"Maybe both of them," Henry said. "They could be in this together."

  "I don't know," Jessie said. "My head is spinning."

  "Let's go to bed," Violet said. "Tomorrow we'll see things in a clearer light."

  The Aldens slept soundly that night and were in a good mood until they got downstairs. From the kitchen came the banging of pots and pans. All at once, Greta flung open the door. "The stove is broken again! And someone pulled out the refrigerator plug and ice cream has melted all over!"

  "Not more troubles," Henry said.

  "Yes, more," Greta replied. "And I keep the kitchen door locked at night, so I don't know how anyone got in, either."

  "I'll repair the stove," Ralph soothed. "Don't worry, Greta."

  "I'm not waiting!" Greta shouted, removing her apron and throwing it on a chair. "I quit!"

  "Now, Greta," Ralph began, "we..."

  But before he could finish his sentence, Greta stalked to the closet and struggled into her coat. Storming out, she slammed the door after her.

  "Greta's gone," Ralph muttered, dropping into a chair. His face was gray with disappointment. "Since the stove isn't working, I'm afraid there won't be any hot breakfast. Day after tomorrow we were to have our big holiday dinner. Looks like you were right, Larry. I should modernize the inn." He shook his head. "Everything is going wrong!" He glanced up with sad eyes, looking at the Millers and James Alden. "I'll refund your money."

  The stunned children stared at Ralph. Benny grabbed Grandfather's hand. Was their vacation at Snowflake Inn over so soon?

  CHAPTER 10

  Broken Glass

  James Alden looked at the sad faces of his grandchildren, then turned to Ralph Winston and said, "We're staying!"

  The Aldens shouted, "Hooray!"

  "We'll stay, too," Mrs. Miller said, looking at her husband who nodded in agreement.

  "Wonderful," Ralph said. "But how can we cook without a stove?"

  "I have an idea," Grandfather said. "Will you allow me to buy a new stove?"

  "That's very kind of you." Ralph sighed. "But a new stove will ruin the look of our colonial kitchen."

  Grandfather said, "Trust me, Ralph. I have an idea. Just tell me where I can find an appliance store."

  "But who will cook our big dinner?" Ralph questioned.

  "We will!" the Aldens chorused.

  "And maybe Davey and Hannah can help," Violet suggested.

  "But I don't know how to cook," Davey protested.

  "Neither do I," Hannah said.

  "Don't worry," Henry said. "You can cut up onions and celery, can't you?"

  "I guess so," Davey replied.

  Hannah brightened. "We'll help."

  "Then that's settled," Grandfather said, his eyes twinkling. "I have a suggestion. Let's take the van and go into town for breakfast!"

  "I'll take the jeep," Larry said reluctantly. "Mr. and Mrs. Miller, why don't you ride with me? We'll meet at Minnie's Coffee Shoppe."

  "Where's Betsy?" Jessie asked.

  "My niece is horseback riding," Ralph said. "She'll be back soon, but I know she wouldn't care to join us."

  Just then Betsy breezed in, her blonde curls tousled and her cheeks rosy.

  "Betsy," Larry said, "how about breakfast in town with us?"

  She hesitated, then lifted her chin. "No, thank you." She ran upstairs, but in a minute she rushed downstairs. "My room!" she shouted. "It's freezing in there!" She glared at Larry. "The window is smashed and there's broken glass all over."

  "How did that happen?" Ralph asked.

  "I have no idea," Betsy said, looking suspiciously at Larry. "Someone must have been trying to break into my room from the balcony."

  "We'll pick up the glass and I'll buy a new pane in town," Larry said with a sigh.

  "Poor Betsy," Violet said.

  Betsy stared at Violet for a minute, as if she couldn't believe Violet would sympathize with her. Then, with a toss of her head, she went into the den.

  Henry accompanied Larry upstairs and they swept up pieces of glass and fitted cardboard in the window.

  On the way to Minnie's Coffee Shoppe, Benny said, "We'll have turkey for our big dinner, won't we?"

  "We must have turkey for dinner," Davey said, a worried expression on his freckled face.

  "We'll definitely have turkey!" Violet said, smiling at the two boys.

  After a hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon, and toast, Ralph visited the barber shop, Grandfather went to buy a stove, Larry took Steven and Rose Miller to view a historic mansion, and the children bought groceries for lunch and dinner.

