“You know, Kate,” Vanessa said at breakfast the next morning, “if it’s a check that bothers you, I can arrange to give you cash for your painting.”
Josh was frowning at his wife. But she didn’t stop.
“And that goes for the necklace, too, of course,” she said.
Kate was pouring syrup over her pancakes. “You really must stop this, Vanessa,” she said.
The professor suddenly spoke up. “Don’t be too hasty, Kate. None of us is getting any younger, right?” he said with a forced laugh. “We could all use a bit of money tucked away for our old age.”
Jessie caught Henry’s eye. Why did Professor Brewer care about this?
“Yes, yes, that’s worth considering!” Vanessa shot the professor a grateful smile. “A little nest egg, Kate. Isn’t that more practical than a cluttered-up house?”
Violet didn’t like to hear this. She just had to say something. “Kate’s house isn’t filled with clutter. It’s filled with her family history.”
Josh turned to his wife. “Violet’s right. That’s part of its charm.”
Vanessa frowned. “Josh, please!” She looked sharply at her husband. “You’re not helping matters.”
Kate shook her head firmly. “I won’t part with my family’s past.”
Vanessa looked as if she wanted to argue, but she didn’t. She just shrugged a little. “Suit yourself,” she said.
Turning to the professor, Kate added,” Thank you for your concern, Professor Brewer, but I’ll manage just fine in my old age.”
Jessie glanced at the professor. His mouth was set in a hard, thin line.
“I was thinking of baking this morning, Benny,” Lindsay said as she stood up to clear the table. “How does a batch of peanut-butter cookies sound?”
Benny broke into a grin. “Sounds great!”
“Better watch out,” Henry said, half-joking. “Cookies have a way of disappearing when Benny’s around.”
This made Kate smile a little. “Any plans for today, kids?” she asked, pushing her chair back.
“We thought we’d explore the jungle,” said Jessie.
“If you don’t mind, Kate,” Violet was quick to add.
Kate didn’t mind at all. “Just watch out for tigers and lions!” she said with a teasing twinkle in her eye.
After helping with the dishes, the Aldens filled a thermos with pink lemonade. Then they filed out the door. “Anything unusual can be a clue,” Henry reminded his brother and sisters.
“Thane might’ve carved something on a rock,” added Violet, “or into a tree.”
Benny fell into step beside Henry. “And don’t forget to keep a sharp eye out for leopards.”
Jessie couldn’t help laughing. “I doubt we’ll come across any leopards in Kansas, Benny.”
As they followed the winding path through the woods, the four children checked every rock along the way looking for any strange markings. They inspected hollowed-out trees and looked under bushes. They searched and searched and searched. But by noon they still hadn’t found anything that would help solve the mystery.
“I guess we’re on the wrong track,” Violet had to admit as they sat together on a fallen log.
“Sure looks that way, Violet,” agreed Henry.
“I don’t get it.” Benny held out his pink cup as Jessie poured the lemonade. “This is where Thane’s rhyme was leading us. I’m sure of it.”
“Maybe the clue disappeared a long time ago,” suggested Jessie, pulling a twig from her hair. “Just like Henry said.”
The four Aldens were deep in thought when a familiar voice caught their attention. They didn’t mean to eavesdrop. But from where they were sitting, the children couldn’t help overhearing.
“I’m telling you, it’s not as easy as that … No, no … this place is always filled to the rafters.”
“Isn’t that Lindsay?” Benny asked.
Violet nodded. “I wonder why she sounds so upset.”
“Look, I just don’t think I can pull it off.” Lindsay was talking loudly now. “I told you, I’ll do my best to get it to you. That’s right … old and blue.”
“Did you hear that?” Jessie whispered.
Henry nodded. None of them liked the sound of this.
Just then, Lindsay stepped into the clearing. When she spotted the Aldens, she quickly pocketed her cell phone. “Oh, hi, kids!” she said. “I, um… was just out for a breath of fresh air.” She bit her lip nervously. “Guess I’d better … get back to work.” Before the children could say a word, she hurried away.
“That was a bit strange, don’t you think?” remarked Jessie.
