Read Online Tree House Mystery by Gertrude Warner - Free Book Online

let’s talk about your restaurant,” said John Beach.
    Max shook his head. “I haven’t thought of a good name for it yet.”
    Sammy could not wait. “I have! It’s the most stupendous name—the Rocking Horse!”
    Uncle Max burst out laughing. “It is a stupendous name, Sammy. How did you ever think of it?”
    “Well, you know that rocking horse that belonged to Willy? We could bring it down and put it beside the door and then put all the other old toys on shelves around the room for children to look at.”
    Mrs. Beach said, “I think everyone would like to see those toys. They are so old and interesting.”
    “We must have a sign outside!” cried Uncle Max. “I can make it myself just exactly like the old rocking horse. I’ll have to see it first.”
    “Right,” said his brother. “I know you like to draw. Come and have dinner with us tomorrow and see the toys.”
    Uncle Max winked at Sammy. “I’d like to eat in the tree house,” he said.
    “Let’s make it a backyard dinner,” Mr. Beach said.
    “And invite the Aldens,” Jeffrey said.
    “That would make ten,” said Sammy instantly.
    “I’ll come and bring two apple pies,” agreed Uncle Max.
    “Oh, good!” said Benny. “You make the best apple pie I ever ate—except that one Jessie made using a glass bottle for a rolling pin.”
    When the Aldens came over to the backyard of the Beach house the next evening they were surprised. Mr. Beach had brought out a charcoal stove.
    “I didn’t know you could cook, Dad!” said Jeffrey.
    “I think I can cook hamburger,” his father said.
    A few minutes later Uncle Max came into the yard. He was carrying two apple pies and a small package wrapped in brown paper. Henry took one pie and Jessie took the other, but Uncle Max kept the package. He said hello to everyone, then he looked up at the tree house. He walked all around it.
    “That’s a good tree house, boys,” he said. “It is better than ours. And where is that round window?”
    “You can’t see it from the ground,” said Jeffrey. “Climb up into the tree and we’ll show you. You are going to eat dinner up here with us, you know.”
    The two boys had climbed the rope ladder, but Uncle Max went up the ladder. Henry had made a wooden cover for the knothole. Jeffrey opened it and took out the telescope and gave it to his uncle. “See,” he said, “look under the roof. Right over there.”

    “There it is!” said Uncle Max. “You’re right!”
    When dinner was ready, Sammy and Jeffrey let down the basket and Jessie put in paper plates with hamburgers, and pickles. There was milk for the boys and coffee for Uncle Max. Later there was pie and cheese.
    After dinner it was time to show Uncle Max the attic. Jeffrey and Sammy started off with him when Mr. Alden surprised them by getting up. “I’d like to go, too,” he said.
    The boys showed Uncle Max the wallpaper, the round window, and all the toys. They showed him the rocking horse.
    Uncle Max took a tape measure out of his pocket. He measured the horse and rockers. He looked carefully at the colors. Then he drew a picture of the horse on a sketch pad he had brought.
    “I see how well you draw,” Mr. Alden said. “That will be a fine sign. I’d like to help the new restaurant in some way. Why don’t you buy what you need for the sign and send the bill to me?”
    Uncle Max agreed because he knew that Mr. Alden really was interested in the restaurant.
    When everyone was in the yard again and it was almost time to go Uncle Max said, “I’ve been thinking about the mystery of the closed room. I thought I did not have any clues, but perhaps I am wrong.”
    Now Uncle Max took the package that he had brought. He took off the brown paper and held out a leather-covered book. There were words in gold letters on the cover. They said “Household Journal.”
    Everyone waited for Uncle Max to explain.
    “When we moved away from this house,” he said, “we packed our books into boxes. I did