Eddie by Scott Gustafson

Author:Scott Gustafson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 2011-09-06T04:00:00+00:00

There was a little alley that cut between the boardinghouse yard and the neighbor’s yard. This dirt path met a larger alley that ran behind Mrs. Murphy’s, the Allans’, and the judge’s houses. Where the two wagon-rutted pathways met, they formed a T intersection. When Eddie reached that point, he was surprised to find no one in sight in any direction. Puzzled, he stood in the center of the intersection, wondering where the man could have vanished to in such a short time.

As he peered off in the direction of the theater, Eddie was startled when suddenly a dark figure appeared behind him. In a moment Mephisto had swept by him and on down the alleyway.

Eddie quickly pretended to walk in the opposite direction, paused behind a tree, and then proceeded to follow his quarry.

For the five or six blocks that was the length of the journey to the theater’s alley, nothing of note happened. Soon Eddie and McCobber were watching from behind an old wooden barrel as Mephisto gave the stage door a series of three short raps. A moment later the door opened and the captain disappeared within.

The raven landed on the barrel’s rim as Eddie knelt behind it. “That’s weird,” the bird said. “I wonder what our friend the captain was doing in Murphy’s shed.”

“So that’s where he went,” said Eddie.

“Maybe he had to take a leak,” McCobber suggested.

“We’d better keep an eye on this guy,” Eddie said. “He’s up to something.”

He then walked to the stage door and tried to open it. “Locked,” he whispered. “I sure would like to see what goes on backstage with old Mephisto.” He began to turn away, and then remembered something. “You know,” he said, “I used to know somebody who worked here. . . .” He gingerly rapped three times himself.

“I’m comin’,” a voice called from inside. The door opened, and an older black man in shirtsleeves and waistcoat appeared. “May I help you?”

Eddie was relieved at the sight of him. “Hello, Mr. Othello. Remember me?”

The man squinted, and tilted his head first to the left and then to the right. Then a smile slowly brightened his eyes. “Young Master Poe? Is that you?” he grinned. “Is that Eddie Poe?” Eddie smiled and nodded.

“Why, I’d hardly recognize you,” he said, and laughed. “You’re so grown. Look at you!” He shook his head. “But you still got your mother’s eyes.” The man patted the boy on the shoulder. “Now, what brings you down here on such a fine evening? You got a hankerin’ to see a show?”

Eddie’s smile broadened, and he was about to answer when—

“By golly!” said the old man with a sudden start. “You know, there’s someone here who’d like to see you. Just hold on now, hold on!” He turned, peering into the dark passageway behind him. “Cap’n,” he called. “Excuse me, Cap’n Mephisto?”

Eddie felt a wave of panic when he heard the name. “Ah, n-no. That’s all right,” he stammered. “You don’t have to . . .

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.