The Lighthouse Mystery

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

  tapping or cutting. Grandfather could hear them talking. Once he heard

  Larry laugh. Then he got up quietly and went to the store.

  Grandfather said to Mr. Hall, "Do you think Larry Cook would like

  steak?"

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  "Steak?" said Mr. Hall, "I don't think he ever had much."

  "We'll try it then," said Grandfather. "Five pounds of steak should be

  enough."

  "Potato chips," said Mr. Hall.

  "Pickles," said Grandfather.

  "How about a pie?" said Mr. Hall.

  "I'll need rolls and two pies," said Grandfather. "Make them cherry."

  Mr. Hall put all the food in a big bag. Grandfather went quietly back to

  the rocks. He could hear that the pounding had stopped. He found two

  pieces of old iron. He hit them together. It sounded like a bell.

  Grandfather looked up and saw Benny at his window.

  "Is that a dinner bell, Grandfather?" shouted Benny.

  "Come down and see," said Grandfather.

  Laughing, they all ran to the rocks. Grandfather showed them what he had

  bought.

  "We'll need a fire for that steak," said Larry.

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  "Right," said Henry. "Here's our fireplace. We can use our grill."

  Everyone began to gather dry wood, but it was Larry who built the fire.

  The Aldens noticed that Larry never looked toward the summer kitchen. He

  did not know that they already knew a great deal about something that

  interested him very much.

  "I forgot you were a cook," said Benny.

  "How do you like your steak?" asked Larry. "Well done?"

  "No, he likes it burned up," said Henry.

  "He won't get any burned up steak from me," said Larry.

  "I want mine very rare, my boy," said Mr. Alden.

  "I know," said Larry. "Rare but not raw."

  "Good!" said Mr. Alden. "I shall enjoy this meal."

  They could hardly wait for the fire to burn down, but Larry would not

  put the steaks on. At last the fire was just right. Larry counted, "Two

  rare, three

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  medium, and Benny's well done."

  "That means I'll have to wait till last," said Benny.

  Jessie put butter on the rolls. Mr. Alden's steak was done first. Larry

  took his own off and moved the rest to the hot part of the fire. Soon

  everyone was eating a steak sandwich.

  "Poor Grandfather," said Benny. "No coffee."

  "I don't need coffee today," said Grandfather. "Just give me a pickle."

  When they had picked up after lunch, Larry began to think he should go

  home. He said, "I had a fine time." He looked at Violet and smiled. "I

  hope you'll have no mosquitoes."

  "Thank you for helping us," said Violet. "Come again soon."

  "Maybe I will," said Larry.

  After he had gone, Jessie said, "I think we are really friends with

  Larry now. Don't you, Grandfather?"

  "Yes," said Mr. Alden. "You did exactly right.

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  You gave him something interesting to do. Then you all worked together.

  That's the best way to make friends."

  "Well," said Benny, "I wish that we'd get to be such good friends that

  Larry would tell us about his work. Maybe he thinks he can sell that

  stuff and get rich."

  "I think he's more interested in it as science work," said Henry. "But

  that's just a guess."

  Then they all sat looking at the beautiful blue sea. Violet said, "It

  never seems to rain here. Every single day has been sunny. I wonder

  why?"

  "Yes," said Mr. Alden. "So far it has been sunny for three weeks. But

  you will find it isn't always that way. In fact I think I feel a storm

  coming up now."

  "I don't," said Benny. "There isn't a cloud in the sky."

  "Maybe not today," said Grandfather, "but soon. It is lucky we have a

  nice tight lighthouse to stay in. We'll see some big waves."

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  "Oh, I love big waves," said Violet. "They are so beautiful dashing on

  the rocks. And we are right by the water-almost in the water."

  The storm did not come that night. The family had supper on the rocks.

  They had a fine night with no mosquitoes.

  "Pretty good screens," said Benny.

  All the next day they swam or sat on the beach in the sun. Then the

  family had supper on the rocks. Just as they finished, Grandfather said,

  "Look! The storm! The wind has changed!"

  Sure enough, clouds were speeding across the sky.

  Jessie and Henry gathered the supper things together.

  They hurried into the lighthouse just as the first drops began to fall.

  "Just a little rain," said Benny, laughing. "It feels good on my head. I

  like to get my hair wet."

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  CHAPTER 11

  A Wild Storm

  When the Aldens had shut all the windows and looked out at the sea, they

  changed their minds about the rain. This was no little rain.

  This was a storm.

  The sky became very dark. There was thunder. The rain fell in sheets.

  The wind made a terrible noise around the lighthouse.

  "You do know about the weather, Grandfather," said Benny. "You said a

  storm was coming, and boy! here is a storm."

  "There goes a telephone pole," shouted Henry. "Nobody can telephone out

  of this town tonight."

  "I hope no one is out in a boat," said Violet. "The waves would tip it

  over."

  The waves dashed up against the lighthouse. They even ran down the road

  and covered it with water.

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  The storm grew worse. Lightning made the whole beach light. The thunder

  sounded very loud over the water.

  "I don't care for this at all," said Violet. "It seems dangerous."

