Free The Missing Book by Lois Gladys Leppard Page A

few seconds. The horse pulled the cart on down the road.
    â€œNothing, really,” Joe replied. “Mr. Miller spent the night on watch over at Mrs. Chapman’s old house. My father was supposed to pick him up this morning, but he had to go up the mountain to see a patient. So he asked me to go get Mr. Miller.”
    â€œHow did Mr. Miller get over there? Doesn’t he have a horse with him?” Mandie asked. Most of the men in the community got about on horseback.
    â€œNo,” Joe replied. “He couldn’t have a horse with him because he had to hide. If there’s someone hanging around over there, they would see it and know somebody was there and they probably wouldn’t stay.”
    â€œWell, whoever it is will certainly see us drive up in this cart,” Mandie said.
    â€œThis person has only been seen at night. They will probably be gone by the time we get there,” Joe answered.
    â€œI hope not,” Mandie said. “We might be able to find out who it is!”
    â€œAmanda Elizabeth Shaw, remember what your father said. You are not to go investigating this thing yourself,” Joe reminded her.
    â€œI know, but since I’m going with you anyway, what difference would it make?” Mandie replied.
    Joe frowned. “I probably shouldn’t have brought you with me. Your father might think I am disobeying his orders.”
    â€œBut your father asked you to go, and he knows you always walk to school with me,” Mandie argued.
    â€œWell, anyhow, here we are,” Joe said, turning the wagon down the narrow trail that led to the old house. “Now, don’t you go running off somewhere. You stay right here in the wagon while I look for Mr. Miller. My father said he was supposed to be hidden in the barn.” He pulled the horse to a stop near the old barn and jumped down.
    Mandie followed him. “I am not staying here in this wagon by myself,” she said. “I’m going with you.”
    â€œAll right then, but just make sure you stay right with me. Don’t go wandering off somewhere,” Joe firmly told her.
    Joe hurried toward the entrance to the barn, and Mandie walked fast to keep up with him. She kept looking around the yard as she went, and at the big old house that Faith’s grandmother, Mrs. Chapman, had inherited from a cousin. She saw signs of work having been done. The once-sagging back porch floor was now level. The huge rock chimney that ran up the side of the house had been falling apart, but now it seemed to be well stuck together and standing upright.
    â€œCome on,” Joe called back to her, stopping to wait.
    â€œI’m coming,” she said.
    They entered the barn together, and Mandie immediately saw Mr. Miller asleep on a pile of hay in a far corner. “There’s Mr. Miller,” she said, pointing. “He’s asleep.”
    â€œHe was here all night, so I suppose he is sleepy,” Joe said, going toward the man. “Mr. Miller, Mr. Miller.”
    Mandie had started to follow when out of the corner of her eye she saw someone swing down from the loft and run for the doorway. “Joe!” she called. “There he is! The man!”
    Joe instantly ran after the man, with Mandie following. “Hey, mister, wait!” Joe called, following the man across the yard.
    Mandie heard Mr. Miller behind them. “You go left and I’ll go right, Joe,” he called. She looked back and saw him running around the house in the direction the man had gone.
    Joe ran the other way, and Mandie lifted her long skirts and followed. As they all came around to the front porch, Mandie saw the man pause and look at each of them. He looked young and rather handsome. He couldn’t be a burglar. She ran right up to him as he stood there in surprise.
    â€œWho are you?” she demanded.
    Joe and Mr. Miller caught up with them.
    â€œWhat are you doing on this property?” Mr. Miller asked.
    The