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儿童英语读物 The Ghost in the First Row CHAPTER 5 Whodunit?

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When the Aldens returned to the theater, they found Ray outside by the back door. He was standing1 at an old table covered with tools and rags. The container filled with plaster of Paris was nearby. He looked over at the children and gave them a cheery smile.

“How did you make out?” he asked them.

“Good,” Henry told him. “We found a spot for every poster.”

Ray dried his hands on a rag. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out some dollar bills. “Let me pay you for—”

Jessie shook her head firmly. “Please put your money away Ray.”

“But …” he protested.

“We like to help,” Violet said in her soft voice.

Ray hesitated for a moment. Then he shoved the dollar bills into his pocket again. “If you won’t accept money then at least accept my invitation to the dress rehearsal2 tomorrow night. We’re having a potluck dinner for the cast and crew afterwards. I’d love to have you and your aunt join us.”

“We’ll check with Aunt Jane,” said Jessie.

“But I’m pretty sure you can count us in.”

“I hope so,” said Ray turning back to his work.

Benny was curious. “What are you making, Ray?”

“I’m making that mold of the butler’s footprint, Benny. The stagehands are busy backstage, so I thought I’d do it myself.”

“Super!” said Benny.

“I already made an impression of the butler’s shoe in the mud.”

Ray nodded towards a square container filled with dirt. “It’s important to make the mold before the mud dries.”

“Why’s that?” Henry wondered.

“A footprint shrinks as the mud dries, Henry,” Ray explained. “For the mold to fit the butler’s shoe exactly it has to be made while the dirt’s still wet.”

“That makes sense,” said Henry.

The Aldens watched as the theater director stirred the plaster of Paris with water. When it was just the right thickness, he poured the mixture into the footprint.

“That should do it. Hopefully, the ghosts won’t get at it before the plaster sets,” Ray said with a wink3.

Jessie caught Henry’s eye. Was Ray joking—or did he really believe the theater was haunted?

“Let’s get that tape recorder for Ray before we forget,” Jessie suggested, as they wheeled their bikes into Aunt Jane’s driveway.

“Good idea,” said Henry.

“Ray said it was in the box with Alice’s tapes,” Benny reminded them, following the others into the shed.

“That’s funny,” Violet said, looking around. “I’m sure it was right here on the table.” Now there was nothing on the table but the old typewriter.

“I don’t understand it,” said Henry.

Jessie frowned. “What happened?”

“It was stolen,” said Benny.

“Oh, Benny,” said Jessie. “Who would steal Alice Duncan’s tapes?”

“A thief, that’s who!” Benny cried.

Henry looked over at his little brother. “You’re thinking about last night, right?”

“I saw somebody out by the shed, Henry,” Benny insisted. “I’m sure of it.”

Jessie and Violet were surprised to hear this.

“But who would do such a thing?” Violet wondered. “And why?”

“Let’s not say anything about the tapes,” Henry suggested, “until we have a chance to do some investigating.”

Over dinner, the Aldens took turns telling their aunt all about the latest prank4. Violet finished by saying, “A spotlight5 was shining on a seat in the first row.”

“I can’t believe it!” Aunt Jane shook her head. “Those practical jokes won’t seem very funny if they scare people away.”

“Don’t worry, Aunt Jane,” said Benny. “We cleaned up the popcorn6 before anybody else could see it.”

“That was good thinking, Benny,” Aunt Jane told him, as she pushed her chair back.

“We’ll do the dishes, Aunt Jane,” Violet offered.

“Oh, thanks, Violet. It’ll give me a chance to get some other work done.” With that, Aunt Jane left the room.

“Maybe if we put our heads together,” Jessie said, as she wrapped the leftover7 pasta, “we can get to the bottom of it.”

But Violet wasn’t so sure. “This is a tough mystery to figure out.”

“Know what?” said Benny. “I think Alice’s tapes will show up again—in a strange place.”

“What makes you say that?” Jessie asked her little brother.

“Remember what happened when Lady Chadwick’s hat disappeared?” Benny reminded them. “They found it hanging from the chandelier in the lobby!”

Violet, who was filling the sink with soapy water, suddenly looked over. “You think the disappearing tapes is just another prank?”

“It’s possible,” Henry said thoughtfully.

Benny had an opinion about this. “I bet it is a trick,” he said. “And I bet Gil Diggs is behind it.”

“Gil’s up to something, all right,” said Henry. “I’m just not sure it has anything to do with the ghostly pranks8.”

“But we heard him on the phone,” Benny argued. “Remember? He was talking about shutting it down.”

“And the Trap-Door Theater will shut down,” Violet pointed9 out, “if everybody’s scared away by rumors10 of ghosts.”

“You’re forgetting something,” Jessie said. “Gil doesn’t have a key to the theater.”

“That’s true,” said Henry. “Ray told us he has the only key.”

“And he said there was no sign anyone broke in,” Violet recalled.

“What if Gil is working with someone else?” Jessie suggested.

Henry hadn’t thought of that. “There was somebody on the other end of that phone conversation,” he admitted. “Maybe Gil knows somebody in the cast.”

“Or the crew,” added Benny.

Henry reached for a dishtowel. “Gil is afraid the Trap-Door Theater will take away even more customers,” he admitted. “But he’s not the only suspect.”

