<p>Only young Phil Holt suspects that the distinguished-looking Mr. Tate is looking for more than poetry in old Miss Goddard&rsquo;s library. Miss Goddard thinks the self-styled poetry expert is charming. But Boz, the dog, takes an instant dislike to the elderly "scholar." And Phil is sure he has seen Mr. Tate outside Miss Goddard&rsquo;s house in the middle of the night, talking with a sinister stranger.</p><p>The unusual setting -- Portland, Maine&rsquo;s famous Longfellow Square -- and the reality and appeal of the characters make this one of Mrs. Jane&rsquo;s best stories. Family skeletons, a dognapping, and some furtive figures lurking in a closed-up church add to the excitement, as Phil proves that "bookish" boys can also be brave!</p>