.”

  As they followed the winding path through the woods, the four children checked every rock along the way looking for any strange markings. They inspected hollowed-out trees and looked under bushes. They searched and searched and searched. But by noon they still hadn’t found anything that would help solve the mystery.

  “I guess we’re on the wrong track,” Violet had to admit as they sat together on a fallen log.

  “Sure looks that way, Violet,” agreed Henry.

  “I don’t get it.” Benny held out his pink cup as Jessie poured the lemonade. “This is where Thane’s rhyme was leading us. I’m sure of it.”

  “Maybe the clue disappeared a long time ago,” suggested Jessie, pulling a twig from her hair. “Just like Henry said.”

  The four Aldens were deep in thought when a familiar voice caught their attention. They didn’t mean to eavesdrop. But from where they were sitting, the children couldn’t help overhearing.

  “I’m telling you, it’s not as easy as that … No, no … this place is always filled to the rafters.”

  “Isn’t that Lindsay?” Benny asked.

  Violet nodded. “I wonder why she sounds so upset.”

  “Look, I just don’t think I can pull it off.” Lindsay was talking loudly now. “I told you, I’ll do my best to get it to you. That’s right … old and blue.”

  “Did you hear that?” Jessie whispered.

  Henry nodded. None of them liked the sound of this.

  Just then, Lindsay stepped into the clearing. When she spotted the Aldens, she quickly pocketed her cell phone. “Oh, hi, kids!” she said. “I, um… was just out for a breath of fresh air.” She bit her lip nervously. “Guess I’d better … get back to work.” Before the children could say a word, she hurried away.

  “That was a bit strange, don’t you think?” remarked Jessie.

  “She said she didn’t think she could pull it off,” put in Benny. “I wonder what she meant by that.”

  Henry shrugged. “There’s no way of knowing.”

  “Do you think she’s up to something?” Benny wanted to know.

  “I hope not.” Violet didn’t like to suspect Lindsay of doing anything wrong. Still, it did sound suspicious.

  The four children fell silent for a while. Then Benny spoke up.

  “I vote we take another look through the woods after lunch,” he said, still thinking about Thane’s rhyme.

  Henry nodded. “I guess it’s possible we overlooked some kind of clue.”

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sp; “Let’s not say anything to Kate,” suggested Violet. “We don’t want to get her hopes up for nothing.”

  “Good idea, Violet,” Jessie said, as they headed to the house for lunch. “We’ll try to figure things out first.”

  They refused to give up. After toasted tomato sandwiches, fruit salad, and peanut-butter cookies, they went back to the woods. They looked for anything unusual as they made their way along every path. Once, twice, three times. But it was no use. By the end of the afternoon, they were still no closer to solving the mystery.

  “Did you enjoy your safari through the jungle?” Kate wanted to know, as they relaxed in the front room after dinner.

  “We didn’t have any luck,” Benny told her. “We tried to spot a leopard like the rhyme said, but—”

  Henry poked him, then Benny remembered they weren’t supposed to talk about the mystery.

  Kate’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, are you trying to figure out Thane’s rhyme?”

  The children looked at one another. They didn’t want to lie, but they also knew it was best not to get Kate’s hopes up yet.

  Henry quickly changed the subject. “Is that your family album, Kate?”

  “Why, yes, Henry!” Kate reached for her family album from the coffee table. “Would you care to take a look?” As the children nodded eagerly, she turned to the professor sitting nearby. “How about you, Professor Brewer? Will you join us?”

  The professor slowly lowered his newspaper. “I’m busy at the moment.”

  “Maybe later, then,” Kate said with a little smile.

  As Kate turned the pages of the album, Jessie couldn’t help noticing that the professor was staring at the photograph above the fireplace. Now and again, his lips would curl up into a smile. It seemed rather odd to Jessie.

  “Here’s one of Sally. It was taken in 1904, just a few days after she fell through the ice.” Kate was tapping a finger under a faded old photograph.

  Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny gathered round. A young girl, about Benny’s age, was sitting at a table shaped like a half moon. The girl had delicate features, and long dark hair that hung round her shoulders. She was holding a book in front of her.

  “Why isn’t she smiling?” Benny wanted to know.