The Secret of the Scarecrow

  CHAPTER ONE: SURPRISE IN STORE

  CHAPTER TWO: JAKE OR FAKE?

  CHAPTER THREE: A BESS MESS

  CHAPTER FOUR: SEW BUSTED!

  CHAPTER FIVE: SOCCER SHOCKER

  CHAPTER SIX: HAY, YOU!

  CHAPTER SEVEN: FARM ALARM

  CHAPTER EIGHT: BATS AND HATS

  CHAPTER NINE: HARVEY’S SECRET

  CHAPTER TEN: TEA FOR A CLUE

  PAPER PLATE SCARECROW

  Surprise in Store

  “Guess what, class?” Mrs. Ramirez said. “We have a special guest today.”

  Eight-year-old Nancy Drew smiled as she sat up straight behind her desk. She loved special guests almost as much as she loved solving mysteries. But who was the well-dressed woman standing next to Mrs. Ramirez?

  Nancy’s best friend Bess Marvin tugged gently at Nancy’s reddish blond ponytail. “Who do you think she is, Nancy?” she whispered.

  “I may be a detective,” Nancy whispered back. “But I don’t have a clue.”

  Nancy was lucky to have both of her best friends in her class. Her other best friend, George Fayne, sat a few desks down. She was too far to trade whispers but close enough to trade smiles!

  “My name is Mimi Franklin,” the mystery guest said. “And I’m the owner of Darcy’s Department Store.”

  “Wow,” Nancy said under her breath. Darcy’s was the biggest store in River Heights!

  “Has anyone here shopped at Darcy’s?” Ms. Franklin asked.

  Nancy’s hand shot up. Her new back-to-school shoes were bought at Darcy’s. She looked around the classroom to see all hands up. All except Leanne Hudson’s.

  “You’ve never shopped at Darcy’s?” Ms. Franklin asked Leanne.

  “No,” Leanne Hudson said. She added quickly, “But Hudson’s Apparel is having a sale on suitcases and duffel bags!”

  Nancy got it. Leanne’s parents owned Hudson’s Apparel, a smaller store across the street from Darcy’s. Why would she shop anywhere else?

  “Ms. Franklin is here to tell us about her special surprise,” Mrs. Ramirez said. “Go ahead, Ms. Franklin.”

  Nancy sat up even straighter. What could it be?

  “Darcy’s is about to decorate their store windows for fall,” Ms. Franklin explained. “There’ll be pumpkins, colorful fall leaves, and a scarecrow.”

  Ms. Franklin gave a big smile and said, “Mrs. Ramirez is a friend of mine, and she tells me how creative this class is . . . so how would you like to make our scarecrow?”

  Excited whispers filled the room.

  “What kind of scarecrow?” George asked.

  “Any kind,” Ms. Franklin said. “As long as it’s no bigger than a nine-year-old and is wearing clothes from Darcy’s.”

  Tommy Maron’s hand shot up. “Does Darcy’s sell superhero capes?” he asked.

  “Uh . . . no,” Ms. Franklin said.

  “Phooey,” Tommy grumbled.

  Mrs. Ramirez explained the next step: “Each of you will draw an idea for the scarecrow. Then Ms. Franklin will pick the best one for their window.”

  Nancy smiled over her shoulder at Bess. A contest!

  “Once I pick a winner, I will choose the outfit at Darcy’s that best matches that design.”

  “You can work in teams,” Mrs. Ramirez said. “But no more than three.”

  Perfect! Nancy thought. She, Bess, and George were already a team—a team of detectives who called themselves the Clue Crew.

  “Is everybody ready to make a scarecrow?” Ms. Franklin asked.

  “Not me,” a voice in the back said.

  Everyone turned to see Harvey Mueller.

  “Scarecrows are scary for a reason,” Harvey said. “Haven’t you guys heard of Jake McStuffings?”

  “Jake Mc-who?” Kevin Garcia asked.

  “Jake’s a scarecrow who wears baggy overalls and a big straw hat,” Harvey said in a hushed voice. “Every fall, Jake leaps off his pole to wander the streets of River Heights.”

  Most of the kids snickered. Harvey was always making up scary stories!

  “Quit laughing!” Harvey said. “Jake is for real!”

  Mrs. Ramirez clapped her hands for attention.

  “Okay, class,” Mrs. Ramirez said. “Let’s go quietly to the art room so we can begin.”

