by Charles Tang
Joshua shook his head. “First I need to be sure. Last night I couldn’t sleep worrying about this whole thing,” Joshua said. “First thing this morning I carefully examined all the horses … the damaged ones and the perfect ones. I know those horses as well as I know my own name. Now I’m wondering if maybe the damaged horses aren’t Dentzel’s horses —if they might not be fakes. They don’t look like Dentzel horses to me.”
“Fakes!” Karen exclaimed. “I doubt that.”
Joshua spoke rapidly. “One of the horses doesn’t work properly, another is badly scratched, and the third is only partly painted.” Joshua paused to catch his breath. “You can be sure the original horses were not like that.”
“Oh, no!” Benny burst out.
Joshua was silent and then said, “I know what I have to do. There are experts in this field, people who would know if these are the real Dentzel horses or not. I have to find someone to examine my horses.”
“Oh, Dad!” Karen said. “Of course these are the real horses. How could they not be? You paid enough for them.”
“I don’t know,” Joshua said. “But I’m going to find out.”
“Good!” Benny cried.
“I’ll make some calls this afternoon,” said Joshua. “Right now, I need to check on a new part we ordered for the Ferris wheel.”
The next day, the Aldens went for a long bike ride along the Old Orchard Bike Trail.
Finally, Benny’s legs grew tired. “I’m hungry,” he complained.
“I’m tired, too,” Violet said, slowing down.
They wheeled about and headed for home.
Once in the house Jessie dropped in a chair. “I’m too tired to eat lunch,” she said.
“Not me!” Benny said. “I could eat two sandwiches.”
Jessie laughed. When the phone rang, however, she became serious.
“I’ll answer it,” Henry said quickly, striding into the room and picking up the phone.
He listened to a deep voice growl at him, “This is a warning! Stop meddling at the amusement park!”
“Who is this?” Henry shouted. But the phone clicked and the line went dead. For a moment Henry stared angrily at the phone. Then he glanced at Jessie. “That must have been the same caller you had, Jessie. He had a deep voice and warned us to stay away from the park.”
Numbly, Jessie nodded. “Oh, Henry, who could it be? These calls scare me.”
Henry smiled grimly. “Don’t worry, Jessie. We’ll find the one doing the phoning.”
“I hope so,” Jessie said in a low voice. Inside, though, she wasn’t sure that they’d ever know who was doing these awful things.
After lunch Violet said, “Let’s go back to the park and see what’s happening.”
Benny asked, “You mean you’re not afraid of mean Sheila or the phone calls?”
“I don’t know if it’s Sheila,” Jessie said thoughtfully. “What about Ned? He never seems too happy to see us.”
“It might be Karen,” Violet said. “She doesn’t care two cents for the merry-go-round. I think she’d do anything to get the money to put in the new roller coaster that she wants for the park. And why was Peter sketching the horses?”
“Let’s go anyway,” Henry said. “I want to see if Joshua found an expert to examine the horses.”
“I doubt if he could locate a person with such special knowledge this soon,” Jessie said. But she stood up.
“I’m ready,” Benny said, one hand on the doorknob.
Bicycling to the park, they went right to the carousel. Rides were whirling, and music was blaring on all sides.
Violet was the first to see the tall woman at the merry-go-round. Without a word, she pointed to her.
The big-boned woman was running her hands over the dapple gray. She peered at the horse’s head and examined the body.
“Hi, Aldens,” Joshua said, smiling. “This is Ms. Margaret Macy, an expert on Dentzel horses. I made lots of calls last night. Frank told me about this expert who happened to be staying at the Sunnyside Motel over at Watertown. She was on her way to Boston but I persuaded her to make a detour and come to Pine Grove. Wasn’t I lucky to find someone on such short notice?”
Margaret Macy glanced at the children and smiled. Then she went back to her work. She didn’t even pause long enough to say hello. Nodding, she methodically checked the horse’s legs, ears, mouth, and eyes.
Violet thought it was quite a coincidence that Margaret Macy happened to be so near Pine Grove.
