The Mystery Girl

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

  The children and Aunt Jane walked over to the counter and put their things on it. Nancy and her customer came over at the same time. Nancy looked very happy when she saw the curtain material all measured and cut. “Oh, thank you,” she said. “That was a big help. I’ll be with you in just a minute.”

  Nancy wrapped up the customer’s gardening gloves and tools. Then she stared at the cash register and bit her lip.

  “What’s the matter, Nancy?” Jessie asked.

  “It’s silly,” Nancy said, “but I keep forgetting how to work this cash register. The others stores I’ve worked in had more modern ones.”

  “The hardware store where I worked had this kind,” Henry said. “I’ll be glad to show you again.”

  Henry rang up the sale, took the money from the customer, and made change. Nancy watched him closely. While they were doing that, Violet helped Benny weigh the candy on the scale, and Jessie and Aunt Jane figured out how much money the curtain material would cost. Henry took the money for everything, and made change again.

  “Thank you,” Nancy said. “I’m sure I won’t forget next time.”

  “What other kinds of stores have you worked in?” Henry asked Nancy as she was putting their things in a bag.

  “What do you mean?” Nancy looked confused.

  Henry and Jessie looked at each other. They both remembered that Nancy had just talked about working in other stores with more modern cash registers.

  Nancy noticed them looking at her and laughed nervously. She said quickly, “This is my first full-time job. I’m nineteen and I just finished high school a year ago.”

  “Oh, then the others must have been after-school jobs,” Henry said.

  “That’s right, they were!” Nancy replied.

  “What kinds of jobs?” Benny asked.

  “Oh, gosh, there were so many, it’s hard to remember them all.” Nancy was twisting the bag holding the Aldens’ things. Suddenly, she dropped it. As she bent to pick it up, Henry and Jessie looked at each other again. Nancy seemed very nervous. Why didn’t she want to talk about the other jobs she’d had?

  When Nancy put the bag on the counter, Benny said, “You must like to work if you’ve had so many jobs.”

  “Maybe Nancy worked to help out with expenses,” Aunt Jane suggested.

  “That’s right,” Nancy said, looking relieved. “My family doesn’t have a lot of money, and I always took jobs to help out.”

  “Do you still live at home?” Jessie said.

  Nancy shook her head. “No, I’m on my own now,” she answered.

  “We were on our own once, too,” Henry said. He told Nancy about their parents and described the boxcar they had lived in. “The boxcar was fun,” he said, “but I’m glad we live with Grandfather now.”

  “He moved the boxcar to his backyard for us,” Violet said. “We still have picnics in it sometimes.”

  “Does your family live near Elmford, Nancy?” Jessie asked.

  Nancy looked nervous again. “They live far away, in another state.”

  “Gosh, you must miss them,” Benny said.

  Nancy blushed and looked down at the counter. “I do,” she said softly. Then she looked up and smiled. “But being on my own is fun, like you said, Henry.”

  “Where do you live?” Violet asked.

  “In one of Mr. Taylor’s cabins,” Nancy told her. “Even though it’s small, it’s very comfortable.”

  Just then, Jerry Taylor came out of his office. He looked worried again.

  “Oh dear,” said Aunt Jane. “It looks like Jerry still hasn’t found anyone else to work here.”

  “What happened, Mr. Taylor?” Nancy asked as he came over to the counter.

  “Well, the woman who called wanted the job,” Mr. Taylor said. “But she only wanted to work for a month or so.” He sighed. “I need someone who’s willing to stay on.”

  “I’m sure you’ll find somebody soon,” Aunt Jane said.

  “I hope so,” Jerry said. “This isn’t a big store, but it still takes a lot of work. Nancy can’t do it all by herself, and I don’t always have time to help out.”

  “Do you have more people coming about the job?” Jessie asked.

  “Yes, I do, thank goodness,” Jerry said. “I put an ad in the newspaper and people will be coming to see me all week.” He smiled at Jessie. “Why did you ask?”

  “I’ll bet I know why!” Violet said excitedly. “Jessie thinks we could work here until you find someone. Isn’t that right, Jessie?”

  “That’s exactly what I was thinking,” Jessie said. “You must be a mind reader, Violet.”