  The kids formed a line near the door. Nancy stood with Bess and George. She frowned when Deirdre Shannon stepped behind her. Deirdre was spoiled and usually got whatever she wanted. What she wanted now was to win the contest!

  “I have the best idea for a scarecrow,” Deirdre bragged loudly. “But I’m not telling.”

  As they filed out of the room George whispered, “I don’t know who’s scarier—Jake McStuffings or Deirdre!”

  “I heard that, Georgia Fayne!” Deirdre snapped.

  Nancy watched George’s dark eyes flash. Nobody used her real name except her grandmother—and Deirdre Shannon!

  The art room had its usual paint-and-clay smell as the class filed in. Nancy, Bess, and George ran to an easel set up with paper and colored pencils.

  “What should our scarecrow look like?” Nancy asked.

  “Totally fashion forward!” Bess said.

  “How about a computerized scarecrow?” George suggested. “He can wear blinking lights and maybe talk!”

  “It’s a scarecrow, not a robot!” Bess argued.

  George heaved a sigh. “Sometimes I can’t believe we’re cousins, Bess.”

  Neither could Nancy. Bess had blond hair and blue eyes and loved clothes more than anything. George had dark hair and eyes. She loved computers . . . and clothes, too—as long as they were comfortable enough to do cartwheels in.

  “Here’s my idea,” Bess said. She quickly drew a scarecrow. Over it she drew a dark red coat, black leggings, yellow boots, and a hat decorated with flowers.

  “Pretty!” Nancy swooned.

  “Not bad,” George admitted.

  When everyone was done, Ms. Franklin checked out the drawings. Nadine Nardo, Kendra Jackson, and Marcy Rubin designed a sleepover scarecrow wearing colorful pj’s. Peter Patino, Quincy Taylor, and Kevin Garcia were proud of their scarecrow wearing sports clothes and sneakers.

  “After our scarecrow is in the window,” Quincy explained, “he can be the mascot for our soccer team—the Green Monsters!”

  Next Ms. Franklin checked out Harvey’s sketch. His scarecrow looked just like Jake McStuffings, of course. Leanne’s scarecrow was nothing but a stick figure.

  Nancy couldn’t wait for Ms. Franklin to check out their scarecrow. But she wasn’t the only one. . . .

  “Look at my Hollywood scarecrow, Ms. Franklin,” Deirdre called. “Isn’t she glam enough for the red carpet?”

  “Very nice, dear,” Ms. Franklin said with a quick glance. She then breezed past Deirdre to Nancy, Bess, and George’s easel.

  Ms. Franklin studied the scarecrow in the flowered hat and yellow boots before flashing a huge smile. “That outfit is fabulous!” she cried. “And we have clothes just like that at Darcy’s.”

  She then turned to the class and said, “You all did an amazing job, kids, but I believe we have a winner.”

  “Yippee!” Nancy cheered.

  “Not fair!” Deirdre snapped while Nancy, Bess, and George high-fived. “They’re detectives—not designers!”

  “Now we’re designing detectives.” Bess smiled.

  After the class quieted down, Mrs. Ramirez explained that they would build the scarecrow on Friday before the dismissal bell. That was only three days away!

  “Darcy’s will have the most stylish scarecrow ever!” Ms. Franklin declared. “Thanks to Nancy, Bess, and George.”

  “Yeah,” Deirdre muttered. “Thanks a lot.”
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  Nancy, Bess, and George didn’t have time for sore losers like Deirdre. They had just won a major contest—and that called for a milk-and-cookie celebration!

  “Ready? Go!” Hannah called out.

  Nancy, Bess, and George picked up their glasses of milk and began to drink. Until Hannah said—“Stop!”

  The girls giggled as they quickly put down their glasses. They loved playing Hannah’s stop-and-go game when they drank milk with their cookies.

  Hannah Gruen was more than just the Drews’ housekeeper. She had been just like a mother to Nancy ever since Nancy’s own mom died, when Nancy was three. Hannah gave the best hugs and baked the most awesome oatmeal-raisin cookies!

  “I like our scarecrow,” George said between chews. “But whatever happened to regular overalls and straw hats?”

  “Overalls and straw hats?” Bess said, rolling her eyes. “George, that’s so Wizard of Oz.”

  Nancy was about to take another sip when her puppy barked loudly in another room.

