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儿童英语读物 Benny Uncovers a Mystery CHAPTER 9 Benny Has Ideas

时间:2017-07-04 08:48来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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Benny saw Henry and Mr. Fogg go into Mr. Furman’s office. He half expected to hear shouting and angry voices. There was nothing of the kind. Soon Mr. Fogg and Henry walked out together. Neither one looked angry or even upset. Benny couldn’t imagine what had gone on in Mr. Furman’s office.

Mr. Fogg called, “Here, Alden. Take this Brewrite coffeemaker to Miss Douglas. It seems you were right. She already has the Peerless.”

Benny could hardly believe his ears. Was Mr. Fogg for once saying that Benny was right? What had happened to make Mr. Fogg behave so differently? Maybe his back was better!

With the box holding the coffeemaker set safely in his bicycle carrier3, Benny rode off to Woodland Path. He knocked at the door and had a new surprise. Miss Douglas herself answered and asked him to come in.

“Benny Alden,” she said, “you’ve been here many times, but we have always missed each other.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Benny said. He felt mixed-up. First Mr. Fogg had not acted as Benny had expected. And now Miss Douglas, too, seemed like a new and different person.

“This is a warm morning,” she said. “Would you like some fruit juice and cookies before you ride back? Bring the coffeemaker and we’ll go into the kitchen.”

Benny stepped into a sunny kitchen with plants hanging in the windows. To see Miss Douglas in Furman’s Department Store, anyone would expect her kitchen to be dark and old-fashioned4. Instead, everything was new and bright.

Benny put the coffeemaker down on the counter5. There were four other coffeemakers already there.

Miss Douglas knew that Benny was curious. “Why do I need five different coffeemakers? I’ll tell you. I have a hobby. I like to test new products. I keep a score for each item7, then I know which is best.” She pointed8 to a sheet of paper, filled with strong, clear writing. “So far, the Peerless is the best of these coffeemakers. But the Brewrite could be better.”

Going to the refrigerator, she poured juice for Benny and offered him cookies.

“I really can’t stay,” Benny said. “Mr. Fogg doesn’t like to have me stop when I’m making deliveries9.”

“Mr. Fogg!” laughed Miss Douglas. “He tries to act like an old bear. Sometimes he really makes you think that’s what he is.”

“Well, yes ...” Benny said, not knowing just how to understand what Miss Douglas had said.

“I hear someone knocking,” she said. “Excuse me while I see who it is.”

Benny heard her exclaim10, “Come in, Ted1! Benny is here now. He’s having something cool to drink. It’s such a hot morning already.”

Miss Douglas led a boy Benny’s size into the kitchen. “Hi!” the boy said, like an old friend.

“Do you two know each other?” asked Miss Douglas. “Benny Alden, this is my neighbor and good errand11 boy, Ted Evans. What have you there, Ted? Did you get the box from the post office?”

“Here’s the box and some letters, too,” Ted said.

Benny could not see the address on the box, but the wrapping12 paper had the words “Newport Fine Jewelry” made into a design. And Benny noticed that the word “Forward” was written on a letter that looked as if it was from Furman’s Department Store.

“Do you have many deliveries today?” Ted asked Benny. “It’s too warm to do anything.”

“Just this one for Miss Douglas,” Benny answered. “I think I’ll work in the stockroom in the basement13. Anyway, it’s cool in the store.”

“Well,” Ted said, “I’m going swimming at the park pool. Too bad you can’t come.”

The kitchen clock’s ticking reminded Benny that time was passing. He got up quickly and thanked Miss Douglas for the chance to rest.

“I’ll see you here again,” Miss Douglas said. “I understand you will be back in school soon. August is almost over.”

“I wish it weren’t,” Benny said. “I like to work in the store. But how did you know I just have a summer job?”

“Oh, I learn a little here and something else there,” Miss Douglas said. “It’s surprising how much you can learn if no one thinks you are paying attention.”

As Benny rode back to Furman’s, he thought about what Miss Douglas had said. He began to put some ideas together. At last he said, “It can’t be true. I have to be wrong.”