“She said she didn’t think she could pull it off,” put in Benny. “I wonder what she meant by that.”
Henry shrugged. “There’s no way of knowing.”
“Do you think she’s up to something?” Benny wanted to know.
“I hope not.” Violet didn’t like to suspect Lindsay of doing anything wrong. Still, it did sound suspicious.
The four children fell silent for a while. Then Benny spoke up.
“I vote we take another look through the woods after lunch,” he said, still thinking about Thane’s rhyme.
Henry nodded. “I guess it’s possible we overlooked some kind of clue.”
“Let’s not say anything to Kate,” suggested Violet. “We don’t want to get her hopes up for nothing.”
“Good idea, Violet,” Jessie said, as they headed to the house for lunch. “We’ll try to figure things out first.”
They refused to give up. After toasted tomato sandwiches, fruit salad, and peanut-butter cookies, they went back to the woods. They looked for anything unusual as they made their way along every path. Once, twice, three times. But it was no use. By the end of the afternoon, they were still no closer to solving the mystery.
“Did you enjoy your safari through the jungle?” Kate wanted to know, as they relaxed in the front room after dinner.
“We didn’t have any luck,” Benny told her. “We tried to spot a leopard like the rhyme said, but—”
Henry poked him, then Benny remembered they weren’t supposed to talk about the mystery.
Kate’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, are you trying to figure out Thane’s rhyme?”
The children looked at one another. They didn’t want to lie, but they also knew it was best not to get Kate’s hopes up yet.
Henry quickly changed the subject. “Is that your family album, Kate?”
“Why, yes, Henry!” Kate reached for her family album from the coffee table. “Would you care to take a look?” As the children nodded eagerly, she turned to the professor sitting nearby. “How about you, Professor Brewer? Will you join us?”
The professor slowly lowered his newspaper. “I’m busy at the moment.”
“Maybe later, then,” Kate said with a little smile.
As Kate turned the pages of the album, Jessie couldn’t help noticing that the professor was staring at the photograph above the fireplace. Now and again, his lips would curl up into a smile. It seemed rather odd to Jessie.
“Here’s one of Sally. It was taken in 1904, just a few days after she fell through the ice.” Kate was tapping a finger under a faded old photograph.
Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny gathered round. A young girl, about Benny’s age, was sitting at a table shaped like a half moon. The girl had delicate features, and long dark hair that hung round her shoulders. She was holding a book in front of her.
“Why isn’t she smiling?” Benny wanted to know.
Violet had an answer. “Nobody smiled in those old photographs, Benny. You see, it wasn’t easy getting your picture taken in the olden days. People had to hold the same pose for almost half an hour.”
Henry, who kept looking from the photo to a corner of the room and back again, said, “Isn’t that the same table?”
They all followed his gaze to a table in a shadowy corner. Beside it was a straight-backed chair with padded arms.
“What sharp eyes, Henry!” exclaimed Kate. “Yes, that’s the very spot where the photograph was taken. That half-moon table has always been in that corner, close to the oval window with the frosted glass. I’ve been trying to find the same wallpaper they had back then,” she added, pointing to the photograph again. “See the big roses all over it?”
Just then, the professor’s shoes squeaked, making them look up. As he left the room, Kate lowered her voice. “I’m looking forward to a peaceful day tomorrow. The professor’s going away on some kind of outing.” She let out a sigh. “Even Josh and Vanessa will be gone before breakfast.”
“Where’s everybody going?” Benny wanted to know.
Jessie gave her little brother a warning look. “That’s not really any of our business, Benny.”
Kate laughed a little. “I imagine they’re going sightseeing, Benny.” She stood up and yawned. “Well, it’s been a long day. Time to hit the sack.” With that, she said good-night and went upstairs.
“It’s been a long day for us, too,” Henry reminded them. “Why don’t we call it a night?”
As they started for the door, Violet noticed that Jessie was still bent over the photograph album. “What is it, Jessie?”
“It’s the strangest thing …” Jessie lifted her head. “I think Sally’s reading a book about leopards. In the photo, I mean.”
