Bicycle Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page B

dogs.”
    Mrs. Randall said, “I still don’t know where you found Smoky.”
    The Aldens told her about the old empty house and the rain and the little whining dog.
    “He followed us to Aunt Jane’s and all the way back,” said Jessie. “But we still don’t understand how you lost him!”
    “Well,” Mrs. Randall began. “You remember that Carl had gone to camp just the day before you came? After Carl had left on the bus, I had some special shopping to do that day. I put Smoky in the station wagon and drove to a shopping center. It was a big place about twenty-five miles in the other direction. I couldn’t take Smoky into the stores, so I left him in the car. I rolled down one of the windows to give him some air.”
    The Aldens nodded.
    “Yes, that was a mistake,” Mrs. Randall agreed. “Smoky wiggled out of that window somehow, although I don’t see how he could. Anyway, when I came out, he was gone!”
    “Did anyone see him?” asked Violet.
    “Nobody that I could ask,” said Mrs. Randall. “There were hundreds of cars. I called and called, but at last I had to drive home.”
    “Poor Carl,” said Violet. “Did you have to tell him Smoky was missing?”
    “No, I just hoped and hoped Smoky would come home. But he had been here such a short time, I didn’t think he would know how to get home. And I was afraid someone would find him and keep him.”
    Jessie said, “And you had all this to worry about that day we came to help. We noticed you were upset about something. Why didn’t you tell us?”
    “I just couldn’t,” Mrs. Randall said. “I didn’t want to spoil everything, and we were having such a good time. And I knew I might break down and tell the company.”
    “That was Mr. Evans,” Benny said. “He would always understand. You can tell Carl now.”
    “Yes, he gets home tomorrow. What a lot of news I shall have to tell him! Smoky lost, and Smoky found. And we are moving to Boston right away.”
    “Good,” said Jessie. Her eyes twinkled. “I’m glad Mr. Evans found out that you were a friendly person.”
    “I’m going to telephone Eric. He will be so pleased. Now we can show Smoky in the Ashby dog show. I do hope you can go to that show. It will be exciting.”
    “Yes,” said Benny. “We have four tickets.”
    “You are lucky. They are hard to get. And Smoky is lucky that he found you instead of somebody else.”
    “Well,” said Benny. “Now I know what a lucky dog is!”
    The Aldens got up to go home. Mrs. Randall said, “I’ll remind you of the dog show a little later. I’ll call you up.”
    As the Aldens rode home, Henry said, “There’s still a mystery to solve. What happened to Smoky between the time he was left in the Randall car in the parking lot and came to the old house in the rain?”
    “Yes, I was thinking about that, too,” said Benny.

CHAPTER 11
    Show Dog
    T he Aldens reached home safely. They found that their grandfather knew all about the dog. He had seen their picture in the paper. But Violet had to tell him all about the rainy night in the empty house. Jessie told him about the roadside stand and Roy Smith. Benny told him about Big Jeko.
    At last Mr. Alden said, “Were you satisfied with all those adventures, Ben?”
    “Well, almost,” Benny replied. “There’s just one thing about this mystery that we don’t know. How did Smoky get from the parking lot to the empty house where we spent the night?”
    “I can’t help you there,” Mr. Alden said. “But I have no doubt you four will solve that, too.”
    Later on, Jessie had a telephone call from Mrs. Randall.
    She said, “The Ashby dog show begins tomorrow. We are going to show Smoky. Our little dog has a new name, but I promised not to tell you. Can you come?”
    Jessie laughed. She said, “Yes, I don’t even need to ask the others. We’ll be delighted to drive over to the show.”
    “Come to our house first,” said Mrs. Randall. “Then you can meet Carl. And we will all go in two