Read Online Mystery in the Fortune Cookie by Gertrude Chandler Warner - Free Book Online Page B

you think that’s odd,” Jessie added in a hushed voice, “Lucy seems to be keeping a close eye on them, too.”
    They all looked over to where the young woman in the white apron was dashing from table to table, taking orders and refilling water glasses. Every few seconds she would glance at the table in the corner where Dottie and Martin were deep in conversation.
    The Aldens turned to one another in bewilderment. It seemed as if the more they watched, the more confusing it became. Before they could begin to figure out what was happening, Violet said, “Look! Martin just signaled to Auntie Two.”
    The children stared at Auntie Two as she stepped out from behind the potted plant and walked straight to the table in the corner. The owner of the Kowloon Restaurant held out a small plate with a fortune cookie on it. Smiling, Dottie reached out, broke the fortune cookie in half, and removed the little white slip of paper.
    Benny grabbed Jessie’s hand when Dottie cried out, “Oh — oh, my!”

CHAPTER 10
An Answer to a Rhyme
    “He did it!” Benny exclaimed. “Martin stole Dottie’s half of the bookstore. I just know it!”
    “What can we do?” Violet asked in alarm.
    “I’m not sure,” said Jessie. “But we have to do something . Right, Henry?”
    Henry didn’t answer. He was staring into the dining room, watching Martin remove a small velvet box from his jacket pocket.
    “Wait!” Henry said. “Isn’t that the box from the jewelry store? The one the sales-clerk tried to show Martin?”
    The others followed Henry’s gaze.
    “Martin said he was looking at watches,” Benny remembered. “But that box is too small for a watch.”
    Suddenly, Henry understood. “What if Martin wasn’t looking at watches at all?” he said slowly. “What if he was really at the jewelry store looking at something else?”
    “Like what, Henry?” asked Violet.
    “Like a diamond ring!” Henry answered.
    “Oh, Henry!” Violet put a hand over her mouth in surprise. “You think Martin’s asking Dottie to marry him?”
    “I can’t be sure,” Henry admitted. “But it’s possible.”
    “You could be right, Henry,” Jessie realized. “The rings and the watches were in the same display case.”
    “And that would explain what Auntie Two meant about one name on the door to The Underground!” said Violet. She sounded excited.
    Benny looked confused. “I don’t get it.”
    Violet smiled at her little brother. “If Dottie and Martin get married, then Dottie’s name will be Howard, too. So Howard will be the only name on the door!”
    Benny’s eyes widened. “Dottie and Martin are getting married?”
    “Let’s find out,” suggested Henry. Without another word, he led the way across the crowded dining room to Martin and Dottie’s table.
    “The Aldens!” Auntie Two greeted the children with a smile. She looked surprised to see them. So did Martin and Dottie.
    “You’re just in time to hear what my fortune says,” Dottie told them, her eyes shining. She read aloud the words on the little slip of paper:
    “In a fortune cookie,
    A question hides:
    Dottie, will you be my bride?”
    “Oh, a proposal in a fortune cookie!” Violet clasped her hands. “How romantic!”
    Martin gave Dottie a questioning look. “I still don’t have an answer to my rhyme.”

    “Of course I’ll marry you, Martin!” cried Dottie, blinking back the tears.
    The Aldens looked at one another. That’s what the fortune meant about an answer to a rhyme!
    Martin opened the small velvet box. Inside was a sparkling diamond ring! Without a word, he slipped the ring onto Dottie’s finger.
    As the Aldens and Auntie Two laughed and clapped their hands, Lucy arrived with a beautiful heart-shaped cake edged with pink roses made of sugar. The lettering on top read: DOTTIE AND MARTIN FOREVER. And the i ’s were dotted with candy hearts.
    “My goodness! Another surprise!” Dottie exclaimed as Lucy set the cake on the table. “Did you plan this,