Read The Mandie Collection Online
Authors: Lois Gladys Leppard
“Probably taking the garbage out,” Sallie answered.
“Or visiting Abraham?” Mandie speculated.
“Abraham? Do you think she might have been over there?” Joe asked.
“Let's go visit him,” Mandie said.
They turned and walked over to the gardener's cottage, but he was nowhere to be seen. Dr. Plumbley and Moses were sitting on Abraham's porch alone.
“Is Abraham not home?” Mandie asked as she and her two friends sat down on the steps.
“No, we're waiting for him,” Dr. Plumbley replied.
“Here he comes now,” Joe said.
Abraham plodded across the yard from the back door of the big house, carrying a flour sack stuffed full of something. He stumbled up onto the porch, shoved the sack through his front door, and then sat down on the porch with the doctor. “I jes' heered 'bout Elijah, Samuel. I'm terrible sorry,” he said. “Mr. Shaw jes' told me.”
“You weren't home when we came,” Dr. Plumbley told his friend, “so we went over there.”
“Ain't been gone long.” Abraham slowly rocked back and forth in his rocking chair. “Been over to de big house gittin' some things.”
Dr. Plumbley looked at Abraham pleadingly. “I wanted to ask you if you'd let Moses stay here with you until I can send for him,” he said. “I don't want him to stay alone out there in Elijah's house.”
“Stay here wid me?” Abraham stopped rocking and pondered the question.
“I'll send you money for his board, of course,” Dr. Plumbley said.
“Stay wid me?” Abraham repeated. “I don't think dat would work out, Samuel.”
“What do you mean, Abraham? Moses is a good boy, easy to get along with,” the doctor assured him.
Abraham looked directly at the boy. “I knows you's a good boy,” he said. “It's jes' dat it wouldn't beâuhâconvenientâuhâright now.”
“Convenient? What on earth are you talking about?” the doctor asked.
The young people leaned forward, listening for his answer.
“Iâuhâalready have somebody gwine t' stay wid me,” Abraham explained, avoiding the doctor's gaze.
“Oh, I see. I didn't know you were taking in a boarder,” Dr. Plumbley said.
“Well, dadblame it, Samuel!” Abraham exploded. “Here ebrybody been preachin' to me, and when I finally gits 'round to askin' Jenny to come home, you be tryin' to give me a boarder. She wouldn't like dat.”
“Abraham!” Mandie cried. “Jenny is coming home?” She jumped up and reached for the old man's hand. “I'm thrilled to death!”
“Abraham, if your wife is coming back to live with you, I wouldn't interfere with that for anything in the world.” Dr. Plumbley beamed. “I'm so happy for you!”
“Let's go see Jenny!” Joe exclaimed.
The young people hurried across the yard to the big house, but as they pushed open the back door, they came face-to-face with Aunt Lou.
“Where y'all goin' in sech a all-fired hurry?” Aunt Lou demanded. “We've got to see Jenny, Aunt Lou,” Mandie answered.
The big Negro housekeeper quickly grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her the other direction. “You ain't botherin' Jenny. She got to git dat dinnuh done!” Aunt Lou scolded. “Now git goin.'”
“But we just wanted to tell her how happy we are that she is moving in with Abraham,” Mandie said.
“I knows all 'bout dat,” Aunt Lou said. “You tell her later.”
Mandie sighed, and she and her friends walked down the hallway to the parlor, where the adults still sat talking.
“Guess what?” Mandie announced. “Jenny is moving in with Abraham.”
“That's great,” Uncle John replied.
“It's about time,” Elizabeth agreed.
Uncle Ned grinned broadly.
“But it's not all good news,” Joe said. “Abraham is not going to let Moses stay with him because Jenny won't like it.”
Everyone became silent, and the three young people sat down on the settee.
“I wonder what Dr. Plumbley is going to do,” Sallie said.
“He is going to have to take that ruby, whether he likes it or not,” Mandie stated.
Uncle John smiled. “You're right, Amanda,” he agreed. “You get him back in here while I go get the ruby.”
The young people hurried over to Abraham's front porch where Abraham, Dr. Plumbley, and Moses were still sitting.
“Uncle John wants you to come back to see him for a minute, Dr. Plumbley,” Mandie called up to the porch.
