The Mystery of the Silver Statue

By Raymond C. Perkins, Jr

The Mystery of the Silver Statue is an amazing story for young readers and adults alike! It includes heroic deeds, the search for buried treasure, and lessons on overcoming real-life struggles. This is a must read for any youngster. It's fast-paced, exciting, and its lessons are priceless.
Follow the adventures of young sleuths B.T. Stevens and Jimmy Martin as they solve what is actually a real-life mystery of Colonial History. B.T. struggles with a serious disability and learns to appreciate his own strengths through the adventure and thanks to enduring friendships and strong family ties. Beyond being a charming work of fiction, The Mystery of the Silver Statue is also a valuable tool for discussion on both Colonial American History as well as the importance of self worth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raymond C. Perkins, Jr
• Release date: Sep 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476232072

Raymond C. Perkins, Jr

Ray Perkins is 59 year-old retired middle school Social Studies teacher living in Derby, Vermont. He grew up in the wilds of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont and has spent most of his life there. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Mary, five children and granddaughter, Kaelani. He has written three books including the sequel to "The Mystery of the Silver Statue" called "The Mystery of the Brick Kingdom." He would love to have you visit him at: www.mystery4me.com or https://www.facebook.com/btandjimmy. Order hard copies at https://www.createspace.com/3663156 or https://www.createspace.com/3627046. Email him at: [e-mail]

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The Mystery of the Silver Statue

By Raymond C. Perkins Jr.

Published by Raymond C. Perkins Jr. at Smashwords

Copyright 2010 © 2010 Raymond C. Perkins Jr

Illustrations Copyright © 2010 Stephanie L.C. Perkins

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission by the author.

Find other books by Raymond C. Perkins, Jr. @ www.mystery4me.com

This book is dedicated to my entire family. They have observed this labor of love for far too long. To my wife, Mary, and the rest of my family: Jeremy, Amanda, Jason, Stephanie, Kristen, Kendra, Nicholas, and granddaughter Kaelani.

Also, a special thanks to Carol Reynolds and her fourth grade class at Barton Academy & Graded School for listening to my first public reading, for offering constructive feedback, and for the wonderful cards.

Finally, to Steph: Thanks for the beautiful artwork. You are so talented. — R.P.

For Jay and Lani, my partners in adventure! — S.P.

Contents

1. The House

2. Dangerous Encounters

3. Clues

4. Breakthrough

5. The Message

6. Discovery

7. Lost and Found

8. Found Again

9. Heroes

Chapter 1 The House

B.T. grabbed Jimmy by the shoulder and practically dragged him behind the enormous cedar hedge.

What the heck? Jimmy sputtered as he stumbled along with his companion.

Shh! B.T. implored. There’s something moving on that porch over there.

He pointed toward a large, shingle-covered porch. It was attached to a stately, two-story Victorian house at the far end of a gravel driveway approximately one hundred feet away.

Are you crazy? Jimmy cried, ignoring B.T. Why does everything have to be a mystery with you?

You’ve got to be kidding, B.T. hissed anxiously. That house has been empty for years. No one should be hanging around here, unless...

Unless what? Jimmy cut in.

Unless it’s... B.T. hesitated, thinking aloud. Haunted! People in town say it is, you know.

Oh, no, Jimmy replied shaking his head from side to side while waving his hand in B.T.’s direction. I don’t think I wanna hear what’s coming next. You’re not involving me in another one of your hair-brained schemes.

At 5 feet, 11 inches, James Adolphus Martin was quite tall for a fourteen-year-old. His sandy blond hair lay neatly over his narrow head, highlighting the numerous freckles that stood out boldly on his face and arms. He loved all sports and was considered an above-average athlete by most people who saw him play.

Jimmy’s real interest, though, was a daily obsession with video games. He had the latest system available and played constantly. It wasn’t surprising then that Jimmy’s top priority in life was to become a video programmer and create new, more exciting games to play.

Jimmy looked over at his best friend and partner, Benjamin Thomas Stevens. B.T., as nearly everyone called him, was shorter than most eighth-graders. His wavy, jet- black hair, slightly slanted eyes, and round, potato-shaped nose made Jimmy think of B.T. as a roly-poly marshmallow on legs.

Maybe it was the high doses of radiation after the removal of a cancerous brain tumor at the age of five that caused B.T. to be very high-strung and more than a little paranoid about his appearance. Maybe it was just his God- given personality and that was the way he would have been anyway. Whatever it was, B.T. could not get over the feeling that he didn’t quite measure up to his classmates— not as tall, not as athletic, not as handsome.

B.T. wasn’t very ambitious, either. In fact, his favorite activities ranged from cooking and eating warm, home- baked chocolate chip cookies to watching reruns of old detective shows on TV. But, give him a problem to solve or a brain teaser to work out and B.T.’s sure, logical assessment of any situation made him a master of analysis.

B.T. chose to ignore Jimmy’s little dig about hair- brained schemes and continued to scan the old house for any signs of movement. He thought back to earlier that morning.

Benjamin Thomas Stevens, yelled his overprotective mother as B.T. dashed out the front door of his family’s two-story house on his way to meet Jimmy. Vacation has barely started and already you’re running the roads. With that Martin kid, no doubt! Didn’t your father ask you to clean up that room over the garage and then mow the lawn?

But Ma, B.T. countered. We’re just going fishing for an hour or so. And anyway, you know that room is for our security business.

Okay, she replied after a moment’s hesitation. Mrs. Stevens was still extremely protective even though B.T.‘s brain surgery was but a distant memory. Just make sure you’re back by three o’clock so you can mow that hayfield we call a lawn. And, she paused for emphasis, don’t let Jimmy talk you into anything foolish. I swear. Sometimes, I think you boys share a brain," she added with emphasis and a wry smile.

The second floor of the Stevens’ garage housed J & B Securities, a year-round security business the two boys had started the previous fall. Summer people who lived around the lakes and ponds in the area were more then happy to pay the boys a reasonable fee