Read Online Mystery of the Mummy's Curse by Gertrude Chandler Warner - Free Book Online

to talk about them.
    â€œShe seems upset,” Violet whispered to Jessie. The children spent the morning helping Sam arrange the artifacts in the glass cases. Only Henry and Jessie were allowed to carry the pieces. Benny and Violet brought the description cards to place beside them. Sam carried the most delicate pieces herself.
    The children also worked on their guide. They studied the books Pete had lent them. Sam let them use her computer and printer. Jessie wrote an introduction to the exhibit. Henry typed up a brief description of ancient Egypt. Violet, who was an excellent artist, traced a map. She also copied some hieroglyphs out of a book and made a chart showing what each word meant. And she drew a beautiful picture of a mummy’s death mask for the cover. Benny finished his maze and added a comic strip about mummy making.
    When all the pieces of the guide were complete, they gave them to Sam. “Would you take a look at these, please?” Henry asked. “We want to make sure we didn’t make any mistakes.”
    â€œI’d be happy to,” Sam said, sitting down at her desk to read the children’s work.
    As Jessie stood next to Sam, she noticed a framed photograph on her desk. It showed four small cats lying on a bed. “Are those all your cats?” Jessie asked.
    â€œYes, those are my beauties,” Sam said. “I have a weakness for cats.”
    A few minutes later, Sam had read through everything. “This looks great! You can make copies on the machine outside Pete’s office,” she suggested as she headed out to get some lunch. “Don’t forget to lock the door when you go.”
    The children took all the pages and locked the door to the prep room behind them. As Sam had told them, they went downstairs to the copy machine by Pete’s office. They made a stack of copies and stapled the pages together into little booklets. On top of each stack they put a copy of Violet’s death mask cover.
    The children were quite pleased with their work. They each picked up a pile of guides and headed toward the stairs.
    But they stopped abruptly when they saw who was sitting a little way down the hall, outside Dr. Snood’s office.
    It was Lori Paulson.
    â€œNot again!” Henry said.
    Lori didn’t notice them because she was studying a small, blue notebook she held in her lap.
    â€œHey!” Jessie cried. “That’s my notebook!”
    Lori looked up then. She stood up and started walking toward the Aldens. “Is this yours?” she asked, holding the notebook out in front of her.
    â€œYes,” said Jessie. “It is.”
    â€œI saw your name on the inside cover,” Lori said. “How convenient that you guys happened to be right here.”
    â€œYes, how convenient,” said Jessie suspiciously as Lori placed the notebook on top of the pile of guides she was holding. “Where did you find it?”
    â€œIt was right there on that bench,” Lori said.
    Jessie nodded slowly. She didn’t remember carrying the notebook down here. How had it ended up there?
    Benny groaned. His arms were getting tired from holding the stack of guides. “Can we get going before I drop these?”
    â€œSure,” Jessie said. “See you later, Lori.”
    The Aldens walked back up to the exhibit hall and put the guides down on one of the glass cases. Sam was still gone.
    â€œHow did your notebook end up down on that bench?” Violet asked.
    â€œThat’s just what I was wondering,” said Jessie. “I don’t remember bringing it down there.”
    â€œMaybe Lori didn’t really find it there,” Henry said.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Benny asked.
    â€œMaybe she took the notebook,” said Henry.
    â€œI don’t understand,” said Benny. “Why would she take it?”
    â€œShe wanted to know all about the exhibit, right?” said Henry. “What better way to find out