Back at the store, Benny reported to Mr. Fogg. He took the Peerless coffeemaker without saying anything. Then Benny went down to the basement, where he had a locker14. It was such a hot morning that he had not worn15 even a sweater, so his locker was empty. Except for one thing. He had put the mystery letter, the one he had received when he began working, on the locker shelf.

Benny took the letter down and opened it. He looked thoughtfully16 at the writing and the blue paper. “I wish I could really compare this,” he said to himself. “I think I’m right, but I can’t be sure.”

Later in the morning, Doris needed more cups and saucers17 for her department. Benny carried them up to her.

“Are all those lockets sold?” he asked.

“Yes, every one. I’m ordering a dozen more.”

“Who makes them?” Benny asked. “Did you find them listed in a catalog18?”

Doris laughed. “I suppose I could have. But the name of the maker2 was on the box. That’s how I found out where to order them.”

“Do you remember the name?”

“Oh, Newberry or Newport or Portland. I can’t remember right now. If you really want to know I can look it up.” ’

“It’s all right,” Benny said. “I was just curious.”

At lunchtime Benny and Henry took their sandwiches and ate them in the park. Benny looked around to make sure no one was near.

Then Benny said, “I have an idea about Maggie Douglas, but no one will believe it. I don’t think she’s Maggie Douglas at all.”

Henry didn’t say a word. He took a big bite out of his ham-and-cheese sandwich. Then he looked at his brother and winked19 slowly.

“What does that mean?” asked Benny.

“It means20 I think you are getting close to the mysteries we have had at the store.”

“What makes you think so?”

“I don’t know too much,” Henry said. “I just know a little piece. This morning when Mr. Fogg and I went in to talk to Mr. Furman, he was busy. He asked us to sit down while he finished a telephone call.”

“Yes?” said Benny. “What about that?”

“Mr. Furman kept saying, ‘All right, all right, yes, yes.’ Then he said, ‘I have her telephone number here.’ ”

“That’s all?” Benny asked. “I wonder what that was all about. It’s none of my business, I guess. But do you remember the telephone number?”

Henry laughed at Benny. He said, “It is none of your business, but you just want to know everything that is going on. It happens I do remember the telephone number because it was an easy one—222-1212. I’m sure I’ve seen it near a phone in the store.”

Benny thought about the number for a minute. Then he said, “I think I know whose number that is. But I’m not ready to tell you yet. Do you think the call was about ordering something?”

Henry smiled. “I don’t think so. It sounded more like a meeting. Something of that sort.”

Benny finished his sandwich and bit into an apple. He asked, “What did Mr. Furman say about Mr. Fogg being in the store yesterday after it was closed?”

“Mr. Furman listened to what we each had to say. Then he said, ‘I can’t tell you the whole story now. But I can say that I’m sure neither of you had anything to do with the lockets.’ Then he thanked Mr. Fogg for trying to solve the mystery of the lockets, and he thanked me for being watchful21.”

“Did you tell Mr. Furman about hearing someone try to put a key in the front door lock?”

“Yes, later in the morning. I told Mr. Furman about the sounds at the door about eleven o’clock last night.”

“Wasn’t he upset by that?”

“No, he didn’t seem to be. He just said quietly, ‘I think there was some kind of mistake.’ Then he told me not to worry because, after all, nobody had come in.”

Benny dropped his apple core6 into his brown paper bag and looked around for a waste can in the park. He saw a car stopping for a traffic light.

Benny knew that car! It was Grandfather Alden’s. Grandfather was driving, but he did not see Benny. Mr. Alden was talking to someone seated beside him.

Benny would have called “Hi!” but the light changed and the car moved away.

There was enough time, though, for Benny to catch a glimpse22 of the other people in the car, a man and a woman. He was sure the man was Mr. Furman, and he thought the woman was Maggie Douglas. He could not be quite so sure about that.

