Free Mandie and the Secret Tunnel by Lois Gladys Leppard Page A

uncle has. Money makes people fight sometimes, my father always told me. He always said it was better to be poor. Then you would know who your friends really are.”
    “Oh, Mandie, I don’t agree with that at all. I’d just die if we were poor.” Then Polly realized what she was saying. “Sorry, I forgot. I mean, I know you told me how poor your family is. But, anyway, don’t you think it’s better now, with all those new dresses and so much to eat, and servants to do all the work?”
    “Well, I suppose. But look at the difference inthings since Bayne Locke and that Mrs. Snow and her terrible Ruby came here. They’re all after my uncle’s money!”
    “So what are we going to do about Mr. Jason now?”
    “I suppose we’ll have to watch him now, along with the others.”

    Chapter 8 - Joe Comes to Visit
     
    The people who sat around the dining table at mealtime after that acted like enemies. There was very little conversation between any of the occupants of John Shaw’s house.
    Mr. Bond tried his best to carry on a conversation at the table one day at dinnertime, but Bayne Locke and Mrs. Snow and her daughter completely ignored him. The girls did not talk either, but continued to listen and watch everyone else. Mr. Bond only got curt answers to any questions he asked in an attempt to draw the girls out.
    “Well, if this ain’t the quietest bunch I ever seed in all my born days,” Liza remarked as she brought in the dessert. “What’s the matter—cat got all your tongues?”
    Mandie laughed. “No, Liza, we just can’t do two things at one time. If we’re going to eat, we have toeat, and if we’re going to talk, we just can’t eat.”
    “Oh, I sees,” Liza smiled at her. “Everybody must be starved to death.” She twirled on out of the dining room with her arms full of dishes. “Most nonsense I ever heard of!”
    “Well, guess she’s right,” Mr. Bond remarked, looking straight at the two girls. “But if everyone’s starved to death, why is everyone leaving so much food on their plates?”
    “Don’t include me in that. I eat whatever I’m served,” Mrs. Snow haughtily informed him.
    “So do I,” her daughter piped in.
    “I’m always hungry. I always eat anything I can get my hands on,” Bayne Locke said. “Food’s too good to waste.”
    “That leaves me to answer, I suppose,” Mandie volunteered. “My stomach doesn’t feel too well lately. Too much excitement around. Besides, I’m not used to so much food at one meal.”
    “Well, I think eating is a silly habit and a waste of time when you could be doing something more interesting. Therefore, I only eat enough to keep from starving,” Polly told them.
    “Maybe the food will taste a little better at suppertime,” Mr. Bond said as he rose from the table. “Although I didn’t see anything wrong with what we just had.”
    There was a loud knock on the front door. Everyone was silent and listened. There were indistinct voices in the hall and Liza came hurrying into the dining room.
    “Missy, you’se got company—the doctor man and his son,” Liza announced to Mandie.
    “Joe!” Mandie rushed from the room.
    She greeted Dr. Woodard and Joe in the front hallway.
    She grasped the old man’s hand. “Dr. Woodard, I’m so glad to see you, and you, too, Joe.” She turned a little shyly toward the boy. “Seems like ages since I saw y’all. Come on into the dining room and meet everybody. You’ll probably want something to eat, anyway.”
    “Wow! Your uncle sure does have a big house.” Joe commented.
    “Hope you’ve been all right, Mandie,” the old doctor squeezed her hand.
    “Everybody,” Mandie addressed all who were still at the table, “these are my friends, Dr. Woodard, and his son, Joe.”
    Liza was already setting two more plates and she motioned for them to sit down.
    “Jason Bond, doctor,” Mr. Bond said, shaking his hand heartily. “Sit down, eat. You, too, young fellow.” As the two sat down, Mr. Bond