Free Midnight Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page A

“Isabel, now that you’re here, we need to get something settled before the convention starts. I showed Mr. Marshall these.” She opened the large envelope and slipped out two plan books, numbers eight and ten, along with the riddle book the children had found, and a yellow notebook. “This explains everything.”
    Isabel pulled her glasses from her pocket. “What are you doing with those plan books? They belong in the library room cabinet. And what does Grandma Alice’s riddle book have to do with anything?”
    Martha looked angry. “This riddle book was not made by Alice Putter!” She looked at Mr. Marshall. “Robert, tell her.”
    Mr. Marshall shifted from one foot to the other. He didn’t look happy to be there. He took the riddle book from Martha and turned to Isabel. “Have you read the inscription?”
    Isabel took a closer look. “I suppose I did when I was a child. I haven’t seen this book since then. It says: To My Grandchildren. Grandma Alice often wrote that in books she made and books she bought for her grandchildren. I’m confused, Robert.”
    “You won’t be for long,” Martha said.
    Mr. Marshall looked as if he wanted to escape. “If you look closely, that’s not your grandmother’s handwriting, Isabel. One of my partners and I went through Alice’s files in our office, along with these two plan books and a yellow notebook Martha gave me that belongs to her family. The riddle book doesn’t match Alice’s drawings or handwriting. What it does match is the writing and artwork in the yellow notebook. That notebook belonged to Martha’s grandfather, Otis Carver. Martha told me he once lived in Alice’s house. That might explain the mix-up.”
    Isabel still looked confused. “I’m sorry that the riddle book was left at our family’s house, Martha. Of course, you may take it. But what does this explain?”
    Martha stared at Isabel. “What it explains is that your family hid the missing plan book. You hid it because it proves that Alice Putter didn’t design all the inventions she got credit for. My grandfather — ”
    Mr. Marshall coughed several times, interrupting Martha. “Now, look here, Martha. Without the missing plan book, you can’t prove that. Alice Putter was a very talented inventor. She and your grandfather had a great friendship. Let’s not taint that with those accusations.”
    Martha glared. “If we had the plan book, I could prove them.”
    Before Isabel had a chance to say anything, another judge ran over to Mr. Marshall. “Robert!” the woman said. “I’ve been looking all over for you. You must come over to the displays right away. You won’t believe your eyes! At the last minute, a young man just dropped off the most remarkable clock. Wait until you see it.”
    Mr. Marshall followed the other judge to the canopy the Aldens had set up near the garden. Isabel, Martha, and the Aldens followed along, too. A big crowd had formed around one of the display tables.
    “What’s all this?” Mr. Marshall asked as he made his way under the canopy to see what the commotion was all about. He had to show his judge’s badge so people would step aside to let him through along with the Aldens, Isabel, and Martha.
    Mr. Percy and Brad were standing in the center of the crowd. Brad was smiling and answering questions different onlookers asked him. Mr. Percy raised his hand to ask Brad a question as well, but the young man ignored him.
    “Well, what’s all the fuss ...oh, my ...” Mr. Marshall stopped and stared up at a magnificent wooden clock hanging from the canopy pole.
    The other judge was staring up at the clock, too. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say that looks like an original Alice Putter clock. It’s so similar to the garden clock that a donor lent us. Except ...”
    “It’s a clock and an outdoor birdhouse and feeder,” Brad said proudly. His smile faded a bit. “Of course, I’m not quite finished. I haven’t painted it. And there’s still a bit of