Mystery at the Crooked House by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page A

“You are a hard worker. And you’re always friendly to everyone!”
    Henry looked pleased. “What about Violet’s handwriting?” he asked.
    “Hmmm.” Jessie took another look. “Well, I can see some fancy swirls. That’s a sign of a person who’s artistic ... and helpful, too,” Jessie concluded.
    “You do like to draw pictures, Violet,” observed Benny. “And you’re good at it!” he added.
    Just then the back door of the house opened. Mrs. McGregor came out carrying a tray. There were four cups of steaming hot chocolate and a plate of chocolate chip cookies on it.
    “Oh, boy!” cried Benny. “How did you know I was hungry, Mrs. McGregor?”
    Mrs. McGregor broke into a smile as she came along the shoveled walkway. “Just a hunch, Benny.” She set the tray down on the tree stump that was the boxcar’s front step. “Besides,” she added, “what could be better on a cold winter’s day than hot chocolate with marshmallows?”
    Benny reached out for his special cup. It was the cracked pink cup he had found when they were living in the boxcar. “I love hot chocolate with marshmallows in it!” he said. But when he looked down, he gasped in surprise.
    “What is it?” asked Jessie, who often acted like a mother to her younger brother and sister. “What’s wrong, Benny?”
    “The ... the marshmallows!” cried Benny. “These are the funniest-looking marshmallows I ever saw!”
    “Why, whatever do you mean?” asked Mrs. McGregor.
    “Well, they look just like mushrooms!” said Benny.
    And sure enough, mushrooms were floating in their hot chocolate!
    “Oh—oh, my!” cried Mrs. McGregor. “How could I have made such a mistake?” Then she slapped a hand against her cheek. “Don’t tell me ... Oh, my goodness! I must have put the marshmallows in the stew!” And with that, Mrs. McGregor rushed back to the house.
    The Alden children stared after her in amazement. Henry was shaking his head. “That’s not like Mrs. McGregor,” he said.
    “No, it’s not,” agreed Jessie. “But she hasn’t been acting like herself at all lately. I spoke to her twice today and she didn’t answer. She seemed to be deep in thought.”
    “Mrs. McGregor must be worried about something,” said Violet. “I think we should find out what’s wrong. Maybe we can help.” “Well, what are we waiting for?” cried Benny. Forgetting all about food, he went racing along the walkway with his brother and sisters close behind.
    Whatever was wrong with Mrs. McGregor, the Aldens were determined to set it right!

CHAPTER 2
The Crooked House at Riddle Lake
    After hanging their jackets on the coat tree by the door, the Aldens struggled out of their boots and went looking for Mrs. McGregor. They found her in the living room. She was sitting in the green satin chair by the window. At her feet was a wicker basket filled with their old clothes.
    “Oh, dear!” she said as Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny came into the room. “I meant to make another pot of hot chocolate for you.”
    “That’s okay, Mrs. McGregor,” said Henry as he sat down on the couch. “We didn’t come in for hot chocolate.”
    Mrs. McGregor went back to her work. She was making a braided rag rug. For the last week, she had been tearing their old clothing into long, thin strips, which she braided together. Then she wrapped the braids around and around and stitched them in place to form a circle.
    “What a great way to recycle our old clothes!” said Violet, who was standing by Mrs. McGregor’s chair. “It’s fun watching the circle grow bigger every day.”
    “And it has every color of the rainbow in it,” said Jessie. “Watch will love it.”
    Mrs. McGregor smiled. “The rug will have something from each of the Alden children in it,” she said. “What could be better than that?”
    Benny was warming his hands by the fire. “Maybe when it’s finished, we can put the braided rag rug in the boxcar.”
    “Yes,” agreed Violet. “That’ll