Read Online Windy City Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner - Free Book Online

“Can you find enough to do until Chad gets here?” he asked.
    They all said, “Yes. Plenty!”
    As soon as he was gone, Jessie dug through the pile of brochures. “Funny Grandfather didn’t see the clues,” she said as she spread them out.
    Violet looked at them and sighed. “Where do we start?”
    â€œLet’s not think about the writer of the clues,” Henry said.
    Benny tapped the final clue. “We should solve this.”
    Jessie turned the map over. She read the first four lines of the verse. “‘Buried deep/ Beneath the rest,’” she repeated.
    â€œWe might need a shovel for this one,” Henry joked.
    â€œRead the rest, Jessie,” Benny said.
    â€œâ€˜Can you find/ A place like home …’”
    â€œWhat does that mean?” Violet asked.
    â€œ Home could be Grandfather’s house,” Jessie said.
    â€œOr our boxcar,” added Violet. “After all, that was our home once.”
    Henry said, “The last part says, ‘Resting on/ A bed of stone.’”
    Jessie frowned. “This is the hardest clue yet.”
    Henry turned the paper over. “We’ve been to all the places pictured on this map.”
    â€œCould that mean this clue leads to someplace we’ve already been?” Jessie said.
    The telephone rang. Jessie answered. It was Chad.
    â€œSomething’s come up,” he said. “I’m sorry, but I can’t get there this morning.”
    â€œOh, that’s all right, Chad.”
    â€œI may be able to get away this afternoon,” Chad went on. “If not, I’ll see you tonight.”
    â€œTonight?”
    â€œAt dinner with my father.”
    Jessie was confused. “But we had dinner with him last night.”
    After a brief silence, Chad said, “I … uh … maybe I misunderstood.” He told her he would phone later and hung up.
    Jessie repeated his message.
    They had mixed feelings about it: On the one hand, they were sorry to miss a morning of sightseeing; on the other, they were happy to have time to work on the clue.
    â€œChad didn’t seem to know we were with his father last night,” Jessie said.
    Violet was puzzled. “But he must have been invited. Mr. Piper said Chad was too busy to be there.”
    â€œMaybe Chad forgot,” Benny suggested.
    â€œOr got the dates mixed up,” Henry added.
    They returned their attention to the clue. But it was no use. They could not solve this part of the puzzle.
    Henry turned the map this way and that, moving it close to his eyes and far away. “Look here,” he said at last. He pointed to several pictures: the Water Tower, the Art Institute, the Fire Academy.
    A small X was penciled on each one.
    â€œThose are the places the clues sent us to,” Violet observed.
    â€œX marks the spot,” Henry said.
    Benny jumped in his chair. “Mr. Piper said that!”
    â€œMr. Piper can’t be behind this,” Jessie said. “When would he have the time? He’s been at all those meetings with Grandfather
” She leaned toward the map. “Are there any other X’s?”
    They took turns looking. On the first try, no one could find a single additional mark. Second time around, Violet saw something.
    â€œThis looks like an X.” She pointed it out to the others.
    â€œYou found it, Violet!” Benny said.
    Henry’s mouth dropped open. “And it’s on the picture of the building we’re in!”
    They were stunned to silence. Could this mean the final clue led right here? But where could the treasure be?
    â€œLet’s go talk to Willard,” Jessie suggested. “Maybe he knows something about this building that would help.”
    Willard smiled as the Aldens approached. “On your way out?”
    â€œWe’ve been wondering about this building,” Jessie told him.
    â€œWonderful old place, isn’t it?” the man