  Afterward, Hannah and Davey went to meet their parents while the Aldens stopped at a drugstore for hot chocolate.

  "I don't believe Betsy is guilty of all those mean things," Violet said. "Not after her window was broken."

  Henry pushed his empty cup aside. "I'm not so sure."

  "Why?" Jessie asked. "Betsy's window was broken. She wouldn't break it herself, would she?"

  "Well, it's funny," Henry continued, leaning back in his chair. "If a burglar stood on the balcony and broke the window, most of the glass would be inside Betsy's bedroom. But we cleaned up most of the pieces outside on the balcony."

  "You mean that someone must have broken the glass from inside the house?" Jessie asked.

  "Right," Henry answered. "Also, I didn't see any footprints on the balcony."

  "I hope Betsy isn't doing bad things to Snowflake Inn," Soo Lee said, her dark eyes worried.

  Jessie said, "Remember how Betsy glared at Larry? She must think he's the guilty one."

  "Maybe he is," Violet said.

  Henry, glancing at his watch, jumped up. "We're late. We have to meet Mr. Winston. Grandfather told me he'd meet us back at the inn."

  When they arrived at the inn, Grandfather was there with a big smile on his face. "Come into the kitchen," he said.

  Curious, Benny rushed into the kitchen. "Wow!" he exclaimed.

  Ralph Winston moved forward, running his hand over the surface of the new stove. "Why," he said in amazement, "this stove looks more like an antique than the one taken out of here." Clearly, he was pleased.

  "It looks like an antique, but cooks and bakes like a modern stove." Grandfather chuckled. "You see, Ralph? You can modernize this inn and it won't lose its eighteenth-century character."

  Ralph's mouth set in a stubborn line. "This stove is change enough! I don't want any more modern things to ruin Snowflake!"

  "Why are you so obstinate, Dad?" Larry said, his voice rising. "Maybe you should give up the inn."

  Jessie, sensing another argument, interrupted in a cheerful tone, "How about letting us cook lunch on the new stove?"

  "Sounds great," said Grandfather.

  That afternoon, the children each scooped up a big bowl of fresh snow, then drizzled maple syrup over it for a treat. While eating the delicious sweet, they planned their holiday menu. Later, Larry drove the Aldens into town to buy groceries for the big feast.

  After dinner, the children gathered around the piano in the den. Jessie played, and everyone, in loud, happy voices, sang "Over the River and Through the Woods."

  Henry brought in an armful of firewood. Attempting to light the fire, though, he leaped up in dismay. "This wood!" he shouted angrily. "It's wet! It was fine this afternoon. I checked it!"

  "You mean someone poured water over it?" Benny asked, frowning. "Just so we couldn't have a fire?"

  "That's ridiculous!" Larry growled, throwing down a log in disgust. "No one would do that."

  Violet's heart picked up a beat. Who was doing all these mean things? Was it Betsy? Or Larry? Why wouldn't they stop?

  CHAPTER 11

  Benny and the Secret Room

  "So what if the firewood is wet!" Jessie exclaimed. "Who needs a fire?" She jumped up from the piano. "I have an idea. Let's bake holiday cookies!"

  "Yes, yes," Benny responded. "We'll have a good time tonight."

  "We can try out the new oven," Violet pointed out.

  "Good idea," Henry said. "The oven needs testing before we roast the turkey tomorrow."

  The children trooped into the kitchen, bringing out cookie sheets and cookie cutters. Jessie preheated the oven.

  Henry mixed sugar cookie dough, Violet rolled it out, and Davey and Benny cut out stars, bells, and candy canes.

  Then Jessie mixed up dough for a batch of Russian tea balls. When her cookies were baked, Benny, Soo Lee, and Davey rolled them in powdered sugar. Next, they decorated some of the sugar cookies with red and green gum drops, others with sparkly candies.

  The children topped the evening off by eating warm cookies and drinking cold milk. Bedtime arrived before they knew it.

  Tucking himself in, Benny refused to think about all the bad things that had happened. Surely, nothing else bad would take place. Instead, he thought about the holiday feast the following evening. What fun it would be to cook the dinner. With happy thoughts of pumpkin pie and whipped, cream, Benny drifted off to sleep.

