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Harvey,” Nancy said. She hoped he wouldn’t bring up Jake McStuffings!
    â€œThat pumpkin over there is perfect,” Harvey said, pointing to a medium-sized pumpkin. “It’sthe right size and not as warped as some of the others.”
    â€œThanks,” George said.
    Harvey then turned to Bess. “You should get a whole bunch of pumpkins,” he said.
    â€œMe?” Bess asked. “Why?”
    â€œBecause,” Harvey said with a grin. “They would look awesome on your porch.”
    Bess stared at Harvey as he walked away. “How did Harvey know I have a porch?” she asked. “He never came to my house.”
    Nancy watched Harvey leave the pumpkin patch. He was pretty mad when no one believed his latest story. How far would he go to make everybody believe in Jake McStuffings?
    â€œMaybe Harvey did come to your house, Bess,” Nancy said. “Maybe he came to steal Autumn.”

Bats and Hats
    â€œWhy would Harvey steal our scarecrow?” George asked.
    â€œMaybe Harvey stole Autumn so we would think Jake did it,” Nancy figured.
    â€œYeah,” Bess said thoughtfully. “How else would Harvey know I had a porch unless he was there?”
    â€œThat’s why I think Harvey Mueller is our next suspect,” Nancy declared.
    The girls looked all over the farm for Harvey but couldn’t find him anywhere.
    â€œHe probably went home.” Bess sighed.
    â€œThen we should go to Harvey’s house too,”Nancy declared. “After we pick out a pumpkin and go on our hayride.”
    â€œI know where Harvey lives,” George said. “We went to his Halloween party when we were in first grade, remember?”
    â€œHow can I forget?” Bess groaned. “Instead of apples we bobbed for rubber eyeballs.”
    Nancy remembered too. Harvey’s house was four blocks away from hers and within walking distance.
    After another hour of pumpkins, hayrides, and caramel apples it was time to get back to work. . . .
    â€œHave fun at your friend Harvey’s house!” Mr. Drew called from the car window.
    George wrinkled her nose at the word “friend.”
    â€œThanks, Daddy,” Nancy called back.
    The Clue Crew walked up toward the Mueller house. Nancy looked down and saw strands of hay scattered on the grass.
    â€œThat probably fell off Autumn when Harvey carried her here,” Nancy said.
    The girls followed the trail around the Muellers’ house. It stopped suddenly at the base of a tree.
    â€œHuh?” Nancy wondered.
    But when the girls looked way up, they gasped. Up in the tree was a tree house—a haunted-looking tree house!
    â€œCheese and crackers!” George exclaimed.
    The tree house had a crooked wooden roof and windows covered with cobwebs. A ladder leading up to the door was made of fake bones—at least Nancy hoped they were fake!
    â€œIf the trail of hay stops here,” Nancy thought out loud, “then Harvey must have carried Autumn up to his tree house.”

    George cupped both hands around her mouth. “Come on out, Harvey Mueller,” sheshouted up to the tree house. “We want to talk to you!”
    No answer.
    â€œHarvey?” Nancy called up too.
    Still no answer.
    â€œLet’s go up and look for Autumn,” Nancy decided.
    â€œBut I’m afraid!” Bess wailed.
    â€œOf heights?” Nancy asked.
    â€œNo!” Bess cried. “Of ghosts!”
    â€œGet a grip, Bess,” George said as she grabbed the ladder. “Whoever heard of a haunted tree house anyway?”
    The bony ladder creaked as George climbed up first, followed by Nancy and then by Bess. Soon all three friends were inside and looking around.
    â€œWhoa,” George said.
    Rubber bats and cobwebs hung from the ceiling. A green chair shaped like a monster claw stood next to a pile of scary books and movies. On a shelf were jars filled with rubber insects and plastic