“You’re thinking about Tricia Jenkins, right?” said Jessie.

Benny looked puzzled. “Why would Tricia play tricks on everyone?”

“There’s no reason for her to do something like that,” said Violet.

“What if she’s trying to get rid of Fern Robson?” Henry suggested.

“By convincing her the theater’s haunted?” asked Violet.

“We have to think of everything,” Henry pointed out. “And Tricia doesn’t seem to like Fern very much.”

“She didn’t seem very happy to see Fern’s name on the billboard11 above the title,” Jessie had to admit.

“It’s not very nice to scare people.” A frown crossed Benny’s round face.

“No, it’s not,” agreed Violet, who was up to her elbows in soapy suds. “Fern’s a nervous wreck12.”

“Maybe that’s just what she wants everyone to believe,” Jessie said. “Maybe she isn’t nervous at all.”

Henry turned to Jessie in surprise. “You think it’s an act?”

“Could be,” Jessie said, putting the clean plates into the cupboard. “It does seem to get her what she wants.”

Henry added everything up on his fingers. “First she gets a bigger dressing13 room. Then she gets to sleep in late.”

“And don’t forget about getting her name above the title,” put in Jessie.

They had to admit it was possible. After all, Fern was an actress—and a good one. And wasn’t Ray eager to keep her happy so she wouldn’t quit?

“You really think Fern set up all those pranks just to get her own way?” Violet found it hard to believe.

Jessie shrugged14. “Well, she seems to be able to wrap Ray around her little finger by acting15 frightened.”

“It does seem that way,” Violet said. But she didn’t like to think Fern would do something so sneaky.

“Let’s keep an eye on all of them,” Henry suggested. “Gil, Tricia, and Fern.”

Jessie suddenly looked around. “Where’s Benny?”

Henry looked around, too. “I don’t know.”

A few minutes later, Benny came in from the backyard. There was a smudge of dirt on his nose.

“Where were you, Benny?” Jessie wanted to know.

“I was on a top-secret mission,” Benny said mysteriously. “But I can’t tell you about it just yet.”

The other Aldens looked at one other. What was their little brother up to?
 


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 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。
2 rehearsal AVaxu     
n.排练,排演;练习
参考例句:
  • I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。
  • You can sharpen your skills with rehearsal.排练可以让技巧更加纯熟。
3 wink 4MGz3     
n.眨眼,使眼色,瞬间;v.眨眼,使眼色,闪烁
参考例句:
  • He tipped me the wink not to buy at that price.他眨眼暗示我按那个价格就不要买。
  • The satellite disappeared in a wink.瞬息之间,那颗卫星就消失了。
4 prank 51azg     
n.开玩笑,恶作剧;v.装饰;打扮;炫耀自己
参考例句:
  • It was thought that the fire alarm had been set off as a prank.人们认为火警报警器响是个恶作剧。
  • The dean was ranking the boys for pulling the prank.系主任正在惩罚那些恶作剧的男学生。
5 spotlight 6hBzmk     
n.公众注意的中心,聚光灯,探照灯,视听,注意,醒目
参考例句:
  • This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
  • The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。
6 popcorn 8lUzJI     
n.爆米花
参考例句:
  • I like to eat popcorn when I am watching TV play at home.当我在家观看电视剧时,喜欢吃爆米花。
  • He still stood behind his cash register stuffing his mouth with popcorn.他仍站在收银机后,嘴里塞满了爆米花。
7 leftover V97zC     
n.剩货,残留物,剩饭;adj.残余的
参考例句:
  • These narrow roads are a leftover from the days of horse-drawn carriages.这些小道是从马车时代沿用下来的。
  • Wonder if that bakery lets us take leftover home.不知道那家糕饼店会不会让我们把卖剩的带回家。
8 pranks cba7670310bdd53033e32d6c01506817     
n.玩笑,恶作剧( prank的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Frank's errancy consisted mostly of pranks. 法兰克错在老喜欢恶作剧。 来自辞典例句
  • He always leads in pranks and capers. 他老是带头胡闹和开玩笑。 来自辞典例句
9 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
10 rumors 2170bcd55c0e3844ecb4ef13fef29b01     
n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 );[古]名誉;咕哝;[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 );[古]名誉;咕哝;[古]喧嚷
参考例句:
  • Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》
11 billboard Ttrzj     
n.布告板,揭示栏,广告牌
参考例句:
  • He ploughed his energies into his father's billboard business.他把精力投入到父亲的广告牌业务中。
  • Billboard spreads will be simpler and more eye-catching.广告牌广告会比较简单且更引人注目。
12 wreck QMjzE     
n.失事,遇难;沉船;vt.(船等)失事,遇难
参考例句:
  • Weather may have been a factor in the wreck.天气可能是造成这次失事的原因之一。
  • No one can wreck the friendship between us.没有人能够破坏我们之间的友谊。
13 dressing 1uOzJG     
n.(食物)调料;包扎伤口的用品,敷料
参考例句:
  • Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
  • The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。
14 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀,什么也没说。
  • She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩,装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
15 acting czRzoc     
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的
参考例句:
  • Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她,她只是假装的。
  • During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代,她的表演生涯黯然失色。
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