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儿童英语读物 The Gymnastics Mystery CHAPTER 8 The Girl in the Portrait

时间:2017-09-22 02:36来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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“Hey, there,” said Lucas when he reached them. “I thought you kids would be sitting in the bleachers.”

“Actually, our grandfather and our housekeeper1 are holding seats for us,” Jessie explained. “But we thought we’d stay down here and—” She couldn’t finish her sentence. Lucas was a suspect. She didn’t know how he was connected to Al Stockton or Katya.

“And make sure nothing goes wrong for Katya?” Lucas concluded correctly. “It’s okay. I know you kids are Katya’s friends. And you think I might be one of the bad guys.”

“Well, you did ask a lot of questions the other day,” said Violet. “You made her nervous.”

“I’m a reporter,” Lucas explained. “I’m supposed to ask questions and find out facts.”

Benny nodded. “So are we. We solve mysteries.”

“And I’m part of the mystery, aren’t I?” Lucas guessed.

“How can we trust you?” Henry said to him.

Lucas spread his hands, as if showing he had nothing to hide. “I’m not really sure what’s going on around here, but your friend is involved in some way. Our buddy2 Al Stockton hasn’t taken a single photo of anyone else today. His camera is always aimed at Katya.”

Jessie looked over. Sure enough, Al was snapping pictures of Katya, who was sitting on the bench behind the vaulting3 horse. She and her teammates wore their warm-up suits and were sipping4 water.

“This is what I wanted to tell you,” Lucas said. “I bumped into Al yesterday when we were leaving the arena5. It was an accident, but he yelled at me. Something about touching6 that big bag. He’s got it with him today, too.”

“It’s for storing extra rolls of film,” Violet said, noting the camera bag slung7 around Al Stockton’s neck.

“Maybe the guy is paranoid about it.” Lucas saw the American boys’ team was ready for their next event. “I’d better get back to work. Keep an eye on your friend.”

“Don’t worry,” said Jessie. “We will.”

Lucas hurried off, notebook in hand.

Henry turned to his brother and sisters. “I think we need to do a little background investigating. Right now.”

“On what?” asked Violet.

“On two newspaper employees.” Henry sorted through his pocket change for quarters. “Come on.”

They walked the length of the arena to the concession8 area. Floor music blared from loudspeakers as one group of gymnasts performed floor routines, while another group did balance beam sets, and yet another worked out on the rings.

“I don’t know how the gymnasts can concentrate,” Violet remarked, “with all this action going on around them.”

“They must be used to it,” said Jessie as they walked past a counter that sold hot dogs and nachos.

“I smell food,” said Benny, sniffing9 the air.

Violet giggled10. “You just had breakfast!”

“I can eat a hot dog anytime,” he said.

Henry headed for the bank of telephones. Local phone books bound in metal covers were mounted beneath the row of phones. Jessie looked up the first number for him.

Henry punched it in. “Hello,” he said when someone on the other end answered. “Is Lucas Tripp there today?”

He paused, then said, “No, that’s okay. Thanks very much.” He hung up.

“Well?” prompted Violet.

“Lucas works at the Greenfield Times as a reporter, just like he told us,” Henry replied. “And he’s out on assignment, the secretary said.”

Jessie read off the second number and Henry punched it in. This time he asked, “Is Al Stockton there today?”

The pause was much shorter. Henry said thanks and carefully hung up the receiver.

“The receptionist at the Register has never heard of Al Stockton,” he said with excitement. “He’s never worked there a day in his life! Al Stockton is a phony!”

“We can scratch Lucas off our suspect list for now,” said Jessie. “But how do Al and Katya fit into this case?”

Benny pulled out the silver locker11 key. “Maybe this is the answer. I mean, I found it the day we got Katya at the airport. And Al Stockton was there, too.”

“Benny’s right!” said Violet. “We’re overlooking the most important clue of all! Katya flew to America from Russia. Al Stockton was on her flight from New York.”

“I’ll bet our mystery man also flew to New York from Russia,” Henry said, following his sister’s thinking. “As soon as Al got off the plane,” Henry continued, “he rented a locker. I think he brought something back from Russia to put in that locker.”

Benny waved the key. “And then he lost this.”

“Maybe he thinks Katya has the gold box,” Jessie said. “That’s why he keeps following her around! He wants it back. So he’s pretending to work for a newspaper.”

“So,” said a voice behind them. “You’ve found out the truth.”

Jessie jumped. But it wasn’t Al Stockton standing12 behind them.

It was Lucas Tripp.

“I—uh,” she stammered13. Did they take Lucas off their suspect list too soon?

“I overheard Henry’s calls and part of your conversation just now,” the young man said, a little embarrassed. “Our pal14 Al isn’t employed at the Register after all. Good work! I should have looked into that myself days ago. It seems that while I’ve been so busy on this gymnastics story, a real mystery has been unfolding.”

