The Mystery of the Tiger's Eye Read Free

opportunity,” Melanie said in her whispery voice. “I’m very lucky.”
    â€œShe works until evening, so she usually eats with us, too,” said Edward. He glanced around. “Dorsey isn’t here. Would you call him down, Melanie? It’s nearly time to eat.”
    Melanie went back into the house. When she returned, a surly-looking Dorsey was on her heels.
    â€œHow come you didn’t tell me it was a party?” he said accusingly to Edward. “All the good stuff is gone.”
    â€œI told you this morning we were having appetizers on the deck before dinner,” Edward answered. “Then I called you again, but your door was shut. I guess you didn’t hear me.”
    â€œNobody pays attention to me,” Dorsey complained. “I’ll be glad to go to that school next week.”
    Edward exchanged a glance with Iona and shook his head slightly.
    They all went into the dining room and took their seats in the chariots around the big table with the merry-go-round horse in the center.
    Each place was set with colorful china. Beside every dinner fork was a small favor, a souvenir from the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.
    Benny got a set of dominoes. Henry received a silver pen shaped like a feather. Violet’s gift was a glass shoe with a pincushion. Jessie got a small fan, and Grandfather received a miniature cast-iron Ferris wheel.
    â€œThese are wonderful,” Grandfather exclaimed, setting the wheel spinning. “But aren’t they valuable?”
    â€œDuplicates,” Edward said. “I don’t need more than one of each, so I’m delighted to give these away.”
    Iona, Melanie, and Dorsey had similar presents.
    When Edward went into the kitchen, Iona said, “Edward has too much stuff. His collections rule his life.”
    â€œI heard that,” Edward said, returning with a fragrant-smelling platter of Maryland fried chicken. “Iona thinks I should sell Cliffwalk Manor.”
    â€œWell, you should!” she said emphatically. “This place is too big for one person. And you spend too much time fooling with that junk.”
    Edward put bowls of mashed potatoes and gravy on the table. “That ‘junk,’ as you call it, is worth a great deal of money,” he said.
    Dorsey, who had been greedily reaching for the chicken, stopped. “It is?”
    â€œYes,” said his great-uncle. “Think about how long ago the Chicago World’s Fair was. Over a hundred years! Many of my things are fragile and hard to find, like souvenir books and tickets.”
    Dorsey sniffed. “Those things look like grubby pieces of paper to me.”
    â€œThey may not look like much, but they represent pieces of history,” Edward said. “Scholars have asked to study my collections. That’s why I’m having this young student get them in order.”
    â€œWhat is your major in college?” James Alden asked Melanie.
    She tugged nervously on her long braid. “Uh — I’m just taking some drama classes.”
    â€œDo you want to be an actress?” asked Henry.
    Melanie’s fork clattered to the floor. “Sorry. I guess I’ll be an entertainer of some sort.”
    Iona went into the kitchen to get Melanie a clean fork.
    â€œExcuse me,” Melanie said, rising from the swan chariot. “I think I’ll skip dinner and go home. I’ll see you all early tomorrow.”
    â€œShe’ll miss dessert — that’s the best part!” Benny said, amazed anyone would leave a meal before the end.
    â€œI want some more iced tea,” Dorsey said. He got up, too, and took his glass into the kitchen.
    Jessie was surprised. Dorsey didn’t seem like the type to fetch for himself.
    Iona came back in with a new fork for Melanie and another plate of chicken. “Melanie’s gone? That’s funny. She usually loves fried chicken.”
    â€œMore for the rest of us,” said