Escape to Witch Mountain Read Online Free PDF Page A

in front of Mr. Deranian, but there was no way out of it now. He plunged in and told what had happened, and explained about the double star on both the letter and the box.
    Mr. Deranian listened intently. Slowly he began shaking his head. “I hate to disappoint you, my boy, but I'm the only close relative you and Tia have. Furthermore, our family has never used the double star as an emblem.” He shrugged. “There's no reason why they should. It's a common design on Balkan leatherwork. You'll find it—”
    “I don't believe you!” Tony cried. “I want to call Father O'Day. He—”
    “Quiet!” Mrs. Grindley ordered. “If there's any phoning to be done, I'll do it myself.” She sat back in her chair, frowning from one to the other. “No one's going to be satisfied till we clear this up. And we don't need Father O'Day's help. I happen to know that St. Agnes School is in Baywater. I'll call them direct.”
    Tony's hopes suddenly rocketed. He watched her pick up the telephone and dial long distance. Presently she was speaking to someone at St. Agnes School and asking for Sister Amelia.
    There was a pause while Mrs. Grindley listened. Then she said, “That's too bad. I'm so sorry. When was this?… I see. Well, maybe I had better talk to the Mother Superior. It's about a letter…”
    Tony was hardly aware of the rest. All hope had crashed abruptly. Something had happened, and it was worse than Tia had thought. Tia was fighting back tears. Sick at heart, he sank down on the office bench beside her and took her hand.
    Mrs. Grindley finally replaced the receiver. “It's too bad,” she said. “Sister Amelia has been in poor health for a long time. Shewas taken to the hospital last week and died the next day. The Mother Superior doesn't know anything about a letter with a star design on it, but she gave me to understand that Sister Amelia may have imagined it. Seems that Sister Amelia's mind has been wandering lately, and that we shouldn't take anything she said too seriously.”
    Mrs. Grindley frowned at Tony. “I'm really sorry,” she said patiently. “But now I think it's time to face facts. I don't know any more about Mr. Deranian than you, but I'm certain the court isn't going to turn you over to him unless he's able to prove he's all right, and that he can give you a good home. As for being your uncle, what real difference does it make what you believe? He's giving you a home, isn't he? A good home is mighty hard to find for young people your age—and especially with your background.”
    She turned to Mr. Deranian and said, “That poor old nun had them all excited, so of course it was hard for them to accept you. Just give them a chance to think things over. They'll be glad to see you by tomorrow.”
    Mr. Deranian nodded, smiling. There was something about the smile that, along with the lean face and thin curving lips, the sharp nose and dark hair, suddenly made Tony think of a picture he'd seen of the devil.
    Tony could hardly eat his dinner that evening. Afterward, instead of following the others into the main hall to watch television, he went out to the playground with Tia so they could talk alone. He had never felt so discouraged.
    Tia whispered, “What are we going to do?”
    “I haven't figured it out yet.”
    “Well, I'm not going with him. They can't make me. I'll run away first.”
    “That's OK with me. Only, I don't know where we'd go. And we can't waste our money.”
    “But, Tony, we've got lots of money. Why don't we just—just take a chance and start south for the mountains?”
    He shook his head. “No, that wouldn't be very smart. Anyhow, you heard what the Mother Superior said. Maybe there wasn't any letter after all.”
    “There was a letter! I'm sure of it. Tony, I know Sister Amelia wasn't well, but there was nothing wrong with her thoughts —not when she talked to us. If she'd been imagining things, there'd have been more to it. Don't you see?”
    He considered this a moment, then