“Hi, Tommy,” Nancy said. “Do you know where Kevin, Peter, and Quincy went?”
“Why?” Tommy joked. “Do you like them?”
“Ewwwww!” Bess cried.
“Do you know or not, Maron?” George demanded.
“I think they went to Kevin’s house,” Tommy said. “They wanted to take home our new mascot.”
Nancy, Bess, and George traded wide-eyed looks. Did Tommy just say mascot?
Hay, You!
“Is the mascot a scarecrow?” Nancy asked.
“Maybe,” Tommy teased. “Maybe not.”
Nancy rolled her eyes. Tommy was playing a game—and it wasn’t soccer. “Come on, Tommy,” she urged. “Tell us!”
“I’ve got to go,” Tommy said, tucking the ball under his arm. “My dad is waiting for me.”
“Phooey,” Bess said as Tommy ran off. “Now we’ll never know if their mascot was Autumn or not.”
Nancy felt frustrated too. Until she remembered something about Kevin . . .
“Who says we won’t?” Nancy said. “Kevin is always bragging that he lives across the street from the park.”
“So?” George said.
“So,” Nancy said with a smile. “Next stop, the Garcias’!”
The girls left the park and carefully crossed the street. They read the names on the mailboxes until they found the Garcias’.
“If Kevin does have Autumn,” Nancy said, “he’s probably keeping her in his room.”
“I’m not going in a boy’s room!” Bess complained. “You never know what gross things we’ll find.”
“As long as we find Autumn—who cares?” George said.
As they approached the house, they heard voices. They weren’t coming from the house but from a tool shed next to it. The door was closed, making the voices hard to hear.
“Let’s go closer,” Nancy said quietly.
But then the door began to open. Quickly the girls hid behind a thick tree trunk.
Nancy, Bess, and George peeked out from behind the tree. As Kevin, Peter, and Quincy filed out they dusted what looked like yellow grass from their clothes.
“That looks like hay,” Nancy whispered.
“Autumn is made of hay,” Bess said. “Maybe she’s in there!”
The girls watched Peter stuff bunches of hay up his sleeves. “I’m a scarecrow!” he began shouting. “Look at me, I’m a scarecrow!”
“Scarecrow, huh?” George whispered. “Something tells me we came to the right place.”
The boys laughed as they tossed hay at one another. Kevin then said, “Let’s shoot some hoops in my backyard.”
The boys ran around the house. When the coast was clear, the girls stepped out from behind the tree.
“We’ve got to look inside,” Nancy said.
“Yeah,” George agreed. “I have a feeling we’ll find a lot more than tools.”
Luckily Kevin had left the shed door open, so the girls slipped inside.
“Where are you, Autumn?” Bess called. “Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
They found gardening tools, a lawn mower, bags of planting soil, and more hay scattered on the floor. But where was Autumn?
“Look!” Bess suddenly cried.
She pointed to a row of metal shelves against one wall. On one of the shelves was a long cardboard box. Written on the side were the words: “Most Awesome Mascot in the World!”
“That box is big enough to fit Autumn,” George said. “I’m looking inside.”
Nancy, Bess, and George moved toward the shelf. Suddenly the box began to wiggle. The sounds of scratching and bumping came from inside too!
“You guys.” Bess gulped. “If Autumn is in there . . . she’s alive.”
George led the way as the girls inched toward the shelf. Reaching up, George pulled at the box only to have it tip on its side. Bess shrieked. Clumps of hay began to drop out of the box all over the girls!
“Ewwww!” Nancy cried.
But that wasn’t all. After a shower of hay came something big, fat, furry—and definitely alive.
“It’s a giant rat!” Bess shrieked.
The creature dropped off Bess’s shoulder onto Nancy’s foot. She was about to scream too when she realized it wasn’t a rat at all. In fact, it looked just like one of their class pets.
“It’s a guinea pig, you guys!” Nancy said with a smile. She gently picked it up when the boys charged into the shed.
“What are you doing with our mascot?” Peter demanded.
