Read Online Honeybee Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner - Free Book Online Page B

laughter all he got was a round of groans.
    The Shermans were pretty depressed when the Aldens arrived.
    â€œJohn Price came by today,” sighed Dottie, “and it was so hard to tell him that we don’t have any honey.”
    Clay was slumped in his chair. “He said he had no choice but to find someone else this year. Can’t say I blame him.”
    â€œOh, no,” gasped Violet. She hated to see them so upset. Maybe we’re too late to help them , she thought.
    â€œMr. Price is a good man, though,” Dottie was saying. “He said he’ll check back with us next season to see if we’ve got honey.”
    â€œHe even said he’d give the contract back to us this season if we could somehow come up with enough honey in these next two months before the delivery date,” said Clay, though clearly he didn’t think this was possible.
    â€œWell, Mr. Sherman, you just might be able to pull it off,” said Renee. Soon she and the Aldens were telling the Shermans all their news. “Trust me, the Menadrin will wear off in time,” she told Clay and Dottie.
    â€œThank goodness!” said Dottie. But Clay still had a reason to be upset.
    â€œYou mean this Tyler Wentworth fellow is trying to ruin my honey business?” he asked.
    â€œUnfortunately, that seems to be the case,” said Grandfather. “Only we need some proof.”
    Henry, who had been thinking quietly, spoke up. “I think I’ve got a plan.”
    â€œYou do?” asked Jessie. “And what would that be?”
    Henry smiled, then told them.
    The Aldens, the Shermans, and Renee drove to the little hotel in town where John Price was staying for the night.
    Mr. Price was wearing dark pants and a white shirt when he opened the door, but he’d taken off his jacket, tie, and shoes. The TV was on, and a newspaper lay open on the bed. Mr. Price looked as though he hadn’t been expecting any visitors but got a whole load of them instead.
    â€œCan I, uh … help you?” he asked.
    The Shermans stepped forward. “Hello again, John,” Mr. Sherman said.
    Mr. Price wanted to smile, but he was still too puzzled. “Hi, Clay. What’s this all about?”
    â€œCan we come in for a few minutes?” Mr. Sherman asked.
    â€œSure, if there’s room. Maybe I should move the bed into the parking lot,” Mr. Price joked.
    â€œI don’t think that’ll be necessary,” said Mr. Sherman with a weak smile.
    Once everyone was settled — the adults in chairs and the Alden children sitting cross-legged on the big bed — and all the introductions had been made, Mr. Price said, “So, what’s going on?”
    â€œYou’ve been in contact with a man named Wentworth, is that correct?” Henry asked.
    â€œWell, yes, in fact I have.” Mr. Price nodded toward the Shermans. “He’ll be taking over the Shermans’ honey contract, unless they can come up with enough before the delivery date.”
    â€œMr. Wentworth isn’t who he seems,” Jessie said.
    Mr. Price’s eyebrows rose. “What do you mean? He assured me he could supply the honey I needed. Had pictures of his hives and everything. Even invited me to come look at them next week.”
    â€œIn New Jersey, right?” Henry asked.
    John Price looked a little stunned. “Well … yes. How’d you know that?”
    Henry told Mr. Price everything that had been happening over the last few days, with Renee adding some scientific details about the Menadrin. As Henry went deeper into the story, Mr. Price looked more and more shocked.
    When Henry was finished, Mr. Price said, “I … I can’t believe this. Would someone really go to all that trouble, just to get this contract?”
    â€œWhen you’ve lost as much money as he has,” Grandfather Alden said, “you probably get desperate. I’m sure he knows what he’s doing is