  In the morning the kitchen became a flurry of cooking activity as the children prepared the turkey, simmered the giblets, and boiled cranberries and sugar.

  Rose Miller entered, surveying the busy kitchen. "May I give you a hand?"

  "No, Mother," Hannah answered with a smile. "We've got everything under control."

  "Well, all right," Rose said doubtfully. "But, please let me know if you need help." She backed out. "If you're sure you don't need me, your dad and I will go for a walk."

  " 'Bye, Mom," Davey said, smiling and waving. "We'll be fine. The Aldens are showing us what to do."

  Rose smiled, too. She seemed pleased that Hannah and Davey were helping in the kitchen and clearly enjoying themselves.

  The Aldens turned back to their chores.

  Davey and Soo Lee chopped onions for the stuffing. Benny diced celery. In a big bowl, Violet tore up pieces of bread, mixing in an egg, and Jessie simmered chicken broth to pour over it. Soo Lee sprinkled the mixture with salt, pepper, and sage. Hannah stirred the ingredients together. Next, Jessie and Benny stuffed the turkey cavity with the moist dressing.

  Finally, Henry carried the roaster, with the twenty-pound turkey in it, to the oven and placed it inside.

  "Hey, kids," Larry said, poking his head in, "let's take a sleigh ride down to the pond. You can help me feed the ducks and geese."

  "Oh, boy!" Benny said. "Let's go."

  "I thought most birds had flown south for the winter," Jessie said.

  "These birds are on their way," Larry said with a chuckle, "but we can fill their stomachs so they'll have a good flight."

  Violet thought it couldn't be Larry. He was too nice.

  The sleigh ride reddened the children's cheeks and put big smiles on their faces.

  When they arrived at the pond, a flock of geese had landed on the shore. Benny and Davey raced ahead, each with a bag of bird seed. After scattering the seed over the ground, the two boys were delighted to see the honking geese devour the food.

  Violet and Henry, carrying seed, moved to another area where mallard ducks had settled.

  Soo Lee fed a lone duck by an oak tree. Hannah and Jessie helped Larry unload a huge sack of feed and distribute it along the edge of the pond.

  After the birds had been fed, the children climbed aboard the sleigh for the ride back to the inn.

  "I hope nothing has happened to the turkey or cranberry sauce," Violet said. The way things had been going, she wasn't sure what they'd find next!

  "Grandfather and Ralph will protect the kitchen," Jessie said reassuringly.

  Overhearing these remarks, Benny jumped up and down on the bench. "Go faster, Larry!"

  From an easy trot, Dobbin and Robin broke into a gallop and soon the children were back in the kitchen, pleased to find that everything was as they'd left it. They quickly prepared a late breakfast of cinnamon toast and oatmeal.

  Davey rang the bell to announce that breakfast was ready, and everyone assembled around the dining-room table.

  "We'd better not eat too much," Benny said. "We need to have a big appetite for our holiday dinner." Benny grinned at Betsy.

  Betsy pushed aside the oatmeal. "I only wanted toast," she said.

  Betsy's perfume tickled Benny's nose. He sneezed. "Ah-choo!"

  Betsy rose and smiled suddenly. "I'll help you make the dinner. Then I'm going horseback riding."

  The children were all pleased with Betsy's offer of help and her good spirits.

  After eating, the children and Betsy cleared the table, and set to work making biscuits, mashed potatoes, scalloped corn, candied yams, apple salad, and pumpkin pies.

  Benny, who had been cutting up walnuts for the apple salad, sneezed again. "I'm going upstairs for a tissue," he said.

  Jessie laughed. "Betsy's jasmine perfume makes you sneeze."

  "I'm sorry," Betsy said. "I'll go riding now and you'll stop sneezing."

  "I'll be back to help," Benny promised, hurrying to the steps.

  On the way there, however, he slowed his steps, remembering the secret room. Maybe clues were hidden in there and he could be the one to find the mystery person. He was tired of the mean tricks.

  Standing before the brick wall, Benny pushed one brick, then another, but the door didn't budge. At last, he pressed the right brick and the door swung open. Carefully, he inched forward. He'd only advanced a few steps, however, when the door clicked shut! Benny, his heart thudding, tried to see in the blackness. Now he was locked in the secret room and no one knew where he was! What should he do? Benny sank to the floor and put his head in his hands. What if he was in this dark, scary place forever?

