Mystery of the Star Ruby by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Author:Gertrude Chandler Warner [Warner, Gertrude Chandler]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4532-2146-4
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Published: 2011-10-26T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

The Robbery

Violet rushed over. “Oh, no! Are you sure?”

Jessie turned her backpack upside down. A comb, sunscreen, and a pack of mints tumbled out.

“I put the container in this pocket,” she said. “That was the only thing I kept in it. It’s empty! Someone stole the ruby!”

“We left our cabin door open to go look at the lights,” Violet said with a sinking feeling. “Anyone could have walked in and taken it.”

“I should have kept my backpack with me,” Jessie said in dismay.

“We should have locked the door,” Violet said. “Don’t worry. We’ll find the ruby.” I hope, she added to herself.

The next morning, the girls hurried to the boys’ cabin.

Grandfather was there, filling a basket with laundry. He and the boys stopped gathering towels to listen as Jessie related the story of the robbery.

Grandfather frowned with concern.

“This is very serious,” he said. “We must go to Mr. Knight right away. There is a thief here, and we need to call the authorities.”

The children glanced at one another.

“Grandfather,” Henry said. “You know we’re pretty good at solving mysteries.”

James Alden nodded. “Yes, you are. But a valuable gemstone is missing.”

“The police don’t know any of the people here,” Jessie pointed out. “But we do. The robbery may be connected to the contest. It’ll be over tomorrow evening. Please let us try to find the ruby first.”

Grandfather considered a moment. “All right,” he agreed. “I’ll give you until tomorrow evening. But if you can’t find the stone by then, we’ll go to Mr. Knight.”

Jessie and Violet hurried back to their cabin to gather their own laundry. Then the children went with Grandfather to the Laundromat behind the main building.

The Laundromat was made of cement blocks. A bench with extra baskets stored beneath was placed below the single window.

Inside, the Laundromat was empty. Washers and dryers filled two walls of the small, dim building. Grandfather loaded one of the washers and plugged the slots with quarters. Then they all walked over to the dining room.

Donald and Sybil were already at their table, sipping juice.

As soon as the Aldens sat down, a waitress brought over platters of hotcakes and bacon.

“Did Jonathan eat already?” Sybil asked.

“No, ma’am,” the waitress replied. “I haven’t seen him this morning.”

Donald raised an eyebrow. “He never misses a meal.”

Violet glanced at the empty chair. Where is Jonathan? she wondered. Did he have anything to do with the missing ruby?

When breakfast was over, Grandfather returned to the Laundromat. The Alden children found a quiet spot in the picnic area to discuss the case.

“It’s not like Jonathan to skip breakfast,” Violet commented.

“Yeah,” agreed Benny. “He always writes down whatever he eats.”

“Maybe he’s gone. Maybe he left Ruby Hollow because he has what he came for,” Henry said. “He wanted a special stone for his fiancée’s ring. A star ruby is very special.”

“I just can’t believe Jonathan took the ruby,” said Jessie. “He’s so nice.”

“Everybody is a suspect,” Violet reminded her. “Sybil Finley really wants a star ruby, too.”

Henry nodded. “That’s right. She told us the first day that a star ruby is the only stone she doesn’t have in her collection.

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