What excitement there was in Port Elizabeth when the people heard about Freddy! It was hard for them to believe that the Money Man had cheated them. But when Mr. Carter told them that just one of the old valentines was worth many dollars, they changed their minds.
“Oh, it seems wonderful to talk out loud again,” said Benny. “I don’t like to have people hiding and listening and whispering. Now I can yell if I want to.”
“It’s good to talk to you again, Mr. Carter,” said Henry, “and no Mr. Wilder-Smith.”
“What did you find out at Adams College, John?” asked Grandfather.
“They want to buy many of the coins,” said Mr. Carter. “And I found two collectors who want the rest. I am going to call on every family and pay them the right price for their coins.”
“What a job!” said Henry.
“All in a day’s work,” Mr. Carter said with a smile.
“What about the little things?” asked Jessie.
“I will give them all back,” said Mr. Carter. “An honest antique dealer will come up here a little later. The people can sell them or keep them, whatever they wish.”
“Mr. Willet did give Marie a red necklace,” said Benny slowly.
Mr. Carter smiled. “That necklace cost him twenty-five cents,” he said. “I guess you don’t need to worry about that.”
Violet said suddenly, “Maybe Miss Gray would like to sell her old books to an honest man. Nobody here reads them.”
“Right, Violet,” said Mr. Carter. “That’s exactly what she told me. But she said a lot more. She thought she was foolish to think anybody would read them. She plans to buy a whole library of colored picture books, stories, and other new books. The books will be for both children and grown-ups.”
“Good,” said Jessie. “She has changed, and now she’s really wonderful.”
The Aldens had planned to have a picnic for the school children on the last day. But no—the children wanted to go to school!
“What children!” said Violet. “I never saw any children like them anywhere.”
As the children were singing a last song, someone came in the back door. The children could hardly believe their eyes. They clapped without knowing it. They had seen Miss Gray only from a distance, but they knew who she was.
Henry said, “Miss Gray is going to be your teacher until a new one comes. And she will choose somebody to ring the bell.”
“We won’t say goodbye,” said Benny. “We hate to say goodbye. We never do, we just go.”
It was hard, but everyone did just go. Mr. Alden sat outside in the station wagon. Miss Gray’s gardener took her home. The Aldens piled into the station wagon, and the school children waved and waved. Then the car rattled over the rocks and stones, and the Aldens were soon on their way home.
When they reached home, Benny called up his friend Max.
“Hello, Max! It’s me!”
“Oh, hi, Ben! How about adventures? Did you catch a thief or find hidden treasure?”
“Both!” said Benny. “Come over on your bike and we’ll tell you all about the thief and the money hidden in old socks.”
“Don’t try to fool me, Ben,” said Max. “You couldn’t find all that on such a dull island.”
“Well, we did,” said Benny. “It was so exciting that we could hardly pay attention to our schoolteaching.”
“Schoolteaching! Are you crazy?”
“No,” said Benny. “We did more than that. We met a famous author and we discovered two artists.”
“I don’t believe it,” said Max. But he always believed Benny Alden.
It was not long before Max leaned his bike against the front steps. The Aldens took turns telling him about the schoolhouse mystery.
“It’s too much,” said Max at last. “I’ve been up there two summers. And not a thing happened except that we ate our meals and went fishing. Not a thing! But, Mr. Alden, I thought you were going to take the family somewhere else this summer?”
“Well, so I am, Max,” said Grandfather. He winked.
“Not much time left, sir.”
“There’s enough. There’s all of August and part of September,” said Mr. Alden.
“Almost time to go to the moon,” said Benny. |