“What can Miss Douglas, Mr. Furman, and Grandfather be doing?” Benny asked Henry. “Grandfather never said a word about meeting Miss Douglas. And he has heard us talk about her every day at dinnertime.”

Henry laughed. “Benny, you know very well you’re not the only one in the family who likes a little mystery. Grandfather doesn’t tell you about everyone he knows. I’ll make a guess. Now I think Mr. Furman’s telephone call this morning must have been from Grandfather. He was inviting23 Mr. Furman to have lunch. That’s interesting, isn’t it?”

“That telephone number Mr. Furman gave,” said Benny. “I’m sure it is Miss Douglas’s. I’ll tell you how I know. First, Mr. Fogg has it written down on a pad24 near the phone he uses. And second, it was the phone number in the want ad I answered before we came to Furman’s. Remember? Now I know Ted Evans already had the job before I called.”

Henry stood up and stretched. Lunchtime was over.

More to himself than to Henry, Benny said, “Now I know how Miss Douglas knew my name and who my grandfather is. That puzzled25 me when I phoned about the want ad in the paper.”

Henry looked at his watch. “Time to get back,” he said. “You know, this is our last full week to work at Furman’s.”

“That’s right!” Benny exclaimed26. “When I’m back in school I’ll miss working at the store. I’ll even miss Mr. Fogg.”


