Boxcar Children 19 - Benny Uncovers a Mystery

by Warner, Gertrude Chandler

  Someone tall was walking around with a limping step, back bent, lifting the dust covers on the counters and putting them back.

  Henry had to decide what to do. Should he call out “Stop!” or go down to the basement and telephone Mr. Furman? Perhaps Mr. Furman would not be at home yet. The store had not been closed long.

  Henry took a step forward. Just at that moment the figure whirled around and faced him. Henry gasped.

  It was Mr. Fogg!

  For a second neither Henry nor Mr. Fogg spoke. Then Mr. Fogg exclaimed, “I knew it was you! But nobody would listen to me. Now I can prove it!”

  “Me!” Henry said. “What do you mean? I’m doing my job, that’s all. What are you doing here? I thought everyone had gone home.”

  “You thought!” said Mr. Fogg angrily. “You’re so nice, so hard working, so polite! I know what you are doing. Trying to get me into trouble, that’s all. Well, you can’t.”

  By now Henry was angry, too. But he knew that he could not get anywhere by fighting Mr. Fogg.

  “Wait,” Henry said. “How can I get you in trouble? You’re the first floor manager. Mr. Furman trusts you and depends on you.”

  “I know what you did,” Mr. Fogg exclaimed. “Sneaking around and putting those lockets out. That was your work. Oh, yes, it was. I wouldn’t be surprised if those lockets weren’t made by some company your grandfather owns. Aldens want to run everything.”

  Henry shook his head. What could he say? He was beginning to believe it was Mr. Fogg who had put the lockets on the jewelry counter—for the very purpose of getting Henry in trouble.

  As quietly as he could, Henry said, “I think there’s some mistake. I never saw those lockets until Doris found them. Someone else put them there. It wasn’t my work. I thought maybe you put them there.”

  “Me?” shouted Mr. Fogg. “Don’t be stupid.”

  “Then why are you here after the store is closed?” asked Henry. “You have a key.”

  “I’m here to catch someone like you sneaking around, that’s what.”

  Talking with Mr. Fogg was getting Henry nowhere. “Shall I phone Mr. Furman and ask him to come back?” he asked. “We can settle this right away.”

  Mr. Fogg shook his head. “Don’t try to fool me that way. I’m ready to leave. I’ll talk to Mr. Furman in the morning. If anything happens in the store tonight, then he will know who is to blame. Good night.”

  Henry watched as the man strode with a limp to the door and let it slam loudly behind him.

  Pushing the big brush over the floor and emptying the wastebaskets gave Henry time to think. Now that he had cooled off, he decided that Mr. Fogg probably had nothing to do with the lockets. It was too wild an idea to suppose he could get the Aldens in trouble that way. So, how had the lockets gotten into the store?

  Henry finished sweeping. He looked around. Everything was in place. He turned off the lights, but kept his flashlight handy. Then he had an idea.

  Henry ran upstairs. Mr. Furman had told him not to sweep the second floor.

  He now switched on all the lights upstairs as if he was going to work there.

  If anyone was watching the store from the outside, that person would think the first floor was empty.

  Then Henry went back to the first floor, moving carefully and quietly in the darkness. He held his flashlight ready. Near the front door he sat down and waited.

  Time passed. The store was very quiet. Outside on the sidewalk a few people stopped to look at the store windows. Cars went by in the warm summer night.

  Henry looked at his watch. What a long evening! He felt like giving up, but he didn’t. Someone might still try to open the front door.

  At last it was eleven o’clock. By now there was almost no traffic and no one walked by. Henry wondered how Sam could spend night after night as watchman. It wasn’t the kind of work Henry would like to do all the time.

  Henry was about to yawn when he heard something. Somebody was trying to push a key in the lock. Henry could hear it scrape. But the lock did not open. The door stayed closed.

  After three times, whoever it was gave up. Henry counted to ten and then moved cautiously to the door. He looked out through the glass. Away down the street he saw a short figure getting into a car. He could not make out the license number. The car was soon driven off.

  There was nothing Henry could do. In the morning he could tell Mr. Furman about what he had heard. He was sure of one thing. The figure had not belonged to Mr. Fogg. And anyway, Mr. Fogg had a new key and could have opened the door with no trouble.

