Why was it surprising that smoke rose from the chimney of the Westing house in The Westing Game?

It is unusual that there is smoke coming from the Westing house because no one is supposed to live there.

Everyone assumes that Sam Westing is dead because no one has seen him in years.  He was a very wealthy businessman, but his family was estranged and had not heard from him.  All of the residents of Sunset Towers have (or are supposed to have) a connection to him.  They were not aware of this when they toured the apartments.

Soon after taking up residence in Sunset Towers, smoke is seen coming from the Westing house.  This is a surprise to the kids because they do not think anyone is in the house, let alone living in it.

“Do you think—do you think old man Westing’s up there?”

“Naw,” Otis Amber, the old delivery boy, answered.

“Nobody’s seen him for years. Supposed to be living on a private island in the South Seas, he is; but most folks say he’s dead. Long-gone dead…” (Ch. 2) 

Sandy, the “doorman” says that the smoke is nothing and might be just kids messing around.  He tells a story about two kids who broke in and were never seen again. 

“Seems it all started with a bet; somebody bet them a dollar they couldn’t stay in that spooky house five minutes. One measly buck! The poor kids hardly got through those French doors on this side of the Westing house when they came tearing out like they was being chased by a ghost. Chased by a ghost—or worse.” (Ch. 2) 

Sandy is really Westing, but no one knows it yet.  He tells the story to spook the kids.  He is playing along, trying to increase the mystery of the Westing house and Westing in general.  He wants to be close to the heirs too, and enjoys watching them play the game.  Naturally, no one has any idea of his true identity. 

The smoke coming from the house is exciting, and it sets off a chain reaction of events.  The residents of Sunset Towers, who are Westing’s heirs, are called to play a game that will determine who will get the Westing fortune.  They agree to do it, because Westing was eccentric and there is a lot of money involved.