They all watched as Ms. Macy examined the three horses that had been damaged. She was very careful and finally she said to Joshua, “You don’t have to worry, Mr. Eaton. These horses are definitely Dentzels. The scratch must have been made by someone who cleans the carousel. As far as the unpainted belly of one horse … well, Mr. Dentzel was human. He could make mistakes, too. The horse that doesn’t go up and down has a mechanical problem, but he is a Dentzel horse.”
Joshua Eaton smiled broadly and shook Ms. Macy’s hand. “I can’t thank you enough. You’ve made me very happy.”
The Aldens were almost as happy as Joshua. Jessie and Violet hugged him, and Benny said, “I’m glad Ms. Macy was near here and could come right away.”
CHAPTER 10
The Terrible Ferris Wheel Ride
When the children arrived home, Henry pulled an envelope out of the mailbox. “Hmmm,” he said, bewildered, “this is funny. It’s addressed: ‘To the Aldens’ ”
“We got a letter,” Benny cheered. “May I open it?”
“Sure,” Henry said, handing it over.
Benny tore it open. His mouth formed a big O when he noticed the words had been cut out of newspapers.
Jessie, who was standing behind him, read the letter aloud.
“Aldens! Go home! You’re snoopy and don’t belong here! Don’t return to the amusement park.
Signed,
THE WATCHER.”
Jessie looked up. “How do you like that!”
Benny gave the letter to Henry.
“This is unbelievable!” Violet said indignantly. “Shall we call the police?”
“Well,” Henry said. “Maybe we should tell Joe and Alice.”
“But nothing’s happened to us,” Jessie said. “And if we tell them, they might send us home.”
Henry nodded. “We don’t want to go home now, that’s for sure.” He paused. “Besides, I think we can solve this mystery ourselves.”
“We’ll keep our eyes open,” Jessie said firmly. “And we’ll find out what’s going on.”
“We’ll become ‘The Watchers,’ ” Benny said, pressing his lips together in a stubborn line.
Henry’s smile was grim. “Yes, Benny. We won’t let a few phone calls and one letter keep us from going to the park.”
A rap on the door interrupted them.
Hastily, Henry slipped the letter into his pocket as Jessie opened the door.
Alice stood before them. “I’m driving into town to buy a pair of sneakers,” she said. “How would you like to ride along?”
“That would be fun!” Benny exclaimed.
“And maybe while you’re waiting for me you’d like to order a chocolate ice cream soda at Lou’s Drugstore.” Alice’s green eyes sparkled. “My treat.”
“Yes!” Violet said with a smile.
“Yes,” Jessie said with a wider smile.
“Yes,” Henry said with a grin.
So the Aldens drove off with Alice, and as she shopped, they settled themselves at a round table in the window at Lou’s. Soon they were served huge chocolate sodas.
While they ate, Violet suddenly put down her spoon. “Look,” she said, finding it difficult to swallow, “there are Sheila and Frank.”
Benny craned his neck. “Where?”
“At that table over there,” Jessie said, her voice rising in surprise.
“They’re with Margaret Macy!” Henry said.
Sure enough, the tall woman was seriously talking to Sheila and Frank
.
“That’s right,” Henry said. “Frank is the one who told Joshua that Margaret Macy was in Watertown.”
“Oh,” Violet said. “Sheila’s handing Ms. Macy an envelope.”
“I wonder what’s in it,” Jessie said with a puzzled frown.
“I wonder, too,” Benny said, drawing up on his straw for the last bit of chocolate ice cream soda. “Maybe they’re handing Margaret Macy a card wishing her a good trip.”
“I don’t believe that,” Jessie said. “Look, she’s taking money out of the envelope and counting it!”
Sure enough the tall woman carefully counted the bills and, smiling, she stuffed them in her handbag.
“Do you think Joshua asked Frank to pay her for inspecting the carousel?” Violet said.
“Why would he do that?” Jessie asked. “Why wouldn’t Joshua just pay her himself? That doesn’t make sense.”
Henry tapped his chin with the straw. “I think Frank is paying Margaret Macy off.”
“For doing what?” Benny questioned innocently.
