The Mudhole Mystery by Beverly Lewis Page B

called. He ran down the street.
    Dunkum was determined. He wanted the lumpy bump out of the mudhole. The lump with the gleaming gold object!
    For a moment, he relaxed his grip and stood up. It felt good to stretch his legs. But he wasn’t happy. He frowned at the mudhole.
    Dunkum knew one thing for sure. He wasn’t going home till the mudhole let go!

    Soon, the rest of the Cul-de-sac Kids showed up.
    Abby Hunter took one look at Dunkum. She shook her head. “Yuck, what a mess,” she said.
    â€œI told you it was icksville,” Stacy said. She was still holding Croaker.
    Abby and her little sister, Carly, stared at Dunkum. And at the mudhole.
    â€œDoes Mr. Tressler know you’redigging in his yard?” Carly asked.
    Dunkum turned around. He glanced at Mr. Tressler’s back porch. “I’ve been digging here for years.”
    â€œWell, you ought to ask first,” Carly said. Her blond curls danced.
    â€œDon’t be bossy,” Abby scolded.
    Shawn and Jimmy Hunter ran over to the mudhole.
    â€œWe help, yes?” Shawn said. He and Jimmy were still learning English. It was hard because they were born in Korea. They were Abby and Carly’s adopted brothers.
    Dunkum shook his head. “I could use some serious help here. Anyone have a rope?”
    â€œI not,” Jimmy Hunter said.
    Abby had an idea. “Let’s make a human chain.”
    Eric Hagel chuckled. “Where’s my camera?”
    The kids laughed.
    Stacy looked around. “Where’d Jason go?”
    â€œI’m coming!” he shouted. Jason was dragging a big shovel.
    â€œAll right!” Dunkum said. “Now maybe we can solve the mudhole mystery.”

FOUR
    Jason came running. He plopped the shovel down and pushed it into the mudhole.
    Dunkum and Shawn clawed at the dirt with their hands. Eric and Jimmy pushed piles of mud away.
    Dee Dee Winters watched as she held her cat. “Mister Whiskers wants to help, too,” she said.
    Suddenly, Dee Dee’s cat laid eyes on Croaker. Mister Whiskers meowed and spit at the bullfrog.
    â€œAw, kitty, that’s not nice,” Dee Dee scolded.
    Stacy hid Croaker under her jacket. “I guess cats and frogs don’t mix,” she said.
    Dee Dee finally got her cat settled down. She stood beside Abby and Carly and watched the boys dig. They were making an even bigger mess.
    â€œWow! Look at that!” Carly shouted.
    Something big was coming out of the mudhole. It was half in, half out. The mystery lump was a square box.
    â€œWhat can it be?” Abby said.
    â€œWe’re gonna find out!” Jason hollered.
    Dunkum and Jason were still kneeling in the mudhole.
    â€œIt’s almost out,” Jason said.
    â€œLet’s pull the box out together,” Dunkum suggested.
    Abby and Carly grabbed Dunkum’s arms.
    â€œI’m ready!” Carly shouted.
    â€œMe too,” Abby said, grinning.
    Stacy and Dee Dee decided not to help. They were trying to end a frog and cat war. Besides, they didn’t want to get dirty.
    Mister Whiskers kept hissing at Croaker.
    Dee Dee tried to make her cat behave. She even promised him a new litter box. “Just be nice, OK?”
    Mister Whiskers played dumb.
    â€œI’ll make it a blue litter box,” Dee Dee said. “How’s that?”
    Meow .
    Mister Whiskers was spoiled rotten.
    â€œShow time!” Dunkum called to his friends.
    Eric held on to Dunkum’s belt loops.
    Shawn gripped Jason’s T-shirt.
    Little Jimmy latched on to Shawn’s back pocket.
    â€œOn the count of three, we’ll lift it out,” Dunkum said.
    The boys hollered, “One . . . two . . . three!”

FIVE
    The boys pushed and pulled. They forced and twisted.
    With a mighty heave, the mudhole sneezed.
    AH-AH-AAARGA-CHOOO!
    Out flew a square box.
    The kids fell backward. Then they saw the old chest.
    â€œWow!” said Abby. She crept close to the muddy chest.