  When Sam came, Henry was glad to say good night. At home he found Benny still awake.

  “Well?” asked Benny. “What happened?”

  When he had heard Henry’s story Benny said, “It’s a real mystery. Yes, sir, a real mystery. And we’ll find the answers. You’ll see.”

  CHAPTER 9

  Benny Has Ideas

  Benny saw Henry and Mr. Fogg go into Mr. Furman’s office. He half expected to hear shouting and angry voices. There was nothing of the kind. Soon Mr. Fogg and Henry walked out together. Neither one looked angry or even upset. Benny couldn’t imagine what had gone on in Mr. Furman’s office.

  Mr. Fogg called, “Here, Alden. Take this Brewrite coffeemaker to Miss Douglas. It seems you were right. She already has the Peerless.”

  Benny could hardly believe his ears. Was Mr. Fogg for once saying that Benny was right? What had happened to make Mr. Fogg behave so differently? Maybe his back was better!

  With the box holding the coffeemaker set safely in his bicycle carrier, Benny rode off to Woodland Path. He knocked at the door and had a new surprise. Miss Douglas herself answered and asked him to come in.

  “Benny Alden,” she said, “you’ve been here many times, but we have always missed each other.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Benny said. He felt mixed-up. First Mr. Fogg had not acted as Benny had expected. And now Miss Douglas, too, seemed like a new and different person.

  “This is a warm morning,” she said. “Would you like some fruit juice and cookies before you ride back? Bring the coffeemaker and we’ll go into the kitchen.”

  Benny stepped into a sunny kitchen with plants hanging in the windows. To see Miss Douglas in Furman’s Department Store, anyone would expect her kitchen to be dark and old-fashioned. Instead, everything was new and bright.

  Benny put the coffeemaker down on the counter. There were four other coffeemakers already there.

  Miss Douglas knew that Benny was curious. “Why do I need five different coffeemakers? I’ll tell you. I have a hobby. I like to test new products. I keep a score for each item, then I know which is best.” She pointed to a sheet of paper, filled with strong, clear writing. “So far, the Peerless is the best of these coffeemakers. But the Brewrite could be better.”

  Going to the refrigerator, she poured juice for Benny and offered him cookies.

  “I really can’t stay,” Benny said. “Mr. Fogg doesn’t like to have me stop when I’m making deliveries.”

  “Mr. Fogg!” laughed Miss Douglas. “He tries to act like an old bear. Sometimes he really makes you think that’s what he is.”

  “Well, yes ...” Benny said, not knowing just how to understand what Miss Douglas had said.

  “I hear someone knocking,” she said. “Excuse me while I see who it is.”

  Benny heard her exclaim, “Come in, Ted! Benny is here now. He’s having something cool to drink. It’s such a hot morning already.”

  Miss Douglas led a boy Benny’s size into the kitchen. “Hi!” the boy said, like an old friend.

  “Do you two know each other?” asked Miss Douglas. “Benny Alden, this is my neighbor and good errand boy, Ted Evans. What have you there, Ted? Did you get the box from the post office?”

  “Here’s the box and some letters, too,” Ted said.

  Benny could not see the address on the box, but the wrapping paper had the words “Newport Fine Jewelry” made into a design. And Benny n
oticed that the word “Forward” was written on a letter that looked as if it was from Furman’s Department Store.

  “Do you have many deliveries today?” Ted asked Benny. “It’s too warm to do anything.”

  “Just this one for Miss Douglas,” Benny answered. “I think I’ll work in the stockroom in the basement. Anyway, it’s cool in the store.”

  “Well,” Ted said, “I’m going swimming at the park pool. Too bad you can’t come.”

  The kitchen clock’s ticking reminded Benny that time was passing. He got up quickly and thanked Miss Douglas for the chance to rest.

  “I’ll see you here again,” Miss Douglas said. “I understand you will be back in school soon. August is almost over.”

  “I wish it weren’t,” Benny said. “I like to work in the store. But how did you know I just have a summer job?”

  “Oh, I learn a little here and something else there,” Miss Douglas said. “It’s surprising how much you can learn if no one thinks you are paying attention.”

