The Canoe Trip Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page A

Angela and Eliza Fallon are the same person?” Henry asked.
    â€œYes,” Rob said. “When I met her yesterday, I was pretty sure, but I needed some evidence. I tried to follow her, but it was hard with this ankle.” Rob looked down at his leg and winced.
    â€œWhere did you see her go?” Benny asked.
    â€œWhen she left the bunkhouse, she went into the woods,” Rob said. “She didn’t stay long before she headed quickly to her canoe. When I arrived at the lake, she had alreadytaken off. I followed her a bit along the shore then came back to these woods to see if I could find any clues.”
    â€œDid you find anything?” Violet asked softly.
    â€œWell, no. It was dark by then and all I had was my flashlight. You’re the ones who found something.” Rob looked very proud of the Aldens.
    â€œDid you see her take our equipment?” Henry asked.
    â€œNo, I didn’t.” Rob shook his head. “So you see, I still have no solid proof against her.”
    â€œThat’s too bad.” Benny looked disappointed.
    â€œHow did you know to look for her here?” Aunt Jane asked.
    â€œMr. Withington told me Angela loved to go canoeing in this part of the country,” Rob explained. “She particularly liked to go by the old abandoned house on Timberwolf Lake.”
    â€œThat’s the house we saw on our first night of the trip,” Jessie exclaimed.
    â€œSo, did Mr. Withington suspect Angela—or Eliza?” Violet asked.
    â€œWell, of all his employees, he finally admitted she was one of the most suspicious. I decided to take a trip up here on a hunch I might find something. It’s been almost a year since the coin collection was stolen,” Rob said.
    â€œDo you suspect any of the other new employees?” Jessica wondered.
    â€œWell, the two new gardeners are still working for Mr. Withington and seem very honest. The chauffeur, however, suddenly disappeared a few weeks ago.”
    â€œWhat did this chauffeur look like?” Jessie asked.
    â€œHe was a big man with blond hair and a loud voice.”
    â€œHey, wait, that sounds like Matt,” Benny shouted.
    â€œThat’s just what I was thinking.” Aunt Jane nodded at Benny.
    Jessie, Aunt Jane, and Benny told Rob about meeting Matt and Bill in the storm. They also told him about Lorenzo Espinosa.
    Rob listened closely. “We always thought more than one person might be involved in stealing that collection. I wonder…” His voice trailed off.
    â€œWhat do you think we should do now?” Henry asked.
    â€œWe should try to get these coins safely to the nearest town—White Pine, I believe,” Rob answered.
    â€œThat’s where we’re meeting Grandfather,” Benny said.
    â€œGood,” Rob nodded. “We shouldn’t talk to anyone before we get the coins safely into the hands of the police.”
    When Aunt Jane and the Aldens arrived at the bunkhouse with the coins, they saw smoke coming from the chimney.
    â€œLook, there are some other campers here.” Violet sounded worried.
    â€œJessie and I will take the coins and hide them,” Rob said. “We don’t want to take any chances.”
    Henry slowly opened the door.
    â€œWell, hello again!” a loud voice greeted them. Matt and Bill were seated on the couch in front of the fireplace. Both of them were covered with red blisters.
    â€œI see you found your family.” Bill nodded toward Violet and Henry.
    â€œYou must have been bitten by lots of mosquitoes,” Benny observed.
    â€œWe camped in some poison ivy,” Matt said ruefully as he scratched his arm.
    â€œSay, you wouldn’t happen to have any lotion we could put on it?” Bill asked.
    â€œNo.” Aunt Jane shook her head. “We didn’t bring any.”
    â€œDidn’t you know to avoid it?” Benny asked.
    â€œYes, but … uh—” Bill started.
    â€œIt