Read Online Tree House Mystery by Gertrude Warner - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Gertrude Warner
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not have any reason to look at the books that belonged to me for a long time. When I did, I found that this book had been packed with mine. It never belonged to me, so it must have been a mistake.”
Uncle Max opened the book and everyone saw that about half of it was filled with handwritten notes. In fact, it looked like a diary with dates written in it.
“To tell the truth,” Uncle Max said, “I thought I might tear out these pages and use the rest of the book for sketching. But I never did, and I just kept the book. It wasn’t my father’s book, and I decided it must have been left in the house at one time and mixed in with our books.”
Sammy couldn’t wait any longer. “But what does it say?” he asked.
Uncle Max said, “I knew you’d ask. I have been reading it, and now I think that this belonged to Mrs. Carver, Willy’s grandmother. She wrote down people who came to visit, things she ordered for the house, and the vegetables in her own garden.”
The children didn’t see how that would help solve the mystery but they waited.
“Look here,” Uncle Max said. “Here is a page dated April 5, 1910. It shows that Mrs. Carver bought five rolls of wallpaper. ‘For little W’s room,’ it says.”
Jessie said, “That’s the paper with the drums and toys used for the closet and Willy’s room! She was getting ready for his visit.”
Uncle Max turned the page. “For July 10 it says ‘W’s birthday. Ordered cake and favors for ten children.’”
“That’s right!” Sammy said. “We read about the party in the old newspaper at the library. It’s the one Mrs. McGregor remembers.”
“Now,” said Uncle Max, “see if you can read this last page for yourselves.”
The date was August 15, 1910. The writing was faded and hard to read. It was Jessie who puzzled it out. This is what she read: “House rented to Johnson family. Cannot bear to think of strange children playing with W’s toys. Finished papering closet before packing to leave. Hope to return next year.”
For a minute everyone was quiet. Then Benny said, “That makes our guess right. Mrs. Carver closed up the room herself.”
“She never told anyone,” Henry said. “She thought she was coming back. But we know that she didn’t.”
“And so the rocking horse has been hidden all this time!” said Jeffrey. “I’m glad we’re the ones who found it.”
Uncle Max said, “I am, too. And now the rocking horse will have a new home and lots and lots of children will see it—I hope.”
CHAPTER 11
Lost and Found
T here was plenty to do to help Uncle Max get his restaurant open.
Jessie and Violet made bright yellow curtains for the big new window. Jeffrey and Sam wrote a story about the rocking horse. Mr. Alden had it printed on place mats with a picture of the rocking horse in the middle. Henry and Benny helped paint and make shelves to hold the old toys. Uncle Max put up his new sign outside.
The Rocking Horse Restaurant was to have its big opening day on a Saturday. There was an advertisement in the Greenfield News. On Friday Henry, the other Aldens, with Jeffrey and Sammy, took the old toys to Uncle Max. Jessie and Violet had flowers to put on the tables.
Jeffrey and Sammy carried Willy Carver’s wonderful old rocking horse from the Alden station wagon. Soon the horse was standing in its special place just inside the door at one side. Children coming in could see it and pat its nose but they could not ride it. That would have been too much for the old horse.
On opening day the restaurant was clean and shining. The new window let in the sunlight. Uncle Max had bought more tables and chairs. The new sign hung outside on an iron pole. Place mats were on the tables, and everything was ready.
The Aldens and the Beaches came before noon. Everyone was almost too excited to do anything. But they helped Uncle Max in every way they could. Jessie and Violet set the tables. Benny and the Beach boys peeled potatoes.
“You are
Uncle Max opened the book and everyone saw that about half of it was filled with handwritten notes. In fact, it looked like a diary with dates written in it.
“To tell the truth,” Uncle Max said, “I thought I might tear out these pages and use the rest of the book for sketching. But I never did, and I just kept the book. It wasn’t my father’s book, and I decided it must have been left in the house at one time and mixed in with our books.”
Sammy couldn’t wait any longer. “But what does it say?” he asked.
Uncle Max said, “I knew you’d ask. I have been reading it, and now I think that this belonged to Mrs. Carver, Willy’s grandmother. She wrote down people who came to visit, things she ordered for the house, and the vegetables in her own garden.”
The children didn’t see how that would help solve the mystery but they waited.
“Look here,” Uncle Max said. “Here is a page dated April 5, 1910. It shows that Mrs. Carver bought five rolls of wallpaper. ‘For little W’s room,’ it says.”
Jessie said, “That’s the paper with the drums and toys used for the closet and Willy’s room! She was getting ready for his visit.”
Uncle Max turned the page. “For July 10 it says ‘W’s birthday. Ordered cake and favors for ten children.’”
“That’s right!” Sammy said. “We read about the party in the old newspaper at the library. It’s the one Mrs. McGregor remembers.”
“Now,” said Uncle Max, “see if you can read this last page for yourselves.”
The date was August 15, 1910. The writing was faded and hard to read. It was Jessie who puzzled it out. This is what she read: “House rented to Johnson family. Cannot bear to think of strange children playing with W’s toys. Finished papering closet before packing to leave. Hope to return next year.”
For a minute everyone was quiet. Then Benny said, “That makes our guess right. Mrs. Carver closed up the room herself.”
“She never told anyone,” Henry said. “She thought she was coming back. But we know that she didn’t.”
“And so the rocking horse has been hidden all this time!” said Jeffrey. “I’m glad we’re the ones who found it.”
Uncle Max said, “I am, too. And now the rocking horse will have a new home and lots and lots of children will see it—I hope.”
CHAPTER 11
Lost and Found
T here was plenty to do to help Uncle Max get his restaurant open.
Jessie and Violet made bright yellow curtains for the big new window. Jeffrey and Sam wrote a story about the rocking horse. Mr. Alden had it printed on place mats with a picture of the rocking horse in the middle. Henry and Benny helped paint and make shelves to hold the old toys. Uncle Max put up his new sign outside.
The Rocking Horse Restaurant was to have its big opening day on a Saturday. There was an advertisement in the Greenfield News. On Friday Henry, the other Aldens, with Jeffrey and Sammy, took the old toys to Uncle Max. Jessie and Violet had flowers to put on the tables.
Jeffrey and Sammy carried Willy Carver’s wonderful old rocking horse from the Alden station wagon. Soon the horse was standing in its special place just inside the door at one side. Children coming in could see it and pat its nose but they could not ride it. That would have been too much for the old horse.
On opening day the restaurant was clean and shining. The new window let in the sunlight. Uncle Max had bought more tables and chairs. The new sign hung outside on an iron pole. Place mats were on the tables, and everything was ready.
The Aldens and the Beaches came before noon. Everyone was almost too excited to do anything. But they helped Uncle Max in every way they could. Jessie and Violet set the tables. Benny and the Beach boys peeled potatoes.
“You are
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