  As Benny rode back to Furman’s, he thought about what Miss Douglas had said. He began to put some ideas together. At last he said, “It can’t be true. I have to be wrong.”

  Back at the store, Benny reported to Mr. Fogg. He took the Peerless coffeemaker without saying anything. Then Benny went down to the basement, where he had a locker. It was such a hot morning that he had not worn even a sweater, so his locker was empty. Except for one thing. He had put the mystery letter, the one he had received when he began working, on the locker shelf.

  Benny took the letter down and opened it. He looked thoughtfully at the writing and the blue paper. “I wish I could really compare this,” he said to himself. “I think I’m right, but I can’t be sure.”

  Later in the morning, Doris needed more cups and saucers for her department. Benny carried them up to her.

  “Are all those lockets sold?” he asked.

  “Yes, every one. I’m ordering a dozen more.”

  “Who makes them?” Benny asked. “Did you find them listed in a catalog?”

  Doris laughed. “I suppose I could have. But the name of the maker was on the box. That’s how I found out where to order them.”

  “Do you remember the name?”

  “Oh, Newberry or Newport or Portland. I can’t remember right now. If you really want to know I can look it up.” ’

  “It’s all right,” Benny said. “I was just curious.”

  At lunchtime Benny and Henry took their sandwiches and ate them in the park. Benny looked around to make sure no one was near.

  Then Benny said, “I have an idea about Maggie Douglas, but no one will believe it. I don’t think she’s Maggie Douglas at all.”

  Henry didn’t say a word. He took a big bite out of his ham-and-cheese sandwich. Then he looked at his brother and winked slowly.

  “What does that mean?” asked Benny.

  “It means I think you are getting close to the mysteries we have had at the store.”

  “What makes you think so?”

  “I don’t know too much,” Henry said. “I just know a little piece. This morning when Mr. Fogg and I went in to talk to Mr. Furman, he was busy. He asked us to sit down while he finished a telephone call.”

  “Yes?” said Benny. “What about that?”

  “Mr. Furman kept saying, ‘All right, all right, yes, yes.’ Then he said, ‘I have her telephone number here.’ ”

  “That’s all?” Benny asked. “I wonder what that was all about. It’s none of my business, I guess. But do you remember the telephone number?”

  Henry laughed at Benny. He said, “It is none of your business, but you just want to know everything that is going on. It happens I do remember the telephone number because it was an easy one—222-1212. I’m sure I’ve seen it near a phone in the store.”

  Benny thought about the number for a minute. Then he said, “I think I know whose number that is. But I’m not ready to tell you yet. Do you think the call was about ordering something?”

  Henry smiled. “I don’t think so. It sounded more like a meeting. Something of that sort.”

  Benny finished his sandwich and bit into an apple. He asked, “What did Mr. Furman say about Mr. Fogg being in the store yesterday after it was closed?”

  “Mr. Furman listened to what we each had to say. Then he said, ‘I can’t tell you the whole story now. But I can say that I’m sure neither of you had anything to do with the lockets.’ Then he thanked Mr. Fogg for trying to solve the mystery of the lockets, and he thanked me for being watchful.”

  “Did you tell Mr. Furman about hearing someone try to put a key in the front door lock?”

  “Yes, later in the morning. I told Mr. Furman about the sounds at the door about eleven o’clock last night.”

  “Wasn’t he upset by that?”

  “No, he didn’t seem to be. He just said quietly, ‘I think there was some kind of mistake.’ Then he told me not to worry because, after all, nobody had come in.”

  Benny dropped his apple core into his brown paper bag and looked around for a waste can in the park. He saw a car stopping for a traffic light.

  Benny knew that car! It was Grandfather Alden’s. Grandfather was driving, but he did not see Benny. Mr. Alden was talking to someone seated beside him.

  Benny would have called “Hi!” but the light changed and the car moved away.

  There was enough time, though, for Benny to catch a glimpse of the other people in the car, a man and a woman. He was sure the man was Mr. Furman, and he thought the woman was Maggie Douglas. He could not be quite so sure about that.