  CHAPTER 12

  The Guilty One

  Inside the secret room, Benny wrinkled his nose, lifting his head. Jasmine! Betsy's perfume followed him everywhere, even here. Slowly, he moved about, unable to see.

  What if he missed the holiday feast? He had to find a way out! His eyes were getting used to the dark and he saw, on one wall, a low, rounded door. When he twisted the handle, the door opened. On hands and knees, he emerged into the kitchen!

  "Benny!" Violet called, pulling her brother from under a worktable. "Where have you been?"

  Henry leaned down, astonished. "Look how this wallpaper hides an opening in the wall. Where did you come from, Benny?"

  "The secret room," Benny answered.

  Jessie put her arm around his shoulders. "Poor Benny! You must have been scared."

  "A little," he confessed in a low tone.

  "Now we know how a person can get into Greta's locked kitchen," Henry said.

  "And while I was in there I smelled Betsy's perfume!" Benny said.

  "Are you sure?" Soo Lee asked, dusting off a cobweb from Benny's shirt.

  "Betsy must have been in there," Jessie said.

  "But why would she creep around in that secret room?" Benny asked. "It's dark and scary."

  "Well, if she was up to no good . . ." Henry began.

  "And she didn't want anyone to know . . ." Violet added.

  "I bet that's how she got into the locked kitchen to break the stove," Jessie said.

  "What should we do?" Violet asked.

  "Dinner's almost ready. I think we should wait until afterward before we do anything," Henry said.

  "How are things going, children?" Grandfather said, as he came in just then. He sniffed. "Those pumpkin pies smell wonderful."

  "We're right on schedule, Grandfather," Jessie said. "After we set the table, we'll take our baths and dress for dinner."

  "Good, good," James Alden said. "I'm getting hungry."

  "I am hungry!" Benny said.

  Hannah smiled and turned to Violet. "I'm going to wear my new red dress," she said.

  "I can't wait to see it," Violet answered, accompanying Hannah up the stairs.

  Jessie and Henry followed.

  Benny and Davey were last, staying behind to each dip a finger into the whipped cream for just a taste.

  After the boys took their baths, they slicked down their hair and pulled on their best sweaters.

  The girls, already downstairs, were in the kitchen, dishing the food into bowls.

  "Anything left for us to do?" Henry asked.

  "Please take the turkey out of the oven," Jessie said. "Put it on the big platter, and set it at Grandfather's place for carving."

  "Will do," answered Henry cheerfully.

  "We're ready," Jessie pronounced, removing her apron.

  Soo Lee rang the dinner bell.

  When Steven and Rose Miller came in, Rose stepped back with a gasp. "How beautiful! How the crystal, silver, and china sparkle in the candlelight!"

  Pleased, Henry smiled. All their hard work was appreciated. Down the center of the table bunches of holly, pine boughs, and pinecones surrounded six crimson candles. Clearly it was holiday time!

  Grandfather sat at one end of the long table with the huge golden brown bird before him. At his left, Larry stared in amazement. "You kids have done a great job!" he marveled.

  "I agree!" Ralph said, "I've never seen the dining room so festive and magnificent."

  The smiling children stood in the doorway, admiring the table. Henry snapped a picture.

  "Where's my niece?" Ralph asked, glancing about.

  Soo Lee turned. But there was no Betsy!

  Benny tugged on Jessie's sleeve, beckoning her to follow him. The other Aldens went along, too, trooping into the den.

  Benny pointed to Betsy, who lay sobbing on the sofa.

  "Betsy," Violet said, dashing forward and patting the young woman's shoulder. "What's wrong?"

  Betsy continued to cry.

  "What's wrong?" Benny repeated.

  Betsy sat up. "It's all of you," she said between sobs.

  Benny's eyes widened and he looked at Henry in bewilderment. Why was Betsy blaming them?

  CHAPTER 13

  Good-Bye, Snowflake Inn

  "Us?" Jessie asked in disbelief. "What did we do?"

  "Do? Why, you've been sweet and good to me," Betsy replied, "and I've repaid your kindness with meanness! I've done awful things! Things I'm ashamed of."