The Mystery in the Snow (2 page)

“Are your parents here?” Jessie asked.

She shook her head. “They went to visit my sister. She moved to Florida last summer. But they'll be here later — for the awards dinner.”

“Why didn't you go with them?” Violet wanted to know.

“And miss the snow and the fun here? No way,” Freddy said. “Besides, Jimmy and I are team captains this year.” She leaned close as though she were about to share a secret. “My team's going to win.” She giggled with excitement. “It's going to be the best year ever.”

“It'll certainly be the biggest year,” Mr. Mercer said as he came up beside them. “Seems I've overbooked the lodge.”

At his side, Grandfather said, “Todd's looking for volunteers to stay in one of those cabins we saw on the way in.”

“Anyone interested?” Mr. Mercer asked.

Five hands shot up. Two of them belonged to Benny.

When Jimmy returned, Mr. Mercer called to him. “Jimmy,” he said, “I left the team box in the equipment shop. Would you mind getting it? You know where the keys are.”

“On the board behind the desk?” Jimmy asked to make sure.

Mr. Mercer nodded.

Jimmy hurried off.

“What's the team box?” Henry asked.

“Everyone signs a card and puts it in the box,” Freddy explained. “Tomorrow morning, Jimmy and I will pick names out of it. That's the way we form the teams. Then we have five contests: skiing, sledding, skating, snow sculpting and ice carving.”

“Mr. Mercer, I can't find the keys,” Jimmy called.

Mr. Mercer went over to help him. The Aldens followed.

Mr. Mercer stepped behind the desk. He looked through the keys hanging on the board. Each one had a tag. “That's strange,” he said. “The keys were here earlier today. I put them here myself.”

“Maybe they fell on the floor,” Jimmy suggested.

Everyone looked around, but no one saw the keys. Mr. Mercer looked upset.

“Couldn't you use another box?” Benny suggested.

“Yes,” Mr. Mercer answered, “but we have to be able to get into the equipment shop.”

“There're all kinds of things in there we need,” Freddy added.

“Without them,” Jimmy said, “we won't be able to have the games.”

“It will make things very difficult.” Mr. Mercer paused a moment. Then, looking around at the concerned faces of all the children he said, “I'm sure they'll turn up
somewhere.
”

CHAPTER 3

Their Own Little Cabin

A
fter a supper of spaghetti and salad in the lodge dining room, Grandfather drove the children to the cabin.

“This is as close as we can get,” he said as he stopped the station wagon.

“We're close enough,” Jessie said. “From what Mr. Mercer told me, that's our cabin just over there.”

Their log house stood out from the others. It was the only one with a light on.

Everyone hopped out of the car. Watch ran, his nose to the ground. Henry unhooked the skis from the car's roof. Jessie gathered the skates from the back. Violet, Benny, and Mr. Alden carried the children's suitcases to the cabin. When Grandfather opened the door they all saw a fire dancing in the small stone fireplace with a sofa and two overstuffed chairs clustered around it. At the end of the room, near a small kitchen, stood a bare table and six plain chairs.

Jessie and Henry came in. They looked around for a place to put their skis and skates. Henry noticed a long wooden board on the wall beside the door.

“This rack must be made for skis,” he said. He slipped his skis between two of the metal bands on the board.

“There are pegs here, too,” Jessie said. “A perfect place to hang our skates.”

“And there's still room for our coats,” Violet said as she slipped out of her purple jacket.

They all took off their coats and boots while Grandfather looked around the cabin. He found two small bedrooms, each with bunk beds and a large chest of drawers.

“The beds aren't made,” he said when he returned to the main room, “but there are plenty of sheets and blankets in the dresser drawers.”

“Well find everything, Grandfather,” Jessie assured him. She knew he wanted to get back to the lodge to visit with Mr. Mercer.

“All right then,” Mr. Alden said, “I'll be on my way.”

He opened the door and Watch darted in. His nose and whiskers were all white, and snow hung from his chin like a beard. He ran around the room smelling everything, leaving little puddles of melting snow wherever his nose touched.

The Aldens waved to their grandfather. Then, Henry closed and latched the door.

“Benny and I will share one bedroom,” he said. “You girls take the other.”

“I get the top bunk,” Benny said.

“Fine with me,” Henry agreed.

Benny unzipped his duffel bag. He pulled out a white box. “What should we do with this?” he asked.

“What's in it?” Jessie asked.

“The cookies we made this morning,” Benny answered.

Jessie looked around the room. There was a small sink near the table. Above it was a cabinet. She opened its door. “Put them in here, Benny,” she said.

Benny handed her the box. He wasn't tall enough to reach the shelf.

“There're dishes in here and paper napkins. And, look! Here's a tablecloth,” Jessie said.

“Let's cover the table,” Violet suggested. “It'll look more homey.”

Jessie took out the red-and-white checked cloth and laid it on the tabletop.

“Now all we need's a centerpiece,” Violet said.

Benny dragged his duffel bag across the room. “How about some fruit?” He put several apples and oranges on the table.

“Here's a container,” Henry said. He slipped a basket off a peg beside the fireplace.

Violet arranged the fruit in the round basket and placed it in the center of the table.

Then, Benny said, “Let's eat.”

“We just had supper,” Henry reminded him.

“I know, but I'm getting sleepy,” Benny said, “and I can't go to bed without a snack.”

Jessie took down the box of cookies. “I don't suppose a cookie or two would hurt,” she said.

“Too bad we don't have something to drink,” Violet said.

