The Sleepy Hollow Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B

shook his head. “I can’t.
They’re all busy with other jobs. We’re
having a special charity dinner tonight to
raise money for the library.”
    “We can help,” Jessie offered.
    “Yes,” Mrs. Vanderhoff added. “We’ll all
help. Just tell us what you want us to do.”
    Mr. Beekman frowned and asked, “Why
would you help me?”
    “I like to be neighborly,” replied Mrs.
Vanderhoff. “And I’m happy to do anything
that helps the library.”
    Mr. Beekman took his volunteers to
the backyard. Mrs. Vanderhoff and Mrs
McGregor set the tables that had been
placed there while Jessie, Henry, and Annika
helped string paper lanterns around the
trees. Violet and Benny did the centerpieces.
Benny scattered colorful leaves on the table
and Violet arranged miniature pumpkins
and pinecones around small pots of
yellow mums.
    When they were done, Mr. Beekman said,
“I can’t thank you enough. I couldn’t have
done it without you.” He turned to Mrs.
Vanderhoff. “I want to apologize. Ever since
you said you weren’t selling your house, I
haven’t been very nice to you. I realize how
unkind that is.”
    “Apology accepted.” Mrs. Vanderhoff gave
him a big smile.
    “Why don’t you all come in for a snack?”
Mr. Beekman said.
    Mrs. Vanderhoff and the Aldens followed
him inside and sat down at a table. He brought
them hot chocolate and a plate of his apple
custard tarts.
    “Hello!” Isiah called out from the front
door of the café. He came over to their table
and did a funny little dance like a jig. “It’s a
wonderful day. I have some wonderful news.”
    “Where have you been?” Annika asked.
    Isiah pointed at himself. “You are looking
at an actor who has a real part in a real play in
New York City. I found out the other night.
I took the train into the city right away so I
could sign the contract.”
    “Congratulations!” Annika said. “But you
could have told someone,” she grumbled.
“We’ve been worried.”
    “I couldn’t find my cell phone, but I left you
a note. I taped to the front door of the shop.”
    “We didn’t see any note,” Mrs. Vanderhoff
said. “It must have blown away.”
    While Isiah was telling Annika about the
play, Henry pulled the rest of the Aldens
aside. “So now we know it wasn’t Isiah and it
wasn’t Margot. That leaves Mr. Beekman or
Brett.”
    “Mr. Beekman said he fell down the steps,
but he could have sprained his ankle falling
out of a tree,” Jessie said.
    “Brett is the meanest one though,” Violet
said. “I think it was him.”
    “How are we going to find out which one
it is?” Benny asked as he reached over to take
a sugar cube out of the bowl.
    “Benny, your hot chocolate doesn’t need
anymore sugar!” Jessie said.
    Henry took a sugar cube of his own. “This
gives me an idea,” he said. “Anyone else guess
what I’m thinking? Benny isn’t the only one
who likes sugar cubes.”
    Violet nodded. “I bet I can guess what your
idea is.”
    Henry got up and went over to Mr. Beekman.
“Could you and Brett do us a big favor?”
    “Of course,” Mr. Beekman said. “You’ve
helped me out. I’ll help you out.”
    “We need you to come to Sanders Stable,
just for a few minutes,” Henry said. “I’ll
explain there.”
    Mr. Beekman looked very puzzled but
agreed to go. He went to get Brett, who did
not seem pleased at Henry’s request.
    When they all reached the stable, Isiah’s
father was outside washing out brushes.
    “We just need to see the horses for few
minutes,” Jessie told him.
    “I usually don’t have folks come just to visit
the horses, but you’re welcome to come in.”
He showed them inside. Domino looked out
of his stall and neighed at the sight of them.
Mr. Sanders frowned. “I wonder what’s gotten
into him.”
    “Let’s go see,” Violet suggested.
    They walked down to the end of the row
of stalls. Henry motioned to the front of
Domino’s stall. “Mr. Beekman and Brett,
would you just stand together right here?”
    “I