Read Online Mystery of the Secret Message by Charles Tang - Free Book Online Page A

keep the statue in the square!”
    “Yay!” Benny tossed ballots into the air like confetti.
    Jessie giggled at her brother, then began picking up the slips of paper.
    Violet remembered that Rick wanted the statue in his museum. “I hope you don’t feel bad,” she said to him.
    “I’m glad,” Rick said. “Dawn’s right. Greenfield wouldn’t be Greenfield without Josiah in the square.”
    “All of our problems are solved,” said Grandfather. “Except one.”
    Jessie knew what he meant. “We still need a clown.”
    Dawn grinned at Rick. “I bet that suit will fit you!”
    “I’ve always wanted to wear a rubber nose,” Rick said. “We’d better go. Clowns need lots of beauty sleep.”
    Grandfather showed them to the door. “See you at the festival!”
    When their guests had left, the Alden children went upstairs to get ready for bed.
    Benny dragged his fingers slowly along the handrail. He was glad the statue would stay in the square where it belonged. But he wondered about Franklin Bond’s secret compartment.
    Did the sculptor have the last laugh on Greenfield after all?
    “Smile!” Violet adjusted the focus on her camera, then snapped the picture.
    The young father and his two children stepped away from the statue.
    “Next!” called Benny. A couple of teenagers posed by Josiah Wade. Benny made sure they stood in the right spot, then signaled to Violet.
    Crowds jammed the square. People had driven in from neighboring towns to buy cookies and pies from the bakery booth, play games, and listen to the high school marching band.
    The Aldens’ souvenir photo booth was very busy. Henry collected the fee. Jessie filled out the order forms, so they would know where to send each photo after it was developed. Benny positioned people next to the statue, and Violet took the pictures.
    Benny was glad they were busy. But he wished he had time to play one of the games. He wanted to win a prize.
    Grandfather had already given his speech and announced the results of the vote. Everyone seemed happy that the statue would remain in the square.
    Dawn ran up. “Mr. Kirby is watching my booth for a second. I just wanted to tell you that I’ve sold over seventy souvenir booklets!”
    “That’s great!” Jessie said. “Violet’s sold a lot of pictures, too.”
    Grandfather strolled over to the children’s booth. “Thanks to your help, the festival is a great success. We should have plenty of money to fix Josiah’s base.”
    “So he can rule Greenfield Square for many more years,” Henry added.
    Just then Rick Bass bounded over. All morning, he had danced around the square in the purple and green clown suit, entertaining little children.
    “My feet are killing me,” he said, tugging off one of his huge, floppy clown shoes and handing it to Jessie.
    Jessie laughed. With his big round nose and orange hair, Rick made a terrific clown.
    “Will you take my picture?” Rick teased Violet. “How do I look?” He performed a wobbly handstand in front of Josiah Wade’s statue.
    Violet was giggling so hard, she could barely push the shutter. “This will be a terrific picture!”
    “Watch out!” Benny cried, just as Rick’s legs toppled over.
    Rick had landed upside down against the granite base of the statue. Henry and Jessie ran over and helped him up.
    “Ow.” Rick winced. “Uh-oh. Looks like I knocked off a few more stones.”
    “It’s okay,” James Alden reassured him. “Just as long as you aren’t hurt.”
    Benny was staring at a hole just beneath the brass plaque. Rick’s fall had caused the stones to cave in, revealing a dark space.
    “Hey!” he cried. “The statue has a secret after all!”
    Rick gave a long, low whistle. “What do you know? We never thought of looking in the base !Benny, since you found it, you should do the honors.”
    With everyone watching intently, Benny reached into the compartment. His fingers closed around a small metal box.
    “Should I open it?” he asked.
    Grandfather