Deserted Library Mystery (4 page)

Cheerfully they biked to the café. Henry had wrapped the sword part and placed it in his bicycle's basket. “I'm not letting this out of my sight!” he promised.

At Pete's Café, they ordered lobster, potatoes, salad, and apple pie a la mode. Pete was pleased to meet Miguel, the Aldens' new friend. Since Miguel came from another town, Pete didn't recognize him. Pete was also pleased to see the children's good appetites.

Benny leaned back, patting his stomach. “That was a good lunch!”

Pete burst out laughing. “I've never seen such big eaters. You all deserve a treat.”

Violet was puzzled. “Just for eating so much?” she questioned.

“No, just for being such nice children,” Pete answered. “How would you like a ride in my fishing boat?”

“Oh, yes!” cried Benny. “I love to ride in a boat.”

After they all boarded Captain Pete's red fishing boat, Pete started the motor, and they set off over the waves. The whitecaps slapped against the boat, sending the spray flying. Sometimes the water splashed over the sides of the boat.

They rode way out into the bay. When Benny shaded his eyes, he could barely see the café. It was only a white speck.

For over an hour the boat rode the waves. Then Pete made a wide circle and headed back to the dock.

“That was fun!” Jessie said.

“Yes, sir!” Henry agreed, resting his hands on Benny's shoulders.

“Can we do it again?” Benny asked.

Pete chuckled. “Anytime, mates. Just let me know.” He tied up the boat at the dock, and they jumped out.

Violet, the wind whipping through her long brown hair, said, “Thank you, Captain Pete.”

“You're welcome, little lady,” Pete answered. His wide grin lit up his wrinkled face.

“We'd like to take you up on your offer for another ride,” Henry said. “We had a good time.” He glanced at Miguel. “Did you have fun, Miguel?”

“Oh, yes,” Miguel responded quietly, but he didn't look at Henry. Jessie noticed Miguel's sad, thin face.

“Miguel, we need to return to the library,” Jessie said. She knew that Miguel was thinking of his father and the lost fishing boat. “Do you feel like working?”

He nodded. “I want to help,” he said.

Except for Miguel, the Aldens mounted their bicycles. Miguel leapt up on the seat behind Henry, and they left for the library in high spirits.

Pushing open the library's door, they each went to the spot where they'd been working. Henry had filled one box with valuable books and was ready to start a second one.

Jessie hummed softly as she dusted off books. Suddenly, she stopped. “Look,” she said in a low voice. From her fingertips she dangled a gray work glove.

Henry took the glove with black stitching around each finger. “This is a brand-new glove,” he observed. “It's barely worn.”

Jessie said, “Someone's been here . . . and left the glove.”

Benny, Miguel, and Violet joined Henry and Jessie. No one said a word. Frightened, Benny glanced over his shoulder.

The mystery wasn't solved after all, Jessie thought. An intruder had invaded their library. A chill ran up her spine.

CHAPTER 7

The Strange Little Tune

H
enry held up the gray glove and shrugged. “Someone was poking around in the library and forgot his glove, that's all. It's nothing to worry about.” But secretly he wondered who it belonged to, and how the person had gotten in. He thought of the conversation he'd overheard in Pete's Café, but he didn't want to frighten the others by telling them.

Jessie smiled. “You're right, Henry. One glove doesn't mean a thing. Let's go back to the house and have a nice supper. We've done enough work today.” She tried to sound unconcerned, but she was worried, too. Who was nearby?

Henry tucked the glove in his back pocket and threw his arm around his little brother. “What's the matter, Benny? You're not scared of an old glove, are you?”

Benny stood with his sturdy legs apart and his arms folded. “I'm not scared if you're not!”

“Atta, boy!” Henry said, tousling Benny's hair. He opened the door and stepped out into the setting sun. The others followed. The sun's rays gave the library a rosy glow. Carefully Henry locked the door, then twisted the knob to be sure that it was secure. It wouldn't be easy for an intruder to get in now!

That night the Aldens and Miguel ate peanut butter, crackers, and milk. They weren't very hungry after their big lobster lunch.

Benny and Miguel went to bed early.

“I'm filling the pitcher with fresh water,” Jessie said, going out into the night. Darkness surrounded her.

As she pumped the water, Jessie suddenly stopped.

She heard a low humming.

She listened more closely, but the humming stopped. All she heard was the scuffling of an animal in the leaves.

All at once the low off-key humming started again. What a strange tune! This time she realized it was a person. Was someone watching her? Her pulse quickened. She wished Henry or Violet had come outside with her. “Henry,” she called, then, “Violet,” but her throat had tightened. All that came out was a croak.

The weird humming was loud and clear, but it soon faded. Jessie clutched the pitcher to her chest and raced toward the cabin. She stumbled on a branch, but kept running. The humming was very faint now. Fearfully, she glanced around. Was that a shadow moving up the path toward the library? Or was it her imagination?

With her heart pounding in her ears, she frantically threw open the door and flew into the room.

“What's wrong, Jessie?” Violet said, running to her side. “You're as white as your T-shirt.”

“S-someone was humming a funny tune.” She could barely get the words out as she set down the pitcher with a trembling hand. “I think I heard him going up the path toward the old library! I think I saw his shadow!”