“Maybe for pretending to be an expert, examining Joshua’s horses, and saying they were real,” Henry said.
“Why would Frank and Sheila do such a thing?” Violet asked.
“I don’t know, but we’ll find out,” Henry said, his jaw set and determined.
The children watched Sheila, Frank, and Margaret Macy. They didn’t talk long. Sheila kept glancing over her shoulder. Suddenly, her eyes rested on the Aldens. She said something to Frank and Ms. Macy, and the three of them left quickly.
“So, Margaret Macy was paid off to say the Dentzel horses were real.” Violet shook her head in disbelief.
“And to think Joshua trusted her!” Jessie straightened her shoulders indignantly. “Margaret Macy isn’t an expert, after all! She’s a crook!”
“He trusted Frank, too,” Henry said. “He believed him when he said Ms. Macy was an expert.”
“We’d better tell Alice!” Benny shouted.
Henry glanced at Benny, shaking his head. “We’d better not. She might not let us go back to the park and find Joshua. He should be the first to know and decide what to do.”
Benny put his finger to his lips. “Not a word,” he whispered.
So when Alice picked them up, the children raved about the sodas, but didn’t mention a thing about what they’d seen.
When the Aldens arrived home, they mounted their bikes and pedaled to the park.
Sheila and Frank were at the concession stand, just as if nothing had happened. When Sheila spotted them, her dark eyes shot sparks in their direction.
“Frank and Sheila are watching us,” Henry said, his lips barely moving. “Act natural.”
“Shall I buy a cotton candy?” Benny asked.
“That’s being very natural,” Jessie said, chuckling. “Go ahead, Benny.”
“Let’s not find Joshua right away,” Violet cautioned. “We don’t want Frank and Sheila watching us.”
“You’re right, Violet,” Jessie said. “We’ll just go on a ride or something.”
Benny joined them, happily licking his cotton candy. “Sheila was grumpy, but she took my money.”
The children strolled down the dusty midway, the calliope music playing a brisk march. And all the while Violet’s heart thumped.
“The carousel horses look beautiful in the sun,” Jessie said, linking her arm through Violet’s.
“Don’t they?” Violet said in a shaky voice. “The chocolate brown shines like mahogany.”
“Can I ride one of the fake horses?” Benny asked.
“Shhh,” Henry said, “not so loud. I don’t think you’d better.” He glanced at Sheila, who was watching them through narrowed eyes. “I think we’ll stay away from the merry-go-round,” Henry said thoughtfully.
“Pretend we’re here to enjoy the park,” Violet said. “We should act casual, so they won't suspect us.”
“Why don’t we ride the Ferris wheel?” Jessie asked.
Benny peered up through the spokes to the top of the Ferris wheel. “It’s too tall,” he complained.
“Yes,” Henry answered. “And because it’s so tall we’ll be able to see the whole park.” Then he leaned down next to Benny’s ear and whispered, “We’ll be able to keep an eye on Frank and Sheila.”
“Okay,” Benny agreed. “We can’t be good detectives if we can’t see what’s going on.”
Soon they were seated on the Ferris wheel, going up, up in the air.
At the top their chair gently rocked back and forth.
When they descended, it halted to let off passengers. Once more they moved swiftly around in a circle.
High on top of the Ferris wheel, the rides and people looked small.
Violet glanced over the side and noticed Sheila talking to the man who ran the ride. After a few minutes, the man walked toward the coffee stand. Sheila now ran the Ferris wheel. Fearfully, Violet glanced at Jessie and Henry, who nodded in understanding. They had seen the man leave and Sheila take over, too.
Again they climbed higher and higher. At the top the Ferris wheel shuddered to a stop.
“I’m afraid to look down when we’re at the top,” Benny confessed. He hugged Jessie tight.
“I like to see everything!” Jessie said. “I can see Sheila below!” She put her arm reassuringly around Benny.
Their chair swayed back and forth.
“All the other passengers have gotten off,” Violet said, biting her underlip. “We’re the only ones on the Ferris wheel!”
“I know,” Jessie replied, her pulse racing.
“I don’t like this ride,” Benny said.
