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儿童英语读物 The Cereal Box Mystery CHAPTER 7 Too Many Rings!

时间:2017-09-11 06:23来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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“I don’t believe this!” Mrs. McGregor said.

“What?” asked Henry, coming into the kitchen the next morning, followed by Benny, Jessie, Violet, and Watch.

“Take a look outside the back door,” Mrs. McGregor said. “Some animal got into the garbage and turned it over last night. Some dog, probably.”

She glanced at Watch. Benny said, “Watch stayed with me last night!”

Mrs. McGregor smiled. “I know Watch would never do such a thing,” she said.

“We’ll clean it up,” Henry said.

The Aldens went outside. As they began to pick up the garbage, Violet said, “That’s strange.”

“What?” Jessie asked.

“There are chicken bones in the garbage,” Violet said. “If a dog or any other animal had turned over the can, wouldn’t the bones have been eaten?”

“Yes,” Henry said. Then he said, “You know, it does look as if a person — not a dog — was going through the garbage.”

It was true. The contents of the can weren’t scattered1 all over the yard, but spread out neatly2.

“You’re right, Henry!” Jessie exclaimed. “Someone did go through our garbage last night.”

“Watch growled3 last night while I was asleep. I woke up, but he stopped growling4. He must have heard the garbage can being turned over,” Benny said.

“But what was the person looking for?” Violet asked.

“I don’t know, Violet,” Henry answered. “It’s a mystery, that’s for sure.”

Just as they finished cleaning up the mess, Soo Lee rode up on her bicycle. “Hi,” she said. “I got here as early as I could. Are you ready to go follow Mr. Darden?”

“Yes, and we’d better hurry,” Jessie agreed.

The Aldens got on their bicycles and rode to David Darden’s small, tidy house on the edge of town. There they spotted5 some tall bushes to hide behind.

Soon Mr. Darden came out. He got in his car and drove toward Greenfield. The Aldens pedaled after him as fast as they could.

On Main Street, Mr. Darden got out and parked his car near the town square. He walked briskly down the street. The Aldens walked after him. When he stopped, they stopped and pretended to be looking in store windows.

They followed Mr. Darden to a jewelry6 store.

Violet gasped8 and grabbed Jessie’s arm. “You don’t think he’s planning another robbery, do you?”

“I don’t think so, but maybe he is,” Jessie answered. She looked up and down the street, half expecting to see a man with a hat pulled low and wearing a tan raincoat. But she saw no one like that.

“Should we call the police?” Benny asked.

“Let’s just keep an eye on him for now,” Jessie said.

They walked past the window of the jewelry store. They could see Mr. Darden in the back, bent9 over a glass counter. All around the walls of the jewelry store, rings and necklaces and bracelets10 glittered and gleamed.

“We should go in and see what he is up to,” Violet whispered, as if she were afraid Mr. Darden could hear her.

“We can’t all go in,” Henry said. “But I think some of us should.”

“You and I could go in, Violet,” Jessie said. “We could pretend we’re looking for a gift for Grandfather’s birthday.”

“Yes, and we’ll wait out here to stop him if something happens,” said Benny.

Violet and Jessie walked into the jewelry store. They stood at a counter near Mr. Darden. “Look at the pocket watches,” Jessie said. “Maybe Grandfather would like one of those.”

“But he already has a pocket watch,” Violet said. Jessie nudged her.

“Oh,” said Violet. “Yes. The pocket watches are nice.”

Watching Mr. Darden and one of the jewelers out of the corner of her eye, Jessie saw the jeweler hand Mr. Darden a small box. Mr. Darden opened it.

What was inside? Jessie couldn’t see.

With a little gasp7, Violet grabbed Jessie’s arm.

“What? What is it?” Jessie asked.

“I thought I saw someone go by the window,” Violet said.

“Who?” Jessie asked.

“The man in the tan raincoat,” Violet said. “Maybe he’s about to come in and rob the place.”

They waited tensely as Mr. Darden closed the small box and put it in his pocket. He thanked the jeweler and walked out.

Both Violet and Jessie let out a sigh of relief. “I guess he wasn’t going to rob the store after all,” Jessie said, forgetting to lower her voice.

