Cereal Box Mystery Read Online Free

not,” Henry said.
    Violet said, “Let’s go talk to Mr. Bellows. We could ask him how to find Ms. Smitts and Mr. Darden, too. Maybe they could remember something that would help us.”
    “Good idea,” said Benny.
    Mr. Bellows was sitting at the counter in his store, his chin in his hands. He did not look happy.
    “Hi, Mr. Bellows,” Benny said.
    “What? Oh, hello,” said Mr. Bellows. He didn’t move.
    Bending over to look at the rings sparkling on the blue velvet in the glass case, Jessie asked, “Has Mr. Darden been back to buy a ring?”
    “No,” said Mr. Bellows. He made a face. “My last customer was the thief. And he wasn’t exactly a paying customer.”
    “Have you remembered anything else about the robbery?” Henry asked. “Something else that might help catch the thief?”
    “Not a thing,” said Mr. Bellows. “I just bought those rubies recently. How could the thief have known about them?”
    “Maybe he had been in your shop before. Maybe he saw them then,” Violet said.
    Mr. Bellows shook his head. “No. I put them out the day before yesterday. The only one who could have seen them was Mr. Darden. He was in right before I closed up for the evening that day. But I don’t think he even noticed them. He was looking for a ring.”

    “Did anyone else know you had the rubies?” asked Jessie.
    “Just me. And the woman who sold them to me, of course. Dr. Anne Marie Kroll,” Mr. Bellows told them.
    “Do you think Mr. Darden or Ms. Smitts might remember more about what happened?” Violet asked.
    Straightening up, Mr. Bellows said, “I don’t know. Ask them yourself if you’d like.” He reached into his pocket and brought out his notebook. He flipped it open and tore out the piece of paper where they had written their names and addresses.
    “Thanks!” Jessie said.
    Outside the store, Henry said, “I think we should visit Mr. Darden first.”
    “Me, too,” Jessie agreed. “I think it is suspicious that he hasn’t come back to shop for a ring.”
    “And he didn’t want the police to have his name and address, either,” Violet reminded them. “That sounds suspicious, too.”
    “It sure does,” Henry said. He looked at his watch. “I think we just have time to get supplies and pay a visit to Mr. Darden before lunch. He might be the key to the whole mystery!”

CHAPTER 5
An Empty Box and a Silver Star
    M r. Darden’s house was on a quiet street not far from Main Street. The house had a small porch, and flowers grew in pots on either side of the front steps.
    When he opened the door, Mr. Darden looked surprised. “What are you doing here?” he asked.
    “We’d like to ask you a few more questions about the robbery at Antique Treasures,” Henry said.
    David Darden glanced over his shoulder, then quickly stepped out onto the porch, closing the door behind him. “What do you want to know?” he said.
    “Do you know anyone named Marvin Map?” Jessie asked.
    “No!” Mr. Darden said. He hesitated and then said, “Except what I read about him in the newspaper, of course.”
    “Why didn’t you want to give your name and address to Mr. Bellows for the police?” Jessie went on.
    Mr. Darden said, “Shhh, keep your voice down.” He looked over his shoulder again.
    “And why haven’t you been back to buy a ring like you said you would?” Benny demanded.
    “Shhh!” Mr. Darden said sharply. Then he said, “Will you please go away!” And without saying another word, he turned and went back inside, closing the door firmly behind him.
    The Aldens were so surprised that they didn’t speak for a moment. Then they turned and went back down the steps to their bicycles. Jessie glanced over her shoulder at the house as they rode away. “He’s hiding something,” she said. “And don’t forget, he knew the rubies were there, or he could have known. The only other people were Mr. Bellows and Dr. Kroll.”
    After lunch, the Alden children gathered supplies to take out to the boxcar.