Children

Two high school freshmen students become reporters for the local newspaper and stumble across an old graveyard mystery.

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CHRISTY DAVIS CHILDRENS BOOKS

NEWSHOUNDS
By Christy Davis

Jadee has dreamed about becoming a reporter for as long as she can remember. Suddenly at the age of fourteen her dream job lands right in her lap. On one of her assignments for the local hometown newspaper, she and her co-reporter Scott stumble across an old graveyard mystery. In 1942 a fire had completely destroyed a home, taking the entire Bentley family with it. Seven headstones rest in the cemetery, but only six names were ever listed in the paper. Who was Melissa J?

Between collecting pieces of this mystery and the everyday adventures of life, Jadee and Scott are determined to find out. For kids ages 8 and up!
Paperback (6x9) ISBN # 9781418449940 $ 9.50

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Scott turned on the computer and opened the file dated 1942. He clicked on the one marked February and enlarged it so we could read it a little easier. I glanced through the articles until I found the obituaries.

“Here it is,” I whispered. “‘Memorial services will be held for William A. Bentley and family on Thursday, February 15th at 10:00 a.m. at the Glendale Chapel. The family will be laid to rest at 11:00 a.m. in the Oak Memorial Cemetery. The family includes William A. 37, Matilda R. 34, and sons James D. 12, Luke R. 11, Richard P. 10, and one-daughter Cassie A. 8 years old. The family died in the fire that destroyed their two story home at 234 Juniper Rd. early Saturday morning around 1:00 a.m. There were no survivors or known relatives.’” I paused for a moment and a cold shiver ran down my spine.

“I thought there were seven graves,” Scott looked at me with a puzzled glance.

I picked up my notebook and re-read the names again. “There are seven names but only six are listed in the newspaper. They missed one. This one… Melissa J.”

“Let’s look at the front page, that’s where the main story should be,” Scott said.

I scanned the computer screen and located the front page. “Okay, here it is. It says: “‘Local family dies in fire. William A. Bentley, Matilda R. Bentley and their four children died early Saturday morning when their home burned to the ground. The fire started at the rear of the home and completely engulfed the house before the Glendale Fire Department arrived. Cause of the fire is still under investigation. The children’s names are listed as James, Luke, Richard and Cassie.’” “There’s no mention of a Melissa anywhere, that’s weird.” I couldn’t help but think of my own family trapped in a fire and the thought terrified me.

“I wonder who Melissa J. was,” Scott said. “She has to be their daughter… I mean she’s buried right next to them and she has the same last name.”

“Maybe they didn’t realize there were five kids until after the story was printed.” I said.

Scott glanced up at the clock. "It's getting late, you'd better get going." He shut the computer down.