Henry leapt up. “We'll see about this prowler!” he said angrily, grabbing the iron skillet from the stove and dashing outdoors. If he came upon the intruder, he wouldn't know what hit him! Bravely Henry silently stalked the stranger. Twice he circled the cabin, the skillet held high. Even though Jessie had said she'd seen the prowler going toward the library, Henry carefully investigated around the house. Then he ran a short way up the gravel path, but didn't see anyone. Not even Jessie's imagined shadow. Nor did he hear anything. The humming had stopped. He listened intently, but all he heard was the breeze rustling through the trees.

He returned to the house. “I didn't hear anything, Jessie. Maybe it was the hum of an insect.”

Jessie shook her head. “No,” she said positively. “It was
someone
humming! And the person was nearby, watching me. Then the humming grew faint. I saw his outline as he went toward the library.” She poured a glass of water for her dry throat and turned her big brown eyes on Henry. “I'm certain he's after something!”

“I think I know what it is,” Henry said thoughtfully. “When I called Grandfather, I told him about the piece of sword we'd found. Anyone could have overheard me. But don't worry,” he said in a confident tone. “The sword is always with me! At night it's under my pillow, and during the day I take it with me on my bike. The sword is wrapped so no one can see what it is.”

Quickly he told Violet and Jessie about the two men he'd overheard in Pete's Café. “But whoever that thief is can't be our guy. How would he know about the sword?” He spoke in a low voice so as not to wake Benny and Miguel.

“He couldn't,” Jessie added.

“What should we do?” Violet asked. “Is it safe to stay here? I hate to leave until we finish at the library.”

“Then we won't leave!” Jessie said in a firm voice. There was a stubborn gleam in her dark eyes. “We have to find the third part of the sword. Once we find it, we'll go home.”

“You're right!” Violet said with a tight little smile. “No one can drive us away after we've worked hard and found the sword. The sword is ours!”

They went to bed, and Jessie pulled the blanket up to her chin. Even though everything was silent, she could still hear that awful weird tune in her head.

The next morning the sun washed their fears away.

Henry ate an early breakfast, then scraped back his chair and stood up. “I'm going to make a quick trip to the marina and phone Grandfather,” he said to Jessie.

“Do you think he'll have any news about Miguel's father?”

“I hope so. Grandfather was going to contact the Coast Guard.”

On his way to the café, without warning, the sun dipped behind the clouds. The sky became a gloomy gray. Henry pedaled faster when he heard a low rumble of distant thunder.

Entering Pete's Café, Henry saw Pete at the counter pouring a cup of coffee for a customer. He looked up at Henry's entrance. “Hi, Henry! Feel like a boat ride?”

“Not today.” Henry smiled.

Old Pete chuckled. “You show good sense, boy.” He pointed to the large window and the ocean beyond. “Look at those waves!”

Henry watched the waves pound against the stone pier. The whitecaps rolled in, churning toward the shore and ending in foamy puddles. The sky was almost black with the wind blowing from the north. The thunder boomed.

“Yup,” Pete said. “Even the Coast Guard won't come out in this weather.”

Henry excused himself to phone Grandfather Alden.

After a few rings, Grandfather's warm voice came on the line. “Henry! I'm glad you called. I contacted the Coast Guard, and they informed me that two fishermen were rescued from
The Maria.
”

“Only two?” Henry asked, and his heart sank.

“Yes, I'm afraid the third man drowned,” Grandfather said gravely.

“Was it Miguel's father?” Henry asked, dreading to hear the answer.

“They won't give out the names of the men until all the families are notified. The survivors are on Bear Island and as soon as the storm lets up, they'll be brought to Pete's marina.”

“Thanks, Grandfather.”

“Depending on the weather, I'll be down to see you on Friday.”

“That will be great, Grandfather,” Henry said. “Everyone wants to see you.”

“Good, good,” Grandfather said.

Henry said good-bye. After exchanging a few words with Pete, he biked back to the house. He hated to tell Miguel about the one drowned fisherman, but he had a right to know. After all, his father
could
be one of the rescued men.

Entering the cabin, Henry sat down at the table next to Miguel. He quietly told him that only two men had been rescued.

Miguel stared at him, biting his lower lip. “Wh-what were the names of the two fishermen?” he whispered.

“No names have been released yet,” said Henry, reaching out and putting a hand on Miguel's shoulder. “Until this storm subsides, the rescued men will stay at the Coast Guard station on Bear Island.” A stab of lightning lit up the room.

Jessie stood behind Miguel. “It will be all right,” she soothed. “I'm certain one of the men will be your father.”

Miguel glanced back at her. “But what if he isn't?” he said in a trembling voice. “My father knew how to swim, but what good is that in a stormy sea?” His lips tightened, and his body was rigid. He tried not to cry.

“He had a life preserver, didn't he?” asked Violet, coming from the kitchen and sitting down. Her voice was soft, and her eyes were filled with compassion.

“He had a life preserver, but . . .” his voice faltered. “Oh, I don't know what to think.” Miguel lowered his eyes. His small face twisted with pain. “What if he drowned? My poor father. I-I love him.”

“No matter what happens,” Henry said, “we'll stick by you!”

“You bet we will!” Benny echoed, standing in the doorway. He frowned, and his eyes were sad. All at once his face brightened. “I know your dad was saved. I feel it in my bones!”