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suspicious.” Violet was shy, and being around a lot of people made her nervous, too.
    “That’s true, Violet,” Jessie said quietly as she put the clean spoons away in a drawer. “But we can’t be sure he wasn’t getting things set up yesterday morning for the practical joke. We have to consider every possibility. Draper was in the right place at the right time.”
    Benny had something to add. “Maybe Draper moved the sign, too. He doesn’t like anybody stopping at the farm.”
    Violet looked at Benny, then over at Jessie and Henry. She could see they believed it was possible. “Draper is afraid his flowers will get trampled. That’s a reason for moving the sign, but why would he play those practical jokes with the canary and the shortened pants?”
    “To convince everyone the house is haunted,” Henry said. “Maybe he’s hoping it’ll keep people away.”
    Jessie handed Violet the pizza platter to wash. “And Draper does have his own set of keys.”
    Benny added, “I bet he knows a lot about the Wagner family. After all, he’s worked on the farm for a long time.”
    “I suppose it’s possible,” Violet admitted reluctantly. She didn’t like to be suspicious just because someone was nervous.
    “I just thought of something else,” Henry said. “There’s one other person with keys to the farmhouse. And this person knows more about Horace Wagner than anybody else does.”
    Jessie looked puzzled. So did Violet and Benny.
    “Who is it?” they all said at the same time.
    “Miss Pennink,” answered Henry.
    “Miss Pennink!” The others were so surprised by this, all they could do was stare in disbelief.
    “Oh, you don’t really suspect Miss Pennink, do you, Henry?” said Violet.
    “I don’t want to think she would do something like that, Violet,” he told her. “But we have to consider everybody. And I heard she sometimes opens the house early in the morning if Gwen has a meeting in town with Mr. Mason. So she must have her own keys.”
    They had to admit that it was possible. Wasn’t Miss Pennink upset because her great-great-grandfather was being ignored by Carl Mason? And hadn’t Miss Pennink told them that one way or another she’d make sure people knew about Horace Wagner? What better way than by playing his practical jokes all over again?
    “But which one is the copycat?” Benny wondered aloud. “Miss Pennink, Draper Mills, or Sharon?”
    “I think we should include Jake North on our list of suspects,” said Violet.
    Benny looked confused. “But Draper Mills is Jake’s uncle, remember? That means Jake had a good reason for being at the farmhouse last night.”
    “I know,” Violet said. “Except . . .”
    Jessie asked, “What is it, Violet?”
    “Well, it also means that Jake could’ve borrowed Draper’s keys!” said Violet. “And his uncle probably has told him all about Horace and his practical jokes.”
    “Good point,” said Henry.
    Benny was deep in thought. “You don’t think . . .” he said, and then stopped himself.
    “Are you wondering if the farmhouse might really be haunted?” Violet asked in a gentle voice. Then she quickly added, “I don’t blame you, Benny. I’ve wondered about that myself.”
    Benny turned to Jessie. “Do you believe it’s haunted?”
    Jessie didn’t answer right away. Finally, she said, “No, I don’t.”
    “Now that I think about it,” Violet put in, “I’m sure it isn’t.” She wasn’t really sure, but she wanted Benny to believe she was.
    Benny looked up at his older brother. “What do you say, Henry?”
    “There’s no such thing as ghosts, Benny,” Henry told him firmly.
    “I didn’t think so,” Benny said, looking relieved. And then he added, “But I can’t help wondering what’s going to happen next.”
    “I have a feeling we won’t have to wait long to find out!” declared Jessie.

CHAPTER 9
What’s Wrong with This Picture?
    Miss Pennink breathed a sigh of relief when Henry and Benny came out of