  Mr. Taylor looked too surprised to say anything. But Nancy was excited. “It’s a wonderful idea, Mr. Taylor,” she said. “They’ve already helped out. Henry took care of a customer when I was too busy, and Jessie cut the material, and—”

  “And Violet showed me how to use the scale,” Benny interrupted. “Now I can do it myself.”

  “We can do other things for you, too,” Henry said to Mr. Taylor. “Sweep out the store, and put prices on things.”

  “I could make signs if you need them,” Violet said, smiling shyly at Mr. Taylor. “I like to do that.”

  “And she’s good at it, too,” Jessie said.

  “Violet’s the best,” Benny added admiringly.

  Mr. Taylor scratched his head. “It’s nice of you to offer. I’m very grateful. But I just don’t know,” he said doubtfully. He looked at Aunt Jane. “What do you think about this?”

  Aunt Jane smiled. “I think you couldn’t find four better helpers anywhere,” she said.

  “Well . . . ” Mr. Taylor scratched his head again. “It sure would take a big worry off my mind,” he said. “Of course, you can’t go back and forth to Elmford every day. That would take too much time.”

  “We could stay in one of your cabins, just like Nancy does,” Jessie said.

  Mr. Taylor laughed. “That’s just what I was going to suggest, Jessie. You can stay in the cabin next to mine, that way I can keep an eye on you. Your aunt can come by from time to time to make sure everything’s all right.”

  “Then you’ll let us work here?” Benny asked.

  Mr. Taylor laughed again. “You’re hired, Benny,” he said. “All four of you.”

  “You won’t regret it,” Aunt Jane said. She picked up the bag of curtain fabric and turned to the Aldens. “We’d better drive back to Elmford now so you can pack some things.”

  “And call Grandfather,” Violet said.

  “Right,” Henry agreed. “Wait until he hears we’re going to be working at a general store and living in a cabin!”

  “Your grandfather won’t mind, will he?” Mr. Taylor asked anxiously.

  “Oh, no,” Jessie told him. “He’s used to us doing things like this.”

  “Like what?” Nancy asked.

  “Having adventures,” Benny said as they walked toward the front door. “You’ll see, Nancy. The four of us are always having great adventures!”

  CHAPTER 4

  The Aldens Go to Work

  When the Aldens got back to Aunt Jane’s house, they called Grandfather and told him about working in Mr. Taylor’s store and staying in one of his cabins. Grandfather thought it was a fine idea.

  “Jane told me all about Mr. Taylor,” he said to Jessie on the phone. “She says he’s a good friend.”

  “I’m glad we can help him,” Jessie said.

  Grandfather chuckled. “I might have known the four of you would find something special to do while you’re away.”

  “It will be fun,” Jessie said. She laughed. “Benny really likes Mr. Taylor’s store, especially the candy.”

  Grandfather chuckled again. “Tell him not to eat too much of it,” he said. “And have a wonderful time.”

  When everyone had spoken to Grandfather, they quickly packed some clothes to take back with them. Mr. Taylor had told them that the cabins were stocked with bedding and towels and cooking things, so they didn’
t need to take any of that. But Benny made sure to pack his favorite cup, the cracked pink one that he had found when they lived in the boxcar.

  “This is going to be almost like living in the boxcar again,” Violet said as Aunt Jane drove them back to the general store.

  “Yes, except this time we won’t be hiding,” Jessie said. “Remember how scared we were that someone would find us and tell Grandfather about us?”

  “We thought he was so mean,” Henry laughed. “Were we ever wrong!”

  When they reached the general store, Jerry Taylor came out with the key to their cabin. “I’m on one side of you, and Nancy’s cabin is on the other,” he said, pointing. “All the other cabins are empty right now, except for the one at the far end of the row.”

  “Who’s staying there?” Henry asked.

  “A Mrs. Edwards,” Mr. Taylor said. He looked around. “Her car’s not here now, I guess she’s out. In fact, I don’t see her very often. She comes in the store once in a while, but she never buys a thing.”

  “Maybe she’s the woman we saw this morning,” Henry said. “Benny thought it was strange that she didn’t come out of your store with a bag full of candy.”

