The Missing Book Read Online Free PDF

that tablet.” He grinned.
    â€œWell . . . ,” Mandie said slowly, “you are not offering to let me read your poem, so you can’t read mine.”
    Joe started up the road. Mandie quickly followed.
    â€œJust don’t forget, you’ll have to read it out loud in class where everyone will hear you,” Joe reminded her.
    â€œI know, but that will be different,” Mandie said. Trying to change the subject, she asked, “Did you ask your father about the Chapman house? I asked my father and he and some of the men went over there to look around after I got home from school. They couldn’t find any sign of anyone or anything wrong over there.”
    â€œMy father said we should stay away from there until someone finds out about this person Mrs. Clifton has been seeing. And he was going to talk to your father and some of the neighborhood men who have been working on the old house,” Joe told her. “He thought it could have been someone just passing through and stopping there to rest awhile.”
    â€œMaybe whoever it was has gone on and won’t be back again,” Mandie said, breathing in the crisp morning air. Part of her hoped the person was gone—but another part of her hoped not. Then there would be a mystery to solve!
    â€œHow long is your poem?” Joe asked as they continued down the road.
    â€œNot very long,” Mandie replied. If he wouldn’t tell her what she wanted to know, she was not going to give him any details.
    â€œLike a dozen lines or so?” Joe asked, looking down at her.
    â€œOh, no, not that many,” Mandie answered. “It’s short, so I won’t have to take a lot of time reading it in class.”
    â€œSo is mine,” Joe finally admitted. “Even so, it’s sure going to take a long time to get all our poems read and discussed.”
    Mandie shrugged. “I suppose so.We probably won’t have time to do anything else in class. And I hope we won’t have to use our reading books today.”
    â€œBecause you haven’t found your reading book yet, have you?” Joe asked.
    â€œNo, but I’m still looking,” Mandie told him. “And before you ask me, I have not told my parents yet that it’s missing.”
    â€œI’m surprised your sister has not told them,” Joe remarked.
    â€œI am too, but I suppose she has just not thought of it at the right time,” Mandie said.
    â€œMaybe you’ll find it before Irene tells,” Joe said.
    â€œI have searched the kitchen and the pantry, and as soon as I get a chance I’ll search the upstairs,” Mandie said.
    As they came to the crossroads, Mandie saw Faith waiting at the intersection. She and Joe hurried to join her.
    â€œI wanted to catch you to let you know I have permission to go to your house after school today,” Faith told Mandie. “Miss Abigail will be there again with the other ladies working on needlework and I can go home with her.”
    â€œOh, I’m so glad,” Mandie replied as the three walked on down the road toward the schoolhouse.
    â€œHave y’all got your poems ready?” Faith asked.
    â€œAll done,” Joe said.
    â€œI wrote mine, but I’m not sure I want to read it in class,” Mandie admitted.
    â€œAha!” Joe exclaimed. “I knew you weren’t very happy about writing the poem.”
    â€œI’m just not sure how it will sound when I read it out loud,” Mandie said.
    â€œI’m sure it will be fine. Why, most of our class probably doesn’t know how to begin to write a poem. I think it’s going to be a hilarious time,” Faith said with a big smile.
    And it did turn out to be a hilarious day at school. The pupils giggled and laughed and sometimes howled as the others read their poems. Mr. Tallant tried to keep silence in the room, but it was impossible, so he finally gave up.
    Then it was Joe’s turn to read his