Mystery of the Missing Cat Read Online Free PDF Page B

hurt.”
    â€œWow,” said Benny. “When we find Spotzie, we’ll have to tell Mr. Woods.”
    â€œThat’s a good idea, Benny,” said Dr. Scott. “Let me think … oh, yes. Do you know who Mr. Allen is?”
    â€œNo,” said Henry. “Who is he?”
    â€œA cat lover,” said Dr. Scott. “He owns purebred cats and shows them in cat shows.”
    â€œLike dog shows?” asked Benny, remembering the dog show that had recently come to Greenfield and the mystery the Aldens had solved then.
    â€œSort of like dog shows,” said Dr. Scott. “Mr. Allen is a specialist and a cat collector. He might be able to help. I’ll give you his number.”
    Dr. Scott looked up Mr. Allen’s phone number and wrote it down on a piece of paper.
    â€œThank you,” said Jessie, carefully folding the paper and putting it into the pocket of her jeans.
    â€œGood luck,” said Dr. Scott. “Let me know what happens.”
    â€œWe will,” said Violet.
    The Aldens and Soo Lee went back to the Aldens’ house. Jessie called the number Dr. Scott had given them.
    A man with a soft voice answered the phone.
    Jessie explained who she was and why she had called. “Dr. Scott told us we should call you. She said you might be able to help,” Jessie said.
    Mr. Allen hesitated. Then after a long moment he said, “Well, I don’t see how I can, but if you’d like to come over, you may.” He told Jessie where he lived and hung up before Jessie could say thank you.
    â€œI don’t think he wanted to talk to us,” said Jessie, hanging up the phone. She told her brothers and sister and Soo Lee about the conversation.
    â€œWell, even if he didn’t want to, he said he would,” said Henry, when Jessie had finished. “We’d better get going before he changes his mind.”
    â€œYou’ll have to stay here, Watch,” said Violet. “Mr. Allen has lots and lots of cats and you don’t even like having one in your house.”
    Watch sat down as if he understood what Violet had said.
    â€œGood dog, Watch,” said Benny.
    Saying good-bye to Watch and Mrs. McGregor, the children got their bicycles and pedalled over to Mr. Allen’s house.
    Like Mr. Woods’s house, Mr. Allen’s house was at the end of a street. But it was very different. A high hedge surrounded the house so it could not be seen. Gates stood open on either side of the gravel driveway. The driveway was lined with neat flower beds.
    As they rode their bicycles up the long driveway, the Aldens saw gardeners at work, one cutting the grass, another weeding the flower beds.
    The enormous front door was made of dark polished wood. When Jessie knocked, a tall man with a stern expression answered.
    â€œMr. Allen?” asked Jessie.
    â€œI am Mr. Allen’s butler. Is Mr. Allen expecting you?” answered the butler.
    â€œYes,” said Henry. “We called Mr. Allen about a missing cat.”
    The butler nodded his head slightly, then lifted his chin so that he seemed to be looking down his nose at the five children. “Walk this way, please,” he said.
    He led them down a long hall and into a room with a desk at one end. The room was lined with books. “I will inform Mr. Allen you are in the study.”
    â€œWow,” said Violet after the butler had left. “He’s like a butler in the movies!”
    â€œDo you think he likes his job?” asked Benny. “He didn’t smile at all.”
    Henry shook his head. “Maybe butlers aren’t supposed to smile, Benny.”
    â€œWhat a strange job!” exclaimed Benny.
    Just then the door opened and a small round man wearing a dark blue suit with a red bow tie came in. He had a small mustache and thinning hair combed over a bald spot on the top of his head. He stopped near the door and peered at the Aldens over the top of his