Read Online Mystery of the Traveling Tomatoes by Gertrude Chandler Warner - Free Book Online
Authors: Gertrude Chandler Warner
Ads: Link
ready to make his getaway?”
“What makes you think that?” Henry asked.
“Benny’s onions,” said Violet. “They were dug up, just like the tomatoes and peppers. But the onions were left scattered all around. At first, Fenster was trying to put things back, and hide the fact that he was digging up the garden. But now he doesn’t care … because he’s taking off.”
“He wasn’t at the park to help his committee take down the tents,” agreed Jessie.
“And he talked about France,” said Benny. “How he liked French restaurants.”
“Fenster bought that watch with two faces,” said Henry. “The one he could set for Greenfield and for Paris.”
“And the vending machine man said someone bought all the Chili-Billy Bars,” said Benny. “Someone going on a trip.”
“Do you think he’s already escaped?” asked Violet.
Henry looked at his watch. It was nearly three. “Mr. Witlin told Fenster to pick up his new watch at three o’clock today. Maybe it’s not too late. Maybe we can still stop him!”
As they rushed out, Violet told the librarian to call the police. “Tell them to go to Witlin’s Watch Works on Main Street.”
“And,” shouted Benny running after the others, “tell them to hurry !”
The children’s hearts pounded as they pulled up alongside Witlin’s Watch Works. Careful to stay out of view, they climbed off their bikes and quietly leaned them against the jungle of tomatoes growing on the side of the shop. They peeked into the store window. Fenster stood at the counter. “He’s trying on his new watch,” whispered Jessie.
“He’s all dressed up,” said Violet, “the way Grandfather dresses when he’s going on a trip.”
“We have to stall him until the police arrive,” Henry said.
Jessie noticed a taxi waiting at the curb. She noticed the splattered tomatoes all along the sidewalk. She had an idea.
She ran around to the driver’s side. “Are you waiting for a big man in the watch shop?” she asked the driver.
“Yup,” the cabbie said.
“Are you taking him to the airport?”
“Yup. His suitcases are in the trunk,” the cabbie replied.
“Well,” Jessie said, “if you bring those suitcases to the police station right now, you will receive a very large reward. A reward for helping lead to the arrest of a bank robber.”
The taxi driver peered at Jessie and then at the other children. “You’re James Alden’s grandchildren, aren’t you?”
“We are,” said Jessie.
“Well, there’s not a more honest man in town,” he said. “I reckon you are every bit as honest as your grandfather.” He held up his cell phone. “Want me to call the police?”
“They’re already on their way” said Jessie. “But, if you really want to help, please start your car and pull away. And honk your horn nice and loud.”
“Will do.” The man started the taxi and, as he drove off, honked his horn over and over.
Just as Jessie hoped, Fenster heard the honking. He raced to the window in time to see the taxi driving away. “Wait,” he shouted, running out of the store. “My suitcases. Stop! Come back! Come—”
His fancy dress shoes hit the slippery tomatoes. His feet flew into the air. “Yikes!” he shouted, as he landed with a crash. Fenster tried to stand but his feet flew out again. Finally, Fenster got on his hands and knees and began to crawl away. But by then, the sound of sirens filled the air as police cars squealed around the corner and screeched to a stop.
“Careful of the tomatoes,” warned Benny. The police handcuffed Fenster and led him to the squad car.
As he climbed in, Fenster glowered at the children. “This is all your fault,” he snarled. “Who gave me away?”
“You can blame it on the scarecrow,” said Benny. But he didn’t think Fenster heard.
The Sheas threw a celebration at The Applewood Café to thank the children for finding the robber. “I remembered why the name Malfrat was so familiar,” said Chief Morgan.
“What makes you think that?” Henry asked.
“Benny’s onions,” said Violet. “They were dug up, just like the tomatoes and peppers. But the onions were left scattered all around. At first, Fenster was trying to put things back, and hide the fact that he was digging up the garden. But now he doesn’t care … because he’s taking off.”
“He wasn’t at the park to help his committee take down the tents,” agreed Jessie.
“And he talked about France,” said Benny. “How he liked French restaurants.”
“Fenster bought that watch with two faces,” said Henry. “The one he could set for Greenfield and for Paris.”
“And the vending machine man said someone bought all the Chili-Billy Bars,” said Benny. “Someone going on a trip.”
“Do you think he’s already escaped?” asked Violet.
Henry looked at his watch. It was nearly three. “Mr. Witlin told Fenster to pick up his new watch at three o’clock today. Maybe it’s not too late. Maybe we can still stop him!”
As they rushed out, Violet told the librarian to call the police. “Tell them to go to Witlin’s Watch Works on Main Street.”
“And,” shouted Benny running after the others, “tell them to hurry !”
The children’s hearts pounded as they pulled up alongside Witlin’s Watch Works. Careful to stay out of view, they climbed off their bikes and quietly leaned them against the jungle of tomatoes growing on the side of the shop. They peeked into the store window. Fenster stood at the counter. “He’s trying on his new watch,” whispered Jessie.
“He’s all dressed up,” said Violet, “the way Grandfather dresses when he’s going on a trip.”
“We have to stall him until the police arrive,” Henry said.
Jessie noticed a taxi waiting at the curb. She noticed the splattered tomatoes all along the sidewalk. She had an idea.
She ran around to the driver’s side. “Are you waiting for a big man in the watch shop?” she asked the driver.
“Yup,” the cabbie said.
“Are you taking him to the airport?”
“Yup. His suitcases are in the trunk,” the cabbie replied.
“Well,” Jessie said, “if you bring those suitcases to the police station right now, you will receive a very large reward. A reward for helping lead to the arrest of a bank robber.”
The taxi driver peered at Jessie and then at the other children. “You’re James Alden’s grandchildren, aren’t you?”
“We are,” said Jessie.
“Well, there’s not a more honest man in town,” he said. “I reckon you are every bit as honest as your grandfather.” He held up his cell phone. “Want me to call the police?”
“They’re already on their way” said Jessie. “But, if you really want to help, please start your car and pull away. And honk your horn nice and loud.”
“Will do.” The man started the taxi and, as he drove off, honked his horn over and over.
Just as Jessie hoped, Fenster heard the honking. He raced to the window in time to see the taxi driving away. “Wait,” he shouted, running out of the store. “My suitcases. Stop! Come back! Come—”
His fancy dress shoes hit the slippery tomatoes. His feet flew into the air. “Yikes!” he shouted, as he landed with a crash. Fenster tried to stand but his feet flew out again. Finally, Fenster got on his hands and knees and began to crawl away. But by then, the sound of sirens filled the air as police cars squealed around the corner and screeched to a stop.
“Careful of the tomatoes,” warned Benny. The police handcuffed Fenster and led him to the squad car.
As he climbed in, Fenster glowered at the children. “This is all your fault,” he snarled. “Who gave me away?”
“You can blame it on the scarecrow,” said Benny. But he didn’t think Fenster heard.
The Sheas threw a celebration at The Applewood Café to thank the children for finding the robber. “I remembered why the name Malfrat was so familiar,” said Chief Morgan.
Similar Books