Benny pulled several cans of juice from his bag. “Ta-da,” he said.

Henry laughed. Then, he took four cups from the cabinet shelf.

“I don't need a cup,” Benny told him as he fished in the duffel. “I brought my own.” He held up the cracked pink cup he had found in a dump when they had lived in the boxcar.

Jessie gave each of them two cookies on a red paper napkin.

Henry poured the juice.

“The juice is warm,” Benny said. “I like it cold.”

“I can fix that,” Henry said. He took a bowl from the cabinet and went outside. He returned with a bowlful of snow.

Benny scooped some into his cup. “It's like a snowcone without the cone,” he said.

They began talking about the next day's activities.

“Whose team will we be on?” Violet wondered aloud.

“Maybe we'll be on different teams,” Jessie said.

“I want to be on Freddy's team,” Benny said.

“Why?” Violet asked. “Jimmy'll be a good captain, too.”

“But Freddy said her team was going to win,” Benny reminded his sister.

“Just because she says it, doesn't make it so,” Jessie argued.

“I don't care who wins,” Violet said. “Just being a part of a team will be fun.”

“There might not be any teams,” Henry said.

They remembered the locked equipment shop.

“What do you suppose happened to the keys?” Jessie asked.

“Maybe someone took them,” Benny said.

“Why would anyone do that?” Henry asked.

They could not think of a single reason.

“Maybe Mr. Mercer put them somewhere else and forgot,” Violet suggested.

“Let's hope he finds them,” Jessie said.

“Or figures out some other way to get into the equipment shop,” Henry put in.

Benny shivered with excitement. “I can't wait to find out whose team I'll be on,” he said.

They decided to make up their beds and go to sleep. That way, morning would come faster.

CHAPTER 4

Flat Tires

T
he next morning, the Aldens met Jimmy Phelps in front of the lodge. He was taking off his skates.

“Is breakfast over already?” Benny asked him. He couldn't imagine anyone doing too much before eating.

“No,” Jimmy answered. “I was just working up an appetite.”

“I'm glad I don't have to do that!” Benny commented.

“Benny likes to eat,” Jessie explained.

Jimmy smiled. His rosy cheeks became even rounder. “I figured that,” he said.

On their way into the lounge, Henry asked, “Did Mr. Mercer find the keys?”

Jimmy shook his head. “No,” he said. “I don't know what he'll do.”

Mr. Mercer stood just inside the door. He pointed to a table near the entrance. “Sign your names on those cards,” he said, “and put them into that big box.”

“Is that the box from the equipment shop?” Jessie asked.

Mr. Mercer shook his head. “No, the equipment shop is still locked. I'm going into town later to get a locksmith. He can make new keys.”

“We thought you might have to call off the games,” Henry said.

“Well, it is a problem not being able to get into the equipment shop. But, I'd never call off the games. Not for a little thing like a missing key,” Mr. Mercer assured them.

The Aldens went over to fill out the cards.

Their grandfather got up from his chair near the fire. “Good morning,” he called out.

“Good morning, Grandfather,” the children responded.

Freddy came in, pulling off her green knit hat. She was wearing a one piece ski outfit that was bright green, orange, and yellow. And she had on gloves to match!

“Did everybody sign up?” she called. “I want you all to have a chance to be on my team.”

Several children who hadn't filled out the cards formed a line behind the Aldens. Everyone else headed for the dining room. Long tables were set with red-and-white checked tablecloths. At the front of the large, sunlit room, the longest table was filled with food: egg dishes, bacon, sausage, rolls, toast, pancakes, fruit, three kinds of juice, milk, coffee, tea — something for every taste.

“Everything looks so good,” Jessie commented. “It's hard to know what to choose.”

Benny took a plate from the stack at the end of the table. “Take some of everything,” he advised his sister. “That way you won't have to make hard decisions.”

Grandfather chose a toasted English muffin and a bowl of fruit; the younger Aldens took Benny's advice.

After breakfast, Mr. Mercer went to the front of the room. Jimmy and Freddy followed with the box of names.

“Attention, everyone,” the man said. “It's time to pick teams. Freddy and Jimmy are our team captains. As your name is called, please come up and join your leader.”

Everyone started talking excitedly.

Mr. Mercer hushed them. “I have to go into town to the locksmith,” he said. “So I'll let your team captains take over.” He left the room.

Freddy reached into the box and pulled out a card. “Danny Cahill,” she read.

In the far corner of the room, a red-headed boy, about Benny's age, stood up. He walked slowly to the front of the room.

Freddy greeted him with a broad smile. “Welcome to the winning team, Danny,” she said.

Jimmy picked out a name. He read it to himself; then looked up. He had a funny expression on his face. It was hard to tell whether he was happy about his choice, or sad. “Beth Markham,” he announced. “Last year's top skater.”

Beth skipped to the front of the room, her ponytail swinging.

Two more team members were chosen.

Benny wiggled in his chair. “I can't stand the suspense,” he whispered.

Henry was the first of the Aldens chosen. He would be on Jimmy's team. Jessie and then Violet were picked for that team, too.

Benny glanced around the room. He and an older girl were the only ones whose names hadn't been called.

It was Jimmy's turn. “There are only two names left,” he said.

Benny leaned forward in his chair. “Hurry, hurry, hurry,” he urged silently.

Jimmy reached into the box. He drew out a card. He looked at it. He even turned it over.

Benny couldn't sit still. He popped to his feet. “Hurry, hurry, hurry,” he repeated, but this time, he said the words aloud.