  "It is dangerous," said Grandfather quietly. "I surely hope nobody is

  out in a boat."

  The storm did not stop. It grew even worse. The waves covered the whole

  wide beach. Suddenly there was a loud knock at the door.

  "Who in the world is

  that?"

  shouted Benny. "I hate to open the door. The

  rain will pour in."

  But Henry opened the door. It was Mr. Cook.

  "Have you seen my son?" he cried. "Where is my son?"

  "Come in, quick!" said Henry. "We don't know where your son is. We

  haven't seen him today."

  "Oh, oh!" cried the man. "My wife told me to look in the little house

  first, but he isn't there. He must have taken my boat! He's out in my

  boat! What shall I do? He will tip over. Nobody could

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  handle a boat in this storm!"

  Henry said, "Is there any Coast Guard around here?"

  "In Ashland," Tom Cook cried. "They haven't time to get here."

  "We'll see about that," said Henry. He dragged on his raincoat and went

  to open the door.

  "Where are you going, Henry?" asked Grandfather sharply.

  "I'm going for the Coast Guard. The telephone's out. We can't do a thing

  alone."

  Mr. Alden opened his mouth. Then he shut it again. He knew Henry had to

  go.

  Henry was backing the car around. "Get in," said Henry to Mr. Cook.

  "Quick!" And off he drove through the water that covered the road,

  splashing it high as he went.

  After Henry and Mr. Cook had gone, Mr. Alden was very quiet.

  At last Viol
et said, "Henry will make it. He always does."

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  "I hope you're right, child," said Mr. Alden. "I am worried. If Larry is

  out in the open sea in this, I don't see how he can ever get to land."

  "Maybe he knows the weather, too," said Jessie. "Maybe he started out

  for home before the storm came."

  "How awful that the light in this lighthouse is gone!" said Benny. "If

  we could only light that, he could find his way better."

  "The reflector is left," said Jessie. "Maybe a small light would show a

  little."

  Everyone had a flashlight that would stand up. Benny carried them all to

  his room at the top and set them around. The reflector did show a little

  light through the storm.

  By this time they heard voices outside. The neighbors had come to the

  lighthouse to find out about the Cook boy. They all knew his father's

  boat was gone.

  "Come in, everybody," said Jessie. Everyone was dripping with water. "My

  brother has gone for the

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  Coast Guard. They will go out from Ashland and look for Larry."

  Then Jessie and Violet saw Mrs. Cook. She looked pale, but she smiled at

  the girls.

  The neighbors were wonderful. They had seen storms before. A woman told

  Jessie to heat a lot of water and make coffee for the Coast Guard men.

  She herself helped.

  The men who had come went out on the beach to see if they could see

  anything. They stood in the waves up to their knees. But soon the water

  was up to their waists. They went back to the rock seats. They all had

  flashlights and some had enormous field glasses.

  "The Coast Guard is quick," said Mrs. Cook. "They will be out to sea

  before your brother can get home."

  Jessie and Violet put their arms around her.

  The light in the top of the lighthouse showed a little through the heavy

  rain. It seemed like ten years before a man shouted, "I see the Coast

  Guard

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  boat! And I see the Cook boat!"

  Henry and Tom Cook drove up as the man spoke.

  "Oh, where?" begged Mr. Cook, getting out. "Show it to me."

  The man gave him his glasses and told him which way to look. The boats

  were still right side up, but they often disappeared in the waves. Then

  Henry went down to the beach, too.

  "What will they do?" Henry asked.

  "They'll take the boy off and tie his boat to the Coast Guard boat. I

  hope they will see our light and come here to our beach. The little boat

  can get through the waves here."

  Men looked through their glasses. "They're tying the boat on now. They

  must have the boy."

  "If I ever get my son back, he can have anything he wants," cried Tom

  Cook. "Anything at all. Anything in the world!"

  "He's a smart boy, your Larry," said Henry. "Maybe you know that."

  "Yes, I know that. If he only comes back safe!"

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  "He will," said a fisherman. "The Coast Guard is coming fast this way.

  They wouldn't come now if they didn't have the boy aboard."

  "Oh, thank you!" cried Mr. Cook. "Can you really see their boat?"

  "See for yourself." The fisherman gave him his glasses. The rain was

  still pouring down. It was still thundering. Everyone was soaking wet.

  But they could see the Coast Guard coming through the great waves. The

  Sea Cook II was tied on behind it.

  Mrs. Cook helped Jessie heat towels and blankets in front of the gas

  oven and make a bed with the blankets.

  "You'll have to use my bed for him," said Mr. Alden.

  Henry said, "You may have my bed, Grandfather, and I'll go up with

  Benny."

  "I don't think I'm going to bed," said Mr. Alden.

  "We'll be all ready for him when he comes," said Jessie.

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  "Is there a doctor in this town?" asked Mr. Alden.

  "Oh, yes indeed. Someone has gone for him. He is on his way."

  "Well, since there is no policeman," said Mr. Alden, "I thought there

  wouldn't be any doctor either."

  "He is a very good doctor. His name is Dr. Phillips."

  "That big Coast Guard boat can't land here," said Henry to a man.

