Mystery of the Secret Message Read Free Page A

children were sitting and talking in their boxcar, and Benny was feeling restless.
    “We have to help Grandfather with the Winter Festival. We don’t have time to solve a mystery, too,” said Jessie.
    She wrote something in a green binder. Knowing that Jessie was organized and responsible, Grandfather had asked her to keep track of preparations for the festival. As Grandfather’s assistant, Jessie kept notes in the festival notebook.
    “Can’t we do both?” Benny said.
    “Well, Benny, mysteries don’t just fall out of the sky,” Violet said.
    “What about your picture?” asked Benny. “That’s a mystery.”
    “Violet’s picture is just a weird mistake,” said Henry.
    Jessie closed her notebook. “We promised to clean the statue today. Is everyone ready?”
    “I have the lunch Mrs. McGregor packed us.” Violet held up a large wicker picnic basket. She slipped the strange photograph into her basket. Maybe Mr. Kirby had found the rightful owner.
    “And I’ve got the cleaning stuff.” Jessie wheeled her bicycle out from the garage. The tote bag containing her notebook swung from her handlebars.
    She handed Henry the bucket of cleaning supplies to hang from his handlebars.
    Benny climbed on his bike. “Let’s go!”
    The children pedaled quickly in the crisp morning air to the center of Greenfield.
    They parked their bicycles in the lot on one side of the square. Shops and businesses lined two sides. The town hall, with its wide green lawn, occupied the fourth side. In the center of the brick-paved common area stood the statue of Josiah Wade.
    Violet wished she had brought her camera. The square looked so pretty today. The copper spire of the town hall gleamed in the bright sunlight.
    “What a great day,” Henry said.
    “Maybe we’ll find a new mystery,” Benny said hopefully.
    “Work first!” Jessie chided gently. Secretly, she also wished they had a new mystery to solve. Life was so much more exciting when they were searching for clues.
    They unloaded the cleaning supplies at the base of the statue.
    “He sure is dirty.” Jessie swiped a finger over one bronze sleeve. “Well, we’ll make him clean again.”
    She handed the bucket to Henry. “Mrs. Turner in the drugstore should let you fill this.”
    Henry returned a few minutes later with a bucketful of hot water. He squirted in detergent to make suds. Then they each grabbed a brush and began scrubbing.
    After working for about a half hour, the children stopped to eat lunch.
    After everyone washed their hands at Cooke’s Drugstore, Violet passed around turkey and cranberry sauce sandwiches on whole wheat bread. Henry poured them each a cup of hot chocolate from the thermos.
    “And we have oatmeal cookies for dessert,” Violet said.
    “Look how shiny Josiah’s boots are,” Benny said proudly, munching a carrot stick.
    “You did a good job,” said Jessie. “That musket is tough, but I’ve almost got it cleaned.”
    Across the square, a familiar figure emerged from a side door of the town hall.
    “It’s Rick!” Benny said, waving excitedly. “Now he’ll tell us the secret.”
    “Looking good,” Rick Bass said. “I bet old Josiah loves getting a bath.”
    Violet offered him an oatmeal cookie. “You said you know something about the town.”

    “So I did. Boy, these are good cookies. Please give my compliments to your Mrs. McGregor.” Rick’s brown eyes crinkled at the corners. He loved to tease.
    “Rick!” Benny wailed. “Tell us!”
    Rick laughed. “All right! I’ve kept you in suspense long enough.”
    The children leaned forward eagerly.
    “Josiah Wade,” Rick stated, “was not a Minuteman.”
    “He wasn’t a soldier?” Henry asked. “Why is his statue dressed like one?”
    “Good question,” said Rick. “I think it’s a joke the sculptor played on Greenfield.”
    “What kind of a joke is that?” Violet wondered.
    Looking at the children’s blank faces, Rick explained, “I’ve been reading about the