Free The Mystery Girl by Gertrude Chandler Warner

out about me,” Nancy said to the Aldens, as they started to fix breakfast.
    While Jessie cooked the pancakes, she and the others took turns telling Nancy everything. They talked about how much trouble she had in the store and how nervous she got when they asked her about her family. Jessie and Violet talked about her ring.
    Nancy looked down at her hand. She wasn’t wearing the ring. “My parents gave it to me. I wore it because even though I was mad at them, I missed them, and it reminded me of them. But after you saw it, I put it away. It’s a real emerald.”
    â€œThat’s what Jessie and I thought,” Violet said.
    â€œThat made us think you weren’t poor, like you said,” Jessie told Nancy. “And Violet noticed that your cabin was bare,” she continued, turning the pancakes over. “If you’d been on your own for a year, you would have had a lot more things.”
    â€œThings like socks and shirts, especially,” Henry said. “Jessie saw you take the T-shirt. You didn’t really steal from Mr. Taylor, did you?”
    â€œOh, no!” Nancy cried. “I wouldn’t do anything like that. I took some socks and a shirt because when I ran away, I didn’t bring enough clothes. I just didn’t want anyone to start asking why I needed such basic things, so I took them. Then, later, I put the money in the cash register.”
    â€œSo that’s what you were doing,” Jessie said. “Henry and I saw you but we couldn’t understand why.”
    â€œAnd I couldn’t understand why Tony looked so familiar when he came into the store,” Violet said. “Then when we saw you at the picnic spot later, I remembered the picture in your cabin.”
    â€œYou followed us to the picnic spot?” Nancy asked.
    â€œWe were worried about you,” Jessie said. “We thought you were in some kind of trouble.”
    â€œWe were afraid to ask you because we thought you might get scared and run away,” Henry said. “We wanted to help, but we weren’t sure what to do.”
    â€œYou helped just by being my friends,” Nancy said. “And you sure did figure out a lot about me.”
    â€œWe like mysteries,” Benny told her.
    â€œAnd you were a mystery, Nancy,” Jessie said.
    Everyone laughed. Then Jessie said, “The pancakes are ready. Let’s eat!”
    â€œGood,” Benny said. He looked at Mrs. Edwards. “Do private investigators like pancakes?”
    â€œThis one does, Benny,” Mrs. Edwards answered.
    Everyone got a plate, and Jessie served the pancakes. They were all starting to eat when Aunt Jane arrived.
    â€œAunt Jane!” Benny shouted, opening the door for her. “Wait until you hear! We solved another mystery!”
    â€œCome eat with us, Aunt Jane,” Jessie said. “We’ll tell you all about it.”
    When she had heard the story, Aunt Jane smiled. “You all have certainly been busy,” she said. “Working in a store and helping to solve a mystery.”
    â€œ And being my friends,” Nancy said. “I’ll miss you all.”
    Violet asked, “Will you be leaving soon?”
    â€œAs soon as I can,” Nancy said. “But don’t worry, Mr. Taylor. I told my parents I couldn’t go until you found someone to take my place.” She laughed. “Thanks to the Aldens, I can really work in a store now.”
    â€œThat’s good, Nancy,” Aunt Jane said. “But you might be able to go very soon.” She turned to Mr. Taylor. “I found someone who wants to work in your store, Jerry,” she said. “Her name is Jenny Parks. She just moved to Elmford, and she has worked in a lot of stores. She’ll come out to see you tomorrow.”
    Mr. Taylor looked very happy. “Thank you, Jane,” he said. “That’s wonderful news.”
    After breakfast, Mrs. Edwards said good-bye and left.