Haunted Cabin Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B

that far away from us.”
    Violet took her grandfather’s hand and looked up into his face. “Don’t you know that we like doing things for people more than anything?” she asked. “Surely he won’t mind our coming if he knows how much we want to help.”
    Mr. Alden smiled and caught the four of them against him in a big hug. “You win, and so does Cap. I’ll call him from shore and let him know you’re coming. And I’ll depend on you, as always, to come through with flying colors.”
    Within minutes, they were waving from the deck to the tall, white-haired man who saluted them from shore.

CHAPTER 2
    The Double Celebration
    T he boys got their unpacking done before the girls had finished. “Now can we go and explore?” Benny asked, almost jumping up and down with excitement.
    â€œGo on ahead,” Violet told him. “We’re almost through. We’ll meet you up on deck.”
    The cabins were small and shining clean, with two bunk beds in each one. Violet and Jessie unpacked the clothes they would wear on the boat and hung them in a tiny metal closet. After they finished, they went up on deck to look for Henry and Benny.
    One of the ship’s officers was going up the narrow stairs in front of them. “Excuse me, sir,” Jessie said. “Have you seen two boys — a tall one and a short one — come this way?”
    The man only glanced at them before looking away so his face was half hidden. Then he nodded. “I believe you’ll find the Alden boys on the top deck,” he said with no warmth in his voice.
    Violet looked back as she and Jessie climbed the narrow stairs. “How did he know our last name?” she wondered aloud.
    â€œI saw him checking our names off a list when Henry handed in our tickets,” Jessie said. “He looked at Grandfather and us very strangely then.”
    â€œThat’s the second strange thing about that Mr. Jay,” Violet said thoughtfully.
    Jessie looked at the man who was disappearing into the crowd. Then she laughed. “Now you are being mysterious. How did you know his name? And what was the second strange thing about him?”
    In spite of Jessie’s teasing, Violet didn’t even smile. “His name is written on that gold-colored pin he’s wearing,” Violet said. “And didn’t you notice how he wouldn’t look us in the face? It was almost as if he didn’t want us to see what he looked like.”
    Jessie nodded. “You’re right. He’s not at all friendly.”
    Then they were at the top of the stairs. The boys were at the rail looking up at a huge bridge spanning the river.
    â€œI wonder when we’re going to leave,” Benny asked. “I want to see the paddle wheel turn.”
    One of the ship’s officers turned and smiled down at him. “First we’ll have dinner and let it get dark,” he told Benny. “You want to see the fireworks, don’t you?”
    â€œOh, yes,” Benny said. Then he grinned at the man. “But I’m not sure which I like best, dinner or fireworks.”
    Their first meal on board was served on long tables where they all could take what they wanted. Violet’s eyes widened at the huge table of beautiful food. She filled her plate with melon and strawberries, along with chicken, cheese and bread. Benny tried to take at least some of everything, but Jessie talked him into stopping when he started piling on the second layer.
    When they went back up on deck, a tall man with a red mustache and glasses was standing by the rail. “Here,” he said, stepping aside to make room for them. “Take my place. I can see over your heads.”
    Henry thanked him, then stared up at the bridge that crossed the river. “What a great bridge,” he said.
    The man nodded. “It’s called the Eads Bridge,” he said. “It was built back in the nineteenth