The Case of the Piggy Bank Thief

Read The Case of the Piggy Bank Thief for Free Online

Book: Read The Case of the Piggy Bank Thief for Free Online
Authors: Martha Freeman
didn’t see a thing.”
    I looked at Tessa. “Are you sure you feel okay? Because you’re acting kind of crazy.”
    â€œWell, maybe I don’t want to be interrogated!” she snapped.
    Nate and I looked at each other. What the heck?
    Then Mr. Bryant said, “Sounds like there might be some more detecting going on. Do I have that right?”
    Nate explained about the maybe gold that was maybe missing.
    â€œA buried piece of gold?” Granny said. “Could it be a coin, do you think? If so, then you’re going to the right place tonight to do some more detecting.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

    THE National Museum of American History, part of the Smithsonian Institution, is wide and white, with a fountain on one side and a statue that looks like silver ribbon on the other. It’s on the National Mall in Washington, DC—pretty near my house. Inside is cool stuff like race cars and steam engines, five-hundred-year-old violins, mannequins wearing beautiful First Lady dresses and the ruby slippers from
The Wizard of Oz
.
    Usually there would be lots of people inside, too, but Dr. Maynard had arranged for us to visit when the museum was closed. That’s why when Nate, Tessa, Aunt Jen, Charlotte and I walked through the heavy glass doors, only two guards and a man in a suit and tie met us. The man was Dr. Maynard’s friend, a curator named Mr. August—the same guy who would be getting a medal at the ceremony the next day.
    After the usual handshakes and “how are yous?” Mr. August took all of us up in an elevator to a room onthe fifth floor, where Zach and Dalton and their parents were waiting for us.
    â€œWelcome to our library,” said Mr. August.
    The room had blue walls and bookcases, but it was small and not exactly fancy. In fact, with all of us in there, it was kind of a tight squeeze.
    â€œAren’t we going to see an exhibit?” Tessa asked. “Like when we went to see the Hope Diamond?”
    Mr. August shook his head. “Our collection is so big we can only display a few things at a time. The rest is kept in the vault. When Dr. Maynard told me you’re also working on Professor Mudd’s dig, I decided to get out some coins from the same time period—early American history.”
    There was a table in the middle of the room. The grown-ups sat around it while Charlotte and us kids stood behind them. On top of the table was a black case like a big jewelry box.
    â€œWhat’s in there?” Tessa pointed.
    â€œYou’ll see,” said Mr. August mysteriously. “But first, I want you all to look in your pockets or coin purses, get out any change you might have and put it on the table.”
    â€œWhat if we don’t have any?” Tessa asked.
    I told Tessa I’d share. A few seconds later, there was a handful of quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies in front of each of us.
    â€œMost collectors get interested in coins when they examine the ones they have on hand every day,” Mr. August said.
    Dr. Maynard nodded. “That’s what happened to me.When I learned that coins have dates on them to show when they were made, I got the idea it would be neat to have pennies from as many years as possible. I asked my father for the coins from his pocket, and that’s how I started collecting.”
    Dalton shook his head. “Lame, Dad.”
    â€œDalton?”
said his mom.
    But his dad kept his temper. “It’s not lame, Dalton. First of all, coins are beautiful. Each one is a tiny work of sculpture.”
    Dalton did not seem convinced.
    â€œAnd second,” Dr. Maynard went on, “when you collect coins, it makes every day a little more exciting. After all, you can never tell when your pocket change will hold a treasure.”
    Dalton didn’t say anything to that. He just started examining the coins on the table. And so did I. I mean, who can’t get behind treasure?
    Meanwhile, Mr. August

Similar Books

Laughing Fate

Roxy Emilia Means

What You Wish For

Kerry Reichs

Current Impressions

Kelly Risser

All in Time

Ciana Stone

Me and You

Niccolò Ammaniti

Crooked

Brian M. Wiprud