Free Disappearing Staircase Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page A

asked.
    “An auction is a big sale—almost like a show,” Grandfather explained. “Somebody gets up in front and shows what’s for sale item by item. People in the audience call out the price they want to pay. That’s their bid. The person who bids the highest amount gets the item.”
    A man sitting nearby nodded. “There will be a lot of excitement over the Bugbee auction, I’m sure, Mr. Alden. Mr. Bugbee was quite a collector. I’m told he collected everything from jewelry and valuable books to old toys.”
    “Toys?” Benny and Soo Lee cried at the same time.
    The man nodded. “Oh, yes. Mr. Bugbee and his wife collected a lot of fine old toys—trains, dollhouses, music boxes—all sorts of things. My grandkids will enjoy those. As for my wife and me, we like old books, antique jewelry, and such.”
    “Why would there be so many things in a house that nobody’s lived in for years?” Violet asked.
    “The story is that the Bugbees left town without taking a thing,” explained Grandfather. “They sold the entire house and everything in it to another owner. He lived overseas and never moved in. Finally he donated the Bugbee House to the House and Hands group to fix up.”
    “Now, now, I’m sure they didn’t leave everything in the house,” said an older woman sitting nearby with her husband. She turned to Mr. Alden. “I’m Louella Gardiner, and this is my husband, George. Anyway, everyone will discover what was left soon enough, won’t they?”
    “I suppose,” Grandfather said. “I think Mabel has a few more announcements. Let’s hear what she has to say.”
    Louella Gardiner turned back to talk with her husband, but her question made the children curious. Just what was there to discover at the Bugbee House?
    Mabel Hart tapped her pen against her teacup to get everyone’s attention again. “Before refreshments, I’d like to introduce our project leaders to the other volunteers,” she announced. “Please meet Nan Lodge.”
    Everyone looked around the room.
    “Nan!” Mabel repeated. “Stand up, please.”
    Finally a young woman with reddish-brown hair looked up from the notebook she was writing in. “Were you calling me? Sorry, Mabel. I was just going over my notes.” She stood up and smiled nervously at the volunteers. Then she quickly sat down again and went back to her scribbling.
    Mabel looked around the room. “Brian Carpenter is another one of our leaders. Brian, please give a wave so everyone can see who you are. House and Hands is delighted to have Brian. He’s a construction worker who will supervise the building jobs.”
    Brian waved but didn’t smile. He looked as if he belonged in a workshop with a power saw, not in a wing chair having tea and cookies. Like Nan Lodge, he seemed to be in his early thirties. He wore work boots, jeans, and a work vest filled with tools.
    Mabel looked around the room. She picked out the Gardiners, who stood up. “Louella and George Gardiner have already begun the cleanup of the Bugbee estate. They’re getting everything ready for the auction in a few days. They have worked on several fine old estates before,” Mabel told everyone.
    Mr. Alden stood up, too. “Please enjoy yourselves and have some refreshments. And do let the leaders know what your special talents and skills are. They will direct each person to the best job.”
    “Mine is making cookies and eating them,” Benny told Grandfather. “I’m good at that job.”
    Jessie went over to Louella Gardiner, who was pouring herself some tea. “May we help you with the auction?” Jessie asked. “Our family has organized yard sales before. Henry and I are strong. Violet is good at arranging things. Benny and Soo Lee can fetch things.”
    “Children handling antiques? I’m afraid that wouldn’t do at all,” Louella said in a low, firm voice. “Mr. Gardiner and I have run many estate sales. I can assure you we don’t use children to handle valuables. You may want to work with Nan