Free The Missing Book by Lois Gladys Leppard

him.
    â€œI heard her say that, but we still don’t know all the details,” Joe replied.
    â€œWhy do we need details? Faith is flat-out moving away from here. That’s all that counts. She’s going away,” Mandie said loudly as she hurried on down the road.
    Joe had to walk faster to keep up with her. “I’d like to know what the school looks like,” he replied.
    â€œA school is a school,” Mandie said sullenly.
    â€œBut they’re not all alike,” Joe said. “I suppose I could talk to Mr. Miller tonight and find out about things over there at Tellico.”
    Mandie didn’t answer.When they got to the pathway leading down to her house, she saw her father by the fence, talking to Mr. John Knight.
    When Mr. Shaw looked up and saw the two, he came to meet them. “Mr. Knight here passed Mrs. Chapman’s old house last night and he did see someone there—”
    â€œHe did?” Mandie interrupted.
    â€œYes, and I am telling you now not to go anywhere near that old house at any time, do you understand?” her father said.
    Mandie took a deep breath. “Yes, sir, if you say so.”
    â€œI say so, loud and clear,” Mr. Shaw said. “Until this matter is cleared up, I repeat, you are not to go anywhere near that house.”
    â€œYes, sir,” Mandie said.
    Joe looked at Mr. Knight. “What did this person look like that you saw there, sir?”
    Mr. Knight replied, “It was too dark to tell anything much, other than that he seemed to be tall and thin as Mrs. Clifton had said. I was just passing by on my way home and happened to look over into the yard. Evidently he also saw me, because he immediately disappeared behind the house.”
    â€œDid you follow him?” Mandie asked.
    â€œNo, I was in a hurry to get home,” Mr. Knight replied. “But we know now that Mrs. Clifton wasn’t imagining this. So some of us men plan on staking the place out this weekend.”
    â€œCan I go with you?” Joe asked.
    â€œI don’t think so, Joe.You’d have to get permission from your father before I’d allow it,” Mr. Shaw said.
    â€œThen I suppose I can’t go either,” Mandie said in a disappointed voice.
    â€œThat’s right, Amanda,” her father said. “We have no idea who this person is.”
    â€œOh, shucks!” Mandie said.
    â€œJust don’t count on us catching him the first night we watch,” Mr. Shaw said. “It may take several nights to find out who he is, because he may not be going over there every night.”
    Mandie thought about that until she went to bed that night. Then her mind returned to her friend, Faith. Her
former
friend, Faith, since Faith was moving away and leaving her.
    Trying not to cry, Mandie wondered if her mother would allow her to go over and visit with Faith sometime this weekend so they could discuss everything about Tellico. Then she wouldn’t have to wait until Monday to learn all the details.
    But no, she was not going to do that. She was not anxious to find out when Faith was actually moving away. That could wait until Monday when they all went back to school. Besides, Faith and her grandmother were probably tired after their long journey and would want to rest for the weekend.
    Mandie was going to miss her friend.

8
    Just Wonderful!
    MONDAY MORNING WHEN Joe came to meet Mandie, he was driving his mother’s cart.
    â€œAre we going to ride to school today?” Mandie asked as Joe stopped the vehicle at the pathway to her house.
    Joe jumped down and took her books. “Come on, get in,” he said. “I have to do an errand for my father.”
    As Mandie stepped into the cart, she said, “I hope it’s not another mystery.”
    â€œNo mystery,” Joe said, getting back into his seat and picking up the reins.
    Mandie waited, but Joe did not explain. “Well then, what is it?” she asked after a