Before long, the Aldens were walking through thick rows of apple trees. The wind swirled red and yellow leaves around them.
“It’s pretty here,” Violet observed.
“It is,” Benny agreed. “But how are we ever going to hear the ghost with all this wind?”
Henry shook his head and stopped before a group of apple trees with thicker trunks. “These look like the oldest trees in the orchard,” he said. “I think this is where Seymour said some markings would be.”
Indeed, when the Aldens bent down they could see weathered drawings carved into the bark. There was an X, an 0, and a symbol that Henry thought looked like a rough drawing of a sword.
“Maybe the 0 is really an apple,” Violet suggested.
“What does the X stand for?” Benny wanted to know.
Henry shrugged. “Beats me,” he said. “Remember, this was part of a game Seymour’s children used to play.”
“Let’s see if we can’t find the newer markings,” Jessie suggested. “These carvings are pretty faded.”
The Aldens walked alongside the trees, crunching fallen leaves beneath their sneakers. Benny gathered a pile of the leaves in his arms and threw them at Violet. Violet threw some leaves back at Benny. Before long, masses of leaves whirled through the air.
“Looks like you’re having fun,” a voice said.
The Aldens turned to face a tall blond boy who stood grinning at them. “I was just pruning some of these apple trees,” the boy explained as he pointed to the large power saw by his feet. “I work in this orchard part-time after school.”
“Are you Martin?” Jessie asked.
The boy nodded. “I am,” he said. “And you must be the Aldens. Seymour told me you’d be visiting. I’m pleased to meet you.”
“We’re pleased to meet you, too,” Jessie said for all of them.
“We’re looking at these markings on the tree trunks,” Benny informed Martin. “Do you know about them?”
“Oh, those,” Martin said, laughing. “I think they must have been part of a game the Curtis children used to play.”
Benny looked disappointed.
“Are there any other markings like this?” Violet asked.
“I haven’t seen any,” Martin answered. “But then again, I haven’t been looking.”
“What do you know about the ghost?” Benny asked Martin.
Martin laughed. “Well, I’ve heard some rustling in the trees, but I think it’s the sound of an animal, not a ghost.”
“You’ve never seen the ghost?” Benny asked.
“No, I don’t think I have,” Martin answered. “But you know, in most of the ghost stories I’ve read, the ghost never actually appears.”
“It doesn’t?” Benny’s eyes were as round as saucers.
“No.” Martin sounded very sure. “The room, or the area where the ghost is supposed to appear, just gets colder. And lights flicker, that kind of stuff. People sense a ghost is around, but no one ever actually sees it.”
“I never thought of it that way.” Benny sounded much happier. He walked farther into the orchard, and the others followed, including Martin.
Henry was the first to see two markings scratched into the bark of one tree. “These markings look newer!” he exclaimed.
“Why do you think so?” Violet asked as she bent down to look at them more carefully.
“They don’t look as weathered,” Henry answered. “So it’s easier to make out what they are.”
“It’s true,” Jessie agreed. She sat on the ground near Henry. “Here’s a drawing of a sword with a curved blade.”
“That’s interesting,” Henry said. “Do you think this is still part of the game?”
“It could be a message or signal for someone,” Violet suggested.
Jessie’s eyes lit up. “I wonder if the sword that’s missing has a curved blade.”
“Maybe it’s the ghost of Joshua saying he wants that sword,” Benny pointed out.
“Maybe,” Martin said. “But I’ll bet it’s a signal for someone who’s alive today, maybe the burglars who take antiques.” He sounded as excited as Jessie.
“Yes,” Henry agreed. “The message could be that the coast is clear to take a sword with a curved blade.”
“We should tell Seymour right away,” Jessie said. Benny had already turned around to go back to the farmhouse.
The Aldens and Martin had not gotten too far when Veronica stepped out from behind a tree and walked directly into their path.
“Martin, I’ve been looking all over for you.” She sounded angry.
“Oh, hi, Veronica,” Martin said, blushing a little.
“Why weren’t you over by the tree where you said you would be? Do you know how long it’s taken me to find you?”
“Well, Veronica, I—”
Veronica put her hands on her hips. “I’m sure you have a good excuse, as always,” she interrupted.
“Veronica, I was helping the Aldens find some markings on the trees. We think these markings might be a clue — you know, for those burglaries.”
“Oh.” Veronica looked somewhat interested. “Why don’t we take a walk and you can tell me all about it,” Veronica suggested, locking her arm through Martin’s.
