Deserted Library Mystery (6 page)

“You're right, Violet,” Jessie said. “When he heard us coming, he must have dashed out the backdoor.”

“Do you think the awful person will come back?” Benny asked. His brown eyes were big.

“He probably will, Benny. He wants that sword! I'm sure of it.” Henry tossed a ruined book on top of the damaged pile.

“Do you think we should call the police?” Violet asked.

“There's no phone here or in the cabin,” Henry said. “Let's wait. The police would probably want us to stay out of the library.”

For the rest of the day they tackled the books. Book after book was put back on the shelves. Others were stacked neatly in piles.

By the end of the day the floor had been cleared. Jessie had collected the damaged books in a box. Henry had swept the floor of all the torn pages and debris.

Miguel leaned backward, then forward. “My back hurts,” he complained with a smile. “I feel good, though. Look how much we've done!”

Henry smiled at Miguel, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I don't know what we'd have done without you!”

Miguel grinned, happy to be needed.

“I'll lock the door,” Henry said, “but I'm not sure it will keep out the stranger. I'm willing to bet he has a passkey. He
must
have.”

They left for the house, tired and discouraged. Henry kept his thoughts to himself, but certain questions ran through his mind. What if they returned tomorrow and the books were topsy-turvy again? How could they go through all this work another time? Someone seemed to know their every move. And what if that someone found the missing sword piece before they did? And what if he
didn't
?
If the intruder was desperate enough for the sword, there was no telling what he might do!

Jessie caught up with Henry. “At least the intruder didn't find what he was searching for.”

“No, Jessie,” Henry responded. “But I'm afraid he might become dangerous.” He frowned. “Maybe we'd better pack up and go home.”

“We've come this far,” Jessie said softly. “We mustn't give up now!”

Henry gave her a grateful glance. “I was hoping you'd say that!” He patted his back pocket. “The letter is with me all the time, and the sword is either under my pillow or on my bike or in the library when I'm working.”

Violet lagged behind, picking wildflowers. She loved flowers, especially violet ones. The others were far ahead, and the sun was setting. She felt uneasy. She'd better catch up with everyone. All at once she heard a faint noise in back of her. Someone was following her! Heavy steps on the pebble path made a crunching noise. She whirled about. A shadowy figure dived into the shrubs. Violet raced toward the others. “Henry!” she called. “Wait!”

They stopped. “What is it, Violet?” Henry asked.

“A man! I saw a man duck into the bushes.” She was out of breath, but felt better surrounded by her family and Miguel.

“Don't worry!” Benny said. “We'll protect you!”

Henry chuckled nervously. “We've almost reached the house. We'll be safe there.” But his heart was racing, too. One more day, he vowed, and they must leave! Things were getting out of hand!

That night no one slept well.

Benny thrashed about in bed and pounded his pillow. Then he lay very still. What was that click? But it was only his chattering teeth.

Miguel thought he heard the stranger trying to break in, but it was only the branches scraping against the window.

Henry thought he heard a scratching noise, but it was only a mouse.

Jessie thought she heard someone breaking the lock, but it was only the dying embers in the fireplace that crackled and popped.

Violet sat straight up in bed. Was someone ripping and tearing something? No, she thought, lying back was probably her imagination again.

CHAPTER 10

The Last Missing Piece

W
hen dawn broke, Henry awakened and jumped out of bed. Quietly he went into the kitchen. Jessie joined him. Then Violet and Miguel came in.

And last, Benny slowly shuffled toward them. He gave a wide yawn and rubbed his half-closed eyes. “Is it time to get up?” he asked sleepily.

“No,” Henry said. “I couldn't sleep.”

“Neither could I,” Jessie said.

“Me neither,” Violet echoed.

“I woke up lots of times,” Miguel said.

“I didn't sleep very good either!” Benny said.

In the half light Henry moved toward the fireplace. Suddenly he halted, unable to go another step.

Jessie, who was beside him, stopped also. “The chair!” she exclaimed. “It's ripped to shreds.”

“So it wasn't my imagination after all,” Violet said in a husky voice, a hand flying to her flushed cheek. “To think the intruder was in the
house
while we were sleeping!” She shivered, hating to think how near a stranger had been.

“Well,” Henry said, trying to laugh, “it looks like Pete has one ruined chair.”

“I'll say,” Benny said in a low tone. “The chair is all stuffing and springs.”

They stared at the damage, not quite knowing how to handle this.

Jessie was the first to stir. She forced a cheerful smile. “There's not much we can do about the damage.” She hesitated, then continued, “Besides, that old chair was so caved in that you almost sank to the floor.”

“Oh, Pete won't care. It's just the thought of someone . . .” Henry didn't finish.

“Someone being so close,” Miguel finished.

“Right,” Violet said. Her face was pale. “Shall we go for help?”

Jessie, attempting to keep her smile, said, “If word gets out there's a prowler, we won't be able to finish.”

Henry nodded. “We'll be very careful. We have to keep our eyes open every minute, and we have to stay together.”

“Will he come back tonight?” Benny asked in a small frightened voice, his eyes fastened on Henry's face.

They all shifted their feet uneasily, but Henry was positive. “Absolutely not! We only have one more night here, and we'll take turns standing guard. We'll work in the library today and if we don't find the missing sword, then I guess it will never be found!”

Jessie leaned down, looking at Benny. “You must eat some breakfast, Benny.” Benny shook his head.

“I can't believe you're not hungry,” Miguel said with concern in his dark eyes. “You must eat so you can help at the library.”