  “It was strange,” Benny said. “Your candy’s great, Mr. Taylor. How could anybody resist it?”

  Jerry Taylor laughed. “Maybe you can ask Mrs. Edwards if you see her, Benny.” He handed the cabin key to Jessie. “I’m afraid I can’t take the time to show you the cabin right now,” he said. “Nancy’s all alone in there with four customers. But if you need anything, be sure to let me know later.”

  “Don’t worry,” Jessie said. “I’m sure everything will be fine.”

  “We’ll put our things away and be ready to work real soon,” Henry said. He gestured to the others. “Come on, let’s go see our cabin!”

  Carrying their duffel bags, the Aldens and Aunt Jane walked down the path and stopped in front of the second cabin. It was made of weathered boards, like the general store, and it had a small porch with two old rocking chairs on it.

  Violet stooped down beside the wooden front step and pointed to a small patch of flowers growing there. “Look. Wild violets.”

  “Your favorite flower,” Jessie said with a smile. “Just like the ones on the wallpaper in your room at Grandfather’s. You’re going to feel right at home here.”

  “I think we’re all going to feel at home,” Henry said. He had already opened the door and looked inside. “Come and see.”

  The front part of the cabin was a big room with a huge stone fireplace on one wall. Near the fireplace were a couch, two chairs and a table. The stove and refrigerator and sink were on the other side of the room, and a round pine table and chairs were nearby.

  There were two doors at the back. One led to the bathroom. The other opened into a small room with bunk beds in it.

  “Wow!” Benny shouted, climbing up the ladder to the top bunk. “I want to sleep up here! Is that okay with everybody?”

  “It’s fine with me,” Jessie called from the front room. “Violet just discovered that the couch opens up into a bed. We’ll sleep here.”

  “It’s fine with me, too,” Henry said, joining Benny in the bedroom. “Just don’t dangle your feet in my face in the morning.”

  Benny laughed and hung his legs over the side of the bed. Henry backed up and Benny slid onto his shoulders. Stooping low through the door, Henry carried Benny back into the front room and set him down. Then everyone quickly put their food and clothes away.

  “I wonder why Nancy said her cabin was small,” Henry said as they went out the front door. “Hers doesn’t look any smaller than ours. And ours is plenty big for the four of us.”

  Benny kicked a small rock along the path and chased after it. “Come on!” he called back over his shoulder. “Mr. Taylor said Nancy was really busy. Let’s hurry and help her!”

  The Aldens said good-bye to Aunt Jane, who told them she’d drive out to see them in a day or two. Then they went into the store.

  “We’re ready to work,” Henry said to Mr. Taylor. “Tell us what to do.”

  “There’s only one customer right now, and Nancy is helping her,” Mr. Taylor said. He looked around the store. “The gardening tools need straightening out,” he said. “One of the other customers didn’t put anything back.”

  “Violet and I will do that,” Jessie said.

  “Good,” Mr. Taylor said. “Henry and Benny, why don’t you come back to the storeroom with me? A new shipment of sweatshirts and jeans just arrived. You can help me unpack them.”

  Mr. Taylor, Henry, and Benny went into the storeroom. Jessie and Violet straightened out the gardening tools. When they finished, they looked around for something else to do and saw Nancy Baldwin holding a big, heavy bolt of cloth.

  “Am I glad to see you!” Nancy cried. “You see that woman by the counter?” she asked, lowering her voice. “She’s waiting for me to cut five yards of this for her and I’m having trouble unrolling it. Jessie, you and Violet did it so easily this morning. Maybe you could help me.”

  “We’ll be glad to,” Jessie said. She and Violet took the bolt of cloth and hung it back up on its hooks. Then they unrolled it and measured it out on the yardstick that was nailed to the shelf below.

  “Oh, that’s how you do it!” Nancy said in surprise. “I didn’t notice that yardstick before.” She laughed as she cut the cloth with a pair of scissors. “I’ve never worked in a fabric store. I guess that’s why I got confused.”

  “You’ll be able to do it from now on,”Jessie said. She folded the material and handed it to Nancy.

  But Nancy didn’t go over to the counter right away. She stayed where she was, nervously rubbing her hands on the folded material.

