ONE A Mysterious SIGHTING Marvin Fremont sprawled in a chair in his room thumbing through a book of ghost stories he’d just checked out of the library His chair was turned so that he could prop his bare feet on his windowsill It was a Sunday afternoon in April and a long week of spring vacation stretched ahead Even better unlike other spring vacations that had been snowy and cold this year the weather was almost summery Marvin was all set to enjoy a re laxing hour in the sun His twin sister Sarah who hardly ever sat still and certainly not for a whole hour burst into his room Marvin she yelled 1
2 MARVELOUS MARVIN AND THE PIONEER GHOST When there was no answer Sarah bent over the chair Marvin she repeated Annoyed Marvin held his place with his fingers and shut the book What Mom said my karate class could meet at the house Sarah said flopping herself down on Marvin’s bed Noticing that her brother looked alarmed she laughed Not for prac tice silly We are going to talk about ways to earn money for the trip to the state champi onships But it is a great time for you to meet everyone No thanks Marvin said I’ve got some things to do Sarah frowned Like what Like read my book Marvin said firmly He casually turned the book so the title was hidden He was sure Sarah would scoff at the idea of ghosts Sarah noticed that he was hiding the title Since Marvin had been reading a lot of detec tive stories the past few months she was cer tain that was what he was reading now Marvin and his sister had helped catch a gang of car thieves the previous fall and she knew he was hoping to find another crime to solve Jeepers Marvin she said reasonably I don’t think there are very many crooks
A Mysterious Sighting 3 living in Liberty Corners But if you really do want to be a detective I’d think you’d be interested in anything that would help you defend yourself We managed to solve one mystery with out a lot of self-defense Marvin said Sher lock Holmes didn’t do karate he added with a wave at his shelfful of mystery books He solved all his mysteries with his brain Sarah threw up her hands in surrender I have to get ready Everyone will be here any minute she said as she hurried out the door Marvin slipped on his socks and shoes and a light jacket Picking up his book he headed for the front door Outside the late-afternoon sun glared into Marvin’s eyes briefly blind ing him He took two steps and ran smack into Mean Ernie Farrow who was just head ing in the door Whoa watch out little buddy Ernie’s voice boomed He grabbed Marvin and stead ied him before he could fall Embarrassed Marvin thanked him Hey I thought you’d be at this meeting Ernie said I just joined Several members of the karate class knocked at the door sneaking looks at Ernie Marvin knew they must
4 MARVELOUS MARVIN AND THE PIONEER GHOST look strange to gether Most of the kids were afraid of Ernie who was the biggest boy in the fourth grade He towered at least a head over Marvin But ever since Ernie had helped Marvin solve the mystery of the stolen cars he’d insisted he was Marvin’s protector I’ve got something to do Marvin ex plained feebly Ernie grinned and flexed his muscles Don’t you worry about a thing When I learn karate I’ll be able to protect you from anybody I don’t need Marvin began but Ernie waved and barged in the door without listen ing Marvin climbed on his bike and pedaled slowly onto Elm Street Today instead of heading toward the small shopping center a few blocks up the street Marvin turned in the other direction to where Elm Street ended at Creek Road The road curved following the twists and turns of Liberty Creek Here the houses were farther apart and there were fewer cars to worry about After a few minutes Marvin got off his bike and pushed it behind several large boul ders Then he walked down a little path through the woods Marvin often came to this spot Even though it was only a short distance from