  “What’s up with Chocolate Chip?” Bess asked.

  “Maybe she doesn’t like being named after a cookie,” George joked.

  Nancy, Bess, and George found a still-barking Chip in the living room, her paws against the windowsill.

  “She’s barking at something outside,” Bess said.

  “It’s probably a deer,” Nancy said. “There are lots of deer around here in the fall.”

  The girls peered out the window. It was getting dark early.

  “That doesn’t look like an animal to me,” George said.

  Nancy looked closer until she saw what George meant. A small, shadowy figure was dancing across her front yard wearing baggy clothes and a big hat!

  “Who was that?” Nancy said as he ran away.

  “You mean what?” George said slowly. “Baggy clothes, huge hat—I think we just saw a scarecrow.”

  “Yeah.” Bess gulped. “A real live scarecrow!”

  Jake or Fake?

  “So? Did you see Jake McStuffings yet?” Harvey Mueller asked Nancy, Bess, and George.

  It was Friday afternoon. The kids of Mrs. Ramirez’s class were in the school yard, ready to build a scarecrow.

  “No, Harvey,” Nancy insisted. “We didn’t see Jake.”

  Harvey shrugged and walked away.

  “But we did see a walking scarecrow, Nancy,” Bess said. “Just a few days ago in your yard, remember?”

  “I remember,” Nancy admitted. “But it was getting dark, so we might have just seen a shadow.”

  “The shadow of a walking scarecrow,” George muttered.

  The kids had everything they needed for their scarecrow: arts-and-crafts supplies, a bale of hay, and the clothes from Darcy’s Department Store.

  Everyone was there except for Leanne. She had told Mrs. Ramirez she was allergic to hay, so she was excused to the library.

  When it was finally time to build the scarecrow, everyone had a special job. Nancy, Bess, and George carefully pulled the clothes out of the bag. They looked very much like the clothes they had designed—except for the Darcy’s label sewn inside each one.

  “These clothes are awesome!” Bess exclaimed.

  “You mean awful!” a voice sneered.

  Nancy looked up to see Kevin, Peter, and Quincy. The boys were sticking their fingers in their mouths and making gagging noises.

  “What’s your problem?” George demanded.

  “Whoever heard of a scarecrow with yellow boots?” Kevin scoffed. “Our scarecrow should have been sporty.”

  “Yeah,” Peter said. “Then he could have been our mascot too.”

  “Why don’t you just get a new mascot for your soccer team?” Nancy asked.

  “May I suggest a turkey?” George teased.

  “Ha-ha,” Quincy said, not laughing.

  The girls were about to carry the clothes to Mrs. Ramirez when Deirdre called out, “Oh, goody! Here comes my special guest.”

  “Guest?” Mrs. Ramirez asked.

  Everyone turned to see a young woman with bright red hair and sparkly-framed glasses walking over.

  “Deirdre, who is she?” Mrs. Ramirez asked.

  “Meet Suki Anderson!” Deirdre said. “Suki was a contestant on the TV show Catwalk Champ. She came in second place.”

  “I’m also a friend of Deirdre’s mom,” Suki added.

  Bess leaned over and whispered, “I watch Catwalk Champ. It’s where people compete in a fashion design contest.”

  “I asked Suki to design some new clothes for our scarecrow,” Deirdre went on. “Since the ones she has now are so lame.”

  Suki reached into a big bag she was holding. She smiled as she pulled out what looked like a dress made of dried fall leaves!

  “Ta-daa!” Suki sang out. “What every well-dressed scarecrow will be wearing this year!”

  Mrs. Ramirez and the students stared quietly at the leafy dress in Suki’s hand. To Nancy it looked more like an arts-and-crafts project than a dress!

  “And I thought the yellow boots were ugly,” Kevin muttered.

  “I made a hat, too,” Suki said, digging into her bag. “I hope you like acorns—”

  “It’s lovely, Ms. Anderson,” Mrs. Ramirez said, cutting in. “But Mimi Franklin already sent us a very nice outfit, so that won’t be necessary.”

  “Are you saying no to me?” Deirdre gasped.

  “Sorry, Deirdre,” Mrs. Ramirez said.

  Deirdre’s mouth became a thin line. Her face turned red. Nancy knew that look. It meant Deirdre was supermad!

  “I hate Darcy’s Department Store!” Deirdre declared. “I will never shop there again. Never, ever, ever!”

