Mystery of the Melting Snowman Read Online Free PDF Page A

sure?”
    “Of course I’m sure,” said Cindy.
    The man pulled at his chin. “Maybe you’re in on it too, for all I know.”
    “In on what?” gasped Cindy. Her thoughts raced. It must have something to do with the iron dog.
    “You don’t know what’s going on,” said the man in black, glancing again at the package in Cindy’s arms. “She’s using you. That’s stolen. Jenny Mayflower stole it. She thought if you carried it no one would trace it to her.”
    Suddenly Cindy was sure the man in black thought the iron dog was in this package.
    “This isn’t it!” she said without thinking. She bit her tongue. “I mean, it couldn’t be stolen or anything. And Jenny’s so nice. And why would she steal an old vase, anyway?”
    Cindy started to run toward the red house. How dare this man accuse Jenny of stealing! She started up the steps. The man in black was right beside her. “Just hand me the package, young lady!” he said in a low whisper.

    “But I told Jenny I’d take it in and give it to Tom,” said Cindy. She was all mixed up. Who was to be trusted? Tom? Jenny? And who was this strange man? She couldn’t think. And she was frightened.
    She ran up the steps and opened the front door. She was sure the man in black was going to grab the box and run with it. But he only followed her up to the door.
    “You’ll see,” he whispered under his breath. “You’ll see I’m right. But in the meantime you must not tell anyone what I’ve told you. If Jenny Mayflower knows she is suspected of stealing she will run away.”
    Cindy opened the door of the house and walked in. The man in black slipped into the house behind her.
    Tom was standing at the table, talking to two ladies. One was Selma Peabody. The boys were nowhere in sight. They must be here somewhere, thought Cindy. She was going to need them.
    “Here’s the vase,” she said, handing the package to Tom.
    “A vase!” exclaimed Mrs. Peabody. “Let’s see it. A vase is just what I need.”
    “Is it for sale?” asked the other lady.
    “You bet,” said Tom. “Everything here is for sale except the people.” He picked up the box and started to open it.
    The man in black cleared his throat. Cindy glanced over her shoulder at him. He had taken off his hat. He had black shiny hair combed straight back off a high forehead. His forehead was beaded with perspiration.
    Tom lifted the object clear of the box. It was indeed a very ugly vase. The man in black sucked in his breath. Cindy knew he had expected it to be the iron dog. She knew it.
    “Oh, it’s lovely,” said Mrs. Peabody. “How much is it?”
    Tom considered. “You may have it for three dollars, madam,” he said.
    “I’ll take it,” said Mrs. Peabody, “although it probably isn’t worth more than ten cents.”
    The man in black edged closer to Cindy. “Say nothing of our conversation until I have spoken with you again,” he whispered. “Remember. Nothing.”
    She stared at him. He turned on his heel and walked into the living room. His eyes took in the entire room.
    There was a room beyond that, and he walked in. His eyes searched the room. He was looking for the iron dog. Cindy knew it, she knew it. Or did she? She didn’t know what to think. She had to have more facts first.
    Where were the boys? Cindy glanced around quickly. On the other side of the dining room on the far end of the house was a porch. A glassed-in porch with a lot of plants. Sort of like a greenhouse, she decided. And there was Dexter. He was leaning over a plant and reading a sign on it.
    She had to be sure that the man in black did not leave the house. But he probably wouldn’t go until he had talked to her again. And she had to talk to Jay and Dexter.
    She walked quickly over to the porch. Dexter looked up and grinned. Once she was out on the porch she could see that Jay was there too.
    “Quick,” Cindy said in a low voice. “I’ve got to talk to you. There’s a man in black who came in when I did.