The startled guinea pig leaped out of Nancy’s hands, landing on the floor. He kicked up his feet before ricocheting around the shed.
“Get him!” Kevin cried.
The kids scrambled around the shed trying to catch the guinea pig. Heads bumped. Tools crashed to the floor. But the guinea pig was too fast to grab!
“We thought you wanted a scarecrow as a mascot,” Nancy shouted as the chase went on.
“We did!” Quincy shouted back. “But not a girlie-girl one like that Autumn.”
“So my mom bought me Vinnie,” Kevin said. “Guinea pigs make awesome mascots when they’re not making a mess.”
“Gotcha!” George said as she grabbed the guinea pig. She handed him to Kevin, who put him right back into his box.
“If Vinnie’s so awesome,” Bess said, “why is he living in a stinky cardboard box?”
“He won’t be there for long,” Peter said.
“My dad is building an awesome guinea pig habitat,” Kevin explained. “It’s going to have tunnels and caves—even a slide.”
“He deserves it,” Quincy said. “We already won a game today thanks to Vinnie.”
Nancy believed the boys about their new mascot. But could they have still stolen Autumn?
“What time was your game?” Nancy asked.
The boys seemed surprised at the question.
“Nine thirty,” Quincy answered. “But we were in the park warming up at nine.”
“Why do you want to know?” Kevin said, raising an eyebrow. “And why were you snooping in my dad’s shed?”
“Are you spies for the girls soccer team?” Quincy demanded.
Nancy shot Bess and George a sideways glance. If they told the boys they were looking for Autumn, they’d know she was missing.
“We were looking for hay!” George said quickly.
“Autumn is way too skinny,” Bess said. “She needs fattening up.”
Nancy scooped up a handful of hay and said, “This is all we need, thanks.”
Nancy, Bess, and George left the shed in a hurry.
“If the boys were at the park at nine, they couldn’t have been at Bess’s house stealing Autumn,” Nancy said.
“We didn’t find Autumn in there anyway,” George said.
“That’s the problem!” Bess wailed, raising her arms. “We’re not finding Autumn anywhere!”
Nancy dusted the hay off her hands. She looked at her watch and said, “No wonder we can’t find Autumn.”
“Why?” George asked.
“Because it’s way past lunchtime,” Nancy said with a smile. “Who can solve mysteries on empty stomachs?”
“You’re right,” Bess said, smiling too. “Let’s go to my house for tuna sandwiches with pickle relish.”
“Pickle relish?” George said. She rubbed her hands together hungrily. “Bring it!”
As the girls neared the Marvin house, they noticed someone sitting on the porch steps. But it wasn’t Autumn who’d returned. It was Deirdre Shannon!
“What’s she doing here?” Bess whispered.
Sitting alongside Deirdre were two girls from the other third-grade class, Ashley McCoy and Valerie Noh.
“What’s up?” Nancy asked.
“I told Ashley and Valerie about our class scarecrow,” Deirdre said. “I thought you could show her to them.”
Deirdre flashed a sly smile and said, “Unless . . . Autumn isn’t here.”
Farm Alarm
Deirdre, Ashl
ey, and Valerie stood waiting for an answer. Finally George shrugged and said, “Yeah . . . Autumn is here.”
“Huh?” Nancy and Bess said at the same time. Why was George saying something that wasn’t true?
“Then let’s see her,” Deirdre said.
“Sure,” George said. “We just have to get the mice out first.”
“Mice?” Deirdre said.
“Mice love hay just like guinea pigs do,” George explained. “We heard something squeak inside Autumn this morning.”
Nancy tried hard not to giggle. She knew George was making the mouse up. So did Bess. But Deirdre, Ashley, and Valerie did not!
“Ewww!” Ashley cried.
“If that scarecrow has a mouse living inside, I sure don’t want to see it,” Valerie declared.
“Geez, Deirdre,” Ashley said as she and Valerie began walking away. “What were you thinking?”
As Deirdre followed her friends she looked back and scowled.
“She definitely suspects something,” Bess whispered. “Next she’ll be writing stuff about us on her silly blog.”