  “What’s wrong, Nancy?” Jessie asked.

  Nancy blushed. “This is embarrassing,” she said. “But I still have trouble working that cash register.”

  “I watched Henry do it this morning,” Jessie said. “I think I remember how.”

  Jessie did remember. A few minutes later, the customer happily left the store.

  Nancy thanked Jessie and Violet. “I guess I must seem stupid to you,” she said. “I like Mr. Taylor so much, and I want to do well. But when the store is busy, I get nervous and forget things.”

  “You don’t seem stupid at all,” Violet said. “It’s easy to make mistakes when you’re nervous.”

  “And don’t keep thanking us for helping you,” Jessie added. “That’s what we’re here for.” But she remembered what Nancy had said about working in so many stores. Surely some of those stores had gotten busy, too. Jessie couldn’t help wondering why Nancy got so nervous and was having so much trouble in Mr. Taylor’s store.

  It was a busy afternoon. Mr. Taylor interviewed two more people, but neither one of them took the job. He decided to have a sale on gardening tools and seeds. Violet made a sign for it. On a big piece of white cardboard she drew a picture of a man and woman working in a flower garden. Underneath, she printed the words, Sale—Garden Tools and Seeds in big green letters.

  “That is the best sign I’ve ever had,” Mr. Taylor said admiringly. “It’s too good to keep in here. I’m going to nail it outside on the porch. That way, people driving by will see it.”

  When Mr. Taylor came back in after hanging up the sign, he showed Jessie and Henry how to put price tags on the new sweatshirts and jeans.

  As Jessie and Henry were putting the clothes on the shelves, Mr. Taylor looked through the socks. “Hmm,” he said, frowning. He looked around and saw Nancy. She was getting ready to put some potatoes on the scale for a customer. “Nancy,” he said, “did you sell some socks earlier?”

  “Socks?” Nancy asked nervously. “I . . . I don’t think so.”

  “Well, anyway, I’d better order some more,” Mr. Taylor said. “I thought I had ten pairs left. But I only have seven.” He chuckled. “You must have sold them and just forgotten about it, Nancy.”

  When he said that, Nancy dro
pped the handful of potatoes. Jessie and Henry glanced at each other. They couldn’t understand why Nancy would get so upset about three pairs of socks.

  The potatoes were rolling all over the floor. “I’ll get them!” Benny shouted. Laughing, he chased down every potato. He had such a good time that everyone in the store laughed with him.

  Nancy laughed, too, but she looked embarrassed. “I’m such a butterfingers sometimes,” she said. She told the customer to choose some new potatoes. Then she asked Benny if he could weigh them himself.

  “I’m pretty sure I can,” Benny said. He piled the potatoes on the scale and looked at the arrow. “Four pounds,” he said. “Isn’t that right?”

  “Exactly right,” said the customer.

  “And potatoes are twenty cents a pound,” Nancy said.

  Benny started to count on his fingers. Then he stopped. “I can’t multiply yet,” he said.

  “That’s all right, young man,” said the customer, smiling. “It comes to eighty cents.” She handed Benny the money and left the store.

  Henry came over and patted Benny on the shoulder. “Good work,” he said. “Can you use the cash register, too?”

  “Not yet,” Benny said. “Would you show me how, Nancy?”

  Nancy laughed nervously. “Why don’t you let Henry show you?” she said. “He’s better at it than I am. In fact, maybe Henry should ring up all sales while he’s working here.”

  “That’s fine with me,” Henry said. He opened the cash register.

  Across the room, Violet and Jessie watched Benny put the money into the register drawer. “Benny is having a good time working here,” Violet said to Jessie.

  Jessie didn’t answer. She was looking at Nancy.

  “Jessie, what are you thinking?” Violet asked.

  “I think we should invite Nancy to have dinner with us tonight,” Jessie said. “I like her a lot, don’t you?”

  “Yes. She’s so friendly and she laughs a lot,” Violet said. “But you were thinking something else, too, weren’t you?”

  “Yes, I was,” Jessie said. She lowered her voice, “Violet, maybe I’m imagining it. But it seems like Nancy doesn’t know anything about working in a store.”