Bicycle Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page A

said the stranger. “I wish my dog would mind like that.”
    “He would,” Benny answered, “if he took lessons. Now just wait. Stand behind that little truck where your dog can’t see you. Have his leash ready.”
    The boxer noticed that nobody was chasing him. He looked back and saw Shadow sitting in the parking lot.
    The boxer wagged his short tail and trotted back to see the strange dog.

    Benny asked the man, “Are you ready? Catch your dog while he is making friends with my dog.”
    The boxer walked up to Shadow. He wagged his tail. Shadow never moved. He just wagged his tail, too. That was hard because he was sitting on it.
    “I’m coming out slowly,” the man whispered.
    “Right,” Benny agreed. Now everyone was watching to see if the man could catch his boxer.
    The big dog was so busy making friends with Shadow that he didn’t notice when his master snapped the leash on his collar.
    “There!” Benny said. “There’s your dog.”
    Uncle Andy said, “That’s pretty smart, Benny. I didn’t believe you could do that.”
    “Thanks, boy,” said the man. “Now I can meet the plane all right.” He put the dog in his car.
    A woman had been watching all this time. She said to Henry, “Your dog is a Skye terrier, isn’t he?”
    “Yes, we think so,” replied Henry.
    Benny broke in, “He isn’t our dog. He just follows us.”
    The lady looked at Benny. “I just came from Boston,” she said. “My sister lives there and she told me a friend of hers had lost a Skye terrier.”
    Benny shook his head. “This dog could never have come from Boston. We are going to find his owner as soon as we can.”
    “Good luck,” the woman said. “He’s a beautiful dog.”
    That evening Aunt Jane said, “I’m sorry you aren’t staying with us longer. But I know you want to get home to solve the mystery of Shadow’s owner.”
    Jessie said, “We were going to stay just one night anyway. We’ll come back for a longer visit in the fall.”
    The next morning the Aldens packed up again. Maggie gave them another set of emergency rations. She said, “Come again soon. I like to have young people around and two barking dogs, too.”
    The Aldens got on their bikes and rode off as Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy waved good-bye. Lady barked and wagged her tail. Shadow barked, too.
    Benny said, “I like to hear you bark, brother. It’s much better than whining.”
    Shadow ran ahead of the bikes. Jessie said, “I believe that dog knows he’s going home. He seems glad to go back.”
    “Maybe that’s why Shadow has whined so much,” Henry said. “He knew we were going the wrong way. Don’t let him run too long, Benny. His paws will get sore.”
    Benny said, “Pretty soon I’ll give him a ride.” And in about a half hour, he picked Shadow up and set him in the basket in front of the handlebars.
    As they rode along, the four riders began to sing. It was a slow song and they really needed a guitar. When Shadow heard it, he began to howl.
    Benny was singing the guitar part, “Plunk, plunk, plunk!” He laughed. “That’s what makes you howl, Shadow. I didn’t know you could howl.” Then he went right along singing.
    The minute the song was over, Shadow stopped howling. He just rode along in his basket, looking happy. That made Benny laugh again.
    “You win, Shadow,” Henry called. “We’ll stop singing and you stop howling.”
    After a few hours of pedaling, Benny said, “Look, we are coming to a crossroad. It looks like heavy traffic ahead!”

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CHAPTER 10
    One Puzzle Left
    N ow the Aldens wanted nothing but to get home with the dog. They agreed not to stop anywhere except to eat and sleep.
    Violet said, “We must say hello to Mrs. Randall, though. We go right through Second Landing.”
    Jessie said, “Let’s do that. We told her we might.”
    They rode along steadily for the rest of the trip. On the last morning it was almost lunchtime when Shadow started to run away.
    “Come back!”