“Leopards …?” repeated Henry, his eyes wide with surprise.
Violet sat down beside her older sister. “Are you sure, Jessie?”
“I can’t be certain,” said Jessie. “It’s hard to make out the title.”
The youngest Alden raced out of the room. When he returned, he was holding a magnifying glass. “I told you we’d need it,” he said, handing it to Jessie.
“What would we do without you, Benny?” Henry said with a smile.
After studying the photograph through the magnifying glass, Jessie said, “Guess what? The title of Sally’s book is How the Leopard Got Its Spots.”
“Wow!” cried Violet, a look of astonishment on her face.
Henry said, “I’ve read that story in school. Rudyard Kipling wrote it.”
“What’s it about, Henry?” Benny wanted to know.
Henry perched on the arm of a chair. “Well, at the beginning of the story the leopard’s just a plain color—kind of brownish yellow. When he goes hunting in the desert, the other animals can’t see him.”
Benny was curious. “Why can’t they see him?”
“Because he blends in with the desert,” explained Henry. “But then the other animals decide to live in the jungle. Of course, then the leopard’s got a real problem. He doesn’t blend in with the background and the other animals can see him coming. So the leopard goes to his friend for help, and the man dips his fingers into black ink and—”
“Gives the leopard spots!” finished Benny.
“You guessed it.” Henry smiled at his little brother. “After that, the leopard blends in with the jungle background, and becomes a great hunter again.”
“Is that a true story?” Benny asked, after a moment’s thought.
Jessie shook her head firmly. “Rudyard Kipling made it up, Benny.”
“So, do you think the rhyme’s leading us to Sally’s book?” Violet wondered.
“Got to be.” Henry sounded very sure.
“That means we have to find it,” Jessie realized. “Sally’s book, I mean.”
“Come on!” Benny was already halfway to the door. “Let’s try the reading room first.”
The others knew there was no stopping Benny. “We’re right behind you, Sherlock,” said Henry as they followed their little brother along the hallway.
Inside the reading room, Jessie flipped on a light switch and glanced around at all the shelves crowded with books. Even the tables were piled high. “It won’t take as long if we split up,” she suggested in her practical way.
Henry and Benny set to work checking out the books stacked on the tables. Jessie and Violet searched the shelves, looking for anything by Rudyard Kipling.
After some time had passed, Jessie walked over to her sister and said, “I haven’t had any luck, have you, Violet?”
Just then Violet’s jaw dropped. “Here it is!” she whispered. It was all she could do to keep from shouting.
Henry and Benny rushed over. “Did you find it?” said Henry.
Violet pulled a faded orange-colored book down from the shelf and opened it. “Oh, there’s an inscription!” she exclaimed. Then she read it aloud. “To our Sally, from Mother and Father.”
Benny rubbed his hands together. “Now we’re getting somewhere!”
It was late, but the Aldens were determined to search for the hidden clue. As they stood together in a circle of yellow light from the table lamp, Jessie began to turn the pages slowly … slowly … slowly.
“I bet there’s a note stuck inside the book,” said Benny, sounding excited.
Henry added, “Or maybe a message scribbled on a page.”
They checked out every word and every illustration. But they didn’t find any note stuck inside or any scribbled messages. Their only small discovery was a page with the corner turned down.
“I guess Sally wanted to mark her spot,” suggested Violet.
But Jessie wasn’t so sure. “Unless …” A sudden thought came to her.
“Unless what, Jessie?” Benny wanted to know.
“Unless Thane marked the spot.”
The others looked at Jessie in surprise. “You think there’s a clue hidden on this page?” Violet asked.
“But it’s just an illustration,” Benny pointed out.
“That’s true, Benny,” said Jessie. “But remember how the rhyme goes?” She recited the last few lines. “Just take a look under/ The little dog’s ear. Maybe there’s a dog in the illustration.”
The Aldens examined the glossy page carefully. They found zebras and giraffes, lions and tigers, elephants and hippos, monkeys and leopards. But no dogs.
“What now?” Benny wanted to know, his shoulders slumped with disappointment.
None of them had an answer to that question. |