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into the living room.
    “You mentioned you wanted to see one of Milly’s paintings, Violet.” Mrs. Spencer made herself comfortable on the sofa. “I remembered a picture I’d taken in Milly’s backyard.” She reached for the photograph album. Everyone gathered around as she turned the pages one by one.
    “Here it is.” Mrs. Spencer put her finger under a snapshot of an elderly woman sitting at an easel, her hair hanging down her back in one long silver braid. There was a young woman standing nearby. “You can see what Milly’s painting. It’s the self-portrait I was telling you about.”
    Violet looked closely at the photograph. “Oh, she really was awonderful artist!” she said, admiringly.
    Benny pointed to the young woman in the photograph. “Who’s that?” he asked.

    The other Aldens had been wondering about her, too. The young woman was wearing jeans and a white T-shirt, and her blond hair was pulled back into a ponytail.
    “Oh, that’s Peg,” Mrs. Spencer answered. “She was a promising young artist Milly’d taken under her wing. Milly was always encouraging her to develop a style of her own. But Peg was too eager to make a name for herself in the art world. She liked to imitate the latest up-and-coming artists. Milly, on the other hand, was one of a kind.” Mrs. Spencer suddenly sighed. “Oh, I do miss her!”
    None of the Aldens liked to hear the sadness in Mrs. Spencer’s voice. Violet was trying to find something cheery to say when Jessie spoke up.
    “You won’t believe this, but we figured out the coded message!”
    Mrs. Spencer looked surprised — and pleased.
    After telling Mrs. Spencer about their visit to the library, Jessie read the rhyme they’d decoded out loud.
    “It doesn’t make any sense to us,” finished Violet.
    Mrs. Spencer threw up her hands. “I’m afraid it doesn’t make any sense to me, either.”
    The Aldens looked at one another. They were each thinking the same thing: How were they going to solve such a strange mystery?

CHAPTER 6
Keep Smiling!
    It rained in Greenfield for the next few days, and the children spent their time inside, puzzling over the strange rhyme. They thought and thought, but they still couldn’t come up with any answers.
    “I have an idea,” Violet said when the sun finally came out. “Let’s pack a picnic lunch and eat in the park.”
    The others agreed. “We could use a break,” said Henry.
    “I love picnics!” Benny got out the peanut butter and jelly.
    “Maybe we should stop at Mrs. Spencer’s on the way,” Jessie suggested. She got out the bread, cold cuts, lettuce, and mustard.
    But Violet wasn’t so sure this was a good idea. “We’re not having much luck with the mystery. Mrs. Spencer will be so disappointed.”
    “You’re right, Violet,” Jessie said after a moment’s thought. “Let’s wait until we have good news.”
    Benny looked relieved. “I didn’t want to go over there, anyway. Rachel wasn’t very nice to us.”
    “I wonder why she was acting so weird,” Henry said.
    “Things are slow for her at work right now,” Jessie reminded them.
    Benny filled a thermos with water for Watch. “She said we’d be sorry if we keep playing games,” he said in a worried tone of voice. “I wonder what she meant.”
    “I don’t know,” Jessie said. “But I think we should concentrate on one mystery at a time.”
    After cleaning up the kitchen, the children loaded their picnic lunch into Jessie’s backpack and set off for the park. Henry held Watch’s leash as they pedaled along. They were careful not to go too fast so that Watch could keep up with them.
    At the park, Jessie spread the old blanket on the grass, and the children sat cross-legged on it. Watch curled up close to Benny, keeping an eye on the sandwiches. Watch loved peanut butter.
    “I don’t get it,” said Benny. He held out his special cup as Violet poured the lemonade. It was the cracked pink cup he had found when they were living in the