The Mystery in the Snow Read Online Free PDF

Behind the lodge, they found a scrap heap next to the garage. Debbie saw an old sled under a tarpaulin. They piled it with metal pipes and strips of wood.
    â€œTake that wire, too,” Benny said. “It’s perfect for holding the form together.”
    Now that they knew what they were doing, the work went fast. In an hour, four stick figures stood in the snow. By supper time, they had the rough beginnings of snowy self-portraits.
    â€œI wonder how Freddy’s team is doing,” Jason said.
    â€œDon’t worry about them,” Benny said. “Just think about doing the best we can.”

CHAPTER 8
    Smashed Snowmen
    A t 5:30, the snow sculptors were too cold and tired to work anymore. Benny hurried inside to the dining room, where he spotted his sisters and brother at a table. He rushed over to join them. “Wait till you see our snowpeople!” he said.
    Pete stomped into the dining room. He sat down at a corner table.
    Henry pushed himself away from the table. “I think I’ll ask him to eat with us,” he said.
    â€œHe still looks pretty angry,” Benny commented.
    â€œMaybe we can cheer him up. He seemed so unhappy at lunch,” Jessie said.
    Henry went over and sat down next to Pete. “We have room at our table,” he said.
    â€œSo?” Pete snapped.
    Henry shrugged. “We thought you might like to eat with us.”
    Pete rolled his eyes. “You thought wrong.”
    Henry stood up. “Well, if you change your mind…”
    Violet knew Henry felt bad. When he returned to their table, she said, “Maybe he’ll eat with us tomorrow.”
    â€œWhere’s Grandfather?” Benny asked. “I want to show him our snowpeople.”
    â€œHe’s eating later, with Mr. Mercer,” Violet told him.
    â€œI’d like to tell Jimmy about them, too,” Benny said, looking around. “Where is he?”
    â€œI don’t think he’s here yet,” Jessie said.
    â€œFreddy hasn’t come in either,” Henry added.
    Mr. Mercer’s helper filled plates with hamburgers and French fries and passed them down the table.
    â€œMy favorite!” Benny exclaimed.
    Jessie laughed. “Everything’s your favorite, Benny,” she teased.
    Pete ate fast and started out of the room.
    â€œLooks like Pete’s not staying for dessert,” Henry observed.
    â€œHe’s not even staying for second helpings,” Benny put in.
    Shortly after Pete left, Freddy appeared. She went from table to table asking, “Has anyone seen my glove?”
    When she asked the Aldens, Benny said, “They’re in your pocket.”
    Freddy yanked out an orange, green, and yellow glove. “The other one,” she explained. “I lost it somewhere.”
    Jessie remembered seeing her with both gloves at lunch. “Maybe one fell on the floor,” she said.
    They looked all around. Benny looked under the table. No glove.
    â€œGood thing I have another pair,” Freddy said.
    She stuffed the glove back into her pocket. Something fell to the floor. Freddy scooped it up quickly, but the Aldens saw it.
    It was a key, with a tag attached to it.
    Freddy hurried away without looking at the Aldens.
    Behind the Aldens, someone asked, “What was all that about?”
    It was Jimmy.
    â€œFreddy lost a glove,” Violet told him.
    He shrugged. “It’ll turn up.”
    â€œAnd she had a key,” Violet said. “I wonder if it’s the one Mr. Mercer’s missing.”
    Jimmy shook his head. “Probably her room key.”
    â€œShe picked it up so fast,” Jessie said. “Like she didn’t want anyone to see it.”
    Jimmy waved that away. “Freddy does everything fast,” he said.
    Benny told him about the snow sculpture. “Will you come and see it after supper?” he asked.
    â€œI won’t have time,” Jimmy said. “I have to call my parents and take care of