“Who reads her dopey blog anyway?” George scoffed. “Now, where are those tuna sandwiches with pickle relish?”
They were about to head inside when a rustling noise filled the air.
“What was that?” Nancy asked.
“I think it came from over there,” Bess said. She pointed to the hedge between the yard and the sidewalk.
“Give me a break,” Nancy whispered. “Deidre is probably crouched down behind there listening in on us.”
“Hey, I’ve got an idea.” George snickered. “Let’s sneak up on that spy and give her a scare.”
The girls crouched too as they inched their way to the hedge. They were about to pop up and yell “Boo” when something popped up first—a big straw hat!
“Jake McStuffings!” Bess screamed.
The girls stared at the hat above the hedge until it dropped back down.
“Come on,” George said. “If it is Jake—I want to see him with my own eyes!”
Bess unwillingly followed George and Nancy as they raced out of the yard onto the sidewalk. They peeked behind the hedge and saw no one. But then Bess pointed down the sidewalk and shouted, “Over there!”
Nancy turned and saw a shadowy figure racing to the end of the sidewalk. He was dressed in baggy clothes and a big straw hat.
“There goes Jake,” George said.
“It wasn’t Jake,” Nancy said, shaking her head.
“Then who was it, Nancy?” Bess asked.
“I don’t know,” Nancy admitted. “I just know there is no such thing as a walking scarecrow.”
But as the girls walked slowly to the Marvins’ yard, Nancy glanced back at the hedge.
. . . At least I hope there isn’t, Nancy thought.
“Daddy, do you believe in scary stories?” Nancy asked as she set the table for dinner later that day. “You know, like witches . . . werewolves . . . walking scarecrows?”
“Sure, I believe in scary stories, Nancy,” Mr. Drew said, throwing her a wink. “But only on Halloween!”
Nancy did the math. Halloween was over three weeks away. Not only was it getting dark early—it was getting spooky.
“And speaking of Halloween,” Mr. Drew said. “How about a trip to Granny Apple Farms tomorrow morning? You can ask Bess and George to come along too.”
“Thanks, Daddy, but we can’t,” Nancy said. “The Clue Crew is working on a special case.”
Hannah smiled as she carried a bowl of veggies into the dining room. “When isn’t the Clue Crew working on something special?” she teased.
“This case is different, Hannah,” Nancy said. “We have to solve it by Monday . . . or else.”
“Hmm,” Mr. Drew said. “I guess that is more important than a hayride.”
“Hayride?” Nancy asked. She loved hayrides!
“And picking out the perfect pumpkin,” Mr. Drew added.
“Pumpkin?” Nancy asked. She loved pumpkin picking!
Nancy thought about the farm as she folded another napkin in half.
“I guess the Clue Crew could use a break, Daddy,” Nancy decided. “And maybe some yummy caramel apples too!”
Sunday morning Mr. Drew drove Nancy, Bess, and George to Granny Apple Farms. The three friends sat in the backseat whispering about what they saw the day before. . . .
“I didn’t sleep all night,” Bess said. “I kept thinking of that thing we saw outside my house.”
“You mean Jake McStuffings?” George said.
Nancy heaved a sigh. “There is only one scarecrow we’re going to talk about today,” she said. “And her name is Autumn.”
Mr. Drew pulled into the parking lot.
“Why don’t you girls go ahead to the pumpkin patch while I pick up some apple cider?” he said as they climbed out of the car.
“Sure, Daddy,” Nancy said.
Nancy, Bess, and George headed across the farm toward the pumpkin patch. On the way they passed stands selling apples, fresh veggies, and cider that smelled like cinnamon. Nancy was about to check out some colorful Indian corn when she heard the clip-clopping sound of horses’ hooves.
Turning, Nancy smiled. It was a hay wagon being pulled by a horse. A bunch of smiling kids sat swinging their feet over the sides. Two girls wore identical pumpkin-colored jackets. Nancy recognized one of them from school.
“There’s Leanne!” Nancy pointed out.
“She’s with her little sister, Trixie,” Bess said. “I guess Leanne likes hayrides too.”
