“The clues inside these boxes,” she told them, “lead to the hiding place of the first gold coin. You’ll have until five o’clock today,” she added. “Best of luck!”
With that, both teams headed for the door, with the cameramen close behind.
Outside, the Aldens set off in one direction, the Best family in the other. When Jessie spotted an empty bench by the bus stop, she sat down with the box.
“Hurry, Jessie,” Benny pleaded. “Open the box, okay?” The youngest Alden was bobbing up and down with excitement.
With Andy’s camera rolling, Jessie lifted the lid of the wooden box. Inside, they found a note, some cloth stars, and three spools of colored thread—red, white, and blue.
Jessie read the note aloud: “Cats at play will show the way.”
“Cats at play?” Benny echoed. “What’s that all about?”
“You got me,” said Henry.
“Thirteen,” Jessie said, after counting the white stars. “Thirteen stars and three spools of thread. How weird is that?”
“I was just thinking,” said Violet. “I’m not sure about the thread and the stars, but I have a feeling we should head for the zoo.”
Benny looked confused. “The zoo?”
“I think I know what Violet means,” said Henry.
“Lions and tigers are cats.”
“And the zoo has lots of lions and tigers,” Benny cried, suddenly catching on.
Violet was flipping through the brochures. “Here’s a picture of the Philadelphia zoo.” She held it up to the camera as Andy gestured to her. “I think it’s worth checking out.”
But Jessie wasn’t so sure. How did the zoo fit in with the other clues—the spools of thread and the thirteen stars? Still, she didn’t have any better ideas, so they decided to give it a shot.
“Keep your eyes open,” Jessie said later, as they peered out the window of the bus. “We get off at Walnut Street.”
“Don’t worry, Jessie,” said Benny, who was sitting beside her. “I’m a good detective. I always keeps both eyes open.”
Sure enough, Benny was the first to spot Walnut Street. When the bus slowed to a stop, everyone hopped off. But something didn’t seem right.
“I don’t get it,” said Henry, glancing around. “This isn’t a zoo—it’s a park.”
“I don’t get it, either,” said Jessie. “According to the map, the Philadelphia zoo should be right here.”
The other Aldens exchanged puzzled looks. Jessie was the best map-reader in the family. It wasn’t like her to get directions wrong.
Benny looked over at the cameraman. “Do you know where we are, Andy?”
“Sorry, Benny,” Andy shrugged a little. “It’s against the rules for me to help in any way,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to give Hilary an excuse to fire me.”
“Would she really do that?” Violet asked in disbelief.
Andy nodded. “I’m afraid we don’t exactly get along.”
Violet was surprised to hear this. Andy and Hilary were such nice people. Why didn’t they get along?
Just then, a woman pushing a baby buggy came along. “Excuse me,” Jessie said to her. “Do you know how to get to the Philadelphia zoo?”
“The zoo?” The woman’s eyebrows shot up. “I’m afraid you’re way off course.” After fishing around in her purse, she pulled out a pen and a pad of paper. “You’re in Washington Square right now,” she told them. “The zoo is in Fairmount Park.” She drew a quick map and handed it to Jessie.
“We’re not even close to the zoo,” Jessie said, after thanking the woman. “I don’t understand it.” She was shaking her head as she stared at the hand-drawn map.
“Philadelphia’s a big city, Jessie,” Violet pointed out, as they headed for the bus stop.
“And we’ve never been here before,” Benny added.
Henry nodded. “I bet visitors get lost all the time.”
“I suppose,” said Jessie. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right.
“Camels!” Benny cried as they followed the tree-lined walkway at the zoo.
Henry, Jessie, and Violet hurried over to look at the strange animals with the long faces and the humps on their backs. Andy turned the camera toward the camels, then back to the Aldens.
“They’re called ships of the desert,” Henry noted, as he read the information on a sign.
Benny gave his brother a questioning look. “Ships of the desert?”
“Camels travel over oceans of sand,” Henry explained, “so people call them ships of the desert.”
