The Old Motel Mystery

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

  That evening, Jessie and Henry baked chicken for supper while Violet and Benny shelled peas and set the table.

  After they had eaten fruit for dessert, they sat back and relaxed.

  Benny asked, “Do you remember when we lived in the boxcar?”

  “Do I!” Jessie exclaimed. “It was hard, but we had such good times, too.”

  Benny leaped up and ran to the cupboard. “Here’s my pink cup that I found in the dump. It’s all chipped and cracked, but I’ll never throw it away!”

  “Violet,” Henry chimed in, taking his sister’s hand, “if you hadn’t become sick, Grandfather never would have found us.”

  “We ran away because we expected Grandfather to be a mean old man,” Jessie said.

  “And he was just the opposite,” Henry said with a chuckle.

  “We didn’t have a mother or father,” Benny said. “I’m glad Grandfather found us.”

  “Me, too,” Henry replied. “I wonder how Grandfather is getting along without us.”

  “Oh, fine, I’m sure,” Jessie said. “Mrs. McGregor will take good care of him!”

  “And Watch will take care of himself,” Violet said with a laugh. “Our dog is smart.”

  “I miss Watch,” Jessie said.

  Just then a loud “meow” was heard.

  “It’s Willie,” Benny yelled, looking out the window. “He can take Watch’s place while we’re in Florida.” He hurried to fling open the door.

  Jessie found a string and played with Willie, but soon the cat went to the door. Henry let Willie out into the warm night and watched as the cat dashed up the hill to Kay’s house.

  Weary but happy, the Aldens undressed for bed. The next morning, while they were eating a big breakfast of cereal, scrambled eggs, toast with grape jelly, and milk, someone tapped on the door.

  Benny cracked open the door. A short plump woman peeked in. Her gray hair curled about her round face.

  “Hello.” She smiled sweetly. “I’m Millicent Fair. Call me Millicent,” she said, stepping inside. “I want to say welcome.”

  “Hello,” Jessie said pleasantly, “come in.”

  “Looks like I am in,” Millicent said, hiding a giggle behind her hand. She bustled forward and dropped into a chair. “I heard you were visiting Kay.” Her bright blue eyes darted from one Alden to the other. “How long are you staying?”

  “We’re not sure,” Henry answered.

  “I see you cleaned the swimming pool,” she said happily.

  “Yes,” Jessie said. “We hope Rolf Jensen will fill it.”

  “It was a big job,” Benny said, holding his palms outward. “See how red my hands are?”

  “Why in the world are you doing all this?” Millicent Fair asked.

  “We want to go swimming,” Benny said.

  “All this work.” Millicent sighed. “Don’t you know Kay plans to sell this place?”

  “Kay’s not going to sell,” Jessie said, shaking her head hard.

  “She’s not?” Millicent said with surprise, leaning forward. “You mean she’s staying?”

  “We hope she will,” Violet said softly. “And we’re going to help all we can.”

  “With a little repair we’ll make the motel look like new,” Henry said. “Then Kay will stay for sure.”

  Millicent sank back in her chair. “I declare,” she said. “And the Adventure Hotel chain made her such a splendid offer, too!”

  “She told us,” Jessie said, smiling. “But this is such a lovely spot, surrounded by cypress trees. Compared to the tall hotels, this motel has a cozy warm feeling.”

  “Wait until you see it when the painters are finished,” Violet said.

  “Painters?” Millicent’s small mouth formed a big O.

  “Yes, they’ll be here today,” Henry said. “Kay arranged for them last night.”

  “Soon this ugly brown paint will be painted over,” Violet said.

  “What color?” Millicent asked with interest.

  “A glistening white,” Violet responded.

  “Won’t the motel be beautiful set against the green grass and trees?” Jessie said.

  Millicent blew out a breath of air, then she stood up. “Yes, it will be beautiful,” she said. “I’m so glad!” Then she added, “I must go, but I’ll see you soon.”

  When the two painters arrived, they began removing all the old paint. They appeared to be brothers, for they were both tall, though one was skinnier than the other. Each of them wore loose-fitting white overalls and white-billed caps from which a fringe of yellow hair stuck out from all angles.

