Mystery of the Hidden Painting Read Online Free PDF Page A

Jane turned the car, and the car behind turned right, too.
    â€œSee,” Benny said, “he turned, too. He is following us.”
    Aunt Jane laughed. “Well, maybe the man wanted to go right because he lives near here. I’m going back to the main road and I’m going to take you all to Kenniston Park. It’s wonderful there. We’ll rent a boat and go rowing, and we’ll eat there, too. Maybe it will take your minds off the necklace. I hope it will.”
    But the children all kept looking at the car behind them. When they left Elmford and were riding toward Kenniston, the car behind them disappeared.
    â€œSee,” Aunt Jane said cheerfully. “It’s gone.”
    â€œYes,” Henry agreed. “But it only turned off when we left Elmford.”
    When they got to Kenniston Park, they went to the lake, where Aunt Jane rented the largest rowboat. The Aldens sat two by two opposite each other, and Aunt Jane sat in the back. Violet and Jessie rowed together and then Benny and Henry. Aunt Jane trailed her hand in the cool water and watched the Aldens pulling on the oars. All of them loved every minute and they were all able to forget about the necklace.
    Then they walked to a food stand in the park and bought hot dogs and bags of potato chips and sodas. They sat on the grass by the lake while they ate.
    â€œMrs. McGregor wouldn’t approve of us eating this kind of dinner,” Violet said, smiling.
    â€œWell,” Aunt Jane said, “I don’t like eating junk food either, but it can’t hurt once in a while.”
    They finished their food and sat quietly watching the sky darken, and lights come on in the park. Music came from somewhere in the distance. Benny fell asleep with his head in Jessie’s lap. When it was time to leave, Henry carried him to the car. The Aldens all agreed it had been a wonderful night. But every now and then, Jessie and Violet and Henry each thought of the sparkling sapphire necklace in the display case in the now dark museum.

CHAPTER 6
    Another Strange Visit
    T he next morning Aunt Jane was out in the garden cutting flowers while the Aldens ate breakfast. “We have to see Mrs. Newton this morning,” Jessie said. “Soon Grandfather will want us to come home. I know he misses us.”
    Violet said, “We’ll have to call her first.”
    â€œI don’t know,” Henry said, thoughtfully. “Maybe we should just go without calling her.”
    Violet shook her head. “It isn’t polite to do that,” she said.
    â€œWell, it isn’t polite for her to have our grandmother’s necklace, either,” Benny said firmly.
    Jessie and Henry laughed and even Violet had to smile. “You know, Benny’s right,” Henry said.
    They finished their breakfast of cold cereal, buttered toast with jam, and milk, and went upstairs to dress. “We all have to look spic-and-span,” Jessie said. “So we can impress Mrs. Newton with what nice children we are.”
    Jessie and Violet both put on flowered skirts and blouses. Jessie’s was sparkling white and Violet’s lavender. Benny and Henry wore khaki pants and white shirts. When they came downstairs, Aunt Jane was arranging her flowers.
    â€œI can guess where you’re going,” she said. “But did you call Mrs. Newton?”
    Jessie and Henry exchanged a guilty look. “We thought we’d just go. Just for a few minutes,” he added quickly. “We won’t stay long.”
    Aunt Jane smiled. “I know I shouldn’t agree, but just promise you won’t stay long.”
    â€œAbsolutely,” Jessie said.
    â€œPositively,” Benny added.
    The Aldens followed the directions Aunt Jane gave them to Mrs. Newton’s house. They gasped when they arrived. The house was three stories high with big columns at the front and a circular driveway leading up to it. There were beautiful rosebushes on either side.