E Marie Seltenrych - The Gum Tree Gang and the Mystery at the Old Queenslander

The Gum Tree Gang

and

The Mystery at the Old Queenslander

Author: E Marie Seltenrych

10.18.10

Copyright 2010 E Marie Seltenrych

Published at Smashwords, 2010

Discover other titles bythis author on Sm ashwords

This ebook is licensed for your personalenjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away toother people. If you would like to share this book with anotherperson, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Ifyoure reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was notpurchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.comand purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard workof this author

~~~~Chapter One~~~~

C amp Plans

The morning sun was brightin Krystals eyes. She squinted into thedistance, brushing a strand of golden hairfrom her face and pushing it under her brimmed school hat. She held her hat in place, mainly to keepall her hair off her face.

She could see a small personwaiting at the corner of the street. Sheknew it was Tracey, her best friend. AsKrystal came closer, she wa ved to her.Krystal took her hand off her hat and waved in return. Krystal admired her neat little friend. Traceylooked really good in her royalblue- chequered uniform with a oyal blue jacket and blue brimmed hat. Traceysshiny, short dark hair was tucked under herhat.

Hi. Tracey smiled as Krystalapproached.

Krystals face was pink fromher brisk walk. Her bright blue eyessparkled and her face broke into a large grin.

Hi, Krystal replied,slowing down her fast walking pace. Traceyjoined Krystal, and the two walked quietly together for a few moments.

Got any ideas for thecamp? Tracey turned her head to ask herfriend.

Sure have! Krystal replied, grinning fromear to ear....about four pages!

Wow! Tracey stopped in hertracks. Krystal's eyes twinkled. What aboutyou?

Ive written down a few,definitely not four pages! Mrs. Goldsworthywill be happy, Tracey commented as thegirls continued walking and talking.

I just hope she likes myideas. Gosh, I cant wait to go to MountTamborine. Ill never forget last year! Do youremember...?

Krystals excited voice wasstopped by a strange whee noise comingclose to the girls.

Krystal and Tracey jumped in fright.

Tracey stopped again, herhand over her heart. I nearly had a heart attack. Its thatbrother of mine. Matthew, Ill tell Dad,Tracey yelled at the two disappearing bikesand their riders.

You too, Kevin, Krystalshouted at her younger brother.

The two girls watched as theboys disappeared into the distance, theirstack hats glinting in the sun.

Brothers..., Tracey sighed heavily.

Yeah, they have so muchfun. Krystals voice had a wistful tone.Oh, I wish the camp would hurry up. I just cant wait, Tracey. Only two more months to go, thenits Mount Tamborine and fun, fun,fun!

~~~~ Chapter Two ~~~~

Dark Clouds

I tseemed like minutes before the two girls were leaving the school grounds and waving goodbye to theirfriends.

Krystal held the brim of herhat as they walked along. Her face wasflushed from the day's activities, and several strands of golden hair had fallen out of place. She glanced at her friend. I dont thinkMrs. Goldsworthy liked some of my ideas!Krystal voice was sad.

About the camp? questioned Tracey.

Yeah, she had a no way look on her facewhen she read my sheets. Krystal kicked a stone.

Im not surprised. I nearlydied when she read yours out: sausagethrowing, rotten egg- rolling, tree climbing in pillowcases.... Tracey was grinning widely.

Well, it's fun to dosomething different sometimes. Krystalcould not help smiling, directing her gaze to a nice tall mango tree. I love climbing. She stared atthe top of the mango tree. I think I'll bea mountain climber when I growup!

A drop of rain landed on hernose. Hey, looks like a storm's coming. Ijust felt a drip. Another drop landed onher hat. Lets run home, said Krystal, pushing the straps of her bag higher on her shoulders andtaking off in a fast run. After a fewmoments she looked back. Tracey was quite away behind. Cme on, slow coach, she called out. The rain becameheavier as Krystal placed her bag near her feet and stood next tothe tree for a few moments, watching the black cloud move slowlyover them, and the rain getting heavier. Yuk, Im getting wet, Krystal moaned, as a large drop of water landed on her nose. She moved rightup against the tree trunk. A few more dropslanded on her . My hatll get wrecked. Imgoing up on the verandah; its dry there.She picked up her school bag and ran up therickety wooden front steps, leaping two at a time. In a few moments she was in a dry patch nearthe front door of the oldbuilding.

This is good Trace. Cmeon. Its really dry, she yelled at Tracey,who was still standing under the ghost gum tree.

Okay. Tracey brushed alarge droplet off her jacket. She picked upher school bag in one hand, and holding herhat with the other hand, dashed to the steps. She paused for a moment and then carefully walked upthe wet steps.

You must have the wholelibrary in here, Krystal murmured as shetook Tracey's bag and placed it in a dry spot.

Tracey stood next to Krystal, slightly out ofbreath. Each girl took one side of the double door to leanagainst.

It might stop soon, saidTracey wistfully, looking at the blackclouds overhead.

Maybe. Krystal pressedagainst her side of the door. Suddenly shealmost fell backwards

as the door moved

.

~~~~ Chapter Three~~~~

A Ghostly Idea

Its unlocked. Krystalpushed the door a bit further. It creakedas it moved. She peered inside the opening, then stepped cautiously inside the building. Its niceand dry in here. Krystal crept through thehallway of the house.

Tracey sniffed as she stoodin the doorway, peering in. Looks dark andspooky, and it smells.

Its okay. May as well lookaround while were waiting for the rain tostop, said Krystal, venturing further intothe entrance of the house.

This was exciting! Thechildren had always been a bit frightenedto visit this house since the owner mysteriously disappeared and the place was left abandoned. Now that they were actually inside,Krystal did not want to waste theopportunity of checking the placeout.

The light from the openedfront door showed that there were severaldoorways off the hallway. There was an opening to the right and a closed door on her left.

Right or left? Krystalchose the closed door. Left, she saidaloud, answering herself and turning the knob of the door. To her surprise, it opened!

Krystal stared into theroom, her eyes adjusting to the poorlighting. The windows were boarded up, with only a small crack of light filtering in. The room hadtimbered walls on the lower half There wasa timber ledge about as high as Krystal'sforehead going right around the room. Thewall above the ledge was painted a dull grey.

The ceiling had some fancywork around the ledges that made it lookeven higher than it was. Krystal reckoned the ceiling to be about three metres high. There was a hole in the middle of the ceiling where some sortof light used to hang.

On the far side there was anenormous brick fireplace, with the bricksgoing right up to the ceiling. The fireplace was as wide as Krystal's extended arms.Krystal could just imagine some beautifullady in a long dress, checking the ledgesfor dust and then sitting down in front of a nice logfire.

Trace, its really cool.Come and have a look. Bring my bag inplease. I dont want it to get saturated on the verandah. Krystal turned her head towards the front door. She felt a thrill as she walked carefullyaround the room, checking the creakingfloorboards.