Read Online The Mystery Girl by Gertrude Chandler Warner - Free Book Online

wrong,” she said. “Mrs. Edwards and Nancy both have bags from the Elmford Shopping Center. And they went somewhere together last night. I keep worrying that they’re doing something to hurt Mr. Taylor’s store. That would be wrong.”
    â€œBut how would Tony know about that?” Violet asked.
    â€œI don’t know,” Jessie said.
    Henry thought for a minute. Then he said, “I think it’s time to talk to someone about this.”
    â€œI do, too,” Jessie said. “I’ll feel a lot better when we know what’s going on.”
    â€œI wish we could call Aunt Jane right now,” Violet said. “But we don’t have a telephone.”
    â€œMr. Taylor has one in his cabin,” Jessie said. “But he said he was going into Elmford for dinner.”
    â€œThen we’ll just have to wait until tomorrow to call,” Henry said. “But we’ll take care of it the first thing in the morning.”
    Very early the next morning, Violet heard a noise outside their cabin. At first she thought it might be an animal. Then she heard voices. One of them was Nancy’s. Violet sat up and looked at Jessie.
    Jessie was awake, too. Jessie said to Violet, “Go wake Henry.”
    Jessie got out of bed and went to the window. It was just starting to get light. When she looked out, she saw Nancy and Mrs. Edwards. Nancy was dressed. Mrs. Edwards was in a blue bathrobe.
    Violet came back into the room with Henry. “What’s happening?” he whispered, tying the belt of his bathrobe.
    â€œI’m not sure,” Jessie whispered back.
    The three of them stood close to the window and peered outside.
    â€œPlease!” Nancy said to Mrs. Edwards. “I have to get to town.”
    Mrs. Edwards shook her head. “It’s too early.” She sounded nervous. “Why don’t you wait a while?”
    â€œI can’t!” Nancy said. “It’s too important to wait!”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Mrs. Edwards said.
    â€œPlease,” Nancy said again. “I have to go!”
    Jessie looked at Henry. He nodded. If Nancy was going somewhere, they had to talk to her first.
    The three Aldens opened the door and went outside. When Nancy and Mrs. Edwards saw them, they were surprised.
    â€œJessie, Henry, Violet,” Nancy said. “What are you doing up? Did we wake you?”
    â€œYes, but we’re glad you did,” Jessie said. She took a deep breath. “Nancy, we need to talk to you. It’s important.”
    â€œJessie, you look so worried,” Nancy said. “I don’t understand.”
    â€œThere are a lot of things we don’t understand, Nancy,” Henry said. “Things about you.”
    â€œAbout me?” Nancy bit her lip. “But. . .”
    Before Nancy could say anything more, the door to Mr. Taylor’s cabin opened and Mr. Taylor came out. He was dressed, but he looked very sleepy. “What’s going on?” he asked.
    â€œOh, Mr. Taylor, I’m sorry,” Nancy said. “I wanted to use a telephone, but I didn’t want to wake you. So I was going to ask this lady to drive me to the nearest phone.”
    â€œThe phone?” Mrs. Edwards said. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    â€œI was in such a hurry,” Nancy explained. “I couldn’t think straight.”
    â€œNancy, why did you call Mrs. Edwards ‘this lady’?” Jessie asked. “We thought you knew her.”
    Nancy shook her head. “She gave me a ride to town the other night, but she never told me her name.”
    â€œI was afraid to say much,” Mrs. Edwards said. “I was afraid you might guess who I am and why I’m here.”
    Nancy looked confused. “I don’t understand.”
    â€œNeither do I,” said Mr. Taylor.
    â€œI think I understand a little of it,” Jessie said.
    â€œMe too,” Henry said. “But not