  "No, they will come to the beach in the smaller boat. The Coast Guard

  can run it through the waves. You'll see."

  Nearer and nearer came the big boat. The storm was still raging. When

  the boat was quite near it stopped. Three of the men got into the Sea

  Cook II and rowed for the beach. Larry was lying in the boat.

  At last the boat reached the shore. Strong men took hold of it, and

  pulled it up on the sand.

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  Henry helped. He looked at Larry. He was lying still with his eyes shut.

  "He's alive," the man said. "But he doesn't know anything yet. Put him

  to bed and get a doctor. We saw your dim light."

  "We're all ready," said Henry. "Right in the lighthouse."

  "The lighthouse!" said the man.

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  "Yes, we are living there this summer. We have a bed all made up for him

  with hot blankets."

  Henry helped the men lift Larry out of the boat. He was soaked and his

  hair was dripping wet. The men took him into the lighthouse.

  "We'll get him dry first," they said. Mrs. Cook rubbed Larry's hair with

  a hot towel. He was shivering, but he did not open his eyes.

  When Jessie went to the door to meet the doctor, the men got Larry's

  dripping clothes off and wrapped him in the hot blankets. They laid him

  in Grandfather's bed.

  Everyone came in with the doctor to see how Larry was. Suddenly Larry

  shouted, "Feed the world! Feed the whole world!"

  Henry looked at Jessie.

  The doctor said, "He has a high fever. He doesn't know what he is

  saying."

  Violet did not say a word. She was thinking.

  Tom Cook was at Larry's side, begging him to open his eyes.

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  "Larry, Larry," he kept saying.

  The doctor said, "I don't think you ought to talk to him. He will wake

  up himself when he is able. Remember he has been out in that terrible

  storm.

  It is better for him to keep quiet now."

  Mr. Cook did not say another word. But he never moved from Larry's side.

  Jessie began to think. "Isn't it funny?" she thought. "We were sure Mr.

  Cook didn't like his own son. And we find he does. Maybe we'll find out

  that Larry likes his father, too."

  When Larry could swallow, the doctor gave him some medicine. A little

  color came back in his face.

  "Have you any hot soup?" the doctor asked Jessie. "Soon he will be able

  to take it. It will do him good."

  "Yes, I have canned soup," said Jessie.

  "That's all right. Don't put much water in it. Give it to him strong."

  Larry's mother was the one to feed him the soup. His eyes opened and

  then shut. Then he opened

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  them again. He seemed to be hungry.

  All this time, Benny had not said a single word. He just watched. Now he

  sat down quietly in a chair. Watch went over and sat close beside him.

  The old dog did not bark once at all the strangers. He seemed to know

  that they were Jessie's friends. So they would be his friends, too.

  Benny put his arm around the d
og's neck and together they sat there.

  Violet went and put her arm around Benny's shoulders. "It's been too

  exciting, Benny," she said. "You'll feel better soon. Suppose you have

  some hot soup, too."

  Benny was thankful to eat the hot soup. He almost went to sleep eating

  it.

  "Better lie down," said Violet. "After all, it's almost midnight."

  Benny was soon fast asleep.

  All the rest stayed up and watched Larry. All at once he said, "Mother,

  I tried to feed the whole world."

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  "What is he talking about?" asked Dr. Phillips. "Keep him quiet if you

  can. He will soon be asleep. Don't try to take him home yet."

  The kind neighbors began to say goodnight.

  "I'll come again early in the morning," said Dr. Phillips, going out

  last of all.

  Jessie and Violet went up to their room. Henry carried Benny upstairs to

  his bed without waking him. Mr. Alden and Watch sat quietly with Larry's

  father and mother. And for the first time, when the clock struck twelve

  at midnight, Watch did not bark.

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  CHAPTER 12

  The Secret Is Out

  The next day was beautiful. The storm had gone. Everyone got up early

  and went downstairs to see how Larry was. Dr. Phillips came early, too.

  Mr. and Mrs. Cook were still there, sitting by the bed.

  "How is the boy?" asked Mr. Alden.

  "He is very much better," said Dr. Phillips. "But he still doesn't know

  what he is talking about."

  "Oh." said Benny, "I think he does."

  "And I do, too," said Henry. "What is he saying?"

  "Oh, the same old thing, about feeding the world. Will you tell me how

  that makes sense?"

  "We'll

  show

  you," said Henry, "if it's all right with Larry. That is

  better than telling. Mr. Cook and Grandfather, you can come with the

  doctor, too."

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  "I

  don't need to come," said Mrs. Cook smiling, "I know all about it. I

  used to take Larry his supper every night. Here is a key. Your dog

  always barked and I was sure you'd come out and question me. I'll stay

  with Larry now."

  "Eat anything you see," said Larry, almost smiling.

  Then the Aldens led the men down the path to the little white house. Mr.

  Cook said, "I never guessed a thing."

  Benny said, "Larry comes to work here every night. We thought we smelled

  fish cooking." They all went in.

  "What is this?" said Dr. Phillips, picking up a little cake.

  "Well," said Henry. "I rather think it is a cake made of seaweed. It was