  At the end of the day they lined up six cans of white paint against the motel’s outside wall.

  “Won’t the motel look nice and clean?”

  Benny asked, his brown eyes twinkling with excitement.

  “Yes, it will once the paint is on,” Henry said.

  Then Benny, his lower lip sticking out, said, “I’m hungry.”

  Jessie laughed. “I’m hungry, too, Benny.”

  They headed back to the motel, but this time they didn’t hurry. They were too tired and their feet dragged.

  That night they slept so deeply that they didn’t hear a sound, not even the prowler outside their window.

  In the morning, after breakfast, when Violet opened the door, her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, no,” she whispered.

  “What is it?” Jessie asked, hurrying to her sister’s side. She, too, stopped and stared. Benny and Henry joined them. They were speechless.

  Someone had taken the paint. The painters hadn’t arrived yet, so they hadn’t done it. In the grass were circles where the six cans of paint had been. Not one can remained.

  CHAPTER 4

  Alligators and Swamp Birds

  After one look at where the paint cans had been, Jessie hurried up the hill to get Kay.

  Rolf, who was working at the house that morning, and Kay ran down to the motel, followed by Aunt Jane and Jessie.

  Grimly, Kay surveyed the circles in the grass. “Six new cans of paint gone,” she groaned, brushing back a strand of hair from her forehead. “What am I going to do?”

  Aunt Jane stopped, too upset to move. Sympathetically, she touched Kay’s hand.

  “The painters won’t be here until nine,” Rolf said calmly, but he was also upset. He looked at Kay. “Do you want me to go into Lyndale and buy six more cans?”

  Kay nodded. “I guess so.” But she seemed uncertain.

  As Rolf left, Kay, a worried look on her face, turned to the four children. “I don’t understand. Why would anyone steal paint?”

  Henry shrugged his shoulders. “We didn’t hear a sound,” he said.

  “It’s a good thing,” Aunt Jane said. “Whoever did this wouldn’t want to be caught. Who knows how they might have reacted.”

  Kay sighed and turned away. “Nothing can be done about the stolen paint.” But suddenly she smiled. “Come up to the house, children. Aunt Jane and I were just about to have a cup of tea.”

  “Tea?” Benny asked.

  Kay laughed. “For everyone else there’s a pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice.”

  “Oh, boy,” Benny shouted. “I’m thirsty.”

  Violet laughed. “Then let’s go up the hill”

  The Aldens followed Kay and Aunt Jane.

  As they climbed the slope Benny asked, “Will Rolf fill the pool today?”

  “Maybe,” Violet answered. “But if he does it will be after he’s bought the paint in town.”

  In the dining room, Aunt Jane poured a glass of orange juice for each of the Aldens while Kay stared out the window. Every once in a while she took a sip of tea. “Why?” she murmured, glancing at Jane.

  Aunt Jane sighed. “I wish we knew.”

  “Don’t worry,” Henry said to Kay. “We’ll help you.”

  “Yes,” Jessie said. “The stolen paint will soon be forgotten.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Kay said.

  Aunt Jane changed the sub
ject by reaching for a catalog from a large department store in Miami, and opened its pages to bedspreads. “Kay is going to order this style of bedspread for each unit. We decided last night.”

  “How lovely!” Jessie exclaimed, admiring the dust ruffle and quilted cover.

  “Yes,” Kay said. “Each unit will have a different color bedspread with matching drapes. The order should only take a day or two.”

  “What colors will you get?” Jessie asked, her voice rising with enthusiasm.

  “Lots of colors,” Kay replied, catching Jessie’s good spirits. “Your unit will be lavender.”

  “Oh, good,” Violet said. “My favorite color.”

  “I know,” Kay said, the old sparkle appearing in her eyes.

  “Does every unit have a little kitchen, Kay?” Benny asked.

  “No,” Kay replied. She stroked Willie. “Why do you ask, Benny?”

  “I was thinking,” Benny said. “Everybody likes to eat! You could serve breakfast in lunch boxes. Each box would be painted the color of the room.”

  “What an excellent idea,” Kay said.

