Free The Mystery of the Tiger's Eye by Gertrude Chandler Warner

“And I didn’t even find Houdini’s secret.”
    Benny bit into his third cookie. “I know what Houdini’s secret is.” While the others had been talking, he had figured it out.
    Everyone stared at him.
    â€œYou do?” asked Grandfather, his eyebrows raised.
    â€œYeah. It’s not in the cabinet,” he said. “It’s on the cabinet.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” Jessie asked her brother.
    Benny stood up. “Come in the hall. I’ll show you.” In front of the cabinet, he pointed to the tiger. “The thing Houdini left behind is on the tiger. But we can’t reach.”
    â€œI’ll get a ladder.” Edward was back in a few minutes with a stepladder. He brought the tiger down and set it carefully on the marble floor.
    â€œWhat did Houdini leave behind?” Grandfather asked Benny.
    Benny touched the right eye of the tiger. It popped out in his hand. When he held it up, they could all see the eye was really a gold ring set with an amber-colored stone. The stone had a dark stripe down the center, like the pupil of a cat’s eye.
    â€œThe ring in the photograph!” Violet exclaimed. “It’s the ring Houdini is wearing in that picture we found!”
    â€œI’ll get the picture,” Jessie offered, racing upstairs. She returned with both the book about Houdini and the photograph.
    Melanie couldn’t believe it. “I studied that picture, but I never noticed the ring!”

    Iona examined the tiger. “The left eye is amber glass. The stone in this ring is tiger’s-eye, an actual stone. I have a bracelet in my shop made of tiger’s-eye.”
    Benny nodded. “I saw it when we were in your shop. Every time I came in here, I felt like the tiger was looking at me.”
    â€œIs the ring magic?” Dorsey wanted to know.
    â€œThere are those who say that tiger’s-eye makes its wearer feel confident and independent, but also lonely,” said Iona. “Maybe that’s why Houdini put his ring in the eye of the tiger.”
    Edward compared the ring to the one Houdini was wearing in the photograph. “They seem to be identical. Do you think Houdini put his ring in the tiger so everyone in the house would be lonely? Or was it truly a gift?”
    â€œI don’t think we’ll ever know,” said Grandfather. “But the ring is a nice addition for your collection.”
    â€œNow, what about you?” Edward asked Melanie. “Do you think I should fire you?”
    â€œI wouldn’t blame you if you did,” she said sadly. Then she lifted her chin. “But you and Iona are my friends, the closest friends I have. I’d like to finish cataloging your collections, Mr. Singleton, without pay. I’m very sorry for the trouble I caused.”
    Edward sighed. “Well, I always believe in giving people a second chance. But you’ll have to hand over the key to this house.”
    Gratefully, Melanie surrendered her key. “Thanks for not being mad. You’re terrific!” She looked at Dorsey. “Too bad you can’t see that.”
    To everyone’s surprise, Dorsey burst into tears.
    â€œI know Uncle Edward is great,” he sobbed. “I wish I didn’t have to go to that school!”
    Edward looked at him in surprise. “But you’ve acted like you can’t wait to leave Cliffwalk Manor.”
    â€œI love Cliffwalk Manor,” Dorsey sniffed. “It’s the neatest house I’ve ever seen.”
    Violet spoke up. “I think Dorsey was afraid to tell you because he thought everyone expected him to go to boarding school. He didn’t know how to tell you he wanted to stay here.”
    â€œAnd you didn’t tell him you wanted him to stay,” Jessie said to Edward. “It’s a big misunderstanding.”
    â€œI’ll say!” said Edward. “Dorsey, of course I want you to live with me. If