“I'm tired of working in the library.”

“Then you can be our lookout today,” Henry said. “You won't have to lift books anymore.”

“Really?” he said, slowly weakening.

“Yes,” Jessie said.

Benny stared at Jessie with his big brown eyes. “Can we have pancakes?” He smiled impishly.

Violet laughed. “That's just the breakfast I was thinking of,” she said.

“Then, I guess I'm hungry, after all,” Benny said, going into the kitchen.

They all pitched in, making the morning meal. Henry set the table, Jessie made the pancakes, Violet poured the milk, and Miguel set the syrup and butter on the table. Benny folded napkins and set one at each place, but every once in a while he stopped and glanced at the ruined chair.

Everyone ate a hearty breakfast, trying to forget the intruder who had been in their house.

They decided to bike to the library and on the way Henry began to sing, and soon everyone joined in. In the bright sunlight, the stranger didn't seem so ominous. Besides, it was their last day, and tonight the lookout would warn them if anyone approached the little house.

When they reached the library, Henry paused before opening the door. What if it was a mess again? He shook his head to get rid of the awful picture of yesterday's chaos, and flung open the door.

All was as they had left it yesterday. Everyone crowded behind Henry, peeking over his shoulder.

“It's all right,” he laughed. “You can come in.”

Row after row of books lined the shelves. Boxes of books, tied with string and labeled, hadn't been opened.

“Wow,” Benny exclaimed. He beamed his approval.

“Doesn't everything look grand?” Henry said, surveying the room with his hands on his hips.

Jessie stood beside him. “All our hard work has paid off.”

“Wait until Grandfather sees how lovely the library looks,” Violet said with a sweet smile.

“What's the matter, Miguel?” Henry motioned the boy forward. “You helped in this, too, you know.”

“It's the nicest library I've ever seen,” Miguel said, but he still hung back.

Jessie and Violet exchanged glances. They knew why he wasn't in a happy mood. The wind had died down, and now Miguel would have to face the two fishermen who would soon be brought to shore. Miguel might be the happiest boy in the world or the most heartbroken. Jessie took Miguel's hand, pulling him into the group.

“We only have the upstairs and we'll be finished,” Henry said briskly, attempting to distract Miguel so he wouldn't think too much.

“There aren't many books upstairs,” Jessie said lightly, already mounting the steps.

“Now, Benny,” Henry said gravely. “You stay downstairs and be our guard. If anyone approaches, you yell a warning.”

“Okay,” Benny said, feeling important. He climbed atop the circulation desk. “I'll sit right here and look out the window,” he said, swinging his legs.

“Good boy,” Henry said. “We don't need to worry with you as our lookout.”

“You bet you don't!” Benny grinned, glad not to have to handle any more books. Being a guard was much easier.

Violet patted Benny's knee. “We shouldn't be too long.”

“That's okay,” Benny answered, resting his chin in his hand and staring intently out the window.

Henry, Violet, and Miguel went upstairs where Jessie was already straightening books.

After two hours of hard work, their job was almost ended.

Suddenly they heard a thud. Then another.

“What was that?” Violet asked in a shaky voice.

Henry laughed. “Did you see the rubber ball sticking out of Benny's back pocket?”

“Oh, is that it?” Violet said in relief, listening to the steady bounce of the ball.

All at once the noise stopped.

They all listened.

Benny shouted, “Hurry, hurry! See what I've found.”

They rushed downstairs.

Benny, bending over a hole in the floor, pulled and tugged at something below the floorboards.

“What is it, Benny?” Jessie questioned, her brown eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“I was playing with the ball, and it rolled into the hole,” Benny panted. His face was beet-red, and he grunted with huge effort. He gave one final pull and lifted out a rusty black object.

“What in the world did you find?” Violet asked.

“It looks like the point of the sword,” Miguel said.

Jessie eagerly seized the metal from Benny.
“It is!”
she cried triumphantly. “It's the missing sword piece! Now our Civil War sword is complete!”

Henry said slowly, “I hope we can get it home without the stranger finding out.”

Just then the back door slammed.

Benny jumped.

Everyone's eyes darted from one to the other.

“Is it the prowler?” Jessie whispered.

“Nonsense!” Henry said with a snort. He ran to the back door and quickly returned. “Not a soul in sight. It was only the wind,” he said heartily. But there was doubt written all over his face.

The others were doubtful, too.

“How come the backdoor wasn't locked?” Violet asked.

Benny looked sheepish. “I opened it before to look outside.”

Henry sighed. “Remember I said we have to be careful . . . very careful.”

CHAPTER 11

The Prowler

“W
e're leaving!” Henry said. “We're heading back to the house.” He carefully wrapped the point of the sword in a dust rag. “No telling who's around here.”

“I thought you said it was only the wind that slammed the door,” Benny said, his head tilted to one side.

“It probably was,” Jessie soothed.

Henry gave a last look at the tidy library—so different from when they'd first entered—then locked the door.

With the prowler on their minds, everyone hastily mounted their bicycles. As fast as they could, they biked back to Pete's house. Benny's legs had never pushed so hard.

Back in the house, however, they tried to forget the slammed door. Maybe it was the wind, maybe it was the prowler spying on them, but whatever it was, they were safe and sound now.

“One more night!” Benny crowed. “And Grandfather will be here. He'll be proud we found the rest of the sword!”

“Thanks to you,” Jessie said, giving his hand a squeeze.

“Just think,” Violet said happily. “Tomorrow we'll be going home.”

“Yes, but we still have tonight to get through,” Miguel said gloomily.