Windy City Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B

their dinners arrived, Jessie said, “This looks beautiful — almost too good to eat.”
    Benny picked up his fork. “No food looks that good,” he said.
    Throughout the meal, Henry was distracted. Mr. Piper’s upper lip and lower forehead were red, and he kept scratching them.
    Benny noticed it, too, and while they were waiting for dessert, he asked, “What’s that red stuff on your face, Mr. Piper?”
    â€œBenny!” Jessie scolded.
    â€œThat’s all right, Jessie,” Mr. Piper said. “It does look strange. People have been asking me about it all week. It’s some kind of rash.”
    â€œYou must be allergic to something, Cob,” Mr. Alden said.
    Mr. Piper smiled. “I wonder what it could be.”
    Back at the apartment, the children went straight to bed. Grandfather sat down to read his newspaper.
    The phone rang.
    This time, all four Aldens heard it. Behind their doors, they listened carefully.
    â€œI told you that before,” Grandfather said. “You just have to be patient.” And, “No, I won’t do that. Not yet.” There was a pause, then, “Trust me. It won’t be long.”
    â€œLet’s go talk to the girls,” Benny whispered.
    Henry shook his head. “Not now, Benny. Grandfather will hear us.”
    Across the hall, Violet and Jessie had a similar conversation.
    For now, there was nothing they could do.

CHAPTER 10
    X Marks the Spot
    G randfather knocked on their doors. “Wake up, sleepyheads!” he called. “It’s another beautiful day in Chicago!”
    For a few brief seconds, the younger Aldens forgot their concern. But when they were fully awake, the memory of last night’s telephone call resurfaced.
    â€œGrandfather sounds cheerful,” Violet said. She was hoping they had been wrong. Perhaps the two late-night phone conversations did not mean trouble after all.
    Jessie slipped into her slacks. “He does,” she agreed. But still she was fearful. Grandfather had a way of putting a good face on things. If he was in some kind of trouble, he would not want to worry them.
    They went out into the hall. The boys’ door opened and Henry and Benny came out.
    â€œGrandfather certainly sounds cheerful,” Henry said.
    â€œHe’s pretending,” Benny whispered.
    The table was set with juice and fresh fruit and a big platter of sweet rolls.
    â€œWell, there you are!” Grandfather said as they sat down. “I was up early,” he said. “I went to the bakery.” He held up a piece of paper. “But I remembered to leave a note in case you woke up and found me gone.”
    Jessie and Henry looked at each other. They had left the clues spread out on this table. Their maps and leaflets were stacked at one end. Were the clues there? Had Grandfather seen them? If he had, wouldn’t he ask about them? How would they answer his questions?
    Grandfather saw Jessie staring at the stack. “I piled those things together,” he said.

    Surely he hadn’t noticed the clues.
    â€œI’ll be busy all day today. What do you and Chad have planned?”
    â€œWe haven’t talked to him,” Henry said.
    â€œHe was here yesterday,” Benny put in, “just before we found —”
    Jessie was quick to interrupt. “He was here when we got back from the museum,” she said, “but he didn’t have time to talk.”
    Grandfather nodded. “That’s right.”
    Violet said, “I’m hoping we can do some more sketching.”
    â€œIt’s a fine day for it.” Mr. Alden pushed his chair away from the table. “I guess I’d better get a move on.” He went into his bedroom.
    Violet leaned close to the others. “Should we ask him about the phone calls?”
    â€œThere’s probably nothing to tell us,” Henry said. “He seems fine.”
    Mr. Alden came in carrying a briefcase.