“Oh, I get it,” Benny said. “Just like ships travel over oceans of water.”
“You catch on fast, Benny,” Henry said.
“We did a unit about camels at school,” said Jessie. “They can bite and spit.”
“Bite and spit?” Violet raised her eyebrows. “They don’t look like they have bad tempers.”
“They can’t be that bad,” said Henry. “Not if visitors can go for a ride.” He pointed to a sign that read: CAMEL RIDES.
“Do we have time?” Benny asked. He looked at his older brother.
“Not if we want to find that gold coin,” Henry answered.
“It should be just up ahead,” Jessie said, checking out the map of the zoo. “The Big Cat exhibit, I mean.”
“The zoo’s a great place to hide a gold coin,” Benny remarked, as they continued on their way. “Right, Jessie?”
“Right,” Jessie said, trying to sound positive. But she was still convinced the thirteen stars and the spools of thread were important clues. She wasn’t so sure they were really pointing the way to the zoo.
Andy and the four children threaded their way through the crowds to the Big Cat exhibit. Violet gasped when she caught sight of a tiger swimming in the water. “Oh, how beautiful!” she breathed.
“Tigers like swimming,” Jessie stated. “See how he’s using his giant paws to glide along?”
They soon spotted a jaguar snoozing in the sun, a lion beside a fallen tree, and a snow leopard climbing over the rocks. They were so interested in the wild cats, they forgot all about the gold coin for a while. It was Violet who finally remembered.
“The hiding place must be around here somewhere,” she said.
“Oh, right!” Jessie smacked her forehead with the palm of her hand. “Let’s split up,” she suggested. “That way we can cover more ground.”
Henry and Violet went one way, Jessie and Benny went the other. They kept a sharp eye out for the gold coin. But, after searching every inch of the walkway around the exhibit, they came back empty-handed.
“Looks like we struck out,” said Violet.
“Never mind,” said Jessie. “It was worth a shot.”
“What now?” Benny asked, his shoulders slumped.
Henry looked at his watch. “It’s almost lunchtime. I vote we head back,” he said. “Didn’t Grandfather say something about a park near the hotel?”
Jessie nodded. “Franklin Square,” she recalled. “Grandfather said we could get hot dogs there.”
“Let’s go!” Benny brightened. “What are we waiting for?”
“Andy,” Henry said, scanning the crowds. “He was standing right here a little while ago.”
“I noticed a gift shop nearby,” said Violet. “Maybe he went to buy a souvenir.”
“Could be,” Jessie said. “Let’s head over that way.”
“Let’s buy something for Mrs. McGregor while we’re here,” Violet said as they stepped inside.
“How about a coffee mug?” Henry suggested, as they browsed around the crowded shop.
Violet nodded. “I like the one with the giraffes on it.”
“So do I,” said Jessie. “Let’s get that one.”
While Violet and Jessie waited in the checkout line, Henry and Benny went outside. “Hey, isn’t that Andy?” Benny asked.
Henry looked in the direction his brother was pointing. Sure enough, the young cameraman
was standing in the shade of a tree, his back to them. When the children got closer, they realized he was talking on a cell phone. They caught some of his words.
“I’m telling you, I had to make the switch,” he was saying. “Look, what choice did I have?”
Henry and Benny exchanged puzzled glances. Why did Andy sound so upset?
CHAPTER 3
The Storyteller
As soon as they got to Franklin Square Park, the Aldens made a beeline for a food stand. Henry ordered a hot dog and soft pretzels. So did everyone else—including Andy.
“Grandfather says Philadelphia is famous for its soft pretzels,” Benny told the man behind the counter.
“Your grandfather’s right,” the man said. “You folks from out of town?”
Jessie nodded. “This is our first trip to Philadelphia.”
“Well, there’s a mini-golf course in the park if you’re interested.” The man placed the hot dogs and pretzels on the counter. “It’s pretty cool,” he added. “There’s a miniature landmark on every hole—like the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.”
“Cool!” Henry squirted mustard over his hot dog. “Maybe we’ll come back later in the week.”
