The Mystery of the Screech Owl by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B

Marie-Louise said before they left. “Admission will be free. That is the least we can do, since you helped us so much. We are very grateful.”
    It had stopped snowing. As Grandfather drove through the gate, the children saw a familiar figure in the guardhouse.
    André Plessis.
    When he saw the Aldens, he glanced away guiltily. Violet noticed something hanging out of his pocket. Since she was sitting up front with Grandfather, she decided to wait until they were at the cabin before mentioning it to the others.
    â€œI wonder what that man said that made everyone run to look out the window,” said Henry as they drove out.
    Jessie was already thumbing through her French-English dictionary. “I remember some of it. He said, ‘Man who lives in the house of the tree.’”
    â€œ What ?” asked Benny.
    â€œI think he was talking about a man who lives in a tree house,” Jessie replied.
    Grandfather shook his head. “Whoever the man is, he certainly got the workers excited.”
    Jessie exchanged a look with Henry. Grandfather was right. The man who lived in the tree house obviously knew something. They needed to find him and get some answers.
    Maybe he was the key to the strange happenings at Broken Moon Pond.
    The Anderson kids were waiting for the Aldens on the porch of the main cabin.
    â€œWhere have you been?” asked Patty.
    Violet explained about their morning. Then she added, “André Plessis had a piece of green nylon rope hanging out of his pocket. I saw it. It was just like the one tied to the Orville boat!”
    â€œI bet anything that André is our ‘ghost,’” Henry concluded.
    â€œThat’s probably why he looked so guilty today,” said Jessie. “He knows he isn’t fooling us.”
    â€œWe’ve found something, too!” said Aaron. “But we have to wear snowshoes.”
    The children strapped on the snowshoes stacked on the porch. Trying to walk in the fluffy snow made them laugh until they got the hang of it.
    â€œHere!” said Patty. “Look at these!”
    Down by the pond, fresh footprints marked the snow. The tracks led into the woods, toward the tree house.
    â€œI bet these prints take us right to the tree house!” said Jessie. “They must belong to the man who lives there.”
    They set off into the trees. When they reached the clearing, Violet, who was in front, gave a cry.
    At the base of the huge maple tree lay a crumpled figure.

CHAPTER 10
    Benny’s Guess
    V iolet said, “That’s the man we saw in the square the other day!”
    Henry was the first to reach him. The bearded man was lying on his side with one leg twisted beneath him. Henry checked the man’s breathing, then peered into his eyes.
    â€œHe’s conscious,” Henry concluded. Carefully, he straightened the man’s bent leg and felt his ankle.
    When the man moaned, Jessie asked, “Is it broken?”
    â€œSprained, I think.”
    The boys helped the man sit up.
    â€œDo I feel foolish,” the man said, his teeth showing in a rueful grin through his beard. “I guess I’m not as young as I think!”
    â€œCan you stand?” Henry asked him.
    The big man struggled to his feet, then winced with pain. “Not very well.”
    â€œHe needs to get inside,” said Jessie. “His clothes are wet.”
    â€œViolet, find some strong branches,” Henry said. He took off his scarf and wound it around the man’s ankle.
    Violet returned with several sturdy branches. Henry chose two that were long enough to fit under the injured man’s arms.
    With Henry and Aaron on either side of the man, the children snowshoed through the woods to Broken Moon Pond. When they led him up to the main cabin, the man nodded.
    â€œI know my way, thank you,” he said.
    He limped inside, with the Aldens and Andersons trailing, and sank into the nearest chair.
    Grandfather turned from