Henry placed his hand over Benny’s.
Sheila gazed up at them, her face twisted in a terrible smile.
Benny dared to peek over the side. “Sheila’s going to keep us up here forever and ever,” he whimpered in a frightened voice.
Henry tried to think of something he could do to make Sheila start the Ferris wheel again, but he couldn’t. Benny started to cry, but he tried very hard not to sob too loud. Tears filled Violet’s eyes, too, as she gazed at the ground that seemed so far away.
CHAPTER 11
Frank Tells All
Benny said between sobs, “Will we ever get down?”
“Sure we will,” Henry said reassuringly. But when he looked down at Sheila’s face, he had his doubts.
“Let us down!” Jessie shouted.
Frank Arnold dashed toward the wheel and grabbed his wife’s arm. Sheila tried to shove him away, but Frank was too strong. For a moment the two struggled, then Frank grabbed the lever.
By this time a crowd had gathered and an alarmed Joshua rushed forward. In dismay he looked up at the frightened children.
Frank pushed the lever forward and the ride started. Down, down, the Ferris wheel came.
Violet sighed with relief and Jessie sank back against the seat. Their awful ride was over.
When they reached the bottom, the children scrambled out.
Stiffly, Benny straightened up. “My legs are wobbly,” he said in a shaky voice. “I don’t like the Ferris wheel!”
“It will be a long time before I ride it, too,” Violet said.
“Thank heavens, you’re safe,” Joshua exclaimed, patting Benny’s back. Then he turned to the Arnolds. “And you, Sheila!” he said angrily. “What did you think you were doing?”
Furious, she pressed her lips together and turned her back on him. Joshua faced Frank.
“Frank,” Joshua said, “what’s going on?”
Frank nervously smoothed down his moustache. “The carousel horses,” he muttered. “They were the cause of everything!”
Joshua stared at him. “Go on,” he said sternly.
“Frank!” Sheila shouted.
“We stole three of the Dentzel horses,” Frank admitted, lowering his eyes. “I went along with the plan for the money. But when I saw the children at the top of the Ferris wheel, I changed my mind.” He glanced sham
efaced at Benny. “When it comes to hurting little kids, I draw the line!”
Sheila whirled around. “Frank! Be quiet!” she hissed. She shook her head fiercely, and the red scarf around her neck fluttered.
Frank gave her a sad look and murmured, “It’s over, Sheila.”
Joshua nodded firmly. “You bet it’s over! We’ve known about the three damaged horses for some time.” He shot the children a grateful glance. “Thanks to the Aldens. But we didn’t know you were guilty. Where are my original horses?” Joshua asked in a forbidding tone.
“Frank!” Sheila screamed. “Not another word!”
Joshua half turned to Ned, who stood behind him. “Ned,” he asked, “will you call the police?”
Ned shot Frank and Sheila Arnold a dark look, and said, “With pleasure.”
Joshua turned back to Frank. “I’m waiting for you to answer my question. Where are my horses?”
“In Old Jim Mitchell’s barn,” Frank answered, then continued as if he wanted to get the whole story off his chest. “We had clever artists copy the real horses from the pictures we shot at night. When the carvers finished, they painted the fake horses just like the originals.”
“Except,” Benny piped up, “they forgot to paint one horse’s stomach!”
Miserably Frank nodded. “You kids noticed every mistake that was made.” He paused, then went on, “Everything was done at night. When the fake horses were ready, we substituted them for the original Dentzels.” He sighed. “We were going to be rich!”
“If it hadn’t been for these kids we would have been!” Sheila glared at Benny. “You were always around the merry-go-round, no matter what I did!”
“Take it easy, Sheila,” Frank said. “After the fake horses were in place on the carousel, we hired a truck to haul the original horses to the barn.”
“Our biggest mistake was when we paid Margaret Macy in broad daylight. You kids even saw that!” He sighed. “Everything we did went wrong!”
Panic-stricken, Sheila dashed away.
“Stop!” Joshua yelled.
But Sheila kept running until she reached the House of Mirrors. She hurried inside.
“She’s getting away!” Benny said, racing after her.