Jessie was glancing around for a place to eat. “There’s a spot over there,” she said, jerking her head in the direction of a huge bench.
“Somebody’s sitting there, Jessie,” Benny pointed out. “A lady in a costume.”
“That’s a storytelling bench,” Andy informed them. “The city hires actors to dress up in costumes and tell stories about the early days in Philadelphia.”
“Sounds like fun,” said Jessie. “We can eat our lunch and hear a story.”
The young woman in the long gown and white cap looked up from her sewing as they walked over. “I’m Caroline,” she said, greeting them with a smile. “I was hoping you’d join me.”
“What a pretty design,” Violet remarked, after everyone said hello. She was admiring the woman’s delicate stitches.
“I’m making a small tablecloth,” Caroline told her. “I decided to add a border of blue cornflowers. Of course, I’m not as skilled as Betsy Ross,” she added, “but I do my best.”
“Betsy Ross?” The name sounded familiar to Jessie. “Didn’t she sew the first American flag?”
“Nobody knows for sure.” Andy wiped some mustard from the corner of his mouth. “But Betsy Ross usually gets the credit.”
Caroline nodded. “According to the story,” she told them, “it was George Washington who asked Betsy to sew the first American flag.”
“That’d take forever,” said Benny. He held out his cracked pink cup while Henry poured the lemonade. “To sew fifty stars and all those stripes, I mean.”
Caroline shook her head. “Actually, Betsy only sewed thirteen stars—one star for every colony.”
“What’s a—” Benny began.
“Colony?” Henry knew the question before his brother even asked it. “That’s what the first states were called,” he said. “Back when the settlers first came to America.”
Caroline nodded. “There were only thirteen colonies back in the days of the American Revolution. That’s why there were only thirteen stars on the first American flag.”
Thirteen stars? Jessie glanced over at Henry. She could tell by the look on his face that he was thinking what she was thinking. Wasn’t that the exact number of stars in the box of clues?
Andy caught the look. In a flash, he swallowed the last bite of his hot dog and started filming again.
The storyteller went on to say that Betsy Ross was a seamstress and a good friend of George Washington’s. But there was no proof she actually sewed the first American flag.
After thanking Caroline, Jessie was anxious to talk to her sister and brothers. “That was a real stroke of luck,” she said, as they tossed napkins and empty containers into a trash can.
“What was, Jessie?” Violet wanted to know.
“You’re thinking about the thirteen stars in the box of clues,” guessed Henry. “Right, Jessie?”
“Exactly!”
“Of course!” Violet put a hand over her mouth in surprise. “Then the clues are pointing to the first American flag.”
“Got to be,” said Jessie. “Even the spools of thread are red, white, and blue.”
“Just like the flag!” cried Benny. Then he gave a happy twirl all around.
But Henry was having second thoughts. “One problem,” he said. “What about the cats at play?”
“I’m not really sure what that’s all about,” admitted Jessie.
Violet’s mind was racing. “Unless …”
“Unless what, Violet?” Henry asked.
“Unless the clues are pointing to Betsy Ross.” Violet started flipping through the pages of a travel brochure. “I knew there was a picture of the Betsy Ross House in here,” she said, thumping a finger down.
The other Aldens gathered round to take a look at a narrow brick house with a thirteen-star flag out front.
Henry said, “I think you’re on to something, Violet.”
Benny was quick to agree. “I bet that’s where we’ll find cats at play!”
“And it’s open to tourists,” Violet informed them.
“We can walk to it from here,” Jessie told them, after a quick look at the map. “Chestnut Street isn’t far.”
Benny broke into a run. “Let’s find that gold coin!”
“That can’t be the Betsy Ross House,” Violet said a little later. “It’s too big.”
For a long moment, the four Aldens stared in puzzled silence. The two-story brick building set back from Chestnut Street didn’t look anything like the picture in the brochure.
While Andy filmed from a distance, Jessie sat down on a nearby bench. She unfolded the map to take another look. “Where did I go wrong?” she asked.
