Mystery of the Hidden Painting (7 page)

Mrs. Newton sighed. “This is a long story. But before I begin I must say that I am very sorry for what I have done … for all the pain I must have caused you and your wife.”

“Please, tell us your story, Mrs. Newton,” Mr. Alden said.

She nodded. “I had a son, Evan Newton. He really wasn't a bad person, but he was lazy. He was married and had two children, and they all lived with my husband and myself, because Evan just didn't want to work.

“Finally, after a few years of this, my husband told Evan he wasn't going to give him any more money. Evan
had
to get a job. Well, he did, with a caterer.”

“Oh!” Violet said.

Mrs. Newton went on. “Not long after he got the job, he left it, bragging that he was going to have enough money soon to do all sorts of things. I was very suspicious. One day, when Evan was out, I went up to his room, looking for some explanation of his attitude. In his drawer, under a pile of shirts, I found the necklace.”

“I can hardly believe this,” Mr. Alden cried out.

Mrs. Newton, twisting her hands in her lap, went on. “I was very upset. I asked Evan where he had gotten the necklace and he wouldn't tell me. My husband and I kept asking him, but he would never answer. I never read anything about a theft of a necklace in any newspaper. We waited for weeks, trying to find something out. I
wanted
to return it.”

“Why didn't you go to the police?” Henry asked.

Mrs. Newton wiped away a tear. “I should have, but Evan was my son and I couldn't stand the thought of his going to jail. And then there were his children. How would they feel about a father who was a thief? Susan, Evan's wife, begged me not to tell the police.”

“So you didn't,” Grandfather said, nodding his head.

“I didn't,” Mrs. Newton said. “But I didn't want to keep the necklace, either. So I donated it to the Elmford Museum. I felt, in that way, I wouldn't be keeping the necklace and lots of people would be able to enjoy looking at it in the museum. I told Mr. Mason the whole story and he took the necklace even though he was reluctant.”

“I know I shouldn't have done that,” Carl Mason said. “I thought about what to do for days. I knew I should go to the police, but Mrs. Newton was a dear, old friend. I felt sorry for her.”

“Where is Evan now?” Violet asked.

“Evan died a number of years ago,” Mrs. Newton answered. “Then his wife married John Barstow and they moved to Silver City, where Evan's children grew up. I wanted to forget about the necklace, but recently, Mr. Alden, your grandchildren came to Elmford and went to see Elizabeth Harkins.”

“Why did you all do that?” Grandfather asked Jessie.

The children told him the story of seeing Mrs. Harkins' picture and everything that happened after that.

Mrs. Newton said, “Elizabeth and her husband are old friends. They were the only people I told about Evan and the necklace, except, of course, for Carl. So the Harkinses called and told me about the children's visit to her.”

Henry turned to Mr. Mason. “
You
threw away Violet's drawing, didn't you?”

“Yes,” Mr. Mason admitted. “I did. I thought you children would give it up. But you didn't.”

“And I made the call to your aunt's, telling you to go home,” Mrs. Newton said. “It was so wrong to do that.”

“Did you follow us in your car, Mr. Mason?” Benny asked. “You scared me.”

Mr. Mason smiled. “I'm sorry, Benny. I just wanted to see if you were all going to Mrs. Newton's that day. When I saw you weren't, I drove away.”

Violet said, “We knew, we
really
knew it was our grandmother's necklace.”

Mrs. Newton twisted a handkerchief in her hands. “Laura wanted to tell you all along. In fact, when she made that appointment to come here the night before last, it was to tell all of you the whole truth. But I found out and I couldn't let her do it. So I persuaded her not to come.

“Susan Barstow wanted to keep the truth hidden, too. She just couldn't face telling her children what their father had done. She told me about your visit to her house. She felt very bad about the way she acted, but she didn't know what else to do.”

Henry stood up and faced Mr. Mason. “Were Jessie and I right? Was someone here the other night?”

Mr. Mason sighed. “I'm sorry. I was here that night. All I wanted to do was look at the portrait. I
had
to see if the children's story was true. As soon as I saw the necklace I knew, Mr. Alden, it was yours. I can't tell you how guilty I feel for having broken in here. It was wrong for me to have done that and I apologize.”

“How did you get in?” Mr. Alden asked.

Carl Mason smiled. “Well, the lock on your patio door can be opened very easily. You should have it looked at. I am very sorry if I frightened you.”

“What did you do after you were here that night?” Jessie asked.

“I called Mrs. Newton right away, even though it was the middle of the night, and told her that the necklace was Mr. Alden's. Then she said she would have to return it to him, no matter what.”

Mr. Alden opened the jewelry box again and looked at the glittering sapphires. “How happy Celia would be if she knew it was back!”

Mrs. Newton stood up. “I'll leave you now. I could never apologize enough for what I have done all these years.”

Mr. Alden stood, too. “I understand what you felt … that you wanted to protect your son. You don't have to worry. My grandchildren and I will never let anyone know that Evan was the thief. I have Celia's necklace, and that's all that matters. Your son is dead. There is really nothing to be gained by reporting this matter to the police at this time.”

“Thank you, Mr. Alden,” Mrs. Newton said. Then she turned to the children, “And thank all of you for not giving up looking for the truth.”

Then she and Carl Mason left.

The children all gathered around Mr. Alden and looked at the necklace. Mr. Alden handed the box to Jessie. “I told you once that this was to be given to the oldest granddaughter. Well, that's you, Jessie.”

“You're rich, Jessie!” Benny cried.

Jessie gazed at the necklace for a long moment. Then she closed the box. “Grandfather, would you mind if I gave it back to the museum?”

