Mystery of the Traveling Tomatoes by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B

our plants. Then he dug them up when he needed the money. He put your plants back so no one would know.”
    “ I knew,” said Benny.
    Henry smiled. “That’s because you kept a measuring chart.”
    Violet capped her pen. “After he dug up a bag, the thief took the cash out and tossed the bag into the garbage.”
    “Why didn’t he take all the money with him after the robbery?” asked Jessie. “Why did he hide it here and just dig up a little at a time?”
    “Maybe it’s like our bank accounts,” said Benny. “We put our money in the bank to keep it safe until there’s something special we want to buy.”
    Jessie hugged her little brother. “Benny, you’re a genius! That’s exactly what our garden is. It’s the robber’s bank! For some reason, he can’t take the loot home.”
    Benny laughed. “Maybe he’s afraid someone will steal it. Get it? Steal from the stealer?”
    “Or,” said Henry, a knowing smile on his lips, “maybe he’s afraid someone will find it. Maybe he lives with someone who is very nosey. Someone who goes through his drawers and his closet and—”
    “Fenster!” the others shouted.
    “He is big,” said Benny, “like the thief.”
    “And he seems too lazy to work,” said Jessie, “but he has money to buy expensive watches.”
    “You’re wrong,” said Violet. “It can’t be him. Remember, we saw his photo in the newspaper. The day of the robbery, Fenster was at the circus train with the other Special Events Committee members. It was noon on the city hall clock.”
    “That was at the beginning of the parade,” said Henry. “The robbery was twenty minutes later. Fenster could have left right after the picture was taken. He could have robbed the bank.”
    “I’m not sure,” said Violet. “He would have to rob the bank, drive back to Duffy’s, tear the panels off his van, and nail them upon the windows. Then he would have to bury the money in our garden. And he’d have to do all that and still make it back to the park by the time the March of the Elephants got there.”
    “Maybe he didn’t make it back in time,” said Jessie. “Does anyone remember seeing Fenster’s picture at the end of the parade?” No one did.
    “We need to look at those newspaper photos again,” said Violet. “Let’s go back to the library.”
    The Aldens spread the newspapers out on a library table and studied the pictures in the special circus section.
    “Look for the people in the yellow shirts,” Jessie said. “Let’s see if Fenster’s with them.”
    “Here’s a photo taken at noon,” said Violet. “I can see the City Hall clock in the background!” In the photo, five people in yellow shirts greeted the circus parade. Fenster stood right in front, grinning at the camera.
    “But I can’t find him in any of the photos taken later on, in the park,” Jessie pointed out. In those pictures, the children could find only four people in yellow shirts.
    “I think Fenster is using the circus as his alibi,” said Henry. “He made sure the newspaper photographer took his picture. If people think he was at the circus all day, then they won’t think he robbed the bank.”
    “But can we prove that he wasn’t at the circus later?” asked Jessie. “He wasn’t in the other photos, but the police will need more proof than that.”
    “What about the day of the 5K race?” asked Violet. “The Events Committee was in charge of that. Everyone in town was there, including the Sheas. Was Fenster at the race, or was he at The Applewood Café digging up money he hid under Benny’s green peppers?”
    The children clicked to the Greenfield Gazette website and typed 5K race. Hundreds of photos were posted. They couldn’t find Fenster in any of them. “This still isn’t real proof,” said Jessie.
    The children grew quiet. It wasn’t enough to suspect someone. Maybe the detectives would find Fenster’s fingerprints in the van.
    “Oh, dear,” said Violet. “What if he’s getting