Free The Mystery of the Black Raven by Gertrude Chandler Warner

the Gold Rush.”
    Grandfather looked at Benny. “You think Howie stole the scrapbook and raven and hid them?”
    “I think Howie did some of that stuff,” Benny answered. “But not all of it.”
    James Alden turned to Howie. “I think my grandson is right. Why don’t you tell us your part in this matter.”
    Howie heaved a sigh. “I’m from Skagway,” he began. “All my life I’ve heard about the Four Rock Miners and their annual reunion. I mean, everybody in town knows about it—”
    Gil nodded. “He’s right. The reunion has been written up in the newspaper several times. Go on.”
    Howie continued, “I’m not crazy about Alaska. I want to go someplace warmer, like California.”
    “What’s stopping you?” asked Violet.
    “Money,” Howie said simply. “I don’t make enough to go to California.”
    The hotel manager, who’d been listening, remarked, “And you never will, with your attitude. Howie, you don’t want to work. You’re the laziest bellhop I’ve ever had work for me.” He added to the others, “The manager before me hired Howie. I’ve gone over his references, and none of those people even exist!”
    “So I faked my references.” Howie shrugged. “Would you hire me if you found out I was fired from my last jobs?”
    “You’re a bright young man,” said Grandfather. “Why cheat and lie and ruin your chances?”
    Howie’s shoulders drooped. “People like me don’t get chances. I needed a break and I found one when you people came.”
    When the reunion party arrived, he explained, he eavesdropped and learned they were going to the Golden North for dinner. From an old newspaper article, he knew the famous old hotel was where the reunion members passed on the scrapbook and raven statue. Howie knew those items were special, but he didn’t know why. When he saw James Alden come back with the bundles under his arm, he decided to steal them.
    “I took a hotel passkey,” Howie said, “and used it to get into Mr. Alden’s room.”
    “But Grandfather was in there,” Henry stated. “He would have seen you!”
    Howie grinned. “I’m good at listening. I could hear water running and figured Mr. Alden was in the bathroom. I hoped he’d have the door closed. He did. I slipped into the room and took the scrapbook and raven off the dresser where he left them and was out in five seconds.”
    “Was this after you took Steve and Jennifer to their room?” Benny asked.
    Howie looked surprised. “Yes, it was. How did you know that?”
    “I heard you talking,” said Benny. “ I’m good at listening, too. What did you do next?”
    “I had to move fast,” said Howie. “The night clerk was away from his desk, but I didn’t know for how long. I couldn’t chance leaving my post and going outside to put the raven and scrapbook in my car.”
    “So you hid them in the lobby?” guessed Miss Parker. “Wasn’t that risky?”
    “I already knew about the totem pole hiding place,” Howie said. “The guy who had this job before me told me about it. I hid the raven in there. But the night guy came back before I could put the scrapbook in, too. So I shut the totem pole panel and stuffed the book in a potted plant.”
    Grandfather looked disappointed. “You broke into my room and stole things without knowing their value? What did you think you’d get out of that?”
    “I want to be somebody,” Howie said. “I can’t do it in this nowhere town.”
    “You can be somebody anywhere,” Miss Parker told him. “But not by lying and stealing. Tell us the rest of your story.”
    “Well, the night clerk came back and I couldn’t get the scrapbook out of the plant, so I left it there overnight.” Howie shook his head. “When I came on duty the next morning, it was gone! Somebody had taken it!”
    At this point, Monique giggled. Mark wore a silly grin on his face.
    “Gotcha!” Mark said to Howie.
    “You took the scrapbook?” Howie said.
    Jessie said, “I knew you two were involved