Cereal Box Mystery by Charles Tang Page A

I’m thinking?”
    “A party!” Benny crowed. “We can have a party for Grandfather’s birthday.”
    “A surprise party,” Jessie said. “Let’s make it a big surprise.”
    Violet said, “We can invite Soo Lee and Cousin Alice and Cousin Joe.”
    Everyone began to talk at once. They were so excited that they almost forgot about Watch’s surprise.
    Then Jessie said, “Oh, dear. We just passed the pet supply store!”
    They turned their bikes around and walked them back to the pet store. They parked their bikes outside and went in.
    Benny and Violet chose a new red collar for Watch and even ordered him a new tag with his name and address and phone number on it. As they walked out of the store, Benny said, “It’s too bad the tags aren’t shaped like stars. Then Watch could be a detective, too.”
    Ahead of Benny, Jessie stopped so suddenly that Benny bumped into her.
    “Ow!” said Benny.
    “Look out!” Henry said.
    “Police! Stop! Stop, thief!” they heard a voice cry.

CHAPTER 2
The Stolen Rubies
    A police officer raced past the Aldens, almost crashing into Henry. She didn’t even see him.
    The police officer disappeared around the corner.
    The Aldens looked back in the direction from which the officer had come. They saw a man and a woman standing outside an antiques store. The woman pointed and the man waved his arms in excitement.
    “There must have been a robbery,” Jessie said. “Let’s go find out.”
    The Aldens hurried up to the two people outside the store. “What happened?” Jessie asked as they got closer.
    The woman turned. She was a short woman, not much taller than Henry, with round blue eyes and long dark brown hair pulled into a French braid. Strands of hair were sticking out from the braid and one sleeve of her shirt was torn. “A robbery!” she gasped. “I tried to stop him, but he got away. He tore my shirt!”
    “Did the robber wear a mask?” asked Benny.
    The man shook his head. He was a small, thin man wearing thick glasses. “I’m Will Bellows. I own Antique Treasures.” He pointed to the sign above the shop. “This thief was quite bold. He just grabbed something and ran out when I was helping Ms. Smitts here and another customer. Ms. Smitts was very brave. She ran after the thief and caught him right outside the door, but he pulled free.”
    “What did he look like?” asked Henry.
    Ms. Smitts said, “I don’t know . . . it all happened so fast. He wasn’t very tall. But he had a hat pulled low over his forehead and a scarf pulled up around the lower part of his face. He might have had a mustache. He pushed me away and ran.”
    Mr. Bellows couldn’t remember, either. “He stayed in the darkest part of the shop,” he said. “And he kept his shoulders hunched and his face turned away. He had on a tan raincoat and a brown hat, but that’s all I remember. I only noticed the raincoat because it wasn’t raining outside. I thought that it was odd.”
    “What was stolen?” Violet asked.
    Mr. Bellows clapped his hand to his forehead. “The rings!” he said. “I left the tray of rings I was showing to a customer right out on the counter.”
    Turning, Mr. Bellows rushed back into his shop with the Aldens and Ms. Smitts behind him. Inside, they found a small room filled with all kinds of old furniture, lamps, and books. A glass case displayed jewelry. An anxious-looking young man with round wire-rimmed glasses was hovering near one end of the glass case.
    “Did you catch the thief?” the man asked.
    “Not yet,” Mr. Bellows said.
    “Who are you?” Benny asked.
    The man peered at Benny through his glasses and said, “I’m David. David Darden. I’m trying to find an engagement ring.” He blushed slightly. Then he said to Benny, “Who are you?”
    “I’m Benny Alden,” Benny said.
    Meanwhile, Mr. Bellows had hurried over to the blue velvet tray at David’s elbow. “They’re all here,” he said, sounding relieved. “All the rings are still