The next morning, as soon as Benny arrived at the Civic Center, he picked up a program for the night’s performance. Next he went down to the edge of the rink.
“Carl!” Benny called to the skater who practiced a camel spin in the middle of the ice, “would you come here?”
Jessie had warned Benny not to upset Carl’s practice, but Carl skated over to Benny. “What can I do for you?”
“Would you sign this?” Benny asked, holding out the program to Carl.
“Sure thing!” Carl said. “I’d feel honored. Do you have a pen?”
Benny shook his head. “No, sorry.”
“I’ve got one right here,” Carl said, skating to a bench where his jacket lay.
In fine handwriting he signed, “To Benny, a wonderful friend, Carl Underhill.”
Benny hugged the program to his chest. “Thanks, Carl.”
With a friendly wave at the Aldens, Carl skated away. No sooner was Carl gone, than Alex glided up to Benny. She gave him a teasing smile. “Aren’t you going to ask for my autograph?”
“Yes! yes!” Benny said. “I wanted you next, Alex!” He pointed to her name on the program. “Will you sign here?”
“Be happy to,” she said, skating to her gym bag on a bench and pulling out a pen.
Benny’s eyes grew big and his smile turned upside down. “Th-that’s a green pen,” he stammered.
Alex smiled. “Is something wrong with a green pen?”
“No,” Benny said, but his heart sank.
Alex signed her name, and Benny frowned. It was just what he was afraid of. The ink was green! “Thanks, Alex,” he said in an unhappy voice.
“You’re welcome!” Alex answered, skating to join Carl.
Benny took a deep breath, wishing Alex’s pen hadn’t been green. He went off to get Janet O’Shea’s autograph, but she didn’t have a pen and didn’t have time to find one. Then he asked the mystery man but he wouldn’t sign, either. He shook his head. Maybe his idea was dumb!
When Ollie came by, Benny asked him for his autograph, too. Ollie pulled a pen out of his hair and printed his name. Benny’s eyes widened.
Each letter was in a different color:
| O | L | L | I | E |
| yellow | red | orange | blue | green |
“What a weird pen!” Benny exclaimed.
“It can write in different colors!”
“Here’s one for you!” Ollie said with a big wink, pulling a second pen from his wig and tossing it to Benny. Then the clown slipped and slid his way across the rink.
“What are you up to, Benny?” asked Violet. “I think you’re after more than skaters’ signatures!”
“You’ll see,” Benny said. He didn’t want to tell anyone his plans — not even Violet. Especially if it didn’t work.
Jessie and Henry set up tables for their cookie sale, while Violet hurried backstage. “I almost forgot to mend Carl’s shirt,” she murmured.
Once in the dressing room, Violet settled into a back nook, hidden by hanging costumes.
She wasn’t there long when someone entered. Violet peeked around the corner and drew in a sharp breath. Marcia propped her crutches against the wall, then hunched her shoulders and rotated her arms in a relaxing motion. “I’ll be glad to throw these things in the lake!” she muttered, glaring at her crutches.
Violet’s eyes grew big. Without her crutches, Marcia walked across the big room to her green costume that hung on the wall. She closely examined the glittering material, making sure the buttons were on tight. Then she held the costume up to her.
Violet, careful not to make a sound, sat very still. Marcia must not know she was here.
Finally, Marcia turned to leave. She tucked her crutches under her arms, and hobbled out to the rink.
Thoughtfully, Violet bit her lip. Didn’t Marcia need crutches?
She hurried to tell Benny, Jessie, and Henry. “I just saw Marcia walk without crutches!” Violet said breathlessly.
Jessie looked across the rink, “But look at Marcia now! She’s limping alongside Carl as innocently as you please. Maybe she’s just getting better. But if she’s the thief, I can understand why she pretends to need crutches. It’s the perfect alibi!”
“I’m going to get Marcia’s autograph!” Benny said, jumping up.
“Do you need to, Benny?” Henry said. “We should discuss Marcia and her crutches.”
“I need to!” Benny said in a firm voice, dashing out.
Marcia turned her back when she saw Benny rushing toward her.
“Marcia!” Benny yelled. “Wait!”
She half-turned, impatiently tossing her red curls. “I don’t have time to chat.”
“This won’t take long,” Benny said, thrusting the program under her nose. “Please. Won’t you sign this? I’ve got most of the other skaters’ autographs.”
“Oh,” Marcia said with a sudden smile. “If that’s all you want, I’d be glad to sign.” She held out her hand. “Give me a pen?”
Benny patted his pocket. “Ooops, I forgot mine. Don’t you have one?”
Marcia sighed. She hobbled over to her tote bag and fished out a pen.
Signing her name with a flourish, she said, “There! Marcia Westerly.” She swung away on her crutches.
Benny stared at Marcia’s green signature. He couldn’t ask for better than this! “Wait until you see what I’ve got!” he crowed to his brother and sisters, waving the program high over his head.
Henry looked at Marcia’s signature — written in green ink. “Benny! You’re a real detective!”
Benny glowed at the praise.
“Now we know Marcia doesn’t need crutches and could easily climb in a window!” Jessie stated, “and she also owns a green ink pen.” She smiled at Benny. “I’m proud of you!”
Benny stared at his feet. “But Alex and Ollie had green pens, too.”
“Alex had a green pen?” Jessie asked. “And Ollie, too?”
Benny nodded.
“Benny,” Violet said, “you had a good idea! All we need are more clues.”
“Yes,” Henry agreed, “we can’t accuse Marcia or Alex or Ollie unless we can prove one of them stole Mrs. Murray’s jewels.” He hated to hear that Alex used green ink!
For a moment the children sat, deep in thought.
“Just because Alex and Ollie and Marcia wrote with green ink,” Jessie said, “doesn’t prove they’re guilty.”
Benny frowned. “No, but it could.”
“And what about the mystery man?” Violet asked.
“And Janet O’Shea?” Henry added. “Did you get their signatures?”
Benny shook his head. “I guess you’re right, but I still think it helps to see who had green ink.”
“I have an idea, too!” Violet said, leaping up.
“Tell us,” Jessie coaxed.
Henry gave Violet a questioning look, waiting patiently for her plan. When she didn’t say anything, he said, “Well? What is it?”
Violet smiled mysteriously. “I’ll tell you later.”
“You don’t want to tell us in case it doesn’t work,” Benny said.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” Violet said, hurrying toward Alex.
Jessie, Henry, and Benny watched as Violet whispered into Alex’s ear.
Alex listened intently, then a quick smile lit her face, and she nodded in agreement.
“What are they talking about?” Benny asked, frowning. “I wish I could hear.”
“We’ll find out sooner or later,” Henry said.
Whatever Violet had in mind, Jessie thought, Alex obviously thought it was a good idea. She watched them disappear inside the dressing room. She wished she were in on the secret.