The Disappearing Friend Mystery Read Online Free PDF

They were scattered all over the floor. Water had been poured on some of them, so the paint had run. Some of the posters had paint smeared across them in big, angry slashes. Not a single poster had been left untouched.
    â€œOur posters!” gasped Violet.
    â€œThey’re ruined,” said Henry.
    â€œWho would do something like this?” Jessie looked angrily around the boxcar, as if she could catch whoever had done it.
    â€œMaybe it was the wind?” whispered Beth.
    â€œNo.” Henry shook his head.
    â€œMaybe it was Watch?” Beth offered.
    â€œWatch would never do something like this.” Imitating his brother, Benny shook his head vigorously.

    Jessie said, “This wasn’t an accident. Look at these footprints smeared all around. Someone had to take the paint over to the posters to mess them all up like that.”
    Beth cleared her throat. “At least we had the best posters inside with us, so they weren’t ruined.”
    The angry look began to leave Jessie’s face. “That’s true, Beth. Let’s clean this up and get back to work.”
    â€œYes. We can always make more posters,” agreed Henry. “You know, it’s almost as if someone doesn’t want us to get started raising money for the new hospital wing.”
    â€œBut why?” asked Violet. “I don’t understand.”
    â€œI don’t understand it either,” said Henry, sounding puzzled.
    Luckily, there was plenty of poster board and paint. Everyone got back to work. At last the posters were finished and dry. The children decided to take them into town and put them up before anything else happened.
    Every storekeeper quickly agreed to let the children put up their posters. But when they got to the flower shop, the children had a problem.
    As the children walked in the door, a tall woman was turning away from the counter, holding an armful of roses.
    â€œIt’s her,” whispered Jessie. “It’s that doctor from the hospital.”
    The doctor was smiling and smelling her roses. Then she saw the posters.
    She stopped. “The Boxcar Helpers. Let us help you — and help the hospital,” she read aloud. “What is this?”
    â€œWe want to help raise money for the new wing of the Greenfield Hospital,” said Henry carefully. “So we’ve started a helper service.”
    The doctor frowned. “A helper service,” she repeated, as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
    â€œYes,” said Violet bravely. “All the money we earn doing odd jobs and errands will go to the hospital for the new wing that will be built.”
    â€œWell I don’t approve,” said the doctor. “We don’t need a new wing—Silver City needs a new hospital. This is ridiculous.”
    The doctor’s eyes narrowed angrily. She pushed past the children and out the door.
    The florist, who had been listening, shook his head.
    â€œOh, dear,” said Jessie. “Does this mean you won’t let us put up a poster?”
    â€œWell-ll,” said the florist. “She’s a good customer. I’d hate to lose her.” He paused.
    â€œPlease?” said Benny.
    â€œWell,” said the florist again, “I guess that new wing is going to be good for business. People often send flowers to patients in the hospital. Okay, you can put your poster up in the front window in the corner.”
    â€œThank you!” said Henry.
    Soon they had posters all over town, from the supermarket to the bicycle shop.
    Just as they were putting their last poster in the window of the ice cream shop, an older woman passed by and stopped to read it.
    â€œHow lovely,” she said. She looked at Beth. “That is a very good project, Heather. Your family must be proud. Well, I’ll have to remember to call you if I need help with anything.”
    As the woman left, Henry frowned. “Heather?” he said.
    Beth