Deserted Library Mystery Read Free Page A

“Wow!” he exclaimed, “Rumpelstiltskin was a mean man. I’d like to spin gold!”
    â€œAnd what would you do with it, Benny?” Jessie asked, a twinkle in her eyes.
    â€œI’d fix up this old library for Grandfather,” he said promptly.
    â€œThat’s a great idea,” Henry said, joining them. “Right now, though, rest time is over.”
    â€œIs it lunchtime?” Benny asked.
    â€œNot yet,” Henry chuckled, lightly touching Benny’s chin with his fist. “We’ve got hundreds of books to straighten.”
    â€œOkay,” Benny said cheerfully. “But I’m going upstairs.”
    â€œWill you place the books neatly on the shelves?” Violet asked.
    â€œI sure will!”
    And before anyone could say another word, Benny raced upstairs.
    Jessie smiled. “I hope he’s this eager to help by late afternoon.”
    â€œLook at this old speller I found,” Violet said, handing a thin book to Jessie.
    Jessie wrinkled her small nose. “It smells musty.” She handed the book back. “We’d better finish these shelves.” She pulled out a book and flipped through its pages. All at once she gasped. “A moth! It flew right in my face.”
    Violet glimpsed a winged insect flying out the window. “What next?” she asked, with a sigh.
    Suddenly Benny rushed downstairs. His round face was pale, and his lower lip trembled.
    â€œBenny! What happened?” Jessie asked in a concerned tone. “You’re as white as a sheet.”
    â€œI-I heard a noise,” he said in a quavering voice. “Someone is up there.”
    Jessie glanced at Violet and Henry, then turned back to Benny. “Just what did you hear, Benny?”
    â€œIt was kind of a little sound, and then I saw a big black shadow!”
    â€œWe’ll all go upstairs and look around,” Violet said. She put her arm around Benny’s shoulders. “Maybe it was a squirrel hiding a nut.”
    Benny shook his head. “No. Someone was there! I know it!”
    They went upstairs and searched every row of books and every corner. “No one’s here, Benny,” Jessie said, tousling her brother’s hair. “Maybe the squirrel went out through the broken windowpane.”
    â€œM-maybe,” he stammered. But Benny glanced at the stairs. Not for a minute did he believe it was a squirrel. Violet, too, had a nervous look on her face.

CHAPTER 4
    The Missing Food
    â€œI t’s almost time for lunch, Benny,” Henry announced. He wanted to take Benny’s mind off the strange noise. Food usually did the trick.
    â€œIs it time to eat?” Benny looked at Henry. “I forgot.”
    â€œYou forgot lunch?” Jessie teased. “That’s hard to believe.”
    Benny was wiping one last shelf. But all at once his rag snagged on a dark object in back. “What’s this?” he said, holding up a strange piece of metal. “Look, everybody!”
    They gathered around Benny, and Henry carefully examined what he had found.
    â€œThis is the hilt of a sword,” Jessie said. “Whew! It must be covered with six coats of grime! But where’s the rest of it?” she wondered.
    Violet reached for a crumpled piece of yellow paper that dangled from the hilt by a worn ribbon. Carefully she unfolded the square sheet and began to read:
    This sword is presented to Captain Charles Howard for his bravery at the Battle of Gettysburg. Your strength and courage in leading the Union soldiers against General Robert E. Lee’s forces was a major factor in winning this vital battle.
    Signed,
    General G.G. Meade
    Union Commander
    July 5, 1863
    The children gasped.
    Henry sat down in a chair and turned the hilt every which way.
    â€œWhat’s Gettysburg?” Benny asked.
    Henry leaned back. “Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was where one of the most important battles of the Civil War was