Jessie breathed a sigh of relief. Lucas was okay. “The competition people would probably have kept Al out if they saw this unidentified guy taking pictures of Katya.”

“It’s not that hard to get a press pass,” Lucas said. “Especially if he’s worked for a paper somewhere else. Nobody questions a photographer with good credentials15.”

“So what do we do now?” Violet wanted to know.

“Unfortunately, I’ve got to get back to that event I’m covering,” Lucas said, running his hand through his light hair. “I think you kids should make sure Al doesn’t do anything to upset Katya. And I’d like to hear more about that gold box you mentioned. I’ll see you later.”

He reluctantly hurried off once more.

“I think Lucas is okay,” said Jessie. “It looks like we’d better get moving. The teams in Katya’s class are heading for the balance beam.”

Sure enough, all the junior girls from various countries were settling in lines near the balance beam. Mrs. Patterson, score sheet under her arm, redid her daughter Denise’s hair, adding a fresh red ribbon.

Denise smiled at Katya and gave her the thumbs-up sign. Katya returned the signal.

“They’re wishing each other good luck,” Henry observed. “It’s nice they’re friends even though they are on opposite teams. I can’t believe Katya is mixed up in anything mysterious. She’s just so nice.”

“I know,” Jessie agreed.

Just then Mrs. Patterson said something to her daughter. Reluctantly, Denise faced forward, so she couldn’t see Katya.

“That woman acts like she’s running this competition,” Violet remarked. “How could it hurt Denise’s chances to smile at Katya?”

“That’s the way some mothers are, Katya told us,” Henry reminded them. “They take sports more seriously than their kids.”

“I think they are starting,” Violet said, noticing the coach lining16 up the first team to compete. “Let’s go over.”

As the Aldens left the concession area, they found themselves mingling17 with reporters, photographers, and other people moving toward the balance beam area. The difficult beam event always drew a large crowd.

Someone bumped into Benny, hard. He went down on one knee.

Henry was at his brother’s side instantly. “Are you all right, Benny?”

“I’m fine,” Benny said, staring at the floor. Big shoes that needed polishing were right in front of him.

A voice growled18, “Look what you did!”

This time the voice belonged to Al Stockton. Now he was down on his knees, too, scooping19 scattered20 rolls of film and special lenses back into his camera bag.

“You made me drop my bag!” he complained. “If any of these lenses are cracked—”

“I’m sorry,” Benny said. “But you ran into me.” He tried to help by picking up loose photos that had slid from a side pocket.

“Leave those alone!” Al lunged for a sheaf of pictures in Benny’s hand.

“Take it easy,” Henry said, coming to his brother’s defense21. “He’s only trying to help.”

“You kids are always getting in my way!” Al accused. “Now give me those pictures.”

Benny gave the man his pictures. But two slipped from the hastily gathered stack. They landed faceup on the floor.

Benny stared.

One picture showed a huge, beautiful mansion22 with a circular driveway in front.

The second picture was an indoor shot of a fancy living room. A vase of flowers stood on a table. Above the table was a portrait of a young girl. The girl wore a fancy-looking red dress. Her blond hair curled on her shoulders.

The girl looked exactly like Katya Ludskaya!

Al quickly snatched the pictures and stuffed them in his camera bag. “Next time,” he warned, “stay out of my way!”

Then he hurried off to the balance beam area.

Violet helped Benny up. “Honestly, that man is so rude. Are you okay?”

“Did you see the pictures?” Benny asked, his fall forgotten.

“I sure did,” Jessie answered excitedly. “The one of the house—I know where I’ve seen it before!”

“Where?” asked Henry. In the flurry of dealing23 with Al Stockton, he hadn’t gotten a good look at the two photographs.

“It’s the same house in the newspaper clipping that was in Katya’s letter from Russia!” Jessie declared.

“Why would Al Stockton have a picture of a Russian house in his bag? The same house that was in a newspaper clipping in Katya’s letter?” Henry inquired.

“Did you see the second picture?” Benny insisted.

Jessie nodded. “In it was a painting of a girl.”

“And the girl looked a lot like Katya!” Benny said.

Henry whistled. “Now things are really getting complicated. I bet the room in the second picture is in the mansion. And if the girl in the portrait is Katya, she obviously lives in the mansion.”

“So Katya is really a rich girl pretending to be a gymnast?” Violet asked.

Jessie shook her head. “I don’t think she’s pretending to be a gymnast. She’s too good. But if she’s rich, she wouldn’t need to live with an American family for this competition. Why is she staying with us?”

Benny thought he knew the answer. “To hide who she really is.”

Now they all looked over at the balance beam. Katya’s team wasn’t performing yet, but they would soon.

“We’ll have to wait until after the competition to find out Katya’s identity,” Henry said.

Violet stared at the black-haired man, who was watching Katya intently. “And so will Al Stockton.”


