The Castle Mystery Read Online Free Page A

can!” Benny said. “Picnics are one thing we’re good at.”
    After they’d gathered some lunch, the children stopped by to see how Henry and Grandfather were doing.
    â€œThe castle looks brighter already,” Violet said when she saw how many vines had been cut back.
    Grandfather and Henry stood back to check their work.
    â€œI’d like to be here in two months when this starts blooming,” Mr. Alden said. “Who votes for another trip to Drummond Castle in the summer?”
    Mr. Alden was surprised that only Henry raised his hand.
    â€œWhat is it, Jessie?” Henry asked. “Don’t you like working at Drummond Castle?”
    Jessie nodded. “We would like working here if anyone besides Carrie would let us. Sandy thinks we’re going to break things. This morning Tom wouldn’t even let Violet take a peek at the beautiful books he discovered in the library.”
    â€œAnd Mr. Tooner thinks we’re pests!” Benny said, his eyes full of surprise and hurt. “He shooed us out of your room when he was fixing broken floorboards.”
    Now it was Mr. Alden’s turn to look surprised. “Broken floorboards! Why the floors in that room are as solid as rock. Caroline said it’s one of the few rooms that doesn’t need any renovation at all. I can’t imagine what Mr. Tooner was doing in there.”
    â€œChasing us out!” Benny said hotly.
    After the children gave Mr. Alden some sandwiches, they took the steep footpath down to the lake. No one was going to stop them from having a picnic!
    â€œLook at the pretty view,” Jessie said halfway down. “I can see why the Drummonds picked this spot to build their castle. It’s perfect.”
    Indeed it was. Out in front lay a sparkling lake. Behind the children was a wall of rock and moss that would soon be full of delicate wildflowers.
    â€œCarrie told me the first Mr. Drummond put in this railing and these steps so his children would have a shortcut to the beach,” Henry mentioned. “She said to look for a gate halfway down. The Drummonds installed it after one of their children got lost in the cave.”

    â€œWell I’d like to get lost in there, too,” Benny said when they passed by a gate that blocked a cave entrance. “Wooo. Wooo.”
    â€œWooo. Wooo,” his echo said back.
    â€œDo you suppose the violin could be hidden in there?” Violet asked, remembering the music they had heard on their walk the night before.
    Henry shook his head. “I don’t think so. It’s too damp to keep a valuable instrument in there. And look how rusty that lock is. Carrie said the gate has been locked since way before William Drummond died.”
    Benny rattled the gate. “I sure wish there was another way to get in here.”
    â€œI can’t decide whether to eat, or hike, or hike and eat,” Jessie said when the children reached the little lake beach.
    â€œIt’s too cold for a hike,” Benny said, “so let’s eat.”
    That settled it. The children went on down to the lake. They set their picnic lunch on a flattened tree trunk lying in the sand. Benny got busy making sand chairs all around the log so they could eat at a proper table.
    â€œThis should be a restaurant when they turn the castle into a museum,” Benny said proudly.
    â€œOr a tea shop,” Violet added.
    â€œOr a snack bar.” Jessie handed out thick sandwiches made from Carrie’s leftover roast chicken.
    When Henry finished eating, he stood up to stretch out. “Pruning is hard work. It looks so easy, but to do it right takes a long time. My arm muscles ache. From down here I can see that Grandfather and I still have plenty left to do. Look.”
    Jessie looked up at the castle. For the first time, she noticed a small building set into the cliff. “Never mind the castle, Henry. Look there.”
    All the children looked up to where