Mystery on the Ice Read Online Free PDF Page A

it,” Jessie said. “Whoever it was underlined the Murray house in green ink! And wrote, ‘windows at ground level’ on it.”

    Benny sank down on a bleacher seat, puzzling over this latest development.
    Henry studied the map. “Who would have a copy of Friday night’s skating program on Tuesday?”
    “It could be Janet O’Shea! She’s in charge of things,” Benny said firmly, coming back to his prime suspect.
    For a moment all that was heard were skates scraping on ice as Ollie practiced his spills.
    “I’ll keep this,” said Henry. “Maybe it means something.”
    Jessie hoped the burglar was the mystery man, but now she wasn’t sure. All the skaters were friends. She didn’t want any of them to be guilty. But a shiver ran up her spine with the dreaded thought that someone in the troupe had stolen the jewels.

CHAPTER 6
Carl Under Suspicion
    By Wednesday more snow fallen, and although Greenfield was shoveling out, major highways and the airport still were closed.
    The Aldens again rode the bus to the Civic Center. Along Main Street, the bus stopped at a red light. Jessie, gazing out the window, drew in a sharp breath. “There’s Carl!” She pointed to a jewelry store, where Carl stood peering in the window.
    “He’s going into the shop!” Henry exclaimed.
    “Why is he going into a jewelry store?” Benny questioned.
    No one answered. “Oh,” Benny said in a low voice. “I know. He’s seeing how much diamonds and rubies are worth!” He felt sad.
    Suddenly Benny jumped up and down in his seat. “Look! The mystery man!” he shouted.
    Sure enough, leaning against a lamppost, the man with the black hat watched Carl disappear inside the shop. Now Violet could see he had a mustache.
    “Why is he watching Carl?” Benny asked.
    “I don’t know,” Jessie said. “Could he think Carl is the thief?”
    At the Civic Center, Alex met them. “We have the rink to ourselves,” Alex said. “There’s no practice today.”
    “You mean we can play hockey on the whole rink?” Benny asked in an eager voice.
    “The whole rink!” Alex repeated. “When Carl gets here, we’ll begin.” She looked around. “He’s late. I wonder what’s keeping him.”
    None of the Aldens said a word.
    Oh, Jessie thought, if poor Alex only knew what Carl was up to!
    Finally, Carl arrived. “Let’s have a game!” he said, acting as if nothing was wrong! Violet frowned.
    Jessie started to warm up, skimming to the opposite side, then back again.
    Then they all began to play hockey. Henry, Alex, and Violet were on one team, and Carl, Jessie, and Benny on the other. The game started. Alex made a quick pass to Henry, and Henry hit the puck through Carl’s legs.
    “Good move!” yelled Carl.
    Soon the puck was flying back and forth.
    “Time out!” Benny yelled, sliding across the ice on his stomach. “I fell!”
    He tried to get up, but his feet went out from under him and down he went again. “I’ll get up this time!” he declared. But once more his skates slid back and forth, and he tumbled.
    “Are you all right?” Henry asked, with concern, skating to Benny’s side.
    “I’m okay,” Benny said, taking Henry’s offered hand. Unsteadily, he stood, rubbing his hip. “It’s my rear that’s sore!”
    Alex’s gentle laugh rippled over the group. “That’s the danger of being an ice skater!”
    “But you don’t fall as much as I do!” Benny complained.
    “We did when we first learned to skate,” Carl said with a chuckle.
    For an hour they played hockey, then Marcia called, “Time for hot chocolate!”
    “Everyone for hot chocolate say, ‘Yes’!” Benny shouted.
    “Yes!” everybody yelled, heading for the bench to remove their skates.
    Walking over to the coffee shop, Jessie lagged behind with Marcia. “It’s too bad you can’t play hockey. It’s such fun.” She hesitated. “Tell me, do you do the camel spin in your routine?”
    Marcia shook her head.
    “How about the double or triple