Mystery of the Stolen Sword Read Online Free PDF Page B

she interrupted.
    “Veronica, I was helping the Aldens find some markings on the trees. We think these markings might be a clue — you know, for those burglaries.”
    “Oh.” Veronica looked somewhat interested. “Why don’t we take a walk and you can tell me all about it,” Veronica suggested, locking her arm through Martin’s.
    “So long,” Martin said, nodding to the Aldens. He looked sorry to be saying good-bye to them. Veronica firmly led Martin away without a word to the Aldens.
    “I can’t believe someone as nice as Martin is going out with Veronica,” Jessie muttered as the four walked quickly in the other direction — toward the farmhouse.
    “She is so rude to us,” Violet complained. “Did you see how she acted like we weren’t even there?”
    “She probably wishes we weren’t around,” Jessie remarked. “If it weren’t for us, Martin would have been waiting for her by the tree.”
    “Yeah,” Benny agreed.
    “You know,” Henry began, “I wonder how much of our conversation she overheard. I wonder how long she was behind that tree.”
    “Do you think she might have been spying on us?” Violet wondered.
    “That is just what I was thinking,” Henry admitted.
    “Well, did you see the markings?” Seymour wanted to know as soon as the Aldens walked in the door of the farmhouse.
    “We sure did,” Jessie said.
    “We saw two kinds,” Benny added. “Old ones and new ones. And I bet the new ones were drawn by the ghost.”
    “Where were these new markings, exactly?” Seymour wanted to know.
    “Near the horse’s pasture,” Violet answered.
    “We saw a drawing of a sword with a curved blade on one of the trees. It didn’t look as old and faded as the others,” Henry explained.
    “That’s odd,” Seymour said, scratching his chin. “The missing sword has a curved blade.”
    “We thought it might,” Henry said, looking excited. “We think it might be a signal.”
    “A signal for the burglar,” Seymour said, frowning. “I’d like to see this marking.”
    “We’ll lead the way,” Henry said.
    Before Seymour and the Aldens could get out the door, they heard Grandfather calling them from the living room. “Look at this!” Grandfather was almost shouting. The Aldens rushed into the living room ahead of Seymour.
    They found their grandfather seated in an old armchair by the window, rustling the newspaper, which lay open on his lap.
    “Take a look at this story,” Grandfather said as he handed the paper to Henry.
    “‘Memories of Yesteryear.’” Henry read the headline aloud while the others peered over his shoulder — all but Benny, who was too short.
    “‘Today’s column features a letter that has much to tell us about what life was like in Chassell in the horse-and-buggy days,’” Henry continued reading. Then he gasped.
    “What, what’s the matter?” Benny cried.
    “This letter is addressed to Joshua Curtis,” Henry said, lowering the paper so Benny could see it.
    “Wow, it was written in 1857,” Violet said, looking over Benny’s shoulder.
    Seymour put on his spectacles and took a closer look at the paper. “Just as I thought,” he said grimly. “That’s one of Gideon’s letters to Joshua. It’s also one of the letters that was stolen from my desk.”
    Henry looked puzzled. “Why did Gideon have a letter addressed to Joshua? Wouldn’t Joshua have that letter?”
    “Good question,” Seymour said. “Gideon made copies of every letter he sent. That’s why there’s so much correspondence in this house.”
    “I can’t believe that’s one of the stolen letters!” Rose said.
    “It is,” Seymour said, a little gruffly. “It’s the letter where Gideon is inviting Joshua to come up for a visit.”
    “I don’t think I ever read that letter,” Rose said slowly.
    “James, why don’t you read that letter aloud?” Seymour suggested.
    Grandfather cleared his throat and read:
    15 October 1857
    Dear Cousin Joshua,
    I regret to have taken so