“Do you know what he wants? We have to be going,” the doctor replied.
“He just said to ask you to come back for a minute,” Mandie said. “Come on.”
Dr. Plumbley and Moses followed the young people to the house and into the parlor where John Shaw sat holding the ruby once more.
“You wanted to see us about something, Mr. Shaw?” Dr. Plumbley asked.
“Yes, sit down for just a minute. I know you're in a hurry,” John Shaw told him.
Everyone sat down.
John cleared his throat. “Now there is nothing left for you to do but take this ruby for Moses,” he insisted. “I understand Abraham is moving Jenny in over there and can't keep the boy.”
Dr. Plumbley immediately stood up. “I'm sorry, Mr. Shaw. I've already told you I couldn't do that,” the doctor refused.
John also stood. “What other alternative do you have?”
“I'll figure out something, but I can't accept charity,” the doctor said.
“Charity!” John bellowed. “This is something that rightfully belongs to you!”
The doctor touched Moses on the shoulder and turned toward the door.
Mandie blocked his way. “Dr. Plumbley,” she said firmly, “are you going to let your pride stand in the way of Moses' education? There have been plenty of other people who have paid for someone else's education before. Why can't you take the ruby for Moses? My father used to say, âpride goeth before a fall.' ”
Dr. Plumbley did not move. “I'm sorry, Missy,” he said softly.
“And remember the Bible verse Ruby wrote in her note?” Mandie continued. “ âFor unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.' What if your pride keeps us from living up to that?”
Tears rolled down the doctor's black face as he reached for Mandie's small hand. “Missy, you're so much like little Ruby. That's the way she always talked,” he said shakily.
Mandie held her other hand out to Uncle John for the ruby, and he gave it to her. When she pressed the gem into the doctor's big hand, he didn't refuse it this time.
Dr. Plumbley stared at it through his tears. “I may not live that long, but Moses will repay this,” he promised, looking at the boy. “It will all be repaid.”
“You don't pay someone back for a gift,” Mandie argued. “Ruby gave this to you as a gift.”
“That's right,” Uncle John persisted. “If you want to show your gratitude, you just help Moses be the best doctor he can be.”
Just then Liza stuck her head in the door. “Dinnuh done be ready!” she announced.
Elizabeth rose gracefully. “Dr. Plumbley, you and Moses must come on in and eat dinner with us,” she said. “I know you're in a hurry, but you've got to eat somewhere.”
“Yes, come on,” John urged.
Dr. Plumbley put his arm around Mandie. “Thank you, Missyâlittle Ruby.” He looked up. “Thank you all for everything,” he said.
As soon as the noon meal was over, Uncle Ned motioned to Mandie. “Come. Talk. Then Sallie and I leave.”
She followed him out onto the front porch. The others understood and waited inside.
As they sat down in the swing, Uncle Ned took Mandie's small white hand in his. His face was shining as he spoke to her. “Papoose do good job,” he said. “Ruby be proud of Papoose.”
“Thank you, Uncle Ned. When you asked me to come out here, I was wondering what I had done wrong,” Mandie admitted. “What you say to me always means so much.”
“See? Easy to be good Papoose,” Uncle Ned told her. “Easy to be good as it is to be bad.”
“I'm trying hard, Uncle Ned,” Mandie said.
“Must ask Big God take care of Moses now his father gone to happy hunting ground,” the old Indian said.
“Yes, let's do.” Mandie looked toward the sky, holding the old Indian's hand. “Dear God, please take care of Moses and help him to become a doctor, a good doctor, God. He's going to miss his grandpa. Thank you.”
“Yes, Big God. Bless Moses,” Uncle Ned asked, looking upward.
“He will,” Mandie promised.
“Yes, must go now,” Uncle Ned said.
Mandie looked up suddenly, hearing the sound of approaching hoofbeats.
A stranger on horseback dismounted at the gate in front of them and came up the walkway to the front porch. “Good afternoon,” he said, a little out of breath. “I have a message for Miss Amanda Shaw.” He offered them an envelope.
Puzzled, Mandie took it. “I'm Amanda Shaw,” she replied. “Thank you.” What is this? she wondered.