  “What can Miss Douglas, Mr. Furman, and Grandfather be doing?” Benny asked Henry. “Grandfather never said a word about meeting Miss Douglas. And he has heard us talk about her every day at dinnertime.”

  Henry laughed. “Benny, you know very well you’re not the only one in the family who likes a little mystery. Grandfather doesn’t tell you about everyone he knows. I’ll make a guess. Now I think Mr. Furman’s telephone call this morning must have been from Grandfather. He was inviting Mr. Furman to have lunch. That’s interesting, isn’t it?”

  “That telephone number Mr. Furman gave,” said Benny. “I’m sure it is Miss Douglas’s. I’ll tell you how I know. First, Mr. Fogg has it written down on a pad near the phone he uses. And second, it was the phone number in the want ad I answered before we came to Furman’s. Remember? Now I know Ted Evans already had the job before I called.”

  Henry stood up and stretched. Lunchtime was over.

  More to himself than to Henry, Benny said, “Now I know how Miss Douglas knew my name and who my grandfather is. That puzzled me when I phoned about the want ad in the paper.”

  Henry looked at his watch. “Time to get back,” he said. “You know, this is our last full week to work at Furman’s.”

  “That’s right!” Benny exclaimed. “When I’m back in school I’ll miss working at the store. I’ll even miss Mr. Fogg.”

  CHAPTER 10

  Answers at Last

  There was a bulletin board in the store near the lockers where people kept their coats. On Friday morning all the store workers were crowded in front of the bulletin board.

  “What’s going on?” asked Benny.

  Toni said, “Plenty! Next Wednesday afternoon, when the store is closed, everyone is invited to a picnic lunch. You’ll never guess where.”

  “Tell us,” Henry said. “We’ll never get close enough to the bulletin board to read what’s there.”

  Doris laughed and said, “At Miss Douglas’s house! Can you imagine that? Why would she do anything like that?”

  “And we’re all invited,” said one of the salespersons who worked upstairs. “Everyone.”

  “What do you suppose she’ll serve?” somebody else asked. “I’ll bet we go home hungry. But I want to go just to see what it’s all about.”

  Even Mr. Fogg read the notice. When Toni asked him if he was going he said he was thinking about it if his bac
k didn’t bother him too much.

  Henry and Benny told the story of the picnic to Jessie and Violet at dinnertime.

  “It just happens we’ve already been invited,” Jessie said. “Grandfather and Violet and me—we’ve all been asked. We’ll be there, too.”

  Benny turned to Grandfather and said, “Something is going on. And I just don’t understand it. I have an idea you know something about this.”

  Grandfather looked at Benny and said with just a small smile. “I’m having lunch on Wednesday with some old friends. You remember I’ve known Mr. Furman for years. In fact, I remember when Mr. Furman’s father came to the store each day.”

  “But what about Jessie and Violet?” Benny asked. He looked at his sisters. “I didn’t think you knew Miss Douglas that well.”

  “We met Miss Douglas at Furman’s,” Jessie said.

  “Yes, she helped me buy the blouse I like so much,” Violet added.

  “There’s something else, too,” Jessie told her brothers. “Violet and I were at Woodland Path yesterday afternoon.”

  “And you never told us?” Benny asked. “Jessie, that isn’t fair. You’ve heard us talk and talk about Miss Douglas and how she comes to Furman’s all the time.”

  “Can’t we girls have a little mystery of our own?” asked Jessie. “You aren’t the only one who can uncover a mystery wherever you go, Benny.”

  Then Violet looked at the boys’ faces and laughed. “I can’t be mean to you two,” she said. “You won’t be able to wait until Wednesday if we don’t explain some things.”

  “We’re listening,” Henry said. “What’s been going on?”

  Jessie said, “You know we’ve been working, too. At the park. You never even once came to swim while I was a life guard there. But it’s all right, I know you have been busy. I met some new kids, and one of them knew Benny. He told me how hard you work, Benny—you never have time to talk when you’re on the job.”

  Benny said right away, “I know who that is! It has to be Ted Evans. Right?”

  “Right,” said Jessie. “Ted likes to know what’s going on. He’s curious, just like you, Benny. He walked around to see what was happening at the different classes in the park. He stopped to watch Violet’s painting class.”