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 ted 9gazhs     
vt.翻晒,撒,撒开
参考例句:
  • The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
  • She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。
2 maker DALxN     
n.制造者,制造商
参考例句:
  • He is a trouble maker,You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼,你不要跟他在一起。
  • A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。
3 carrier RTcyJ     
n.运货人;带菌者;运输军队的交通工具
参考例句:
  • The airplane lifted from the aircraft carrier.飞机从航空母舰上起飞。
  • I applied for the job as a mail carrier.我申请邮差的工作。
4 old-fashioned FmIzps     
adj.旧式的,保守的,挑剔的
参考例句:
  • Why do you still dress in an old-fashioned mode?你为什么还穿款式陈旧的衣服?
  • Here is an old-fashioned pump for drawing water from a well.这里有一个旧式水泵可从井里抽水。
5 counter Iznxc     
n.柜台;计数器;adj.相反的;adv.与…相反地;vt.反对,反击;vi.反对,反击
参考例句:
  • This counter is closed now.这个柜台现在已停止营业。
  • Set the counter to zero and you'll know where the recording starts.把计数器拨到零,你就会知道录音从哪儿开始。
6 core OZyyY     
n.中心;核心;(苹果、梨等果实的)果心
参考例句:
  • We didn't get to the core of the subject.我们没触及问题的核心。
  • The pear is rotten to the core.这梨全烂了。
7 item N3Gxr     
n.项目;条款;(消息,情报等的)一条
参考例句:
  • We should go on to the next item for time is short.时间不多了,我们应该谈下一项内容。
  • Put this item on our daily work schedule.把这项工作提到议事日程上来。
8 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
9 deliveries 6fc31b6b9cd717cc0dcb81152308f8af     
投递( delivery的名词复数 ); [法律](正式)交付; 分娩; 表演
参考例句:
  • Deliveries of mail could be delayed because of cost-cutting. 由于削减成本,邮件的递送可能会延迟。
  • We have developed rapid order processing to expedite deliveries to customers. 我们已创造了快速处理订单的方法以便迅速将货物送达顾客。
10 exclaim HnrxY     
v.(由于惊讶、痛苦、愤怒、高兴等而)叫嚷
参考例句:
  • A closer look, you might exclaim that she is half-breed!再仔细看看,或许你会惊叹原来她是混血儿!
  • I can not help but exclaim,how terrible figures!我不禁惊叹,多么可怕的数字!
11 errand 17Zyw     
n.差使(如送信,买东西等),(短程)差事
参考例句:
  • I've come on a special errand.我是专程来办一件差事的。
  • This is a formidable errand for me.这对我来说是个太艰巨的任务。
12 wrapping We6zJj     
n.包装材料;包装纸v.包,裹住(wrap的现在分词)adj.包装用的
参考例句:
  • He spent the evening wrapping up the Christmas presents. 他花了一个晚上的时间把圣诞礼物都包了起来。
  • She tore the cellophane wrapping off the box. 她把包装盒子的玻璃纸撕了下来。
13 basement oPmyV     
n.地下室,地窖;建筑物的基部
参考例句:
  • It is rather damp in the basement.地下室很潮湿。
  • They live in a basement flat in North London.他们住在伦敦北部的一所地下公寓里。
14 locker 8pzzYm     
n.更衣箱,储物柜,冷藏室,上锁的人
参考例句:
  • At the swimming pool I put my clothes in a locker.在游泳池我把衣服锁在小柜里。
  • He moved into the locker room and began to slip out of his scrub suit.他走进更衣室把手术服脱下来。
15 worn seCzJu     
adj.用旧的,疲倦的;vbl.wear的过去分词
参考例句:
  • The child's trousers have worn through at the knees.孩子裤子的膝盖处磨破了。
  • My shoes are worn out.我的鞋子穿坏了。
16 thoughtfully aoiwf     
ad.考虑周到地
参考例句:
  • She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. 她若有所思地抚摩着下巴。
  • The man pulled thoughtfully at his pipe before commenting on our proposal. 那人若有所思地吸了口烟,然后就我们的建议发表自己的见解。
17 saucers 5ce0a287d86b2cbe37040bacd35ffa4e     
n.(放茶杯的)浅碟,茶托,茶碟( saucer的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • everyday objects such as cups and saucers 诸如杯碟之类的日用品
  • He placed cups and saucers on the table. 他把杯子和茶碟放到桌上。 来自辞典例句
18 catalog ATwyT     
n.目录(册)vt.将…编入目录,将…编目
参考例句:
  • Can you catalog all these books?你能给所有这些书编目录吗?
  • You can look for the book in the library catalog.你可以在图书馆的图书目录上查找这本书。
19 winked af6ada503978fa80fce7e5d109333278     
v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 );递眼色(表示友好或高兴等);(指光)闪烁;闪亮
参考例句:
  • He winked at her and she knew he was thinking the same thing that she was. 他冲她眨了眨眼,她便知道他的想法和她一样。
  • He winked his eyes at her and left the classroom. 他向她眨巴一下眼睛走出了教室。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
20 means 9oXzBX     
n.方法,手段,折中点,物质财富
参考例句:
  • That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
  • We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。
21 watchful tH9yX     
adj.注意的,警惕的
参考例句:
  • The children played under the watchful eye of their father.孩子们在父亲的小心照看下玩耍。
  • It is important that health organizations remain watchful.卫生组织保持警惕是极为重要的。
22 glimpse wenzr     
vt.瞥见;n.一瞥,一看
参考例句:
  • One glimpse at himself in the mirror was enough.让他照着镜子看自己一眼就够了。
  • She catches a glimpse of a car in the distance.她一眼就瞥见了远处的汽车。
23 inviting CqIzNp     
adj.诱人的,引人注目的
参考例句:
  • An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
  • The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人,使人感到亲切温馨。
24 pad 0S2zy     
n.垫,衬垫;便签本,印色盒
参考例句:
  • She made a brief note on the telephone pad.她在电话通讯簿上记下简短的话。
  • Each student should have a pencil and pad.每个学生应该有一支铅笔和一个便签本。
25 puzzled 6ktzd5     
adj.迷惑的;困惑的
参考例句:
  • The student was puzzled about what to do next.这个学生对下一步做什么伤透了脑筋。
  • I was somewhat puzzled at his unwillingness to help.他不愿意帮忙让我有点困惑。
26 exclaimed 68e477dcdab3965d2189fb7276ee5041     
vt.exclaim的过去式v.呼喊,惊叫,大声说( exclaim的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • "We have a good chance of winning," he exclaimed optimistically. “我们很可能获胜。”他乐观地喊道。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She exclaimed in delight when she saw the presents. 她见到礼品高兴得叫了起来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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