Windy City Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner

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

CHAPTER 7

Old Stories and New Fire Engines

“Grandfather,” Henry called softly. He tapped on Mr. Alden’s bedroom door.

From the kitchen, Jessie said, “Tell him breakfast is ready.”

Henry called again. He waited. No sound. He opened the door and took a few steps into the room. “Grandfather’s not here,” Henry told the others.

“He’s probably downstairs getting the paper,” Benny said.

Jessie sank to a chair. “I don’t think so,” she said. “He had a strange telephone call last night.”

“I heard that call, too,” Henry said.

Benny shot to his feet. “Let’s go find him!” He started for the door.

“Benny, wait!” Jessie commanded. “The phone call might have been from Mr. Piper. Grandfather was probably talking to him about the paper business.”

Benny wasn’t convinced. “I still think we should look—”

A key turned in the lock. The door opened. Grandfather came in, carrying a newspaper.

Smiling broadly, he said, “It’s a fine morning!”

Benny rushed at him, arms outstretched. Laughing, Grandfather returned the hug.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“Oh, Grandfather, we missed you!” Benny answered.

His eyes twinkled. “Perhaps I should go out more often,” he said.

“We didn’t know where you were,” Henry said. He tried to keep the concern from his voice, but it seeped through.

Grandfather grew serious. “I’m sorry if I worried you. I decided to take a walk this morning.”

Jessie looked at Henry. Did the telephone call cause Grandfather to go out early this morning? she wondered. The look in Henry’s eye told her he was asking himself the same question.

Benny put his hands on his hips. “You should have told us, Grandfather,” he said.

Mr. Alden smiled and took Benny in his arms.

Jessie said, “Let’s have breakfast.”

Benny ran over to the table. “I forgot all about eating.”

“We can’t let that happen,” Grandfather teased.

Each poured cereal from the boxes Jessie had put on the table. They topped their choices with sliced bananas and strawberries.

“I have good news,” Grandfather said. “I can be your guide today. Is there anything special you’d like to see?”

They named some of the places they wanted to see. The Museum of Science and Industry was the first on everybody’s list.

“There’s a real submarine there,” Benny said. “And a great big model train.”

Grandfather nodded. “There’s so much to see and do, we could spend an entire day there.”

Violet held up a leaflet. “I’d like to see the Shedd Aquarium,” she said.

Henry was interested in the Field Museum of Natural History. “I’d like to see the dinosaur skeletons,” he said.

“Me, too,” Benny agreed.

“We’ll be here a few more days,” Grandfather said. “We can probably see it all.” He thumbed through the pile of Chicago information.

Clue #3 was among those papers. Grandfather would surely find it. The Aldens held their breaths, wondering how they would explain it without telling him about the mystery.

Mr. Alden put the folded clue aside without looking at it. The children relaxed. “You decide. I’m going to take a shower and change my clothes.”

Henry and Benny cleared away the rest of the breakfast things and did the dishes.

Jessie unfolded the latest clue. She studied the cow and the lantern and the burned city.

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