Gertrude Warner - The Comic Book Mystery

“You bought the comic from a dealer named Al Conrad,” said Sid. “Maybe he is part of the counterfeiting scheme. I’ve been to lots of conventions, but I’ve never heard of Al Conrad.”

“There’s a big comic book convention this Friday in Hartford,” Henry remarked. “I bet he’ll be there.”

“I bet so, too,” said Sid. “I’m going to the convention to give a talk about my work. I’m also auctioning off a piece of original Captain Fantastic art for charity. I really want this case solved. If my young fans find out they own a fake comic, they might think I’m behind the scam.”

“Maybe only one fake comic was made,” Violet suggested.

Sid shook his head. “Not very likely. It’s expensive to produce a comic book and only print one or two copies.”

“Do you think Al Conrad is involved?” Henry asked.

“I suppose he could be, but there’s no way to tell right now,” said Sid. “Besides,” he added, “all of us in the comic book world — artists, dealers, fans — try to get along as much as possible. I can’t very well point the finger at Al if I don’t have evidence.”

Finishing his lunch, Sid changed the subject. “I’m delivering the new issue of Captain Fantastic to my publisher tomorrow. Would you like to see it?”

“Oh, boy!” Benny said eagerly. “Would we!”

Sid Hoyt showed them the final illustrations, including the last page still taped to his drawing table. Notes in the margins referred to colors.

“It looks like a neat story,” Benny told Sid. “It’ll be even better in color.”

“The drawings are great,” Violet said admiringly.

“Violet’s an artist, too,” said Henry.

“We’ll have to chat sometime,” Sid said to her. “I’d like to know what kind of art you like to do best.”

Violet blushed. A real artist was interested in her work!

Sid unzipped a big leather case and slipped the drawings inside plastic pockets on either side of the case.

“Why don’t you come with me to the publishing house tomorrow when I deliver the new comic. I’ll give you a tour of the place.”

“Would you really?” breathed Benny.

“You live in Greenfield. It’s on the way to ABC Comics,” said Sid. “I’ll pick you up.”

“I’ll write down our address,” Jessie said, fishing for paper in her purse. “You don’t know how much this means to us. It’s just—”

“Fantastic!” Benny finished for her.

Everyone laughed.

Henry checked his watch. “We’d better be leaving if we’re going to catch the afternoon bus back to Greenfield.”

“Would you like me to give you a lift to the bus station?” Sid offered. “It’s no trouble.”

“No, thanks,” Henry said. “We have plenty of time and we enjoy walking. Thanks again for everything.”

“I’ll be at your house tomorrow at ten,” Sid said.

“We’ll be ready,” Violet told him.

The children said good-bye, then left Sid’s house. The cats, Batman and Robin, were napping under an azalea bush in the garden.

“Isn’t he a nice man?” Violet said. “I liked his wife, too.”

“I hope we can help catch the comic book counterfeiter,” said Henry.

Jessie, who was walking behind the others, kept glancing over her shoulder. The trees grew close to the sidewalk. Their long branches reached out like giants’ arms.

She shivered, even though it was warm outside.

Violet noticed. “What is it?”

“I feel like we’re being watched,” Jessie said nervously.

“Do you see anybody?” asked Benny, looking around.

Jessie shook her head. “Not with all these trees— ”

A loud boom interrupted her. The children jumped.

“It’s just a car backfiring,” Henry reassured them. “Probably that old clunker there.”

A beat-up blue station wagon drove slowly along the road, causing traffic to back up. A white pickup passed the station wagon with a roar of impatience.

Benny watched the white pickup go by. He paid attention to cars. Where had he seen that white pickup before?

“Whew!” Jessie said, fanning her face. “One of those cars is blowing a lot of smoke.”

“It must have a hole in its muffler,” Henry said knowledgeably. “That’s why it’s so noisy. Hey guys, we’d better hurry or we’ll miss the bus.”

They got to the bus station just in time. After settling into some seats across from each other, they discussed their new case.

“The note said the fake Sid is trying to get the original of number nine,” Henry said. “Only, I’m not sure about the word original. Are the counterfeiters trying to find a real copy of number nine?”

Jessie shook her head. “I don’t think so. The counterfeit artist has one already. He needed something to copy, after all, while he was drawing the fake comic book.”

Violet spoke up. “Remember when Sid showed us the pieces of art he was going to bring to the comic book convention? He called it ‘original art.’ It was the very piece that he drew and painted himself, not just a copy of it.”

“And that’s why the counterfeiter wants it!” Jessie said suddenly.

“Wants what?” said Benny.

“The drawings that Sid showed us — the originals. They’re the only evidence that the fake Sid copied the comic book and copied it wrong,” said Jessie. “The secret signature is the proof.”

“And if they get rid of the drawings, nobody will be able to prove that the counterfeiters did anything wrong,” said Henry.

“When will the counterfeiter try to steal it from Sid?” Violet wondered.

“We’ll have to stay on alert,” said Jessie.

“We’ll be ready for anything! Just like Captain Fantastic!” said Benny.

“He’s here!” Benny said excitedly, letting the curtain drop back from the living room window. He had been watching for Sid to arrive since breakfast.

“Benny,” said Mrs. McGregor. “It’s not polite to press your nose against the window.” The housekeeper straightened the drape.

“I know, but I couldn’t wait for Sid to get here,” said Benny.

When the doorbell rang, Mrs. McGregor answered it.

“Nice to see you again, Sid,” she said. “Please come in.”

Grandfather and the children entered the living room to greet their guest.

James Alden introduced himself. “It’s very nice of you to take my grandchildren to the publishing house today. They have talked of nothing else.”

“I’m glad to have such enthusiastic fans,” said Sid. He turned to the children. “Are we ready to go?”

“I’ve been ready for hours !” said Benny, grabbing his jacket and heading out the door first.

After everyone was buckled into Sid’s dark green van, Sid pulled out of the driveway and onto the main road.

“How far is it to the comic book place?” Benny asked.

“About forty-five minutes,” Sid replied.

“We were wondering how you became a comic book artist,” Henry said.

“I used to doodle as a kid,” said Sid. “I drew cartoons about a funny little character I made up. Then I put the cartoons in a book. Other kids saw it and wanted copies.”

The long drive passed quickly as Sid told the Aldens about how he kept drawing as a teenager and later went to art school.

“After art school, I got a job at ABC Comics, the comic book publishing house we’re going to,” he said. “I was hired as a ‘cleanup’ person.”