Free Mystery in the Fortune Cookie by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page A

the phone conversation they’d overheard at the coffee shop!
    “Cold feet?” Benny was wrinkling his face. “What does that mean?”
    “That means having second thoughts about proposing to Dottie,” explained Martin. “Of course, I wasn’t having second thoughts at all. But after all the mix-ups, I did give up on the mystery idea.”
    Violet smiled as she took the cake the waitress handed her. “You know, Lucy, it wasn’t your fault at the ice cream parlor, either,” she pointed out. “You’re not the one who got the cones mixed up.”
    “True,” Martin agreed.
    Lucy managed a weak smile. “I’ve been a nervous wreck all week,” she said. “I wanted so much to impress you, Martin.”
    “Me?” Martin pointed to himself. Then he began to laugh. “Why would you want to impress me?”
    Violet was fairly sure she knew the answer. “Because you figured out that Martin is Drum Keller. Right, Lucy?”
    The waitress looked questioningly at Martin. “Is it true? Are you the famous author?”
    It was obvious by the look on Martin’s face that he was shocked. “Why, no!”
    Lucy looked surprised — and disappointed.
    The Aldens were every bit as surprised as Lucy. They were so sure Drum Keller was someone they knew. And their hunches were usually right.
    Benny was wondering about something else. He hesitated for a minute, then blurted out, “Why did you run away from us at the ice cream parlor, Lucy?”
    After a brief silence, Lucy said, “The truth is, I was afraid you’d ask me a lot of questions about that fortune cookie. So I kept my distance.”
    “Only you changed your mind and followed us, didn’t you?” said Henry.
    Lucy looked embarrassed. “Yes, I did follow you,” she acknowledged. “I wanted to find out if you got Dottie’s fortune cookie by mistake again.”
    Jessie nodded. “I felt someone watching us.”
    “I’m sorry if I frightened you,” Lucy apologized. “I guess I wasn’t thinking straight.”
    Henry turned to Martin. “Something puzzles me, too.”
    “What is it?” Martin took a sip of water.
    “If you gave up on the mystery idea,” said Henry, “then why did you leave the last fortune cookie in The Underground?”
    “I simply forgot all about it, Henry.” Martin shrugged a little. “I’m afraid I wasn’t thinking straight, either.”
    Aunt Jane, who had just come up behind them, said, “What’s this? A celebration of some kind?” As Aunt Jane pulled up a chair, Dottie held up her hand to show off the beautiful ring. “I just can’t believe it,” said Aunt Jane, smiling over at Dottie and Martin’s beaming faces. “This is the best news I’ve heard in a long time.”
    Martin raised his water glass. “I’d like everyone to join me in a toast,” he said. “Fifteen years ago today this fine lady left her hometown of Keller’s Crossing and arrived in Elmford. Let’s drink a toast to my future bride — Dorothy Ruth Ursela May!”
    Jessie’s jaw dropped. Everything suddenly clicked into place. “Oh, my goodness!” she cried, putting her hands to her mouth.
    The others turned to look at her. “What’s the matter, Jessie?”
    “I know the answer to another mystery,” she told them in an awestruck voice.
    “ Another mystery?” Martin asked.
    “I know who Drum Keller is,” Jessie said. She looked right at Dottie Shallum.
    Dottie lowered her eyes.
    Benny looked confused. “But, Jessie, Drum Keller’s a man. Remember?”
    “That’s just what we thought,” Jessie told him.
    Again Dottie seemed to be pretending not to hear. Even Martin was strangely quiet.
    “It all fits,” Jessie went on. “You came to Elmford fifteen years ago, Dottie. That’s when Drum Keller disappeared.”
    “But Jessie — ” began Violet.
    “That’s not all,” Jessie cut in. “The first letters in Dorothy Ruth Ursela May spell — ”
    “DRUM!” Henry cried out, his voice rising with excitement.
    Jessie nodded slowly. “And Keller is from the name of Dottie’s