Read Mystery of the Stolen Sword for Free Online Page B

wink.
    “You know about Joshua?” Jessie sounded surprised.
    “I certainly do,” the author replied. “The story of Joshua and his disappearance is an interesting part of the history of this town.”
    “Do you know what happened to Joshua?” Benny asked.
    “I’m working on finding out,” the author replied.
    “We are, too,” Benny said, looking at the stack of yellowed letters on the desk in front of him. “And so far we haven’t had much luck.”
    “We’ll let you know if we have any questions about anything,” Henry told Mr. Ambrose, who was peering at a letter over Henry’s shoulder.
    “Good day,” the author said as he walked away.
    “Maybe we should have been a little friendlier to him,” Violet whispered when the author had disappeared into the reference section.
    “I think he was kind of nosy,” Henry said. “I didn’t like him looking over my shoulder like that.”
    “Yeah, I didn’t really trust him, either,” Jessie said. “That’s why I didn’t want you telling him too much, Benny.”
    “I don’t think I told him anything he didn’t know already,” Benny pointed out.
    “I don’t think you did,” Jessie said reassuringly.
    “He may have only been trying to help us,” Violet said as she pulled her hair back into a ponytail and fastened it with a lavender ribbon.
    Henry shrugged. “It sounds like he spends a lot of time in the library. If we have any questions, we know where to find him.”
    The Aldens spent the rest of the morning reading old letters and looking at maps and photographs, but they could find no further clues to the mystery of Joshua’s disappearance.
    “We’d better go to the antique store soon,” Henry said finally, looking at his watch. “It’s going to take us a while to get there.”
    “Can’t we have lunch first?” Benny suggested. “I’m starving.”
    “Good idea,” Jessie said approvingly.
    Before they left, Mrs. Hathaway gave the Aldens detailed directions on how to find the antique store. “It’s really a barn with a lot of old furniture and other odds and ends in it,” she said. “And it’s just a little ways outside of Chassell on Old Post Road, the road you took from Seymour’s farm. You can’t miss it.”
    “Do you know where we might go for lunch?” Jessie asked as the Aldens were on their way out the door.
    “The Doughnut Shop across the street sells delicious sandwiches as well as homemade pies, cakes, and, of course, doughnuts.”
    “Let’s go!” Benny almost shouted.
    When the Aldens entered the Doughnut Shop, they saw Blake Ambrose seated at a table reading a newspaper.
    “That’s funny. I never saw him leave the library,” Henry remarked.
    Jessie shrugged. “We weren’t looking at the door the whole time,” she reminded Henry.
    The author looked up and waved as a waitress led the Aldens past his table, but he seemed too absorbed in his newspaper to want to talk.
    “Let’s not take too long with lunch,” Henry warned as the Aldens sat in a booth by the window. “We want to have plenty of time at the antique shop and still get home before dark.”
    “Can’t we at least have dessert?” Benny pleaded, eyeing a plate of homemade chocolate doughnuts behind the counter.
    “Why don’t we have lunch here and then take some doughnuts to go,” Jessie suggested.
    “Okay,” Benny reluctantly agreed.
    While the Aldens were wolfing down their bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches, Martin and Veronica walked into the Doughnut Shop. Martin smiled and waved to the Aldens, but Veronica ignored them. To their surprise, Veronica did wave to Blake Ambrose, who nodded and smiled at her.
    “How do they know each other?” Henry wondered.
    “Yeah, that’s strange,” Jessie agreed. “Maybe we can ask Martin.” Jessie was about to wave Martin over to their table, but he was busy buying two jelly doughnuts at the counter. He quickly paid for them and walked out of the store with Veronica at his heels.
    “Very