Mystery of the Spider's Clue by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B

ever did. I guess they were both too proud. Neither of them wanted to make the first move.”
    â€œSam must miss his brother so much,” Violet said softly.
    â€œAnd Pinky, too,” Benny put in. “Pinky was Sam’s dog. At least, I think he was. But I’m not sure.”
    Jessie sighed. “We have so many questions.”
    â€œAnd so few answers,” said Henry.
    After breakfast, Jessie raced away to get her notebook. The other Aldens waited for her beside their bikes. A few minutes later, she leaned out the door of the boxcar.
    â€œIt’s gone!” she shouted.
    In a flash, Henry, Violet, and Benny came running. Henry was the first to climb up the stump step and then into the boxcar. “What’s gone?” he asked.
    Jessie turned to her older brother. “I can’t find my notebook.”
    â€œAre you sure you left it in the boxcar last night?” Henry wanted to make sure.
    â€œYes,” said Jessie. “It was right here on the table.” Now there was nothing left on the table except the blue cloth.
    â€œI don’t understand it,” Henry said, looking around. “Even Grandfather’s street map is missing. I’m positive I left it out here.”
    Violet looked around, too. “Jessie’s notebook was beside Grandfather’s map. They were both on the table. Remember? We were talking about the mystery while we were sitting right here in the boxcar last night.”
    Just then, Watch came running into the boxcar. He dropped something at Jessie’s feet. Then the little dog looked up, wagging his tail.
    Jessie bent down to examine what Watch had dropped.
    â€œWhat is it, Jessie?” asked Benny.
    â€œLooks like a broken heel from somebody’s shoe.”
    â€œI bet the prowler broke a heel rushing away in the dark last night,” guessed Benny. “Watch is a good watchdog and a good detective!”
    â€œYou think there really was a prowler?” Violet asked in alarm.
    Henry nodded firmly. “It looks like it— someone stole Jessie’s notebook and Grandfather’s map.”
    The other Aldens didn’t like the sound of this. Why would a prowler steal Jessie’s notebook and Grandfather’s map? It had to be somebody who was tracking down the secret code word. And now that person knew as much about the mystery as they did!
    Violet’s eyes were huge. “My sketch of the Hollow Tree Restaurant was in there, too. Whoever the thief is, he’ll know just where to look for the Spider’s Clue.”
    â€œYou mean she’ll know just where to look,” corrected Jessie. She held up the broken heel. “This is from a woman’s high-heeled shoe.”
    â€œCome on!” Henry was already halfway out the boxcar. “We’ve got to find that secret code word—before somebody else finds it first!”
    As soon as the Alden children arrived at the Hollow Tree Restaurant, Rose hurried over to greet them. “We’re packed with the breakfast crowd right now,” she apologized. “You might have to wait a few minutes for a booth.”
    â€œOh, that’s no problem,” said Jessie.
    â€œMind if we take a look at your plants while we’re waiting?” asked Henry.
    â€œGo right ahead! I take quite an interest in plants myself.” Rose gave them all a smile before hurrying away.
    â€œNotice something different about Rose?” Benny whispered to Jessie as they followed Henry over to the window in the little alcove.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œShe isn’t wobbling all over the place today.”
    Jessie looked over her shoulder. Benny was right. The owner of the Hollow Tree Restaurant was dashing from booth to booth. Rose Hill wasn’t teetering on high heels anymore.
    There was no time to think about it, though. Jessie turned her attention to the plants in pink ceramic pots that were hanging in the window. Each plant was different