Finders Keepers Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page B

for the box Jessie had just put down. “You don’t mind if I just go through this box a little early, do you?”
    “Yes!” said Jessie. “Please stop.”
    The man stopped, frowning.
    Henry said, “You’d better stay with the stuff, Jessie. I’ll tell Lina, and she can come help you.”
    “Good idea,” said Jessie. Keeping a sharp eye on the man, she began to unpack the box.
    As Henry went back up the walk, he heard Jessie say firmly, “I’m sorry, but we’re not selling anything until nine A.M. If you want to wait, you will have to wait outside the front gate.”
    Henry smiled. Jessie was in charge, and he was sure the yard sale was going to be a big success.

CHAPTER 6
Sales and Snoops
    “I just sold a box of old towels,” Violet reported, handing Lina the money. Lina was sitting at one of the tables with a metal box for the money. She was the yard sale treasurer. The Aldens were walking among all the boxes, tables, chairs, lamps, and other items for sale, helping the shoppers.
    “This is great!” Jessie said, coming to join them. “We’ve barely been here an hour, and just look at all these people!”
    “All the signs you put up helped,” Lina said. “In fact, I couldn’t have done this without you.”
    Violet blushed. “Thanks,” she said. “But it wasn’t just us. Regina Lott gets some credit, too. A lot of people saw that story she did.”
    A customer came up to pay for two flowerpots, and Violet let her gaze wander around the crowded yard sale. She noticed a short, bouncy-looking man who seemed to be looking as much at Lina as at the things for sale. He picked up an old vase, looked at the bottom of it, then put it down. He looked around again, then walked toward the house and moved partway behind an overgrown bush.
    Violet frowned and stood up.
    The man slipped out from behind the bush, glanced over his shoulder, then disappeared from sight around the corner of the house.
    What was he doing? Where was he going? Violet turned to tell Lina, but Lina was busy helping another customer. Quickly, Violet walked toward where the man had disappeared.
    Henry caught up with her. “What’s wrong?” he said.
    “Someone just went around the side of the house,” Violet said.
    “We should check it out,” Henry said.
    With Henry leading the way, the two of them hurried after the man.
    “Maybe he’s just using the shortcut back to his house,” Henry said.
    “I don’t think so,” Violet said. “He acted as if he didn’t want anyone to see him.”
    They saw no sign of the man in the backyard.
    “Hmm,” said Henry. He turned and Violet followed as he walked up the back steps. The door to the kitchen was unlocked. Henry pushed it open.
    The two Aldens slipped quietly inside and listened.
    Muffled footsteps sounded on the stairs.
    “Come on,” said Henry in a low voice.
    Still moving as silently as they could, Henry and Violet rushed to the bottom of the staircase just as the man bounced out of sight. They heard a door open and close, more footsteps, then another door open.

    Henry and Violet tiptoed up the stairs. The door at the end of the hall stood ajar.
    Violet ran to the door and pushed through it just as the bouncy man was opening a closet door to peer inside.
    “What are you doing?” asked Henry.
    “Oh!” cried the man. He jumped, letting the door slam, then turned to face them.
    He was dressed in an old navy jacket, neat khakis, and a pale blue shirt with a little animal stitched on the pocket. He was wearing very white, very clean sneakers.
    The man gave Violet and Henry a hurt look. “You scared me,” he said.
    “We’re sorry we scared you, but what are you doing in Lina’s house?” asked Violet.
    The man sighed. “It’s a nice house,” he said.
    “But you have no right to be in here,” said Henry.
    “I’m… looking for the bathroom,” the man said.
    “It’s downstairs, right past where you came in,” Violet said. “The door was open. You couldn’t miss