“How can she?” Nancy said. “She told Mrs. Ramirez she’s allergic to hay.”
“Maybe the wagon is filled with straw,” Bess said. “Leanne never said she was allergic to straw.”
“You’re probably right,” Nancy said. “Now let’s check out the pumpkins before the perfect ones are taken.”
The friends hurried to the patch. It was filled with pumpkins and kids trying to lift them.
“How about that one?” George asked, pointing one out.
“Too big,” Nancy said.
“How about that one?” Bess asked, pointing to another.
“Too small,” Nancy said.
“Okay, Goldilocks,” George joked. “Which one is just right?”
“How about that one?” a voice said.
The girls spun around. Standing right behind them was Harvey Mueller.
“Hi, Harvey,” Nancy said. She hoped he wouldn’t bring up Jake McStuffings!
“That pumpkin over there is perfect,” Harvey said, pointing to a medium-sized pumpkin. “It’s the right size and not as warped as some of the others.”
“Thanks,” George said.
Harvey then turned to Bess. “You should get a whole bunch of pumpkins,” he said.
“Me?” Bess asked. “Why?”
“Because,” Harvey said with a grin. “They would look awesome on your porch.”
Bess stared at Harvey as he walked away. “How did Harvey know I have a porch?” she asked. “He never came to my house.”
Nancy watched Harvey leave the pumpkin patch. He was pretty mad when no one believed his latest story. How far would he go to make everybody believe in Jake McStuffings?
“Maybe Harvey did come to your house, Bess,” Nancy said. “Maybe he came to steal Autumn.”
Bats and Hats
“Why would Harvey steal our scarecrow?” George asked.
“Maybe Harvey stole Autumn so we would think Jake did it,” Nancy figured.
“Yeah,” Bess said thoughtfully. “How else would Harvey know I had a porch unless he was there?”
“That’s why I think Harvey Mueller is our next suspect,” Nancy declared.
The girls looked all over the farm for Harvey but couldn’t find him anywhere.
“He probably went home.” Bess sighed.
“Then we should go to Harvey’s house too,” Nancy declared. “After we pick out a pumpkin and go on our hayride.”
/>
“I know where Harvey lives,” George said. “We went to his Halloween party when we were in first grade, remember?”
“How can I forget?” Bess groaned. “Instead of apples we bobbed for rubber eyeballs.”
Nancy remembered too. Harvey’s house was four blocks away from hers and within walking distance.
After another hour of pumpkins, hayrides, and caramel apples it was time to get back to work. . . .
“Have fun at your friend Harvey’s house!” Mr. Drew called from the car window.
George wrinkled her nose at the word “friend.”
“Thanks, Daddy,” Nancy called back.
The Clue Crew walked up toward the Mueller house. Nancy looked down and saw strands of hay scattered on the grass.
“That probably fell off Autumn when Harvey carried her here,” Nancy said.
The girls followed the trail around the Muellers’ house. It stopped suddenly at the base of a tree.
“Huh?” Nancy wondered.
But when the girls looked way up, they gasped. Up in the tree was a tree house—a haunted-looking tree house!
“Cheese and crackers!” George exclaimed.
The tree house had a crooked wooden roof and windows covered with cobwebs. A ladder leading up to the door was made of fake bones—at least Nancy hoped they were fake!
“If the trail of hay stops here,” Nancy thought out loud, “then Harvey must have carried Autumn up to his tree house.”
George cupped both hands around her mouth. “Come on out, Harvey Mueller,” she shouted up to the tree house. “We want to talk to you!”
No answer.
“Harvey?” Nancy called up too.
Still no answer.
“Let’s go up and look for Autumn,” Nancy decided.
“But I’m afraid!” Bess wailed.
“Of heights?” Nancy asked.
“No!” Bess cried. “Of ghosts!”
“Get a grip, Bess,” George said as she grabbed the ladder. “Whoever heard of a haunted tree house anyway?”
The bony ladder creaked as George climbed up first, followed by Nancy and then by Bess. Soon all three friends were inside and looking around.
“Whoa,” George said.