Tattletale Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page B

“I’m going to be late if I don’t hurry. See you later,” she said, dashing away. She turned and waved back to them. “ ’Bye, kids! ’Bye, Watch!”
    Jessie stared after her, puzzled. Nobody had mentioned Watch’s name. How did Janice know it? Jessie couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right. She was trying to sort out her thoughts when Benny suddenly spoke up.
    “I bet Josiah Wade’s happier today,” he observed. The youngest Alden was gazing up at the statue of the Revolutionary War hero.
    “What do you mean, Benny?” Henry wanted to know.
    “I don’t think he liked it before,” said Benny. “When he was standing guard with a pigeon on his head, I mean.”
    Violet giggled. “He did look funny. Didn’t he, Benny?”
    Benny didn’t answer. His mouth had suddenly dropped open.
    “Benny, are you okay?” asked Violet.
    “It’s ... it’s Josiah!” Benny was pointing up at the minuteman.
    The others looked from Benny to the statue and back again. “What about him?” Henry asked.
    Benny was so excited, he was hopping on one foot. “Remember how the rhyme begins? ‘She is guarded in Greenfield/ By night and by day.’ ”
    Jessie’s eyes widened as she caught Benny’s meaning. “Josiah Wade is standing guard !”
    “And that means —” began Henry.
    “That the lady with the famous smile must be close by!” finished Violet.
    The Aldens let out a cheer.
    “That was good detective work, Benny,” praised Violet.
    Benny beamed. “Thanks.”
    The Aldens let their eyes wander around Town Square. Their gaze took in the parking lot on one side of the square, the shops and businesses that lined two sides, and the Town Hall that occupied the fourth side.
    “Let’s check out the stores,” Henry suggested.
    Jessie nodded. “Good idea.”
    The children finished up the last of their cones, then headed across the brick pavement. Henry looped Watch’s leash around his wrist so he couldn’t pull away. He didn’t want him to get lost in the crowd of shoppers.
    Taking turns waiting outside with Watch, they went into every store along one side of the square. Then they went into every store along the other side of the square. When they were finished, though, they were still no closer to solving the mystery.
    The children turned to one another in dismay. They had been so sure they were on the right track.
    As they headed toward the lot where their bikes were parked, Benny said, “Maybe Mrs. Turner’s the lady with the smile.”
    “Mrs. Turner is famous for her friendly smile, Benny,” admitted Jessie. “But I don’t think she has the most famous smile in history.”
    Violet drew in her breath as a sudden thought came to her. She stopped so quickly that Henry almost ran right into her. “Of course!” she cried. She gave her forehead a smack with the palm of her hand. “Why didn’t I think of that before?”
    “What’s the matter, Violet?” Jessie asked her in alarm.
    “It’s the Mona Lisa !” Violet’s eyes were shining as she turned to her sister and brothers. “She’s the one with the most famous smile in history!”
    Jessie raised her eyebrows in surprise. “You mean that painting by Leonardo da Vinci?”
    “Yes!” cried Violet, her voice excited.
    Jessie looked puzzled. So did Benny and Henry.
    “What makes you so sure, Violet?” Henry wanted to know.
    “Remember how her lips curl up just a little? Nobody knows why she’s smiling like that. That’s what makes her smile so mysterious.”
    “But that painting’s in a museum far away, Violet,” Benny pointed out. “Josiah Wade isn’t guarding it.”
    Henry suddenly snapped his fingers. “Wait a minute!”
    They all turned to look at Henry.
    “Josiah Wade is guarding the Mona Lisa Gallery,” he said. “And there’s even a picture of the Mona Lisa on the sign out front.”
    “That’s right!” Jessie cried in surprise. “We didn’t go inside because it was —”
    “Closed,” finished Benny,