Mystery on Church Hill by Steven K. Smith

Author:Steven K. Smith [Smith, Steven K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: Action & Adventure, Boys, Brothers, Family, Friendship, History, Mystery & Detective Stories, Siblings, Young Adult
ISBN: 9780989341431
Publisher: MyBoys3 Press
Published: 2013-12-08T05:00:00+00:00

Eleven

The Gathering

Everyone followed the guide out the back door of the Wythe House. It opened up into a lush garden. Several brick walkways broke up strips of green grass behind the house.

“We’ll be over here!” shouted the boys as they ran down the path toward a bench at the end of the garden. They sat underneath a covered trellis of ivy and vines for privacy.

Sam turned to Derek, nearly bursting with excitement. “Do you think the solar microscope was the device Thomas Jefferson was talking about in his letter?”

“It has to be. Did you see if the key fit the slide holder?”

“I held it up,” answered Sam, “but there wasn’t enough time to put it in. It seemed like it would fit, though.”

“It must be a special kind of slide,” said Derek. “Something Wythe developed just for the secret of the Declaration. We need to get back to that room. Maybe after it’s closed we can sneak back in.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Derek. We should tell someone first. This is a pretty important place. With all of the history here, they could call the FBI and charge us with damaging a national treasure!”

“But we might find them a national treasure!” said Derek. “That letter and whatever is on that slide are our insurance policy. We’re not stealing anything, we’re helping uncover something valuable for history. They’ll be thanking us, trust me. But we’ll never know if we don’t get ourselves back in there.”

Dad approached their meeting spot. “Come on, boys, let’s finish looking around the gardens and then head over to the Governor’s Palace.”

Sam and Derek followed their parents through the gardens and a few small outbuildings. There was a kitchen, a stable, and a couple other separate structures. As they approached the Governor’s Palace, the boys watched two men fill an old cannon with powder. They waited for a minute. Just when it seemed like nothing was going to happen, an enormous boom filled the air and shook the ground.

“Whoa,” yelled Derek, covering his ears. “It’s like fireworks on the Fourth of July!”

Inside the Palace was equally cool. The best part was the dark wood-paneled walls covered with rows and rows of old guns. There were hundreds of muskets and rifles, even shiny swords, all on display. It seemed like the colonists could have fought off the British using just the weapons on those walls.

After touring the Governor’s house, Mom stopped to watch a demonstration on colonial basket weaving. Sam thought he’d rather sit and watch the grass grow. He was starting to like all of this history stuff, but basket weaving was where he drew the line.

He whispered to Dad that he was going to walk up the street for a few minutes, promising to meet them after the boring basket weaving session was over. Dad glanced up at the quiet wide streets and nodded his head. Sam turned, signaling for Derek to join him. The two wandered over to a marketplace stand and tried on some tri-cornered hats.

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