The Mystery of the Screech Owl Read Online Free PDF

barely see it.”
    â€œWhen you pulled the stick, it tripped some mechanism on the platform,” Henry added. “And that caused the ladder to fall down.” He pushed the lever backward. The ladder was whisked up and hidden from sight.
    â€œCool,” said Benny. “Let me try.” He pulled the lever and the rope ladder fell down again.
    â€œWho wants to go first?” asked Jacob.
    â€œNot me,” Patty replied, backing away. “I don’t like heights.”
    â€œThis ladder could be rotten,” Henry stated. “I’m the heaviest, so I’ll test it.”
    He put one foot in the lowest rung and bounced a little. The ladder held. Then he climbed up cautiously and pulled himself onto the platform.
    With a thumbs-up signal, he said, “Who’s next?”
    Now everyone was eager to climb the ladder, even Patty. When they were all up on the platform, Jessie twisted the knob on the door.
    â€œIt’s not locked,” she remarked.
    â€œWho would rob a tree house?” asked Benny. “Especially one that you can’t get up into.”
    â€œGood point.” Jessie pushed hard on the door. The hinges creaked with disuse. One by one, they all stepped inside.
    No one spoke for a minute.
    â€œThis house,” Henry pronounced, “is absolutely perfect.”

    â€œIt’s almost as nice as our boxcar,” Benny said.
    â€œBut our boxcar didn’t have homemade furniture,” said Violet. “This furniture looks like it grew out of the tree.”
    Chairs were made of bent willow saplings. A single slab of cedar formed a table. Shelves had been fashioned from split logs.
    â€œThere are even pictures on the wall,” Jessie commented. She particularly liked a little sign that said, TREE, SWEET TREE . “That’s supposed to be ‘Home, Sweet Home.’ Somebody has a good sense of humor.”
    â€œAnd good building skills.” Henry rapped the sturdy walls. “This place is completely protected from rain and wind.”
    â€œWho lives here?” Patty wanted to know, picking up a dusty pillow from a rocking chair.
    â€œNobody now,” Violet guessed. She pointed to piles of leaves and acorns in the corners. “Squirrels did that. I don’t think they’d make nests if people were around.”
    Benny couldn’t believe anybody would leave such a great place. The tree house was clearly someone’s special hideaway.
    But whose?
    â€œI suppose we’d better go,” Henry told them. “This place may not be on Broken Moon Pond’s property. We could be trespassing.”
    â€œCan we come back?” asked Jacob. “Maybe the kid who built it will be here then.”
    Henry nodded. “Sure. But we ought to find out who owns it first.”
    â€œMaybe when you go back to the real estate agent’s office, you can ask Mr. Cartier,” Jessie suggested. “He might know.”
    They all walked out onto the platform. Henry and Aaron checked the mechanism that drew the ladder up and let it down. Henry tested the bolts the ladder was fastened to and the knots for any signs of fraying.
    â€œLooks fine,” he said. “I’ll go down first to hold the ladder at the bottom so it won’t sway. Violet, you follow me.”
    When it was Patty’s turn, she said hastily, “I’ve changed my mind. I’ll go last.”
    â€œNo, you won’t,” Benny told her. “I’ll be right behind you so nothing will happen.”
    â€œViolet and I will tell you exactly where to put your feet,” Henry called up.
    With the Aldens’ encouragement, Patty was on the ground in no time.
    Sighing with relief, she said, “Thanks a lot, you guys.”
    â€œNext time it’ll be easier,” Jessie said as she climbed down after Patty. “Now that you know you can do it.”
    Henry pushed the lever to make the ladder go up. Then they walked back