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bank.
    Harpo said, “See you when we get back to the house, Tate. Nice meeting you kids—again.”
    “Nice to meet you, too,” said Violet politely.
    The Aldens and Tate turned and walked out of the alley.
    “I’m glad your friends aren’t bank robbers,” Benny told Tate.
    Tate laughed. “Me, too,” he said. Suddenly he stopped laughing. He frowned and looked around uneasily.
    “What is it?” asked Jessie.
    “I don’t know,” said Tate. “I just had the funniest feeling that someone was following me.”
    The Aldens all stopped and surveyed Main Street. But they didn’t see anybody suspicious, just friends and neighbors going about their business.
    “Who could be following you?” Henry asked. “Nobody even knows you’re here.”
    Tate didn’t answer Henry’s question. Instead, he grabbed Henry’s arm and said, “Oh, no! Quick. Hide me!”

CHAPTER 7
The Red Feather Clue
    B ehind the bench,” said Jessie, without asking questions. She took Greta’s leash as Tate dove behind a bench in front of the ice-cream parlor. The Aldens all sat down on the bench and faced the street.
    Without moving his lips, Henry said, “Who are you hiding from, Tate?”
    “You’ll see,” Tate hissed back.
    A moment later, a woman with red hair strode toward them. She was wearing a big white hat. A large red plume curled over one side of the hat and bobbed gently as she walked. Before reaching them, she stopped and peered into the ice-cream shop. Then she turned and looked across the street.
    “Are you lost?” Jessie spoke up.
    The woman turned back around and stared hard at the four Boxcar Children sitting on the bench. She looked at Greta and Watch, who were sitting in front of the bench. Her green eyes were sharp. Then she smiled.
    “What cute dogs!” she said. “What are their names?”
    Violet’s eyebrows drew together in a frown.
    “This is Watch,” said Henry. “And this is—” Just then, he felt a finger poke him in the back. Henry paused. He knew that it was Tate who poked him. But why?
    Then he realized what Tate wanted. Henry cleared his throat and said, “And this is Sally.” He put his hand on Greta’s head.
    “Sally!” exclaimed Benny. “But—”
    Jessie put a hand on Benny’s arm and gave it a little squeeze.
    The woman said, “Watch and . . . Sally? Hmmm. I know a dog that looks a lot like Sally, but her name is Greta.”
    “You have a dog named Greta?” asked Jessie.
    “No,” said the woman. “I don’t have a dog. I travel too much.” Her smile faded and her eyes narrowed a little. “In fact, that’s why I’m here in . . . Greenfield . . . now. I traveled all the way here from California to find a friend of mine.”
    “Does your friend live in Greenfield?” asked Violet.
    “He doesn’t live here, exactly. But maybe you’ve seen him. He’s got blue eyes and black hair and he looks a lot like Tate Radison, the movie star.”
    Henry said, “No one who looks like that is around here now.” It was true. With his glasses and his hat, Tate didn’t look like himself.
    The woman didn’t look entirely convinced, but after a moment she nodded and stepped back. “Well, I have to be going. It’s nice to meet you and your two lovely dogs.” She strode off down the street.

    The Aldens watched as she turned the corner.
    “Don’t move yet,” Tate hissed. “She’s very sneaky.”
    “Who is she?” asked Violet.
    “I’ll tell you in a minute,” Tate whispered.
    At that moment, the woman popped back around the corner. When she saw the Aldens still watching her, she waved and went back around the corner again.
    “I think she’s gone now,” said Jessie.
    Cautiously, Tate got up from his hiding place. He pushed his glasses into place on his nose and said, “Whew! That was a close call.”
    “Why don’t you go down the alley behind the bank,” Jessie suggested to Tate. “We’ll get the bikes and meet you at the other end of it.”
    “Good idea,” said