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Pennink. “And one way or another, I intend to make sure everyone knows it!” With that, she marched up the porch steps and disappeared into the farmhouse.
    The Aldens exchanged puzzled looks. What did Miss Pennink mean by one way or another?
    They had little time to think about it, though. When they stepped into the Victorian kitchen, they caught sight of Sharon holding up an antique birdcage!
    Gwen was shaking her head in bewilderment. “I can’t believe it! How in the world did a bird get inside that cage?”
    The Aldens looked closer. Sure enough, a little yellow canary was flitting from perch to perch!
    Benny’s eyes were huge. “Is that another optical illusion?”
    Sharon shook her head, looking pleased. “No way!”
    “Where exactly did you find the missing birdcage, Sharon?” inquired Gwen.
    “In the scullery,” Sharon told her sister as she set the birdcage down on the kitchen table. “You know that old lace tablecloth that was over one of the tubs? Well, the cage was hidden underneath.”
    Puzzled, Jessie said, “I thought you looked in the scullery this morning.”
    Sharon seemed annoyed by Jessie’s question. “I didn’t check under the tablecloth. I thought there were only old clothes underneath. It wasn’t until I started getting things ready for the laundry demonstration that I noticed the birdcage.”
    “I know it was in the parlor yesterday,” said Gwen. “Without the canary!”
    “Looks like somebody’s playing practical jokes again,” said Jake North.
    The Aldens turned around in surprise. They hadn’t noticed the reporter standing in a corner of the kitchen.
    “That’s exactly what it looks like,” said Miss Pennink, slumping down into a chair.
    Gwen placed a gentle hand on the elderly woman’s shoulder. “Are you all right, Miss Pennink?” she asked.
    “I heard so many stories about Horace when I was growing up,” said Miss Pennink. “The birdcage-in-the-laundry-tub was one of those stories.”
    Curious, everyone moved closer to hear what Miss Pennink had to say.
    “According to the story,” said Miss Pennink, “Amanda Wagner—Horace’s wife—dreaded doing the laundry and always said she wished it would just sprout wings and fly away.”
    “I’ve heard it was hard work in those days,” commented Jake.
    Miss Pennink nodded. “Horace wanted it to seem as if the laundry really had sprouted wings. So, on one of his business trips, he bought an anniversary gift for his wife—a birdcage with a little yellow canary inside.” Miss Pennink paused. “Then, on April Fool’s Day, he hid the birdcage in an empty laundry tub in the scullery. They say that Amanda was just delighted when she found it there.”
    Gwen stared at the canary in the cage. “Then this is an exact copy of that practical joke?”
    Miss Pennink nodded slowly. “Horace did this so people would notice him. He doesn’t like to be forgotten in his own home.”
    Jessie felt a chill up her spine. She didn’t really believe in ghosts, but she couldn’t help wondering if the ghost of Horace Wagner was responsible for the practical jokes.
    They had to put all thoughts of the mystery aside for a while as visitors started arriving. Gwen took the birdcage into the back office, while the Aldens helped Sharon carry the washtubs and wringers out to the side porch for the laundry demonstration.
    Jake took photographs while they filled the washtubs with water from the pump. And when enough visitors had gathered on the porch, Sharon began the demonstration. She showed everyone how the clothes were scrubbed against a washboard to get them clean, then put through the wooden rollers to squeeze the water out. With Henry’s help, Benny turned the crank on the wringer around and around.
    Later, Gwen stuck her head out the door and offered Jake a cup of coffee.
    “Sounds great!” Jake said as he put the cap back on the lens of the camera. “I was just finishing up here anyway.” Before he went inside, he stopped to