Animal Shelter Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner

it.”
    â€œMaybe he did, but it’s still dry. With gas prices the way they are these days, maybe somebody drained your gas out.”
    â€œI have to say I’m quite embarrassed at all this, but you fixed the problem, so give me the bill,” Mr. Alden said to the mechanic.
    Everyone got into the car, which was soon humming down the highway again.
    â€œI can’t figure it, I just can’t figure it,” Mr. Alden repeated. “I filled this tank with gas when I picked it up from Jack last night.”
    â€œI think I know what happened, Grandfather,” Henry said. “I think they drained all our gas on purpose because they didn’t want us to make this trip to check on the deed. Then they tampered with the gas gauge so you wouldn’t know anything was wrong.”
    â€œYou’re probably right, Henry,” Mr. Alden agreed. “In any case, we have the deed, and they don’t.”
    When the Aldens met Miss Thompson in the capital lobby at twenty to twelve, she didn’t know a thing about the three men. “I’m sorry, James,” she said to Mr. Alden. “There’ve been hundreds of people going through the lobby all morning. I can’t say I noticed three suspicious men in all these crowds. But that does give us even more reason to hurry! It’s nearly closing time.”
    Everyone raced behind Miss Thompson up three flights of marble stairs. As they climbed flight after flight, the Aldens told Miss Thompson the whole story about finding the deed in the old notebooks.
    â€œDo you think you can help us?” Jessie asked when they finally reached the Land Records Room.
    â€œIf the deed is signed and stamped with the state seal, then all we need to do is make a copy and file it with Mr. Tully, the Land Records Clerk. Now don’t worry if he seems a bit gruff. He likes to keep a close watch on the documents in the Records Room. And he’s always a bit grumpy right before lunch.”
    â€œMe, too,” Benny said.
    Everyone’s laughter bounced off the marble walls and floors when they went into the Land Records Room. This did not please the annoyed-looking man who came over to the Aldens.
    â€œWhat can I do for you, Miss Thompson?” the man asked. “I hope it’s not too complicated. On Fridays, we lock up at twelve sharp, and it’s ten of already.”
    â€œThis is the Alden family, and they’d like us to find information about a fifty-year-old deed they discovered in Greenfield.”
    â€œGreenfield? What in heaven’s name is going on in Greenfield?” Mr. Tully said in a loud voice. “Is someone putting up skyscrapers or something? Some employees of a demolition company were in just about an hour ago, asking about some Greenfield property, and I told ’em what I always tell ’em. They have to wait until Wednesday before their bid goes through, just in case a deed turns up by Tuesday. I sent them packing just like that pesky old woman who was here a few days ago, asking about the same darn land in Greenfield.”
    Henry stepped up to Mr. Tully. “Was it a Miss Newcombe?”
    Mr. Tully thought for a minute. “I don’t ask their names, young man, unless they have something official to show me. I can’t help anyone without a piece of paper, and all this woman had was a lot of old stories. Why, I’d never get a day’s work done if I spent time with these folks always coming in here with their stories.” Mr. Tully looked at the Aldens and Miss Thompson as if they were trespassing on his private property.
    â€œBut we—” Jessie began.
    â€œThe Aldens do have—” Miss Thompson started to say, but Mr. Tully wanted to set everyone straight.
    â€œThis elderly woman seemed to think I could stop developers from building on some land she says might be hers. Why, I could say I owned the Grand Canyon, but without a deed, I certainly wouldn’t get too