Gertrude Warner - Mystery in New York

Illustrated by Charles Tang

ALBERT WHITMAN & Company

Morton Grove, Illinois

“There it is! There’s New York,” said twelve-year-old Jessie Alden. She pressed her face to the window of the train to see the famous skyline.

“How do you know?” Henry, her fourteen-year-old brother, teased. He was sitting next to her and he leaned over to look out of the window, too.

Just then, the voice of the conductor crackled over the loudspeaker. “Next stop, New York City.”

“See?” said Jessie.

Both Jessie and Henry laughed.

Behind them in the next row of seats, six-year-old Benny leaned over and whispered to the small dog in the dog carrier on the seat next to him, “We’re almost there, Watch.”

Watch gave a soft bark. Benny smiled and patted the carrier. Then he straightened and turned to look out the window.

Violet Alden, who was sitting between Benny and Grandfather Alden, glanced out of the window over Benny’s shoulder. Then she leaned back and said to her grandfather, “New York is so big .” Violet was ten, and she was a little timid sometimes.

Grandfather Alden patted her hand. “It’s big and interesting and a lot of fun,” he said. “Remember how much you liked it on your first visit?”

Violet nodded. “It was fun,” she said.

“And we solved a mystery, too,” Benny reminded her, turning back around.

“I remember. The mystery of the purple pool,” Violet said. Purple was Violet’s favorite color.

“You liked Mrs. Teague and her daughter, Caryn, too,” Grandfather Alden went on.

“Yes. We had fun when they visited us for the Greenfield dog show,” Violet agreed. She was feeling better now. “I’m glad she invited us to New York to visit her in her new apartment.”

Just then the train entered a tunnel and the city disappeared from view.

“Attention, passengers,” the conductor said. “Please make sure you have all your belongings before leaving the train.”

A few minutes later, the train pulled into Penn Station.

The Aldens took their luggage from the baggage rack above their seats. Henry carried Watch in his dog carrier and they made their way through a maze of corridors to the information booth.

Suddenly Jessie pointed. “Look,” she said. “That man is holding up a sign with our name on it.”

Sure enough, a bearded man in a dark red turban and a neat driver’s uniform was holding up a sign that said ALDEN FAMILY.

“How does he know our name?” Benny asked.

“And why is he wearing that hat?” asked Violet.

“Because he’s a Sikh, Violet, from northern India most likely. New York City has all kinds of people. And he knows our name because he’s here to pick us up. Mrs. Teague arranged it for us. Most taxis in New York will only carry four people, so she arranged for a special car to pick us up, since there are five of us,” said Grandfather.

“Six, counting Watch,” Jessie said.

Grandfather shook hands with the man holding the sign and introduced himself and the Alden children.

“Pleased to meet you,” the man said. “Welcome to New York. The car is this way.” He led the way outdoors to a big dark blue car.

“Are we in New York City now?” asked Benny as they pulled away from the train station. All around them, cars and trucks and buses and taxis swerved and honked. But it didn’t seem to bother the driver.

“Yes, you’re in the Big Apple now,” he said.

Benny eagerly rolled down his window. “Hi!” he cried, waving at the people waiting at the corner.

“Oh, Benny,” Jessie said. “Those people don’t know you.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Henry said. “See? They’re waving back.”

Sure enough, the people who were waiting at the corner for the light to change waved and smiled at Benny. Benny waved harder and held Watch up to look at the people. Watch cocked his head. Several more people waved when they saw Watch, and one woman said, “What a cute dog.”

“He’s smart, too,” Benny called out to her as the car drove away.

“This is Central Park,” the driver said. “Mrs. Teague suggested I take you on the scenic route.”

“Mrs. Teague’s new apartment is in a building,” Grandfather added, “on the Upper West Side.”

The green trees of the park rushed by. Even here, the cars and cabs honked and swerved. Everywhere the Aldens looked they saw people, all different kinds of people.

The cab turned and drove alongside the park. Then it turned again and pulled to a stop in front of a large building. A man stepped out to the curb and opened the car door for them. He wore a gray uniform with gold buttons on the jacket, gold trim on the pockets, and a matching gold-trimmed cap.

“Here we are,” the driver said. He got out to help with the luggage. “Have a good visit to the city,” he told the Aldens, and with a smile he touched his forehead and made a slight bow toward Benny.

“Thank you. We will,” said Benny, and he touched his own forehead and bowed right back.

The driver shook hands with Grandfather. He got into his long blue car and disappeared into the rush of traffic.

Benny looked up at the man in the gray uniform who had opened the car door. “Who are you?”

“I’m Leed,” said the man, without smiling. “I’m the daytime doorman for the building. Six A.M. to two P.M.”

“How do you do?” said Benny.

Mr. Leed didn’t answer. In fact, he looked as if he didn’t approve of Benny talking to him.

“Here. Hold on tightly to Watch’s leash, Benny,” Jessie said.

“I will,” Benny promised. He wound Watch’s leash around his fingers. Watch, who thought he was much bigger than he really was, looked eagerly around, his short tail wagging. New York’s not too big for me , he seemed to say.

“I’m James Henry Alden,” Grandfather said to Mr. Leed. “And this is Henry, Jessie, Violet, Benny, and Watch. We’re here to visit Annabel Teague.”

“Of course,” said the doorman. He was a short, stocky man who wore gold wire-rimmed spectacles. “Mrs. Teague is expecting you.”

Mr. Leed led the way into the lobby to his desk. He picked up a telephone. He dialed and then spoke into the receiver. “The Aldens are here, Mrs. Teague.”

A moment later, he led them across the small lobby to the elevators. “Ninth floor, Apartment D,” he said.

He touched his cap and stepped back.

“Good-bye, Mr. Leed,” said Benny.

Mr. Leed didn’t answer.

When the doors opened on the ninth floor, Mrs. Teague was waiting for them. In her khaki pants and navy cotton pullover sweater, with her red-gold hair pulled back into a bun, she looked almost exactly the same as the last time they had seen her. Mrs. Teague held out her hands, her blue eyes smiling. “Welcome,” she said. “Welcome back to New York!”

Benny gasped as he stepped into the hall and looked past Mrs. Teague. “Uh-oh!” he cried. “What happened?”

In the big room off the hall, sheets covered the furniture. Jagged holes had been punched into the walls. Some of the holes had wires hanging out. Plaster dust coated the room from floor to ceiling. Just then a skinny man with thinning brown hair and a brown mustache came into the room. He was wearing overalls and a painter’s cap that said EVANS’ ELECTRIC and he was carrying a hammer. He was covered with plaster dust from his head to his shoes, He kicked up little clouds of plaster dust as he walked. Even his mustache was coated with white dust.