Mystery in the Fortune Cookie by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B
Authors: Gertrude Chandler Warner
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breath.
The Aldens and Aunt Jane looked at Martin, then in the direction he was staring. Sure enough, a customer was standing in a far corner, half-hidden in the shadows.
“Maybe I can hurry him along,” Martin said. Then, clearing his throat, he called out, “Sorry, sir, but those particular books are for display only!”
The customer didn’t seem to hear what Martin had said. The man’s hands were behind his back, and his legs were wide apart. He appeared to be deep in thought as he stared at the old books inside a cabinet with shiny glass doors. Then, as if feeling everyone’s eyes on him, he suddenly looked over.
“What was that?” he asked.
“Just thought I’d mention, the books in that cabinet are for display only.”
The man looked startled. “But ... I’m quite interested in these — ” he began. Then he suddenly laughed. “Oh, I get it. You’re trying to say — ”
“That those books are not for sale,” finished Martin. “I’m sorry.”
The smartly dressed, dark-haired young man stepped out of the shadows. He did not seem to be a bit bothered by this remark. “Unless the price is right, of course,” he said, as if he didn’t quite believe Martin. An amused smile curled his lips. “Isn’t that what you’re saying?” Then he raised an eyebrow and jingled the change in his pocket.
“Not everything in this store has a price tag,” Dottie interrupted icily. “Some books I would never part with — for any price.”
“Why not? You mean, because of that mysterious disappearance?” The young man shot Dottie a disbelieving glance. “Surely you don’t think it adds to the value of those books, do you?” He waved that away. “That’s old news. I’m afraid nobody cares anymore. No, the truth is, those books aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.”
That was the wrong thing to say. Jessie noticed Martin’s whole face suddenly change. His mouth was set in a thin, hard line. He looked like a different person.
“That’s enough!” Martin burst out. “Now you really have overstayed your welcome, young man.” Folding his arms in front of him, Martin jerked his head in the direction of the door. “You know the way out.”
Everyone seemed surprised by Martin’s harsh tone. Jessie and Henry exchanged a look. They knew Dottie and Martin often bargained with customers over the price of a book. They said it was just part of the business. Why were they getting so upset?
The young man lifted one shoulder in a shrug and turned on his heel. With a few quick strides, he reached the door and was gone.
Henry fixed his gaze on the cabinet in the far corner. He couldn’t help thinking that something very odd was going on. Why was Martin so touchy about those books? And what did the customer mean about a mysterious disappearance?
CHAPTER 2
Two Desserts
As they walked over to the Kowloon Restaurant, the Aldens soon forgot about the strange incident at The Underground. Martin, who was back to his usual cheery self, was telling them all about fortune cookies.
“The funny thing is,” he was saying as they went inside the restaurant, “most people think fortune cookies were invented in China. But you know something? Until recently, they were almost unknown there.”
Everyone looked surprised to hear this.
“Then who came up with the idea?” Benny wanted to know.
“Where were they invented?” Henry said at the same time.
“Right here in America,” Martin answered. He led the way to an empty table by the window.
A young woman in a white apron came over to greet them. She was tall and slender, with thick copper-red hair that hung down to her waist. “Welcome to the Kowloon Restaurant!” she said with a friendly smile. “My name’s Lucy Monroe. Auntie Two hired me to help out for the summer,” she added after everyone had introduced themselves. “I’ll be working here until college starts again in the fall.”
Jessie smiled as the waitress handed out the menus.
The Aldens and Aunt Jane looked at Martin, then in the direction he was staring. Sure enough, a customer was standing in a far corner, half-hidden in the shadows.
“Maybe I can hurry him along,” Martin said. Then, clearing his throat, he called out, “Sorry, sir, but those particular books are for display only!”
The customer didn’t seem to hear what Martin had said. The man’s hands were behind his back, and his legs were wide apart. He appeared to be deep in thought as he stared at the old books inside a cabinet with shiny glass doors. Then, as if feeling everyone’s eyes on him, he suddenly looked over.
“What was that?” he asked.
“Just thought I’d mention, the books in that cabinet are for display only.”
The man looked startled. “But ... I’m quite interested in these — ” he began. Then he suddenly laughed. “Oh, I get it. You’re trying to say — ”
“That those books are not for sale,” finished Martin. “I’m sorry.”
The smartly dressed, dark-haired young man stepped out of the shadows. He did not seem to be a bit bothered by this remark. “Unless the price is right, of course,” he said, as if he didn’t quite believe Martin. An amused smile curled his lips. “Isn’t that what you’re saying?” Then he raised an eyebrow and jingled the change in his pocket.
“Not everything in this store has a price tag,” Dottie interrupted icily. “Some books I would never part with — for any price.”
“Why not? You mean, because of that mysterious disappearance?” The young man shot Dottie a disbelieving glance. “Surely you don’t think it adds to the value of those books, do you?” He waved that away. “That’s old news. I’m afraid nobody cares anymore. No, the truth is, those books aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.”
That was the wrong thing to say. Jessie noticed Martin’s whole face suddenly change. His mouth was set in a thin, hard line. He looked like a different person.
“That’s enough!” Martin burst out. “Now you really have overstayed your welcome, young man.” Folding his arms in front of him, Martin jerked his head in the direction of the door. “You know the way out.”
Everyone seemed surprised by Martin’s harsh tone. Jessie and Henry exchanged a look. They knew Dottie and Martin often bargained with customers over the price of a book. They said it was just part of the business. Why were they getting so upset?
The young man lifted one shoulder in a shrug and turned on his heel. With a few quick strides, he reached the door and was gone.
Henry fixed his gaze on the cabinet in the far corner. He couldn’t help thinking that something very odd was going on. Why was Martin so touchy about those books? And what did the customer mean about a mysterious disappearance?
CHAPTER 2
Two Desserts
As they walked over to the Kowloon Restaurant, the Aldens soon forgot about the strange incident at The Underground. Martin, who was back to his usual cheery self, was telling them all about fortune cookies.
“The funny thing is,” he was saying as they went inside the restaurant, “most people think fortune cookies were invented in China. But you know something? Until recently, they were almost unknown there.”
Everyone looked surprised to hear this.
“Then who came up with the idea?” Benny wanted to know.
“Where were they invented?” Henry said at the same time.
“Right here in America,” Martin answered. He led the way to an empty table by the window.
A young woman in a white apron came over to greet them. She was tall and slender, with thick copper-red hair that hung down to her waist. “Welcome to the Kowloon Restaurant!” she said with a friendly smile. “My name’s Lucy Monroe. Auntie Two hired me to help out for the summer,” she added after everyone had introduced themselves. “I’ll be working here until college starts again in the fall.”
Jessie smiled as the waitress handed out the menus.
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