JOURNEY ON A RUNAWAY TRAIN
Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny didn’t think the old trunk in their house held anything interesting. But an unusual statue they find inside leads them to the Reddimus Society, a secret guild dedicated to returning lost treasures to where they belong. Now the Aldens must help their new friends by traveling across the country with the statue and six mysterious boxes! Can the Boxcar Children keep these seven treasures out of the wrong hands?
ALBERT WHITMAN & COMPANY
Publishing award-winning children’s books since 1919
www.albertwhitman.com
Cover art by Anthony VanArsdale
Printed in the United States of America
The Boxcar Children are on a surprise mission!
Trudy smiled. She took a business card out of her bag and handed it to the children. “Contact me if you have any trouble. We’ve arranged all your travel for you,” she said as she pushed herself up and out of her chair with her crutches. As she stepped off the train, she called, “Good luck! Be careful!”
Benny felt a strange sensation beneath his feet. Watch barked. “The floor is rumbling!” he cried. “The train is moving!”
“It can’t be!” Violet said, running over to look out the window. She was shocked to see that Benny was right. The train was moving forward, picking up speed…
THE BOXCAR CHILDREN MYSTERIES
THE BOXCAR CHILDREN
SURPRISE ISLAND
THE YELLOW HOUSE MYSTERY
MYSTERY RANCH
MIKE’S MYSTERY
BLUE BAY MYSTERY
THE WOODSHED MYSTERY
THE LIGHTHOUSE MYSTERY
MOUNTAIN TOP MYSTERY
SCHOOLHOUSE MYSTERY
CABOOSE MYSTERY
HOUSEBOAT MYSTERY
SNOWBOUND MYSTERY
TREE HOUSE MYSTERY
BICYCLE MYSTERY
MYSTERY IN THE SAND
MYSTERY BEHIND THE WALL
BUS STATION MYSTERY
BENNY UNCOVERS A MYSTERY
THE HAUNTED CABIN MYSTERY
THE DESERTED LIBRARY MYSTERY
THE ANIMAL SHELTER MYSTERY
THE OLD MOTEL MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN PAINTING
THE AMUSEMENT PARK MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MIXED-UP ZOO
THE CAMP-OUT MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY GIRL
THE MYSTERY CRUISE
THE DISAPPEARING FRIEND MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE SINGING GHOST
THE MYSTERY IN THE SNOW
THE PIZZA MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY HORSE
THE MYSTERY AT THE DOG SHOW
THE CASTLE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST VILLAGE
THE MYSTERY ON THE ICE
THE MYSTERY OF THE PURPLE POOL
THE GHOST SHIP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN WASHINGTON, DC
THE CANOE TRIP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN BEACH
THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING CAT
THE MYSTERY AT SNOWFLAKE INN
THE MYSTERY ON STAGE
THE DINOSAUR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN MUSIC
THE MYSTERY AT THE BALL PARK
THE CHOCOLATE SUNDAE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HOT AIR BALLOON
THE MYSTERY BOOKSTORE
THE PILGRIM VILLAGE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN BOXCAR
THE MYSTERY ON THE TRAIN
THE MYSTERY AT THE FAIR
THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST MINE
THE GUIDE DOG MYSTERY
THE HURRICANE MYSTERY
THE PET SHOP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE SECRET MESSAGE
THE FIREHOUSE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN SAN FRANCISCO
THE NIAGARA FALLS MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY AT THE ALAMO
THE OUTER SPACE MYSTERY
THE SOCCER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN THE OLD ATTIC
THE GROWLING BEAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE LAKE MONSTER
THE MYSTERY AT PEACOCK HALL
THE WINDY CITY MYSTERY
THE BLACK PEARL MYSTERY
THE CEREAL BOX MYSTERY
THE PANTHER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE QUEEN’S JEWELS
THE STOLEN SWORD MYSTERY
THE BASKETBALL MYSTERY
THE MOVIE STAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE PIRATE’S MAP
THE GHOST TOWN MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE BLACK RAVEN
THE MYSTERY IN THE MALL
THE MYSTERY IN NEW YORK
THE GYMNASTICS MYSTERY
THE POISON FROG MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE EMPTY SAFE
THE HOME RUN MYSTERY
THE GREAT BICYCLE RACE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE WILD PONIES
THE MYSTERY IN THE COMPUTER GAME
THE HONEYBEE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY AT THE CROOKED HOUSE
THE HOCKEY MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MIDNIGHT DOG
THE MYSTERY OF THE SCREECH OWL
THE SUMMER CAMP MYSTERY
THE COPYCAT MYSTERY
THE HAUNTED CLOCK TOWER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE TIGER’S EYE
THE DISAPPEARING STAIRCASE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY ON BLIZZARD MOUNTAIN
THE MYSTERY OF THE SPIDER’S CLUE
THE CANDY FACTORY MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MUMMY’S CURSE
THE MYSTERY OF THE STAR RUBY
THE STUFFED BEAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF ALLIGATOR SWAMP
THE MYSTERY AT SKELETON POINT
THE TATTLETALE MYSTERY
THE COMIC BOOK MYSTERY
THE GREAT SHARK MYSTERY