“So long,” Martin said, nodding to the Aldens. He looked sorry to be saying good-bye to them. Veronica firmly led Martin away without a word to the Aldens.
“I can’t believe someone as nice as Martin is going out with Veronica,” Jessie muttered as the four walked quickly in the other direction — toward the farmhouse.
“She is so rude to us,” Violet complained. “Did you see how she acted like we weren’t even there?”
“She probably wishes we weren’t around,” Jessie remarked. “If it weren’t for us, Martin would have been waiting for her by the tree.”
“Yeah,” Benny agreed.
“You know,” Henry began, “I wonder how much of our conversation she overheard. I wonder how long she was behind that tree.”
“Do you think she might have been spying on us?” Violet wondered.
“That is just what I was thinking,” Henry admitted.
“Well, did you see the markings?” Seymour wanted to know as soon as the Aldens walked in the door of the farmhouse.
“We sure did,” Jessie said.
“We saw two kinds,” Benny added. “Old ones and new ones. And I bet the new ones were drawn by the ghost.”
“Where were these new markings, exactly?” Seymour wanted to know.
“Near the horse’s pasture,” Violet answered.
“We saw a drawing of a sword with a curved blade on one of the trees. It didn’t look as old and faded as the others,” Henry explained.
“That’s odd,” Seymour said, scratching his chin. “The missing sword has a curved blade.”
“We thought it might,” Henry said, looking excited. “We think it might be a signal.”
“A signal for the burglar,” Seymour said, frowning. “I’d like to see this marking.”
“We’ll lead the way,” Henry said.
Before Seymour and the Aldens could get out the door, they heard Grandfather calling them from the living room. “Look at this!” Grandfather was almost shouting. The Aldens rushed into the living room ahead of Seymour.
They found their grandfather seated in an old armchair by the window, rustling the newspaper, which lay open on his lap.
“Take a look at this story,” Grandfather said as he handed the paper to Henry.
“‘Memories of Yesteryear.’” Henry read the headline aloud while the others peered over his shoulder — all but Benny, who was too short.
“‘Today’s column features a letter that has much to tell us about what life was like in Chassell in the horse-and-buggy days,’” Henry continued reading. Then he gasped.
“What, what’s the matter?” Benny cried.
“This letter is addressed to Joshua Curtis,” Henry said, lowering the paper so Benny could see it.
“Wow, it was written in 1857,” Violet said, looking over Benny’s shoulder.
Seymour put on his spectacles and took a closer look at the paper. “Just as I thought,” he said grimly. “That’s one of Gideon’s letters to Joshua. It’s also one of the letters that was stolen from my desk.”
Henry looked puzzled. “Why did Gideon have a letter addressed to Joshua? Wouldn’t Joshua have that letter?”
“Good question,” Seymour said. “Gideon made copies of every letter he sent. That’s why there’s so much correspondence in this house.”
“I can’t believe that’s one of the stolen letters!” Rose said.
“It is,” Seymour said, a little gruffly. “It’s the letter where Gideon is inviting Joshua to come up for a visit.”
“I don’t think I ever read that letter,” Rose said slowly.
“James, why don’t you read that letter aloud?” Seymour suggested.
Grandfather cleared his throat and read:
15 October 1857
Dear Cousin Joshua,
I regret to have taken so long to answer your letter dated August third. We have been busy here planting & gathering this year’s crop of apples & corn. It is hard to believe that winter approaches as it has been very warm this October.
Sybil is preparing for the winter holidays, & we are hoping you may join us. I know the trip from Virginia is long, but we could arrange to meet you at the train station & bring you to our farm.
I know we must discuss this matter of dividing my father’s sword & armor collection. I have now read his will & diary & see that he wanted me to inherit it. We can discuss this further when I see you.
Sybil, the children, & I so hope you can visit & we await your response.
Your cousin, Gideon
“Does the paper say anything about where they found this letter?” Violet asked.
“Yes, it does,” Henry answered. “The letter was sent to them by a Mrs. Louise Hathaway, head librarian for the Chassell Public Library.”
“I wonder where Louise found that letter,” Rose remarked. “We know her. She would never steal anything from anyone.”
“We should probably pay a visit to the local library tomorrow,” Henry offered. “We can ask her in person.”
“Oh, would you?” Seymour sounded grateful. “I can’t leave the farm tomorrow because I want to supervise the pruning.”
“We’d be glad to go to the library,” Jessie said. “Maybe we can find more clues there.”
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