Animal Shelter Mystery Read Online Free Page B

guy looked mean when Violet said she wanted to put up the flyer to find Miss Newcombe.”
    Violet hugged the sheets of paper close to her. “Why would that bother them, I wonder? Well, I don’t care. I am just going to post these all over town. We have Miss Newcombe’s pets, and now we need to find Miss Newcombe.”
    â€œWell, here’s some tape, Violet,” Mr. Seed said. “When you go back to the animal shelter later, you can tape up a few of your flyers on the outside of my windows. For now, I think it would be a good idea to eat your lunch in here, so that those men are well out of town when you go back to the shelter. Henry and I loaded up the truck already with plenty of shingles and nails and whatever else you need to fix that toolshed Dr. Scott wants repaired.”
    â€œWould you like a meat loaf sandwich, Mr. Seed?” Jessie asked when she opened her knapsack. “I’m not too hungry today. You can have mine.”
    Mr. Seed shook his head. “I’m afraid those men took my appetite with them. They’re up to no good, and I’m sorry I ever let them in the store. No, I’m not hungry, either. But you should eat. You’ll need all the energy you can muster when you work on that old toolshed. Last time I was at the shelter, I noticed there was a lot of water damage on one side. Just taking out the rotted shingles is going to be a big job.”
    â€œWe like big jobs,” Benny announced, “so I’d better eat two sandwiches for lunch!”
    This made everyone laugh and realize they were hungry after all. Jessie unwrapped all the sandwiches and put a fat pickle next to each one. “There’s plenty of ice-cold lemonade, too,” she said as she twisted the cap off a tall red thermos.
    When the library bell rang a half hour later, the Aldens packed all their lunch things in Mr. Seed’s truck along with the materials he was giving to the shelter. Mr. Seed drove on a dirt path in back of the red barn that led to the far end of the property.
    â€œI hope you won’t be doing all this hard work for nothing,” Mr. Seed told the Aldens when he stopped the truck in front of the old toolshed. “I’ve heard the shelter’s closing in a couple of weeks, so Dr. Scott may not need the extra space.”
    Jessie looked at Mr. Seed. “The animals need more space now, and I just know we can help Dr. Scott track down the founder of the shelter before the deadline. We have to—we just have to.”
    â€œOf course,” Mr. Seed said gently. “Now you folks give me a call when you need some other supplies from my store. I’ve got plenty of chicken wire, wood boards—lots of things I know you could use in that boxcar you all told me about. All you have to do is ask, okay?”
    â€œOkay!” the Aldens all said at once.
    Soon everyone was busy pulling out rotted boards and lining up the new shingles to replace the old ones.
    After a few minutes, Violet spoke up. “I wonder if Dr. Scott was able to find out anything while we were gone.”
    â€œI found two pups for your boxcar,” everyone heard next as Dr. Scott came out to see how the Aldens were doing. In each arm the animal doctor was carrying a German shepherd puppy they hadn’t seen before. “These pups will be big dogs in no time, and the cages we have here will be much too small for them.”
    Benny held one of the squirming dogs in his arms while Jessie held the other. “Did you have any luck finding out about the founder of the shelter, Dr. Scott?” Jessie asked.
    Dr. Scott shook her head. “I’m afraid not, Jessie. After you left, I still had so many shots to give and so many other calls to make about getting homes for these strays, I didn’t get a chance to make any other calls. Then there’s Miss Newcombe to check on, too. Everything always happens at the same time. But you’ve all been a big help