  “And,” Henry added, “each box could have a thermos of hot coffee.”

  “And muffins,” Violet said.

  “And orange juice,” Jessie continued.

  “Children, what marvelous ideas you’ve given me,” Kay said, her eyes sparkling.

  “Then you’ll definitely go ahead with painting the motel?” Aunt Jane questioned.

  “Yes, I will!” Kay stood up so quickly that Willie leapt down with an annoyed meow. “I’m excited again about my Cypress Motel.”

  “So are we!” Henry said, a big grin creasing his face.

  “You’ve been so helpful,” Kay said. “Maybe when Rolf comes back he’ll take you on the Everglades tour. He’ll fill the pool after that and you can have a swim. Would you like to see the Everglades?”

  “Yes!” Benny shouted. “I want to see an alligator.”

  “I’ll bet you will, too,” Henry said.

  “Have fun,” Kay said, opening the door. “I have work to do here but, Jane, wouldn’t you like to go along?”

  “I’d love to,” Aunt Jane answered.

  When Rolf pulled up in his red Jeep, he agreed a tour would be fine. A half hour later he drove them to the dock where his boat was tied. It was like a big rowboat with sides that had benches all around. Overhead was a canvas top striped like a circus tent.

  Everyone scrambled aboard. Aunt Jane sat in front and the children sat in back. Jessie wore her camera around her neck, and Henry carried a pair of binoculars.

  “I’m ready for a little relaxation myself,” Rolf said as he steered the big boat out of the narrow channel and into open water. “Yesterday I put in a new sink at my own house and had a new refrigerator delivered.”

  “I’m glad this tour isn’t a burden for you,” Aunt Jane said.

  Gulls dipped and soared above them. On either side of the boat were islands of trees. Long-legged blue herons walked along the shore. The birds moved carefully, as if they were on stilts.

  “See that dark bird diving into the water?” Rolf asked, pointing to a bird just vanishing beneath the water.

  “Yes, yes,” Jessie said. “Now the bird is coming up. He’s speared a fish with his sharp beak.”

  “The bird is an anhinga,” Rolf said. “The other birds that you see in the distance with the wide bills are pelicans. Beyond the pelicans are pink birds called flamingos.

  “Mangrove trees are edged along the islands,” Rolf continued, indicating trees with thick trunks and leaves. “Mangroves are the only trees whose roots will grow in salt water.”

  Jessie peered through her camera lens, and when it was focused just right, she clicked the shutter. “I just shot a bald eagle circling his nest.”

  “He’s a beauty,” Henry said, his binoculars fastened to his eyes.

  “That’s a Southern bald eagle,” Rolf explained. “It’s fairly rare. See how large his nest is on top of that cypress tree?”

  “Wow,” Benny exclaimed. “I’ve never seen a nest as big as my bathtub!” He paused, looking in every direction. “But where are the alligators?”

  “If we’re lucky we’ll see one,” Rolf said.

  “The Everglades are beautiful,” Violet said, breathing in the warm August air.

  “Yes,” Rolf said, “and the many inlets are beautiful, too. But you have to know these narrow fingers of water or you could easily become lost.”

  Rolf knew everything, Violet thought, trailing her hand in the water. He probably knew everything about Kay’s motel, too, as he came to work for her so often.

  Suddenly a strange creature poked its head above water.

  “Look! It’s a dinosaur!” Benny shouted.

  Rolf threw back his head and laughed. “No, Benny, that’s a manatee or sea cow. It sort of looks like a walrus.”

  “Are manatees mean?” Benny asked, leaning forward to catch a closer look at the misshapen wrinkled head.

  “No, they are clumsy and ugly, but they are gentle,” Rolf said, putting on his sunglasses.

  Suddenly, he asked, “Do you children have any idea who stole the paint?”

  “No, we don’t,” Henry said, speaking for all of them.

  “I wonder why Kay is working so hard. Do you think her motel is worth saving?” Rolf looked at the Alden children.

  “I think it’s charming,” Jessie said. “It can be made beautiful.”

  “Yes, I agree,” Henry stated positively.