The jeweler heard her and gave her a funny look, but Jessie didn’t notice as she and Violet hurried out the door to join the others.

“There goes Mr. Darden,” Henry said. “Come on.”

They followed Mr. Darden down the street to the town square. He stopped once and peered into a store window, smoothing his hair and adjusting his tie.

“What’s he doing?” Benny asked.

“He’s using the window as a mirror,” Jessie said.

When he’d finished, Mr. Darden patted his pocket. Then he smiled and walked toward a bench by a flower bed.

They saw a young woman stand up and smile at Mr. Darden. Then the couple sat down on the bench and began to talk. Suddenly Mr. Darden took the small box from his pocket. He got down on one knee, opened the box, and handed it to the woman. She put her hands to her cheeks and looked very surprised and happy.

“That must be Mr. Darden’s girlfriend,” Violet said. “It’s so romantic.”

“What if the ring he is giving her is the stolen ring?” Jessie asked.

“Come on,” Henry said, and led the way toward the bench.

The young woman was holding up her hand now, admiring the ring. Mr. Darden had gotten up to sit next to her again.

“Hi,” Benny said.

Mr. Darden looked up, startled. “You again!” he said.

“Is that the ring you were shopping for at Antique Treasures?” Jessie asked bluntly.

“No,” Mr. Darden said. Then he smiled. “I bought the ring at a different store.”

“What kind of ring is it?” Benny asked. “Is it a ruby11?”

The young woman laughed. “Oh, no,” she said. “It’s an emerald.”

Jessie glanced down at the green ring on her own finger. “Like this?” she said.

The young woman held out her hand. On it was a slender gold band with a small yellow stone in the center.

“That’s not an emerald,” Jessie said. “Emeralds are green.”

But Mr. Darden was shaking his head. “Not all emeralds. They come in different colors. So do rubies12 and diamonds and many precious gems13 — you can even find black diamonds.”

The woman said, “I think this is the most beautiful emerald in the world.”

Mr. Darden said, “I wanted to ask you yesterday when I made lunch for you, Janie, but I was too nervous. And this ring wasn’t ready yet.”

“Now I know why you weren’t hungry!” Janie said.

“You were at Mr. Darden’s yesterday?” Violet asked Janie.

She nodded, her gaze still on her engagement ring. “We’re engaged to be married now.”

Mr. Darden said to the Aldens, “I’m sorry if I seemed distracted when you came to visit. But I didn’t want Janie to hear you talking about a ring. I was afraid it would spoil the surprise.”

“Was that why you told Mr. Bellows14 you didn’t want your name in the newspaper?” Jessie asked.

“Yes. I was afraid Janie might see it and somehow guess what I was planning,” Mr. Darden said.

Janie smiled at Mr. Darden. Mr. Darden smiled back.

“We have to go,” Jessie said. “Congratulations.”

The newly engaged couple didn’t even look at the Aldens as they left. “Good-bye,” said Mr. Darden absently.

As they walked their bikes away, Jessie said, “That explains why Mr. Darden was acting15 so strangely.”

With a laugh, Henry said, “It sure does.”

“If Mr. Darden didn’t help Mr. Map, then maybe Ms. Smitts did,” Violet said.

Jessie reached in her pocket and took out the piece of paper with the names and addresses of Mr. Darden and Ms. Smitts on them. She said, “Ms. Smitts didn’t leave an address, only a phone number.”

“We can call her from the phone booth on the corner, then,” Henry said.

When they called, a voice said, “Karate16 Center.” Surprised, Henry said hesitantly, “May I please speak to Ms. Tori Smitts?”

“She’s not available right now,” the voice said. “May I take a message?”

“I’m Henry Alden. We wanted to talk to her for a few minutes.”

“Ms. Smitts should be free in just about fifteen minutes,” the receptionist said.

“Could we have your address?” Henry asked. “We could come by.”

He wrote down the address and hung up the phone. The Aldens pedaled to the Karate Center, which wasn’t far from Main Street.

Inside, a young man behind a battered17 desk was typing something into a small computer. On a shelf behind him was a row of trophies18.

“Excuse me,” Jessie said. “We called a few minutes ago. We’d like to speak to Ms. Smitts.”

