Pilgrim Village Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B

sheets and blankets off the beds and everything!” Benny said.
    â€œIt looks the way the weaver’s shop looked yesterday,” Violet said.
    Linda shook her head. “I’d better go see,” Linda said grimly, getting up from her desk and leading the way back to the cabin.
    Linda was just as stunned as the children had been when they entered the cabin. “This is awful! Who would do such a thing?” She sighed heavily.
    â€œWhoever did it sent us the note to get us out of the way,” Jessie explained.
    â€œWait a minute,” Linda said. “Isn’t the note from Eric?”
    â€œThat’s what it says on it,” Henry said. “But that’s not Eric’s handwriting.”
    â€œLet me see that note again,” Linda said. Jessie gave it to her, and Henry handed her the lantern. She looked at it briefly. “You’re right. Eric’s handwriting is so messy I usually can’t even read it. When he leaves me messages I never know what they say.” Linda looked up. “But if this note isn’t from Eric, then who is it from? And why does it say Eric on it?”
    â€œSomeone wanted us to think Eric had written it,” Violet said.
    Linda looked around the messy cabin and sighed again. “Now what?” she muttered to herself.
    Just then they heard a knock on the front door, and Grandfather poked his head in. “Hello!” he called out, a big smile on his face. But as soon as he saw the mess inside the cabin, his smile disappeared. “What happened here?” he asked.
    Henry quickly explained.
    â€œI think it’s time to call the police, Linda,” Grandfather said. “These ‘pranks’ — or whatever you want to call them — have gone far enough.”
    â€œBut if people hear about what’s going on and see the police here, it will be terrible for Pilgrim Village,” Linda said. “I just don’t know what to do.”
    The Aldens felt sorry for Linda. She looked so sad.
    â€œFor starters, we’ll clean up in here,” Jessie said, “and we’ll see if anything is broken, or missing.”
    Linda smiled weakly. “You kids are great. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
    Linda and the Aldens began to straighten up the cabin. Violet picked up the things that were on the floor, while Henry and Grandfather set the furniture upright. Jessie and Benny made the beds with fresh linens. Linda checked to make sure that nothing was broken or missing.
    At last things were back in order. “The good news is nothing was stolen,” Linda said after she’d checked everything. “Whoever did this just wanted to cause trouble.”
    â€œI have another idea,” said Violet. “Maybe they were looking for something. Did you notice that some of the loose stones in the fireplace were pulled out?”

    â€œWhat would they be looking for?” Linda wondered aloud.
    â€œIf anyone can get to the bottom of a mystery, my grandchildren can,” said Grandfather. “But right now, I think we could all use a good night’s sleep.” Grandfather tucked one arm around Benny and the other around Violet. “I think all of you should come back to the hotel with me.”
    â€œGood idea, James,” said Linda. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning for breakfast at the tavern.”
    After Linda left, the Aldens gathered their suitcases and went with Grandfather back to his hotel. The whole way there they talked about all the mysterious things that had been happening at Pilgrim Village, and wondered who was to blame.
    â€œI’ve been thinking about what Linda said,” Jessie said. “She didn’t want to call the police because she was afraid the bad publicity for the village would frighten visitors away. Maybe that’s what someone wants.”
    â€œI don’t know,” Henry said. “I think the person is looking for