  “Sometimes I think she should sell,” Rolf said. “It’s too much for her.” Abruptly he turned the boat around. “We’ve been out over three hours, time to get back.”

  “No alligator,” Benny said with a disappointed scowl.

  “Maybe we’ll see one on the way back,” Jessie said.

  “No sooner said than done,” Rolf said cheerfully. “Look over there!”

  Violet shaded her eyes. “I see it! It’s a huge alligator.”

  “Where?” Benny asked in an excited voice, squinting. “Where?”

  “I see it, too,” Henry said. “Look, Benny, do you see that gray log moving into the water?”

  “Yes!” Benny said in a thrilled voice. “The log is a long alligator. It looks like its back is tree bark.”

  With a splash the alligator disappeared below the surface.

  Benny smiled all the way back and was still smiling when Rolf pulled up to the dock. The tour had been a success for everyone. The whole mysterious world of the Everglades had opened up to them.

  “Thanks, Rolf,” Violet said, as she jumped nimbly from the boat to the dock.

  “Yes, thanks,” the others echoed, piling out of the boat. Aunt Jane was last. She grabbed Rolf’s hand, and he pulled her firmly up to the dock. Smiling, she shook his hand. “I’ll never forget our wonderful Everglades tour,” she said.

  “Good,” Rolf said.

  They sped along the winding road to Kay’s.

  “And now,” Rolf said, pulling up before Kay’s house, “I’ll fill the swimming pool.”

  “Great,” Henry said. “There’s nothing I’d like better than a good swim to cool off.” He jumped out of the Jeep and helped Benny down.

  “I wonder how much the painters have done,” Jessie said as she followed Henry, Violet, and Aunt Jane.

  Standing before Kay’s house, they looked down at the motel to see how much was finished. However, the painters weren’t in sight.

  Kay came around the house to meet them. She didn’t look happy.

  “What’s wrong?” Rolf asked, striding toward her.

  “The painters walked off the job shortly after you left.” Upset, Kay bit her underlip.

  “Why?” Rolf asked, concern showing in his dark eyes.

  “No water,” Kay answered crisply. “Someone cut off the water, and it can’t be turned back on because there’s a part missing. The painters refused to work in this heat without water.” Wearily, she pushed back a strand of hair.
“The plumber promised to come later today.”

  Violet glanced at Rolf. Again she thought how much Rolf knew about Kay’s motel. Could Rolf have turned off the water? He did want her to sell it.

  When they returned to the motel, Henry put out cheese and bread. Violet set out fruit and cookies. Jessie set the table, and Benny poured the milk.

  “Who could have shut off the water and stolen the paint?” Jessie wondered as they ate.

  “Do you think it’s the same person?” Violet asked.

  “I do,” Henry responded. “It’s too much of a coincidence that two things should happen to stop work on Kay’s motel.”

  “I hope it isn’t Rolf,” Violet said. “He’s always so helpful.” She took a deep breath. “But if you can put in a sink you need to know how to turn off water, don’t you?”

  “You sure do,” Henry answered.

  Oh, Violet thought, she shouldn’t think such mean things about Rolf. It did seem, however, that someone was trying to stop Kay. She felt sorry for Kay, who was trying to save her motel. Now the pool couldn’t be filled, and no painting had been done. What was going on?

  CHAPTER 5

  Oranges and More Oranges

  The next morning the sun shone brightly, but there was a nice breeze. It was a good day to help Kay, Jessie thought. The plumber had brought the missing part the evening before, and now the water was turned on. A painter went by the window. All was going well.

  Violet boiled water for poached eggs while Jessie broiled bacon. As Henry slid bread in the toaster and Benny poured the milk, there was a knock on the door.

  Benny hopped down from his chair to answer.

  Millicent Fair entered, proudly displaying a plate of muffins. She set them on the breakfast table. “Eat these banana-walnut muffins while they’re still warm,” she said with a smile, pulling up a chair before Henry could do it for her. Her sharp eyes darted from one to the other. “Where were you yesterday?” she asked. “I missed you.”

  “We went on Rolf’s boat in the Everglades,” Benny said. “And I saw an alligator!”