Ghost in the First Row by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B

Aunt Jane went on. “That’s why she left her money to the town—on one condition.”
    At this, the children were curious. “What was the condition?” Henry wondered.
    “That a contest be held every summer. The winner would get a cash award,” said Aunt Jane, “and the winning play would be performed at the Trap-Door Theater.”
    “Cool!” said Benny.
    “The winner this year is a local college student, Tricia Jenkins. And from what I hear, she can really use the money.”
    “Oh?” Henry asked.
    “Yes, apparently Tricia’s putting herself through school,” Aunt Jane told them. “She earns extra money working at her computer. They say she’s an expert typist.”
    “So, it’s Tricia’s play we’ll be seeing on opening night?” Jessie wondered.
    “Yes.” Aunt Jane nodded. “And I’m really looking forward to it. The judges were all very impressed that someone so young could write such a fine play.”
    “Then it’s bound to be a big hit,” Henry concluded.
    “We’re keeping our fingers crossed, Henry. Nobody wants the theater to close down again,” said Aunt Jane.
    “Well, guess what, Aunt Jane?” Benny piped up. “I’m going to clap extra hard at the end of the play—just in case.”
    “In case what, Benny?” asked Henry, looking over his shoulder.
    “In case the theater really is haunted,” said Benny. “The clapping will drown out all the booing from the ghosts.”
    “That’s a good one, Benny,” Henry said, as everyone burst out laughing.

CHAPTER 2
The Haunted Theater
    The Aldens drew in their breath as they pulled up in front of the Trap-Door Theater.
    “Oh, it looks wonderful!” said Violet, as they climbed out of the car. She gazed admiringly at the stone building with its marble columns.
    Henry let out a low whistle. “Awesome.”
    Aunt Jane looked pleased. “See those stone lions on either side of the ticket window? We thought they were lost forever,” she said.

    “But then, one of the workmen came across them in a dark corner of the basement.”
    “That was lucky,” said Benny.
    “Yes, they were quite a find,” Aunt Jane said, with a big smile. “Now the theater looks just like it did when it was first built.”
    “They really did a great job,” said Jessie.
    Aunt Jane agreed. “It’s like stepping back in time,” she said. “In fact, the mayor’s planning to arrive by horse and buggy on opening night.”
    Henry’s eyebrows shot up. “Wow, he’s really getting into the spirit of things.”
    “Oh, yes,” said Aunt Jane. “This is the biggest thing that’s happened to Elmford in a long time.”
    Benny tilted his head back to look up at the sign above the doorway. “What does that say?” he wanted to know. The youngest Alden was just learning to read.
    Jessie read the words on the billboard aloud. “Lady Chadwick’s Riddle —Starring Fern Robson.”
    “You’re not throwing your money away on tickets, are you?” Everyone whirled around as a middle-aged man with a mustache walked towards them. He was wearing a business suit, and his dark hair was slicked back.
    “Hello, Gil,” Aunt Jane greeted him. “We were just checking out the theater.” She introduced the children to Gil Diggs, the owner of the local movie theater.
    “If you ask me, Alice wasted her money on this place.”
    Aunt Jane stared at Gil in surprise. “I think the Trap-Door Theater does the town proud.”
    “It’s just a matter of time before they close it down again,” Gil said, shaking his head. As he walked away, he called back over his shoulder, “Mark my words!”
    “He doesn’t seem very happy about the theater,” said Benny.
    “Gil has a lot on his mind these days,” Aunt Jane explained. “It makes him seem a bit grumpy sometimes. You see, his movie theater hasn’t been doing well lately.”
    Violet asked, “Why’s that, Aunt Jane?”
    “They opened a huge movie complex on the highway, Violet. Some of Gil’s customers go there now. And on top of that, a