The Mystery of Monster Mountain - Carey M. V. - Страница 17

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• 17/23
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“Which brings us to the big question mark,” Pete said. “Is there or is there not a monster on Monster Mountain?”

“I saw something,” said Bob. “I know I saw something, and I’m pretty darn sure it wasn’t a bear. And Jupe saw that footprint.”

Jupiter unzipped his sleeping bag and slipped his shoes off. “If there is a, monster and Joe Havemeyer catches it, things will be very lively around here,” he predicted. “Let’s remember that our clients are Hans and Konrad and our concern is to protect their cousin. Tomorrow, when we get the credit report on Havemeyer and some more information about Jensen, we can talk with Hans and Konrad. They can decide what they want to do, if anything.”

Bob and Pete dropped off quickly that night, but Jupiter Jones was too restless to sleep. He lay awake and listened to the wind and to the small rustlings and scurryings made by wild creatures in the darkness. He thought of the crevice in the earth, and of that incredible naked footprint. He thought of Gabby Richardson and his story of strange beings on the mountain. And he thought of another of Gabby’s tales — his description of Anna charging at a bear, swinging a skillet. Jupe resolved that he would ask Anna in the morning if she had really done such a rash thing.

It was nearly midnight when Jupe rolled over on his stomach and opened the flap of the tent. The Slalom Inn was dark and quiet. A small shadow flitted overhead, lighted on the chimney of the inn, and stayed there for several minutes. Jupe heard a faint hoot. It was an owl.

Jupe blinked. Had he imagined it, or had there been a flicker of light somewhere on the lower floor of the inn? He watched intently. It came again, a moving beam in the living room, beyond the office.

Jupe poked Pete. “Wake up!” he whispered.

“Wha… what’s the matter?” Pete sat up. “More bears?”

“Hey, quiet!” said Bob sleepily.

“Someone’s up at the inn.” said Jupe. “With a flashlight. Look, someone’s gone into Anna’s office.”

Pete and Bob rolled out of their sleeping bags and fumbled in the dark  for their shoes. “Here we go again!” said Pete. “Everybody’s interested in Cousin Anna — or her money or her office.”

The Three Investigators crawled out of their tent and stole across the yard to the office window. It was open, and the boys could see the man who sat in the desk chair, with his back to them. Jensen! He was quietly going through one of Anna’s ledgers, holding his flashlight in one hand. The door between the office and the living room was now closed.

Jensen finished his examination of one ledger and put it aside on the bookcase. He was just reaching for a second book when he stiffened and cocked an ear toward the door. A second later he dived into the kneehole under the desk and snapped off his light.

The Three Investigators ducked down below the window frame. The overhead light in the office clicked on, and the boys heard Joe Havemeyer’s voice.

“You see?” said Havemeyer. “There’s no one here.”

“I heard someone,” said Anna. “I know I heard someone on the stairs, and then the door closed. I think I left the door open. I think… I cannot be sure.”

“You’re imagining things, letting your nerves get the best of you. There’s nothing to worry about. You’re doing beautifully with those two clods from Rocky Beach. Don’t let them get to you. They won’t stay forever.”

“More than a week,” said Cousin Anna. “They will be here for more than a week.”

“I’m keeping them busy, aren’t I? Now take it easy. We’re set, you know, and nothing will go wrong.”

“Nothing had better,” said Cousin Anna. There was an edge to her voice that convinced Jupe that she had driven off marauding bears with a skillet.

The office light snapped off and the door closed. The boys stayed where they were, not moving. After a few minutes they saw the flashlight beam again. Jensen was up from behind the desk. He crossed to the office door, turned off his light, and very quietly left the office.

 “I’ll be darned,” whispered Pete.

Jupe put a warning finger to his lips. The three crept away from the inn and back to their tent

“Did I hear what I thought I heard?” said Pete, when they were safely inside the tent.

“Very, very peculiar,” said Jupiter Jones. “I am not especially surprised that Jensen came down in the middle of the night to search through Anna’s records. We know he’s interested in her money.”

“Right,” said Bob. “Only why should Anna be nervous about Hans and Konrad? Her own favorite cousins.”

“It doesn’t make sense.” Jupe rubbed his forehead. “Nothing makes sense. I’ve never been so bewildered in my life.”

Jupiter awoke to chill morning sunlight and bird song. Pete and Bob were still asleep, so he put on his shoes and got out of the tent without making a sound. He crossed the yard to the back door of the inn, pondering in a groggy, half-awake way on Joe Havemeyer’s words of the night before.

Hans and Konrad were making Anna nervous.

Jupe paused at the foot of the back steps. He heard water running in the sink beyond the open window. Anna must be up, he decided. He could picture her in the kitchen, her thin, capable hands moving surely. They were not the hands of a fearful woman. Anna did things as easily and quickly as Aunt Mathilda. In fact, thought Jupiter, Anna was much like Aunt Mathilda. She even took off her wedding ring before she did dishes, as Aunt Mathilda did when she had been on one of her sporadic diets and her ring was too big for her.

Jupe was about to go into the inn and wish Anna a good morning when the water stopped running.

“Coffee not ready yet?” It was Havemeyer’s voice.

“A few minutes. Don’t be so impatient,” said Anna.

“Don’t you be so jumpy,” warned Havemeyer. “Look, I’ll get Hans and Konrad started working this morning, so they won’t be under your feet. You invite those kids out there to breakfast, and then pack a lunch for them and send them off on a hike someplace. Anyplace but the high meadow. Make sure they don’t head that way.”

“You are now a social director?” asked Anna.

“I don’t want them in the way,” said Havemeyer. “I’m going up the slope for one last try, but I’m not hopeful. If we’re stymied, we’ll have to bluff it at the bank and you’d better be good. So do your homework.”

“I do not want to do it,” protested Anna.

“You’ll do it.” Havemeyer’s voice was rough. “You’ve done harder things, and for less money. You got some stuff for sandwiches for the kids?”

 “I have ham.” Anna’s tone was sulky.

“That’ll do.”

Jupiter Jones backed away from the porch, then cleared his throat loudly and stomped up the steps.

“Good morning,” called Cousin Anna.

Jupiter greeted her brightly and put up only token resistance when she invited him to breakfast. He went upstairs to wash. When he came down again, Bob and Pete had appeared, still tousled from sleep. Jensen and Smathers sat at the table waiting for their breakfast.

The meal was quiet. Each person seemed busy with private thoughts. Cousin Anna was clearing away cups and saucers afterward when she seemed struck by a happy idea.

“You had a good hike yesterday,” she said to the boys. “You should go again today. It is your holiday, and you should have a nice time. I will make you some sandwiches and you can go. There is a good trail from the campground to the fire tower, and I think you should go that way.”

“The fire tower!” said Bob. “Oh, that abandoned one we saw the other day. That must be three or four miles from here.”

Anna nodded. “And high up. From the tower you can see all the valley. Sometimes, when I am not too busy, I go there to be alone and think.”

“Sounds great!” said Jupiter quickly.

Pete opened his mouth to say something, but Jupe kicked him under the table.

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• 17/23
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