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Authors: Gertrude Chandler Warner
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Lots of people do. Of course, it’s not easy working and going to school,” she added. “But it’s worth it.”
“I ... I never thought of doing it on my own,” Margaret said, a faint note of hope in her voice.
Mrs. Spencer had something to add. “Milly thought you were a fine painter, Margaret. She always hoped you’d develop your own style one day.”
“Milly was always a good friend to me,” said Margaret. She stood twisting her hands. “I’m so ashamed of what I’ve done.” Looking truly regretful, she turned and walked slowly from the gallery.
CHAPTER 10
Gotcha!
“I can’t believe it!” said Mrs. Spencer, shaking her head in wonder, “Thanks to the Aldens, I can finally hang Milly’s portrait on my wall.”
After leaving the gallery, Edmund had invited everyone to join him at Cooke’s Drugstore for a quick bite to eat. Now Mrs. Spencer, Rachel, Janice, Edmund, Grandfather, and the children were sitting together at the long counter, feasting on huge bowls of Mrs. Turner’s chili.
“Uncovering that portrait was a surprise to everyone,” Jessie admitted. Then she gave her sister an affectionate nudge. “Everyone except Violet, that is.”
“It was just a hunch,” Violet said modestly as Mrs. Turner filled her water glass. “I was fairly sure there was another painting under that landscape. And I remembered that Milly might have painted over her self-portrait. At least that’s what Mrs. Spencer thought.”
“That was great thinking,” Henry praised his sister.
Swallowing a bite of his roll, Benny said, “But now you don’t have a painting for your room, Violet.”
“The important thing,” said Violet, smiling over at her little brother, “is that now Mrs. Spencer has Milly’s portrait to hang on her wall.”
“What wonderful grandchildren you have, James!” Mrs. Spencer remarked.
Grandfather smiled proudly. “You won’t get any argument from me!”
“I’ll have that portrait framed for you right away, Mrs. Spencer,” Edmund promised. He reached out and patted the elderly woman’s hand. “It’s the least I can do after all that’s happened. And, of course, you’ll get your money back for that landscape, James.” Edmund sighed. “I can’t help but feel partly responsible for what Jem and Margaret tried to do. After all, it was my gallery that sponsored the contest.”
“Nobody blames you, Edmund,” Grandfather assured him. “Everyone in town knows you’re an honest man.”
Edmund held out his cup as Mrs. Turner poured the coffee. “Jem’s plan was almost foolproof,” he remarked. “Of course, he didn’t count on the Aldens coming along and figuring everything out.”
“They’re first-class detectives, that’s for sure!” said Grandfather.
“We like solving mysteries,” said Benny. The other Aldens agreed.
But they knew the mystery was still not fully explained. They still weren’t sure who the Tattletale was.
Henry spoke up. “There’s something I don’t understand. You entered the art contest, right, Janice?” When she nodded in reply, he questioned, “Then why did you tell us you couldn’t draw?”
“I did say that, didn’t I?” Janice smiled a little. “I guess I was feeling a bit discouraged at the time. You see, I had my hopes pinned on winning that contest. When it didn’t happen, I began to wonder if I was just kidding myself about making it as an artist.”
“Your paintings show real talent, Janice,” Edmund assured her. “There’s no reason to doubt yourself.”
Benny had a question for Janice, too. “How did you know Watch’s name?”
Janice looked puzzled.
“In the Town Square,” Benny explained, “you called Watch by his name. But you’d never met him before.”
Janice laughed. “You’re the clue to that one, Benny. You got a book from the library about dogs a while ago. Remember? When you were checking it out, you told me all about Watch.”
Benny grinned sheepishly. “I forgot about that.”
Henry
“I ... I never thought of doing it on my own,” Margaret said, a faint note of hope in her voice.
Mrs. Spencer had something to add. “Milly thought you were a fine painter, Margaret. She always hoped you’d develop your own style one day.”
“Milly was always a good friend to me,” said Margaret. She stood twisting her hands. “I’m so ashamed of what I’ve done.” Looking truly regretful, she turned and walked slowly from the gallery.
CHAPTER 10
Gotcha!
“I can’t believe it!” said Mrs. Spencer, shaking her head in wonder, “Thanks to the Aldens, I can finally hang Milly’s portrait on my wall.”
After leaving the gallery, Edmund had invited everyone to join him at Cooke’s Drugstore for a quick bite to eat. Now Mrs. Spencer, Rachel, Janice, Edmund, Grandfather, and the children were sitting together at the long counter, feasting on huge bowls of Mrs. Turner’s chili.
“Uncovering that portrait was a surprise to everyone,” Jessie admitted. Then she gave her sister an affectionate nudge. “Everyone except Violet, that is.”
“It was just a hunch,” Violet said modestly as Mrs. Turner filled her water glass. “I was fairly sure there was another painting under that landscape. And I remembered that Milly might have painted over her self-portrait. At least that’s what Mrs. Spencer thought.”
“That was great thinking,” Henry praised his sister.
Swallowing a bite of his roll, Benny said, “But now you don’t have a painting for your room, Violet.”
“The important thing,” said Violet, smiling over at her little brother, “is that now Mrs. Spencer has Milly’s portrait to hang on her wall.”
“What wonderful grandchildren you have, James!” Mrs. Spencer remarked.
Grandfather smiled proudly. “You won’t get any argument from me!”
“I’ll have that portrait framed for you right away, Mrs. Spencer,” Edmund promised. He reached out and patted the elderly woman’s hand. “It’s the least I can do after all that’s happened. And, of course, you’ll get your money back for that landscape, James.” Edmund sighed. “I can’t help but feel partly responsible for what Jem and Margaret tried to do. After all, it was my gallery that sponsored the contest.”
“Nobody blames you, Edmund,” Grandfather assured him. “Everyone in town knows you’re an honest man.”
Edmund held out his cup as Mrs. Turner poured the coffee. “Jem’s plan was almost foolproof,” he remarked. “Of course, he didn’t count on the Aldens coming along and figuring everything out.”
“They’re first-class detectives, that’s for sure!” said Grandfather.
“We like solving mysteries,” said Benny. The other Aldens agreed.
But they knew the mystery was still not fully explained. They still weren’t sure who the Tattletale was.
Henry spoke up. “There’s something I don’t understand. You entered the art contest, right, Janice?” When she nodded in reply, he questioned, “Then why did you tell us you couldn’t draw?”
“I did say that, didn’t I?” Janice smiled a little. “I guess I was feeling a bit discouraged at the time. You see, I had my hopes pinned on winning that contest. When it didn’t happen, I began to wonder if I was just kidding myself about making it as an artist.”
“Your paintings show real talent, Janice,” Edmund assured her. “There’s no reason to doubt yourself.”
Benny had a question for Janice, too. “How did you know Watch’s name?”
Janice looked puzzled.
“In the Town Square,” Benny explained, “you called Watch by his name. But you’d never met him before.”
Janice laughed. “You’re the clue to that one, Benny. You got a book from the library about dogs a while ago. Remember? When you were checking it out, you told me all about Watch.”
Benny grinned sheepishly. “I forgot about that.”
Henry
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