The Niagara Falls Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B

them.”
    When the children returned to the car, they told their grandfather about the tall man and the missing brochures.
    â€œThat is quite curious,” Grandfather told the children after he started the car. “Come to think of it, a tall young fellow left the parking lot in a hurry about ten minutes ago. He drove a brown car, I believe. He was in such a hurry that he almost brushed against a parked car. We should mention the missing fliers to Will Lasalle. He’s minding the shop while his grandfather is away in Toronto.”
    â€œAnyway, we did get a brochure, after all, and this free map, too, Grandfather,” Henry said. “Now we’ve got exact directions to the shop from here.”

    Mr. Alden kept his eye on the traffic. “It’s on Waterfall Street, not far from the Maid of the Mist docks.”
    Henry looked at the map, then up ahead. “Take a right turn here, Grandfather, onto the Niagara River Parkway for a couple miles. We’ll be able to see the Canadian Falls.”
    â€œWe’re almost there!” Benny shouted, his eyes glued to the river running next to the highway. “The river is moving even faster now.”
    Grandfather Alden watched the road while Henry checked the map. “Look, there’s Goat Island. It separates the American Falls from Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side,” Henry told everyone.
    The traffic slowed as the Aldens got closer to Horseshoe Falls. Mr. Alden signaled right. “There’s a lookout here. You children are about to get your first view of the falls.”
    Everyone scrambled out of the car as soon as Mr. Alden pulled into the lookout and turned off the engine. The children couldn’t wait to see what was making the huge roar.
    The four children gasped when they stepped onto the lookout deck. Horseshoe Falls lay directly ahead, crashing down to the rocks and river below.
    â€œThe Canadian Falls really are curved like a horseshoe,” Jessie shouted above the roar.
    Violet tapped her brothers and sister when she noticed something special. She pointed to a perfect rainbow that appeared in the clouds of mist blowing off the falls.
    â€œAmazing,” Henry said when everyone got back in the car.
    â€œWe were so lucky to see a rainbow on our first day in Niagara Falls,” Violet said. “You can only see a rainbow in the mist if it’s sunny like today. Thank you for stopping, Grandfather.”
    â€œI knew you children would love it here,” Grandfather Alden said.

CHAPTER 2
    A Mysterious Message
    A s the Aldens rode through the town of Niagara Falls, they saw colorful signs outside motels, hotels, and inns inviting honeymooners, families, and everyone else to come and stay awhile.
    â€œThere’s Waterfall Street,” Henry announced shortly after the Aldens passed the Maid of the Mist docks.
    Grandfather searched for a parking place. “That’s odd. Lasalle’s should be right on this block. Do you see a sign for it, Henry?”
    There were many shops on Waterfall Street, but Lasalle’s Curiosity Shop was nowhere to be seen.
    â€œLet’s pull into this parking space,” Grandfather said. “I know the shop is here somewhere.”
    Benny got out of the car and ran ahead. He finally stopped in front of a shop. The first person he saw was an older man with a long white beard sitting on a bench. On the sidewalk was a banged-up suitcase displaying small pieces of wood inside.
    â€œWhat are those?” Benny asked the man.
    The man didn’t answer. Instead he handed Benny a piece of paper.
    Benny showed Jessie the paper. “What does this say? The words are too long for me to read.”
    Jessie looked at the flier. On it was an old-fashioned photo of a woman standing next to a large wooden barrel. Jessie read the information to Benny.
    â€œHettie Drummond stands next to the barrel in which she went over the falls in 1905. These pieces of wood are part of