The Homerun Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Author:Gertrude Chandler Warner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company

CHAPTER 6

The Ghost Returns

When they finished touring the abandoned factory, the Alden children, Carl, and Emily walked back to the ballpark.

Right away, Violet noticed a white truck pulled up alongside the curb. Carl Soper saw the truck at the same time.

“Who are those guys?” asked Violet.

A man squinted through an instrument mounted on a tripod that looked something like a camera. Way across the field another man stood holding a pole.

“Surveyors,” said Carl. “The first man is looking through something called a level transit. The man with the pole is called a rodman. His rod has marks on it that the surveyor uses to measure the boundaries of a piece of property.”

“Why are they here?” Jessie wanted to know.

“Good question,” said Carl, his face grim. “The town council doesn’t vote until tomorrow afternoon about tearing down the ballpark. Somebody hired this crew a little ahead of schedule, if you ask me.”

“Maybe she did.” Benny pointed toward the grandstand.

Sitting on the bottom bleacher was Beverly Percy. Today she wore a purple flowered top over purple slacks. She was smiling as she watched the men working.

“The nerve of that woman!” Carl stalked over to the grandstand. Emily and the Aldens followed.

Mrs. Percy watched their approach. “Hello, Carl,” she said. “How are you?”

“I was fine until I saw these surveyors,” Carl replied. “Did you hire them?”

She nodded. “I thought it was in the town’s best interest to get the ball rolling. The sooner we get rid of this reminder of Pikesville’s bad times, the sooner we can rebuild the town into a place people will want to visit and make their home.”

“Very pretty speech,” Carl said evenly. “I’m sure you’ve got all the council members convinced, but it doesn’t wash with me. You have no right to have the ballpark surveyed until the council has voted.”

Mrs. Percy stood, as if dismissing Carl. “I understand why you are bitter, Carl. It was your relative who brought bad luck on Pikesville. Too bad you share his name. But Pikesville can wipe out those old memories. And it will.”

“But the council doesn’t vote until tomorrow,” Henry said. “Why are you so sure everyone will vote to tear down the ballpark?”

Beverly Percy gave him and the other Aldens a sharp glance. “You children don’t even live here. Why don’t you mind your own business?”

“Their grandfather was asked to advise the council,” Carl reminded her. “As I recall, you’re an outsider yourself. You and your husband only moved here six months ago.”

Mrs. Percy made a big show of checking her watch. “I really have better things to do than chitchat with you.” She left the grandstand in a huff.

“Pssst!” came a voice.

Out of the corner of her eye, Violet caught a motion underneath the bleacher to the side. She looked down between the weathered boards.

It was Eric, the player who had quit the Eagles! But when he saw Mrs. Percy striding in front of the grandstand, he scrambled away before Violet could call out to him.

“That boy was here,” she told the others.

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