Tattletale Mystery Read Online Free PDF

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    “What don’t you get, Benny?” Jessie looked over at her little brother as she unwrapped a ham sandwich.
    Benny looked puzzled. “How can anyone smile all the time? My face would get sore from all that smiling.”
    “Maybe it’s a snapshot of someone smiling,” Henry said thoughtfully as Jessie handed him a sandwich.
    “Or a painting,” Violet was quick to add.
    Jessie recited the first few lines of the rhyme. “ ‘She is guarded in Greenfield, By night and by day,/ And the smile on her lips/ Never does go away.’ ”
    “Don’t forget the rest of it,” put in Benny. “ ‘The smile is more famous/ Than any in history,/ And behind it there lurks/ A snapdragon mystery.’ ” The Aldens had read the rhyme so many times, they knew it by heart.
    No one said anything for a while. They were all completely baffled by the strange rhyme. After lunch, they put all thoughts of the mystery aside as they played a friendly game of touch football, with Watch running all around them in circles. When they sat down to catch their breath, Watch slurped up his water noisily.
    “An ice-cream cone would sure hit the spot right now,” Benny hinted.
    Henry took out his money and counted the change. “You’re in luck, Benny. Looks like I have enough for ice cream.”

    After cleaning up and making sure they hadn’t left any litter, they wheeled their bikes back onto the road and headed for Cooke’s Drugstore.
    “This was a good idea, Benny,” Jessie said, as she leaned against the minuteman statue in the middle of Town Square. She licked a drop of strawberry ice cream from the back of her hand.
    Benny grinned. “I told you it would hit the spot! Right, Watch?”
    Watch looked up and barked as if in agreement. Then he went back to chewing on his special doggy treat.
    Violet put a hand up to shade her eyes. “Isn’t that Janice from the library?” Everyone turned to look at the young woman coming toward them across the brick-paved square.
    “Hi, kids!” Janice greeted them with a warm smile. She was wearing a pale green skirt and matching blouse. “Enjoying the sunshine?” she asked them.
    “We sure are,” said Jessie. She smiled back at Janice.
    “I just wish I could enjoy it, too.” Janice sighed as she gazed up at the clear blue sky. “But I’m scheduled to work at the library all afternoon and then tonight at my other job.”
    “You have two jobs?” Violet asked in surprise.
    Then Henry added, “That must be hard.”
    “It’s the only way I can afford to go to college,” said Janice. “But I like my jobs,” she added. “Especially the one at the Mona Lisa Gallery.” The children followed her gaze to the gallery, tucked between stores on one side of Town Square. A sign hung out front with a picture of the Mona Lisa on it.
    “The art critics had a sneak preview of the latest exhibit,” she went on, “and they gave Peg’s — I mean Margaret’s — paintings rave reviews. Of course, that means it’ll be crowded at the gallery this evening. But I don’t mind. It’s always so exciting when there’s a new exhibit.”
    Violet looked puzzled. “Who’s Margaret?”
    “Margaret Longford,” answered Janice.
    “Peg’s her nickname. I know her from school, but ... I had no idea she was such a brilliant artist. She won the contest this year. The one sponsored by the gallery.”
    “Milly Manchester could have won that contest,” put in Benny. “She could’ve won just like that!” He snapped his fingers.
    Janice looked over at the Aldens in surprise. “It’s funny I just heard that name recently. Did you know Milly Manchester?”
    “No.” Henry shook his head. “But a good friend of ours did.”
    “And so did the Tattletale,” added Benny not noticing Jessie’s warning look.
    “Who?”
    Jessie quickly changed the subject. “Benny I think you have more chocolate ice cream on your face than in your mouth,” she said, handing him a napkin.
    Janice looked down at her wristwatch.