The Disappearing Friend Mystery Read Online Free

are.”
    â€œI have all kinds of ideas for posters,” said Violet. She tilted her head to one side, as if she could see all of the ideas lined up in front of her.
    â€œSomething with violets on it, I’m sure,” Jessie said, teasing her sister with affection.
    â€œFlowers would be good on a poster for hospital fund-raising,” agreed Violet with a good-natured smile.
    â€œI can’t wait to start!” Benny said excitedly.
    â€œNow you can at least wait for Beth, can’t you?” Henry said with a twinkle in his eye.
    Mrs. McGregor came back into the kitchen and handed Beth one of Mr. Alden’s old blue work shirts.
    â€œThat is just right!” exclaimed Beth. “Thank you.”
    â€œYou can go change in my room,” said Violet. “It’s the first one at the top of the stairs at the end of the hall. You can’t miss it.”
    â€œI’ll be right back,” said Beth, running from the room.
    The Aldens finished their cookies and milk slowly, trying to make them last.
    After several minutes had passed, Violet said, “Maybe Beth got lost. Maybe I should go look for her.” She had just pushed her chair back from the kitchen table when Beth came running breathlessly into the kitchen.

    â€œLook. The shirt covers my shorts, so I won’t get paint on them, either,” said Beth.
    â€œCome on,” said Jessie. “Let’s get to work on those posters!”

CHAPTER 5
    Mean Jokes
    J essie led the way to the boxcar and up the stump step. Then she stopped so quickly that the others almost ran into her.
    â€œJessie, what is it?” said Henry, sounding puzzled.
    â€œLook!” said Jessie, sounding even more puzzled.
    The table where they had left their art supplies was almost completely empty. The only things left were the glasses of water for the watercolors. The paints, pencils, poster boards—even the paintbrushes were gone!
    â€œDid you put away the art supplies before we went for cookies, Jessie?” Henry knew that Jessie always liked to keep things clean and tidy.
    But Jessie shook her head. “No,” she said.
    â€œMaybe they fell on the floor,” said Beth quickly.
    â€œI could understand if some of the art supplies fell on the floor,” said Henry. “But not all of them at once.”
    â€œBesides, they didn’t,” Violet pointed out.
    It was true. Nothing at all was on the floor of the old boxcar.
    â€œMaybe Watch ate them!” cried Benny.
    They all looked at Watch, who was standing on the stump with his front paws just inside the door.
    â€œWoof.” Hearing his name, Watch barked happily and wagged his tail.
    â€œWatch didn’t eat them,” said Violet. “He was lying on his old blanket just inside the kitchen door while we had cookies.”
    â€œWell, the art supplies are definitely gone,” said Henry, who had been walking around the boxcar, looking everywhere for them. “Someone must have come in and taken them.”
    â€œWhy would anyone want to do that?” asked Beth.
    â€œI don’t know.” Henry shook his head sadly.
    â€œThis is very strange,” said Jessie. “But we can’t worry about it right now. Let’s go get some more supplies so we can get started on our project.”
    The Aldens and Beth got on their bicycles and pedaled into town to the art store. As they were parking their bikes, Beth said, “Oh, I almost forgot. My mother wanted me to pick something up for her at the drugstore. I’ll go next door and do that and meet you in the art store.”
    â€œOkay,” said Jessie.
    The woman who owned the art store was dressed in a black leotard and a big skirt covered with splashes of color just like paint. She smiled cheerfully at the children as they pushed open the door. “Hello! What can I do for you today?” she asked.
    â€œWe need some new art supplies,” explained Jessie. “We were