The Mystery Cruise by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Author:Gertrude Chandler Warner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Published: 2010-08-05T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

Max’s Story

Gratefully, Max smiled at the waiter who put a cup of coffee before him. He took a deep breath. “My doctor, who also is a close friend, advised me to relax, and recommended this cruise.” Max stirred his coffee. “It’s been far from relaxing. The first night I received a telegram from my great-aunt Edith’s lawyer saying that she had died.” He paused, taking a sip of coffee. “I was very fond of her, even though she was rather eccentric. I felt sad and wanted to tell someone, but I’m rather reserved.” He gave them a small smile. “As you may have guessed.”

“I’m sorry about your great-aunt, Max. Now I realize why you were so upset,” Jessie said.

“Wait,” Max said. “There’s more.”

Benny’s eyes were wide. “What else?” he asked.

“Great-Aunt Edith had written in her will that I must be present at the reading in order to inherit her beautiful old house.” He finished his coffee. “I’ve always loved that old brick house and someday had planned to open it to the public so that everyone could enjoy it. The rooms are filled with marvelous antiques and artwork. And in the vault she kept her jewelry. Outside, gardens spread over several acres.”

“Will you also inherit her money?” Grandfather asked.

“Yes, a large amount,” Max answered. “I’d planned to use it for good causes.”

“I’m sorry you lost your great-aunt,” Violet said. “But I’m happy you’ll inherit such a wonderful place.”

Max looked down, shaking his head. “I’m afraid I won’t inherit anything. You see the will is going to be read in Miami one week from the day I received the telegram. If I don’t appear for the reading, the money and house will go to Great-Aunt Edith’s only other surviving relative.”

“Who’s that?” Benny asked, forgetting to eat.

“My cousin, Carla,” Max said. “I hate to say anything against anyone, but I know Carla. She’s a mean selfish person, and I’m sure one of the first things she’ll do is tear down Edith’s house and sell all her beautiful things.” He pushed his cup aside, and his lips tightened. “I can’t let that happen.”

“No, you can’t.” Violet nodded in agreement.

“When I first received the telegram, informing me of my great-aunt’s death, I wanted to fly back immediately,” Max said.

“Why didn’t you?” Benny questioned carefully.

“I wish I had,” Max said, answering Benny. “But when I called my doctor she told me to stay on the cruise. She said it’d do me good and I’d be back in time for the reading of the will.” He shook his head. “She didn’t know that this ship was going to have one problem after another.”

Henry nodded knowingly. So that was the conversation they’d overheard on the phone. He remembered when Max told his doctor, “I will, but only because you think I should.”

“When everything started to go wrong on the ship,” Max said, “I tried to put the idea out of my head that someone was intentionally slowing the ship down. But when there was a false

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