Read Online The Mystery at the Fair by Gertrude Chandler Warner - Free Book Online Page B

“The art competition starts in a few minutes, and I’ve got something I need to do first. I’ll see you later.”
    â€œGood-bye,” Violet said as Susie hurried away.
    â€œThat’s odd,” Jessie said. “I thought the only colors in Susie’s painting of the horse were browns and greens.”
    â€œMaybe she mixed blue with yellow to make green,” Violet said. “But her painting looked finished to me.”
    â€œLet’s take a look at it when we get inside,” Jessie said.
    The art tent was rapidly getting more and more crowded. The girls looked around for Henry and Benny.
    â€œI guess they’re still following that man in the baseball cap,” Jessie said. “Maybe they’ll be here later.”
    â€œLet’s look at Susie’s painting while we’re waiting,” Violet said.
    The two girls carefully examined Susie’s painting.
    â€œThis painting is perfectly dry,” Violet said. “She didn’t add any yellow paint to it at all.”
    â€œWhy did she tell us she did?” Jessie said.
    â€œI don’t know,” Violet said. “But I’m sure going to find out.”
    â€œWhere is Kristie’s painting?” Jessie said as she looked at the display. “It was on that easel over there yesterday.”
    â€œThere’s Mrs. Stephens,” Violet said. “Let’s ask her.”
    â€œHello, Mrs. Stephens,” Violet said as the woman approached them.
    â€œGirls,” Mrs. Stephens said worriedly. “Have either one of you seen Kristie?”
    â€œNo, we haven’t seen her today,” Violet said.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Jessie asked.
    â€œKristie sent me a note,” Mrs. Stephens said. “It said that she didn’t feel well and that she wanted me to meet her at the registration tent. But when I went to the tent she wasn’t there and no one had seen her.”
    â€œWas her painting withdrawn from the competition?” Violet asked.
    â€œOf course not,” Mrs. Stephens said.
    â€œMrs. Stephens,” Violet said. “Kristie’s painting isn’t here.”
    â€œOh, no,” Mrs. Stephens said as she stared at the empty easel. “Someone must have moved it while I was looking for Kristie. I have to find Kristie right away! The contest is getting ready to start.”
    â€œWe’ll help you look for her,” Jessie said. “I’m sure she’s not far away.”
    â€œShe worked so hard on her painting,” Mrs. Stephens said. “I don’t know why she’d take it off the easel.”
    â€œMaybe she didn’t,” Jessie said. “May I see the note Kristie wrote to you?”
    â€œOf course,” Mrs. Stephens said. She looked puzzled but she handed the note to Jessie. Jessie slowly read the note. Then something caught her eye.
    â€œMrs. Stephens,” Jessie said. “Is this Kris-tie’s handwriting?”
    â€œWhy, no,” Mrs. Stephens said as she read the note again. “It’s not her handwriting! I was so upset when I got it that I didn’t even notice.”
    â€œI’m going to ask the judges if they can delay the contest for a few moments,” Jessie said. “Something’s not right here.” Jessie walked over to the contest table. She whispered softly to the judges for a moment. They nodded their heads.
    â€œThey’ll give us ten minutes,” Jessie said.
    â€œWe’ll go with you to see if we can find Kristie,” Violet said.
    â€œThank you very much, girls,” Mrs. Stephens said.
    Jessie and Violet followed Mrs. Stephens out of the art tent. Suddenly, Violet saw something sticking up out of a garbage can near the entrance. It sparkled in the sunlight.
    â€œLook!” Violet said. She pulled the canvas out of the trash can. “It’s Kristie’s painting. There are yellow streaks all over it! It’s ruined!”
    â€œOh,