“Why, Jessie?” Grandfather asked.

Jessie answered, “Well, I'm too young to wear it now. So what would we do with it?”

“I'd put it in the safe,” Grandfather said.

Jessie nodded and said, “And no one would see it. But if I gave it to the Elmford Museum, people could come and enjoy our beautiful necklace. I'd like that.”

Grandfather smiled at Jessie. “You are a very generous, thoughtful girl. Of course, if that's what you want, that's what we'll do.”

Benny shook his head. “But, Jessie, it's
yours.
”

“I know, Benny,” Jessie said, “and that's why I can give it to the museum.”

CHAPTER 9

Happy Endings

T
he next morning, Grandfather and the Alden children drove to the Elmford Museum. Mr. Mason looked up as they all walked into his office.

“My granddaughter has something to say to you, Mr. Mason,” Mr. Alden said.

Mr. Mason looked very nervous. “Oh,” he said.

Jessie wet her lips. “Mr. Mason, I've decided that I want to give my necklace to your museum.”

“You
do
?” Mr. Mason cried out. “How wonderful! But are you sure?”

Jessie nodded. “I'm sure,” she said as she handed him the jewelry box. Mr. Mason put an arm around her shoulder. “Let's all put it back into its case.”

They walked to the little room that had held the necklace. Mr. Mason opened the display case and put the necklace in it. The six of them stood and admired its beauty.

Suddenly, Mr. Mason, said, “Just one minute. I'll be right back.” He left the room and returned five minutes later. He had a small card in his hand that he slid into a yellow window below the necklace.

Jessie bent over and read aloud, “Donated by Miss Jessie Alden.”

“Wow!” Benny said. “You're famous now, Jessie.”

Mr. Mason smiled. “Jessie, when you get older, anytime you want to wear the necklace … to a dance or a very fancy party, whatever, you just call me.”

Jessie smiled. “I'd like that.”

Mr. Mason turned to Violet. “You draw very well, young lady. Don't stop.”

Violet grinned. “Thank you!”

Then the Aldens left.

The ride home was a happy one. They were all excited by the events of the morning.

Jessie said to Violet, “You know, you can borrow the necklace anytime, too.”

Violet laughed. “I'll wear it to my first real grown-up dance or party.”

As soon as the car pulled into the Alden's driveway, the children ran to the boxcar. The word “party” had made them all think of the same thing … Grandfather's birthday.

“It's only a week away,” Henry said.

“We have a lot to do,” Benny said.

“Let's go up to the attic and pick out what we are going to wear,” Jessie said.

Henry and Benny both frowned. “Are you sure we should do this?”

“Of course,” Violet insisted. “It will be fun.”

They went up to the attic and started going through trunks and closets. Henry decided to wear the velvet coat he had found before. Violet wanted the lavender hat and she found a long white dress to wear with it. Jessie held up a blue chiffon dress that reached the floor. “I like this one,” she said.

“Think of how lovely your necklace would look with that,” Violet said.

Benny found an old child's sailor suit and complained when his sisters made him put it on.

“You look wonderful,” Jessie said. “Grandfather will love it.”

But Henry covered his mouth with his hand, so Benny wouldn't see him laughing.

“I'm only wearing it for Grandfather,” Benny said. “I think it looks silly.”

The next day the Aldens went to Barlow's Men's Shop and looked at sweaters for Mr. Alden's gift. Benny wanted to buy a bright red one. Violet wanted a blue one. Jessie loved a green sweater. Henry finally said, “Let's buy one that
Grandfather
would want, not one we'd like for ourselves.”

They all had to agree that the gray wool was what Grandfather would like the best.

When they reached home, they went up to Violet's room and she wrapped the sweater in gift paper. She had made her own card and they all signed it. When she made a big bow for the top of the gift box, Benny said, “Violet, you're the best wrapper in the world.”

They had planned the party as a surprise dinner party and had invited Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy. The morning of Mr. Alden's birthday, the children all pretended to sleep late, so that Grandfather would go to his office before seeing them. They wanted to give him his present at the dinner party.

That day, Mrs. McGregor made Mr. Alden's favorite dinner … fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a big salad. All the children helped make the chocolate cake. Violet decorated it very carefully. When the cake was finished, Jessie decorated the dining room and living room with balloons. Then she hung streamers around the portrait of their grandmother. Violet practiced the Blue Danube waltz, which she had decided to play on her violin. Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy arrived at five o'clock, and everyone was waiting when Mr. Alden came home at five-thirty.

The children all had on their clothes from the attic and they shouted “Surprise!” as Grandfather came into the balloon-filled living room. A big sign on the doorway read
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Grandfather laughed out loud when he saw the children. “Where did you get those clothes?” he asked.

“From your very own attic,” Benny answered.

Grandfather said to Benny, “You are wearing your great-grandfather's sailor suit.”

“Really,” Benny said. “I didn't even know I had a great-grandfather.”

Mr. Alden opened his present from the children, and even though it was a warm evening, he put the sweater on for a little while. Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy gave him a book he had wanted.

Then they all went into the living room and enjoyed every bite of Mrs. McGregor's wonderful meal. When she came in carrying the cake everyone sang “Happy Birthday.” Watch barked along with the song.

Violet played her violin piece and Henry recited his poem. Just then the doorbell rang. Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy looked at each other slyly. Mrs. McGregor answered the door and came back with Mrs. Newton, who was carrying an armful of roses. “I always seem to be visiting you uninvited. But Aunt Jane told me it was your birthday, Mr. Alden. I wanted to bring these flowers to put on the mantelpiece next to your wife's picture. They are my own prize-winning roses, which I grow in my yard. I though they would look very pretty with the portrait.”