As the man left, Mandie opened the envelope and withdrew a sheet of paper. She began reading aloud. “ âDear Amanda, I have just learned of a great mystery here in Asheville that sounds like an adventure you would enjoy. Please hurry back in time to spend the night with me so that I may tell you about it before you have to check into school. Love always, Grandmother Taft.' ”
Uncle Ned patted the top of her blonde head. “Remember. Be good Papoose. Do not get in trouble. Will see you at school first full moon,” he promised.
This must be something awfully exciting for Grandmother to send me a special letter like this
, Mandie thought.
She could hardly wait to return to Asheville.
MANDIE
AND THE
MYSTERIOUS
BELLS
With love
to my other granddaughter,
Jordan Leigh Leppard,
that adorable, brown-eyed dear,
who knows Mandie's story
but can't read it herself yet.
CONTENTS
MANDIE AND THE MYSTERIOUS BELLS
Chapter   1  Grandmother's Mystery
Chapter   2  Strangers in the Church
Chapter   3  April's Threat
Chapter   4  Concern for Hilda
Chapter   6  No Way to Escape?
Chapter   7  Back to School
Chapter   9  Discovery in the Belfry
Chapter 10 Â Phineas Prattworthy
“Blessed are the merciful;
for they shall obtain mercy.”
Matthew 5:7
CHAPTER ONE
GRANDMOTHER'S MYSTERY
As Mandie stepped off the train with Jason Bond in Asheville, North Carolina, she found her good friend Celia waiting on the depot platform.
“Celia!” she exclaimed. “How did you get here?”
“Your grandmother sent me,” Celia replied. The two girls embraced each other. “You see, she asked my mother to let me come back a day early for school on account of the mystery that she wrote you about.”
Mandie pulled her coat around her more tightly to keep out the cold wind. “Has she told you what it's all about yet?” she asked eagerly.
“No, she's waiting for you,” Celia answered. She turned to greet Mandie's companion. “How are you, Mr. Bond?”
“Fine, little lady,” Mr. Bond replied, smiling down at the girl. “Mr. and Mrs. Shaw were busy, so they sent me with Miss Amanda.”
“Come on,” Celia urged. “Ben is waiting with the rig over there.” She led the way down the platform. “Here he comes now. Have you got all your baggage?”
“I'll get the trunk, Missy,” Mr. Bond offered, hurrying to where all the luggage had been unloaded from the train.
Ben drove the rig over to pick up the baggage, and the two men loaded the trunk and the bag Mandie was carrying.
Ben smiled at Mandie. “Welcome home, Missy. We'se glad to have you back.”
Mandie laughed. “Thanks, Ben, but my grandmother's house is not home,” she reminded him. “My mother and stepfather, Uncle John, back in Franklin, would have a fit if they heard you call this home.”
“But you lives at dat Miz Heathwoods' school back up yonder on de hill . . .” Ben looked puzzled.
“Only while school is going on,” Mandie explained as they climbed into the horse-drawn vehicle.
“Den you lives different places, don't you now?” Ben shook the reins and the horses started on their way.
“Yes, I suppose soâever since I met up with Mr. Jason here at my Uncle John's house in Franklin,” Mandie said, reaching over to squeeze Mr. Bond's hand. “He's my uncle's caretaker, you know. And he helps us solve our mysteries sometimes.”
“Now, Miss Amanda . . .” Jason Bond laughed. “All I really do when you're at home is try to keep up with whatever you're into next.”
Ben looked at Mr. Bond and winked. “Dat's impossible, Mistuh Bond,” he said. “Impossible to keep up wid dese two girls.”
Jason Bond smiled.
“Well, Ben, we have a brand new mystery,” Mandie announced. “And as soon as my grandmother tells us about it, we'll get right to work on it.” Her blue eyes sparkled as she talked. “Grandmother sent me a message to come back to school a day early so I could spend the night with her. She said something mysterious is going on here in Asheville.”
Ben grinned. “Good luck!”
“I'm thankful I have to go back home tomorrow,” Mr. Bond joked.
Mandie and Celia laughed.
Ben pulled the rig up in front of Mrs. Taft's huge mansion. The girls jumped down and ran to the door.
They found Mrs. Taft sitting in the parlor by the big open fireplace, where logs blazed and crackled their own welcome. As Mandie's grandmother rose to greet them, she smoothed her faded blonde hair. She was a tall woman, and very dignified, except when she was helping her granddaughter solve mysteries.