The young man looked up and pointed19. “She’s in the studio,” he said. “You can sit on that bench and watch through the glass, if you’d like. She’ll be out soon.”

“Did you win all those trophies?” Benny asked.

“Those?” The young man glanced over his shoulder. “Not yet. I still have a lot to learn. No, those trophies belong to our instructors20. They’ve all earned their black belts. That means they’re the best.”

“Oh,” said Benny. He sat down next to the others. They watched as Tori Smitts, in loose white pants and a white coat, wearing a black belt, showed students how to kick and punch and block.

Sometimes the students tried to knock her down. No matter how hard they tried, she always won.

“She’s very good,” Jessie said admiringly.

“Oh, yes,” the young man said. “Practically unbeatable.”

A few minutes later, they heard Ms. Smitts say, “Okay that’s it.”

Everyone bowed. Then the students filed out through a door in the back of the studio that had the words LOCKER21 ROOMS on it.

The young man got up, tapped on the glass, and motioned to Ms. Smitts. She walked toward him, then opened the door and stepped into the reception area.

“You have some visitors,” the receptionist said.

The Aldens stood up. “Hello,” Henry said, and began to introduce everyone.

Ms. Smitts looked surprised. But she held up her hand. “I remember you,” she said. “You don’t need to introduce yourselves. And I bet I can solve a mystery.”

“What?” asked Benny. “What mystery?”

“The mystery of why you’re here,” she said. Her lips curled into a little smile. “You’re playing detective, right? You’re looking for the missing jewelry.”

“And the thief,” said Benny. He wasn’t sure, but he thought Ms. Smitts might be teasing him and the other Aldens. He stared at her hard.

“We just wondered if you could remember anything else about what happened — anything that might be helpful,” Violet said.

“I’ve told the police everything I know,” Ms. Smitts said. “It all happened so fast.”

“So even though you grabbed the thief just outside the front door, you didn’t see his face,” Henry suggested.

“He pushed me away so hard, I nearly fell. I wasn’t able to hold on to him, much less see what he looked like,” Ms. Smitts replied firmly. “Now, if that’s all, I have another class to teach. Good luck to you.”

She turned and walked away.

The Aldens left, feeling discouraged.

“She wasn’t very friendly,” Violet said. “But I guess that doesn’t mean she is hiding anything.”

“Besides, she tried to keep the thief from getting away. That was very brave,” Jessie said. She paused, then added, “Unless she was just pretending, to keep people from being suspicious.”

“But she couldn’t have taken the jewelry after the thief left,” Henry pointed out. “Mr. Darden was still in the shop.”

“Maybe they were all three working together,” Jessie said.

“Maybe,” said Henry. “But I don’t think so.”

“I don’t, either,” said Violet. “I don’t think Mr. Darden had anything to do with it.”

“Maybe the thief dropped the jewelry in some special place and whoever was helping22 him picked it up afterward,” Jessie said.

“That could have happened,” Henry said.

“But Ms. Smitts walked away in the opposite direction from where the thief had gone,” Violet pointed out. “And Mr. Darden stayed on Main Street, looking in shop windows.”

“We still have two suspects,” Henry said.

“Who?” asked Benny.

“Mr. Bellows,” Henry began.

“But why would Mr. Bellows steal his own jewelry from himself?” Benny cried.

“I don’t know, Benny. But I think we should go talk to him and find out,” Henry said.

“Who’s the other suspect?” Jessie asked.

“Dr. Kroll,” said Henry.

“Of course!” Jessie said. “She knew Mr. Bellows had the necklace. Why, she could have sold the necklace to Mr. Bellows — and then stolen it back.”

“Mr. Bellows could even have helped her,” Henry said. “C’mon, let’s go talk to Mr. Bellows right now.”