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 housekeeper 6q2zxl     
n.管理家务的主妇,女管家
参考例句:
  • A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。
  • She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家,一家人吃得很省。
2 buddy 3xGz0E     
n.(美口)密友,伙伴
参考例句:
  • Calm down,buddy.What's the trouble?压压气,老兄。有什么麻烦吗?
  • Get out of my way,buddy!别挡道了,你这家伙!
3 vaulting d6beb2dc838180d7d10c4f3f14b1fb72     
n.(天花板或屋顶的)拱形结构
参考例句:
  • The vaulting horse is a difficult piece of apparatus to master. 鞍马是很难掌握的器械。
  • Sallie won the pole vaulting. 莎莉撑杆跳获胜。
4 sipping e7d80fb5edc3b51045def1311858d0ae     
v.小口喝,呷,抿( sip的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • She sat in the sun, idly sipping a cool drink. 她坐在阳光下懒洋洋地抿着冷饮。
  • She sat there, sipping at her tea. 她坐在那儿抿着茶。
5 arena Yv4zd     
n.竞技场,运动场所;竞争场所,舞台
参考例句:
  • She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
  • He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。
6 touching sg6zQ9     
adj.动人的,使人感伤的
参考例句:
  • It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
  • His letter was touching.他的信很感人。
7 slung slung     
抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 ); 吊挂; 遣送; 押往
参考例句:
  • He slung the bag over his shoulder. 他把包一甩,挎在肩上。
  • He stood up and slung his gun over his shoulder. 他站起来把枪往肩上一背。
8 concession LXryY     
n.让步,妥协;特许(权)
参考例句:
  • We can not make heavy concession to the matter.我们在这个问题上不能过于让步。
  • That is a great concession.这是很大的让步。
9 sniffing 50b6416c50a7d3793e6172a8514a0576     
n.探查法v.以鼻吸气,嗅,闻( sniff的现在分词 );抽鼻子(尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气);抱怨,不以为然地说
参考例句:
  • We all had colds and couldn't stop sniffing and sneezing. 我们都感冒了,一个劲地抽鼻子,打喷嚏。
  • They all had colds and were sniffing and sneezing. 他们都伤风了,呼呼喘气而且打喷嚏。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
10 giggled 72ecd6e6dbf913b285d28ec3ba1edb12     
v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The girls giggled at the joke. 女孩子们让这笑话逗得咯咯笑。
  • The children giggled hysterically. 孩子们歇斯底里地傻笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
11 locker 8pzzYm     
n.更衣箱,储物柜,冷藏室,上锁的人
参考例句:
  • At the swimming pool I put my clothes in a locker.在游泳池我把衣服锁在小柜里。
  • He moved into the locker room and began to slip out of his scrub suit.他走进更衣室把手术服脱下来。
12 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
13 stammered 76088bc9384c91d5745fd550a9d81721     
v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠,结结巴巴地说,“你是什么意思?” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
14 pal j4Fz4     
n.朋友,伙伴,同志;vi.结为友
参考例句:
  • He is a pal of mine.他是我的一个朋友。
  • Listen,pal,I don't want you talking to my sister any more.听着,小子,我不让你再和我妹妹说话了。
15 credentials credentials     
n.证明,资格,证明书,证件
参考例句:
  • He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
  • Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。
16 lining kpgzTO     
n.衬里,衬料
参考例句:
  • The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
  • Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。
17 mingling b387131b4ffa62204a89fca1610062f3     
adj.混合的
参考例句:
  • There was a spring of bitterness mingling with that fountain of sweets. 在这个甜蜜的源泉中间,已经掺和进苦涩的山水了。
  • The mingling of inconsequence belongs to us all. 这场矛盾混和物是我们大家所共有的。
18 growled 65a0c9cac661e85023a63631d6dab8a3     
v.(动物)发狺狺声, (雷)作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 );低声咆哮着说
参考例句:
  • \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道:“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》
19 scooping 5efbad5bbb4dce343848e992b81eb83d     
n.捞球v.抢先报道( scoop的现在分词 );(敏捷地)抱起;抢先获得;用铲[勺]等挖(洞等)
参考例句:
  • Heated ice cream scoop is used for scooping really cold ice cream. 加热的冰淇淋勺是用来舀非常凉的冰淇淋的。 来自互联网
  • The scoop-up was the key phase during a scooping cycle. 3个区间中,铲取区间是整个作业循环的关键。 来自互联网
20 scattered 7jgzKF     
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的
参考例句:
  • Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来,塞进文件夹里。
21 defense AxbxB     
n.防御,保卫;[pl.]防务工事;辩护,答辩
参考例句:
  • The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
  • The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。
22 mansion 8BYxn     
n.大厦,大楼;宅第
参考例句:
  • The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
  • The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。
23 dealing NvjzWP     
n.经商方法,待人态度
参考例句:
  • This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
  • His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
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