Mystery of the Pirate's Map Read Online Free PDF Page A

boy like you. You can have it if I can have that bottle you found. In fact, I don’t even want the bottle. I’d just like to have what’s inside it.”
    â€œUh, I don’t think so,” Benny said.
    â€œReally? May I ask why?” said the man.
    â€œBecause I’d have to talk to my grandfather first,” Benny told him.
    â€œYes,” Jessie said, coming forward and putting her arms around her little brother. “We would have to talk to our grandfather.”
    The man pretended to look hurt. “Oh, do we have to get him involved? Can’t we just make a deal right here?”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Henry cut in, “but we really shouldn’t be talking to strangers in the first place.”
    The man’s smile suddenly came back. “That’s very smart,” he said, although he didn’t sound as if he meant it.
    Then he reached into his pocket again and took out a business card. “Well, when you’re ready to make a deal, after you’ve talked to your grandfather, please give me a call.”
    â€œUmmm, okay,” Henry said, looking over the card quickly.
    â€œHave a nice day, children,” the man told them as the window went back up. Then the car pulled away and was gone.
    The others huddled around Henry to see what was on the card. There was nothing but a name and a phone number, and the name made their hearts jump:
    Winston Walker
    1-732-555-0241
    â€œI think we’d better get back and tell Grandfather and Tom about this,” Henry said sullenly.
    â€œI think you’re right,” Jessie replied. “Let’s go.”

CHAPTER 5
An Unwelcome Visitor
    â€œI ’m not surprised Walker turned up,” Tom said as he brought his fork to his mouth. He and Grandfather had made reservations at a nice restaurant called the Crab’s Claw Inn, right on Oyster Bay. “He has obviously been after John Finney’s treasure for years.”
    â€œBut how did he get here so fast?” Violet wondered aloud. “Does he live around here?”
    â€œNo,” Tom said, “but a man with that much money travels all the time.” Tom snapped his fingers. “He can be anywhere in an instant. He probably saw the story in the paper.”
    â€œSpeaking of which,” Grandfather said, reaching into his jacket pocket, “look at this.” He opened the front page of a different newspaper. This one was called the Daily Tribune, and there was Benny’s face again. It was the same picture as last time.
    â€œThis is one of the biggest newspapers on the East Coast,” Grandfather said. “Your story is getting around fast. Pretty soon Winston Walker will have a lot of competition for that treasure.”
    â€œSo what do we do?” asked Jessie.
    â€œYou don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to,” Tom replied. “Or you can take Winston Walker’s offer if you wish.” He looked at Benny. “It’s your piece of the map, Benny, so it’s your decision.”
    Benny had been playing with his food but not eating it. The others were beginning to get worried. It was a rare moment when Benny wasn’t hungry.
    â€œI want to keep it,” he said firmly.
    â€œSo then keep it,” Tom told him. “Have you found out anything about the other pieces?”
    The children looked at one another with silent, somber faces, which puzzled Tom. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œWe got a picture of one of them, piece number two, but the third piece, well . . . that’s the one Winston Walker found, and . . . he’ll never let anyone else see it or photograph it. He’s the only one who knows what it looks like. That’s what the book in the Lighthouse Library said.”
    Tom looked at Grandfather, then back at Henry. “So what are you going to do?”
    â€œWe’re not sure yet,” Henry admitted. “We were thinking maybe we could put