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 scattered 7jgzKF     
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的
参考例句:
  • Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来,塞进文件夹里。
2 neatly ynZzBp     
adv.整洁地,干净地,灵巧地,熟练地
参考例句:
  • Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
  • The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。
3 growled 65a0c9cac661e85023a63631d6dab8a3     
v.(动物)发狺狺声, (雷)作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 );低声咆哮着说
参考例句:
  • \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道:“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》
4 growling growling     
n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼
参考例句:
  • We heard thunder growling in the distance. 我们听见远处有隆隆雷声。
  • The lay about the deck growling together in talk. 他们在甲板上到处游荡,聚集在一起发牢骚。
5 spotted 7FEyj     
adj.有斑点的,斑纹的,弄污了的
参考例句:
  • The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
  • Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。
6 jewelry 0auz1     
n.(jewllery)(总称)珠宝
参考例句:
  • The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
  • Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。
7 gasp UfxzL     
n.喘息,气喘;v.喘息;气吁吁他说
参考例句:
  • She gave a gasp of surprise.她吃惊得大口喘气。
  • The enemy are at their last gasp.敌人在做垂死的挣扎。
8 gasped e6af294d8a7477229d6749fa9e8f5b80     
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 );喘息;倒抽气;很想要
参考例句:
  • She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
  • People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
9 bent QQ8yD     
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的
参考例句:
  • He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
  • We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
10 bracelets 58df124ddcdc646ef29c1c5054d8043d     
n.手镯,臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The lamplight struck a gleam from her bracelets. 她的手镯在灯光的照射下闪闪发亮。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • On display are earrings, necklaces and bracelets made from jade, amber and amethyst. 展出的有用玉石、琥珀和紫水晶做的耳环、项链和手镯。 来自《简明英汉词典》
11 ruby iXixS     
n.红宝石,红宝石色
参考例句:
  • She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
  • On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。
12 rubies 534be3a5d4dab7c1e30149143213b88f     
红宝石( ruby的名词复数 ); 红宝石色,深红色
参考例句:
  • a necklace of rubies intertwined with pearls 缠着珍珠的红宝石项链
  • The crown was set with precious jewels—diamonds, rubies and emeralds. 王冠上镶嵌着稀世珍宝—有钻石、红宝石、绿宝石。
13 gems 74ab5c34f71372016f1770a5a0bf4419     
growth; economy; management; and customer satisfaction 增长
参考例句:
  • a crown studded with gems 镶有宝石的皇冠
  • The apt citations and poetic gems have adorned his speeches. 贴切的引语和珠玑般的诗句为他的演说词增添文采。
14 bellows Ly5zLV     
n.风箱;发出吼叫声,咆哮(尤指因痛苦)( bellow的名词复数 );(愤怒地)说出(某事),大叫v.发出吼叫声,咆哮(尤指因痛苦)( bellow的第三人称单数 );(愤怒地)说出(某事),大叫
参考例句:
  • His job is to blow the bellows for the blacksmith. 他的工作是给铁匠拉风箱。 来自辞典例句
  • You could, I suppose, compare me to a blacksmith's bellows. 我想,你可能把我比作铁匠的风箱。 来自辞典例句
15 acting czRzoc     
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的
参考例句:
  • Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她,她只是假装的。
  • During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代,她的表演生涯黯然失色。
16 karate gahzT     
n.空手道(日本的一种徒手武术)
参考例句:
  • Alice's boyfriend knew a little karate.艾丽斯的男朋友懂一点儿空手道。
  • The black belt is the highest level in karate.黑腰带级是空手道的最高级别。
17 battered NyezEM     
adj.磨损的;v.连续猛击;磨损
参考例句:
  • He drove up in a battered old car.他开着一辆又老又破的旧车。
  • The world was brutally battered but it survived.这个世界遭受了惨重的创伤,但它还是生存下来了。
18 trophies e5e690ffd5b76ced5606f229288652f6     
n.(为竞赛获胜者颁发的)奖品( trophy的名词复数 );奖杯;(尤指狩猎或战争中获得的)纪念品;(用于比赛或赛跑名称)奖
参考例句:
  • His football trophies were prominently displayed in the kitchen. 他的足球奖杯陈列在厨房里显眼的位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The hunter kept the lion's skin and head as trophies. 这猎人保存狮子的皮和头作为纪念品。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
19 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。
20 instructors 5ea75ff41aa7350c0e6ef0bd07031aa4     
指导者,教师( instructor的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The instructors were slacking on the job. 教员们对工作松松垮垮。
  • He was invited to sit on the rostrum as a representative of extramural instructors. 他以校外辅导员身份,被邀请到主席台上。
21 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。
22 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
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