Mystery on the Ice by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Author:Gertrude Chandler Warner [Chandler Warner, Gertrude]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4532-3436-5
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Published: 2011-09-19T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

A Dead End?

When they arrived home, the Aldens changed into old clothes, then hurried outdoors to build the biggest snowman on the block.

Watch romped at Benny’s side, and Benny threw snow up in the air, letting it drift over him and the dog. Laughing, Benny plunged into a snowbank. Jessie pulled him out and dusted him off, saying with a chuckle, “We don’t need to build a snowman. We’ll just stand you in front of the house, Benny, and stick a broom in your hand.”

“No, no!” Benny shouted, taking off his knit cap and shaking snowflakes out of his short brown hair. “We’ll build a real snowman! Come on, Violet, let’s roll a big snowball!”

Violet waded through the snow and joined him. Benny made a snowball, and together they rolled it over and over until the tiny ball grew and grew.

“Jessie,” Henry said, “we can’t let them get ahead of us. Let’s roll a huge ball for the bottom of the snowman.”

“Okay,” Jessie said, hurrying to help him. They began to roll a second ball. Bigger and bigger it swelled.

Once Jessie and Henry’s ball was in place, Violet and Benny set the smaller one on top. Now the snowman had a body, but no head.

“I’ll roll the head!” Benny exclaimed, starting another snowball. Watch leaped and played alongside. His paws and muzzle were white with snow.

Henry formed snow-arms, then stuck the snow shovel through one.

When the snowman was complete, Violet added a carrot for the nose, purple grapes for eyes, and a slice of melon for the mouth.

Benny dashed inside and found an old hat, scarf, and gloves to decorate the snowman. Jessie finished it by adding five green apples for buttons.

“I could eat one of those apples right now,” Benny said.

Henry laughed. “Shall we start supper?”

“Yes!” Benny said, snow covering him from head to foot, except for his rosy cheeks and twinkling eyes.

The children stamped snow from their boots before entering the house. In their rooms, they changed into dry clothes.

For supper Henry heated chili, Jessie set the table, Violet made a salad, and Benny arranged crackers on a plate.

James Alden came home just in time for dinner. “This looks delicious,” he said, sitting down and rubbing his hands. He smiled at his grandchildren. “I like your snowman! But tell me, what else did you do today?”

Jessie told him about the mystery man, Violet described the newspaper article she found, Benny told about Carl and Alex’s ring, and Henry explained the green ink that was used on both the article and the map.

Grandfather nodded wisely. “Well, there are a lot of suspects. With you and the police working on the case, you’re sure to find the guilty person.” He reached for a cracker. “Be careful, though. William Murray is concerned, too. We don’t want you to be in any danger.”

“I don’t think we’re in any danger, Grandfather,” said Henry, spooning up the last of his chili.

“We want to find Mrs. Murray’s diamonds,” Jessie said. “But it’s very confusing!”

“Maybe

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