  Suki hurriedly said good-bye and left the school yard. Deirdre stood to the side and pouted while the others built the scarecrow. Making a scarecrow was harder than Nancy or her friends had thought, but it was tons of fun!

  Kendra, Marcy, and Nadine had the job of tying the leggings at the bottom with string. Then everyone took turns stuffing them with hay. When that was done, they stuck the legs into the yellow boots. After they filled the coat and attached the legs, it was time to make the scarecrow’s head. That was done by packing a small burlap sack with hay and tying it closed at the bottom. A smiling face was drawn on the sack with colorful markers.

  “And now—for the finishing touch!” Bess said, carefully placing the flowered hat on the scarecrow’s head.

  “Awesome!” Nancy swooned as she and her classmates applauded their work.

  “Our scarecrow needs a name, too,” Mrs. Ramirez said. “Can anyone think of a good one?”

  “Scary Mary,” Deirdre muttered.

  “Hay-ley.” Quincy laughed. “Get it? Get it?”

  “Bride of Jake McStuffings,” Harvey said slowly.

  “I know,” Shelby Metcalf said. “How about Autumn?”

  Nancy, Bess, and George liked the name.

  Everyone else liked Autumn too. Everyone except Deirdre, but she never liked anything she didn’t think of.

  “Ms. Franklin will pick Autumn up on Monday,” Mrs. Ramirez said. “But where should we keep her over the weekend?”

  “At my house, please!” Bess said. “My mom is picking me up after school and there’s plenty of room in our car!”

  “Well,” Mrs. Ramirez said. “As long as you keep her inside the house at all times.”

  “I promise, I’ll take good care of Autumn until Monday,” Bess said, jumping up and down. “Supergood care!”

  “Okay, Bess,” Mrs. Ramirez agreed.

  “Yippee!” Bess cheered.

  “Double yippee!” Nancy cheered too.

  Mrs. Ramirez helped the kids pack up the craft supplies and clean up the extra hay. They finished just in time for the dismissal bell.

  Bess was about to lift Autumn off the ground when Deirdre said, “Wait! I want to take a picture of Autumn!”

  “Why do you want to take a picture?” Nancy asked.

  “It’s for my blog,” Deirdre said. “
I have told you about my very own blog, Dishing with Deirdre, haven’t I?”

  “About a gazillion times,” George groaned.

  Deirdre took out a tiny pink camera and snapped a picture of Autumn. Without saying good-bye she walked away.

  “Whatever!” Bess said. She looked down at the scarecrow and smiled. “Come on, Autumn. We’re going home!”

  Mrs. Marvin’s car was already parked outside the school. As the girls carried Autumn, George said, “Remember to take good care of her, Bess.”

  “I told you I would,” Bess said. “Besides, who would want to hurt a scarecrow?”

  Nancy could think of only one. Deirdre Shannon!

  “Good morning, Sleeping Beauty!” Mr. Drew said.

  Nancy smiled sleepily as she walked into the kitchen. Her dad was making his usual Saturday-morning pancakes. But this time they smelled a bit different.

  “They’re apple-cinnamon,” Mr. Drew said, flipping one in the pan. “My latest fall recipe.”

  “Make sure it doesn’t fall on the floor, Daddy!” Nancy giggled. Her dad was a great dad, a great lawyer, and a great cook—although a messy one!

  Nancy was about to sit down when the phone on the kitchen counter rang. The caller ID flashed Bess’s name.

  “Hi, Bess,” Nancy said as she answered the phone. “How’s Autumn?”

  “I don’t know!” Bess cried.

  “What do you mean, you don’t know?” Nancy asked.

  “All I know is that something happened to our scarecrow!” Bess said. “Something horrible!”

  A Bess Mess

  “What do you mean, something horrible?” Nancy asked worriedly. “Did someone steal her?”

  “I don’t know!” Bess cried. “I’ll explain everything when you and George come over—right away!”

  Nancy heard a click. Bess was so frantic, she had hung up without saying good-bye.

  “Bad news?” Mr. Drew asked.

  “I think so, Daddy,” Nancy said. “Bess wants me to go to her house right away.”

  She was about to run for her jacket when she saw the yummy-looking stack of pancakes on the counter.

  “Right away after pancakes!” Nancy added.

  “Okay, so where’s Autumn?” George demanded.