The other Aldens looked at each other in bewilderment. How could Jessie get the directions mixed up again?
Henry sat down beside his sister. “Maybe we can figure it out together.”
That seemed like a good idea. As Violet looked over her sister’s shoulder, she noticed something strange. The landmark picture of the Betsy Ross House was peeling away from the map. On a hunch, she reached over and pulled on one corner of the picture. Sure enough, it was just a sticker. And it was hiding another landmark underneath!
The Aldens looked at one another. For a moment, they were too stunned to speak.
“We’re at Carpenter’s Hall!” Violet said at last.
Jessie pulled off more stickers. The Philadelphia zoo had been switched with Washington Square!
“Somebody covered up the real landmark pictures with stickers,” Henry realized.
“You mean, somebody tried to fool us?” A frown crossed Benny’s round face.
“It sure looks that way,” said Henry. “I guess he—or she—wanted to throw us off track.”
Jessie let out a sigh. “We wasted a lot of time trying to find our way around.”
“It’s not very nice to trick people,” Benny said in a small voice.
“No, it’s not,” said Jessie, who couldn’t help noticing that Andy had stopped filming.
“But who would do such a thing?” Violet wondered.
“I’m not sure who tampered with the map,” Henry said. “But I think we should concentrate on one mystery at a time.”
“Good idea,” said Jessie, who was bending over the map again. “We’ve still got time to get to the Betsy Ross House. It’s only a few blocks away.”
Henry jumped to his feet. “Then let’s go,” he said. “We’re not giving up that easily, are we?”
“No!” the others shouted.
With that, the Aldens set off lickety-split.
CHAPTER 4
Cats at Play
When the Aldens finally arrived at the Betsy Ross House, Andy said, “There’s no filming allowed inside the house, kids. I’ll wait in the courtyard.”
Henry gave him the th
umbs-up sign. “We’ll meet you out there.”
As the four children stepped inside the house, they breathed in the musty smell of the past. The narrow little house was filled with tourists, so they had to thread their way through the crowds as they went from room to room.
“It’s kind of like walking through a haunted house,” Benny said as they climbed the winding staircase.
“Don’t worry, Benny,” said Violet, who was a step above him. “Ghosts don’t exist.”
They looked for cats in the shadowy kitchen where herbs hung from the ceiling, and in the storage room piled high with boxes of fabrics. They looked for cats in the small parlor where portraits covered the walls, and in Betsy’s bedroom with its four-poster bed. They even looked for cats in the workroom filled with the tools of Betsy’s trade—thimbles, spools of thread, and fabric.
When the Aldens stepped out into the courtyard, Andy called out to them, “Any luck?” He was sitting at a small table in the shade of a tree.
“Zilch,” Henry said as they pulled up a chair. “No sign of cats anywhere.”
“It doesn’t make sense.” Jessie was shaking her head. “I was so sure we were on the right track this time.”
“Speaking of time.” Henry glanced at his watch. “It’s running out fast.”
“I’ve drawn a blank,” said Jessie.
Just then, Benny caught his breath.
“What is it?” Jessie asked in alarm.
Benny’s eyes were huge. They all looked over in the direction he was staring.
“Is that what I think it is?” Violet asked in disbelief.
Henry nodded his head. “Cats!”
Sure enough, a fountain in the middle of the courtyard was decorated with bronze cats!
As Andy started filming again, Jessie gave her little brother a hug. “What would we do without you, Benny?”
“I’m a pretty good detective, aren’t I?” Benny beamed.
“They look so real,” Violet said, as they hurried over to the fountain. She rubbed a hand over one of the bronze cats. “This one’s dipping his paw into the water.”
Jessie laughed a little. “This one’s scratching his back against the fountain.”
At that very moment, something caught Henry’s eye. The others watched in amazement as their older brother stuck his arm deep into the water. When he pulled it out again, he was holding something in the palm of his hand. As he slowly uncurled his fingers, Jessie, Violet, and Benny gasped.