Escape to the World's Fair Read Online Free Page A

answered. “Er . . . could you give us a moment to discuss among ourselves?”
    â€œCertainly,” replied Zogby. Then he took the medallion back from Frances and tucked it back in his jacket. “I’ll be over here.” He opened his door, stepped down from the car, and walked off a few yards to wait.
    Alexander lowered his voice to a whisper. “What do you think of this fellow’s idea?” he asked everyone.
    â€œIt’s some kind of a scheme,” Frances said. “It sounds awfully fishy.
All we have to do
is go to the
World’s Fair
? I don’t believe it. I think we should just hit the road.”
    Alexander seemed to agree. “It sounds too good to be true. There’s got to be a catch. If carrying some geegaw to St. Louis is such a swell opportunity, why would he give it to a bunch of runaway kids? Why
us
?”
    Jack looked out to the road, where dust still hung in the air from the motorcar. Zogby had crossed to the other side of the road to give Jack and the others more privacy, and now he waited patiently.
    â€œMaybe Zogby was once like us,” Jack said, crouching down farther in the car seat so as not to be overheard. “Maybe he made some money for himself and just wants other folks to be able to enjoy the finer things in life.” Daniel had been like that—he’d always point out the fanciest buggies and motorcars on Broadway, promising that he’d buy one for the family someday. Jack was sure he would have, too, if he’d lived.
    Alexander shrugged. “Eli, what do you think?”
    â€œI don’t like that gold thing,” Eli said. “I’m not going to carry something with a message on it in some crazy secret language that nobody but the devil can read.”
    â€œWhat, you think it’s a curse?” Jack asked.
    â€œDon’t know! And not knowing’s good enough reason for me not to trust it,” Eli replied. “But . . .” He looked thoughtful. “If someone else here wants to carry that thing, I’ll gladly go to the Fair.”
    â€œMe, too!” Harold put in. “It sounds like the greatest place.”
    â€œWe’re already heading someplace great,” Alexander said. “California!”
    â€œBut how are we supposed to get there with no money?” Jack argued. “Look, if Mr. Zogby is telling the truth about the reward for the medallion, then we’ll continue on to California with some coins in our pockets.”
    â€œAnd if Zogby is lying about the reward?” Frances whispered.
    â€œIt’ll be the same thing,” Jack whispered back. “Except we’ll just sell the medallion. It sure looks like it’s worth something, doesn’t it?”
    â€œIt does,” Frances admitted, though she was still frowning.
    â€œMaybe we can get some odd jobs at the Fair, too,” Eli pointed out. “In fact, I heard some of my mama’s cousins were looking to get work there.”
    â€œCome on,” Jack said to Alexander and Frances. “Doesn’t the St. Louis World’s Fair sound a whole lot better than just walking down that road?”
    Alexander sighed. “Yeah, I guess.” But he looked at Frances, as if he were waiting for her to decide.
    â€œSay yes, Frannie?” Harold pleaded.
    â€œ
Fine,
” Frances said. “We’ll go with Zogby.” She opened the door of the motorcar and climbed back in.
    Jack couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across his face. He stood up in the back seat. “Hey, Mr. Zogby!” he called, waving.
    Just for a moment, as Zogby turned to face them, Jack almost thought it was his brother turning. He had nearly the same kind of dark, slicked-back hair, and he’d pushed his cap back the same way Daniel had done. If Jack needed a sign that this was the right decision—and maybe he did—this was it.
    â€œWe’ll do it,” Jack said.