THE ICE CREAM MYSTERY
THE MIDNIGHT MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN THE FORTUNE COOKIE
THE BLACK WIDOW SPIDER MYSTERY
THE RADIO MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE RUNAWAY GHOST
THE FINDERS KEEPERS MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HAUNTED BOXCAR
THE CLUE IN THE CORN MAZE
THE GHOST OF THE CHATTERING BONES
THE SWORD OF THE SILVER KNIGHT
THE GAME STORE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE ORPHAN TRAIN
THE VANISHING PASSENGER
THE GIANT YO-YO MYSTERY
THE CREATURE IN OGOPOGO LAKE
THE ROCK ’N’ ROLL MYSTERY
THE SECRET OF THE MASK
THE SEATTLE PUZZLE
THE GHOST IN THE FIRST ROW
THE BOX THAT WATCH FOUND
A HORSE NAMED DRAGON
THE GREAT DETECTIVE RACE
THE GHOST AT THE DRIVE-IN MOVIE
THE MYSTERY OF THE TRAVELING TOMATOES
THE SPY GAME
THE DOG-GONE MYSTERY
THE VAMPIRE MYSTERY
SUPERSTAR WATCH
THE SPY IN THE BLEACHERS
THE AMAZING MYSTERY SHOW
THE PUMPKIN HEAD MYSTERY
THE CUPCAKE CAPER
THE CLUE IN THE RECYCLING BIN
MONKEY TROUBLE
THE ZOMBIE PROJECT
THE GREAT TURKEY HEIST
THE GARDEN THIEF
THE BOARDWALK MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE FALLEN TREASURE
THE RETURN OF THE GRAVEYARD GHOST
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN SNOWBOARD
THE MYSTERY OF THE WILD WEST BANDIT
THE MYSTERY OF THE GRINNING GARGOYLE
THE MYSTERY OF THE SOCCER SNITCH
THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING
POP IDOL
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN DINOSAUR BONES
THE MYSTERY AT THE CALGARY STAMPEDE
THE SLEEPY HOLLOW MYSTERY
THE LEGEND OF THE IRISH CASTLE
THE CELEBRITY CAT CAPER
HIDDEN IN THE HAUNTED SCHOOL
THE ELECTION DAY DILEMMA
JOURNEY ON A RUNAWAY TRAIN
THE CLUE IN THE PAPYRUS SCROLL
THE DETOUR OF THE ELEPHANTS
THE SHACKLETON SABOTAGE
THE KHIPU AND THE FINAL KEY
Copyright © 2017 by Albert Whitman & Company
Published in 2017 by Albert Whitman & Company
ISBN 978-0-8075-0695-0 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-0-8075-0696-7 (paperback)
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
THE BOXCAR CHILDREN® is a registered trademark of Albert Whitman & Company.
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 LB 20 19 18 17 16
Illustrations by Anthony VanArsdale
For more information about Albert Whitman & Company, visit our website at www.albertwhitman.com.
Contents
1. An Exciting Thing About to Happen
2. The Turtle and the Truck
3. Curious about Reddimus Curiosities
4. The Secretive Silverton Family
5. A Request for Help
6. On the Runaway Train
7. A Close Call
8. Something Out of Time
9. The City in the Sky
10. A Sudden Change in Plans
An Exciting Thing About to Happen
The tinkling of little bells woke Jessie Alden up. As she lay in her bed, she wondered whether she had dreamed the nice noises. She looked over to the window. It was very early in the morning. Her room was just beginning to brighten. The curtains billowed as a breeze blew through them. The bells sounded again and then Jessie remembered. She and her ten-year-old sister, Violet, had hung a mobile in Jessie’s room the night before.
Violet’s latest art project was mobile making. For Jessie’s mobile, she had cut out pictures of amazing sites from all over the world. The pictures were glued to cardboard and then tied to strings hanging from a wire frame. Violet had added little silver bells on strings to hang among the pictures. She said she hoped her mobile would give Jessie dreams of all the places she might go someday.
Jessie listened to the bells, thinking it was almost like they were signaling her to get up. Soft footsteps sounded in the hallway as if someone was trying not to be heard. Jumping out of bed, Jessie darted over to her door and opened it. Her fourteen-year-old brother, Henry, and Watch, their dog, were just heading down the stairs. Violet and six-year-old Benny opened their own doors.
Jessie noticed no one looked sleepy. “Why are we all so awake?” she whispered.
“I was too excited to sleep late, but I don’t know why,” Benny said.
“I felt the same way, like something exciting was going to happen and I didn’t want to miss it,” Violet added.
“That’s strange,” Henry said. “I felt the same way.”
Watch wagged his tail as if he were agreeing with them.
They stood there for a moment until Violet asked, “What do we do now? It’s really early.”
“First, we should go downstairs so we won’t wake anyone else up,” Jessie said. They went down to the kitchen. Henry filled up Watch’s bowl with dog food. Watch wolfed it down.
“I’m just as hungry as Watch,” Benny said. “What time is breakfast?”
“Not for a while,” Jessie said. “Mrs. McGregor thought we would sleep late since it’s the first day of spring break.” Mrs. McGregor was the Aldens’ housekeeper.
“How long is a while?” Benny asked. “However long it is, I don’t think I can wait.”
“I have an idea,” Violet said. “Since it’s finally stopped raining, it would be nice to go outside. Let’s make our own breakfast and take it out to the boxcar to eat.” The Aldens had their very own boxcar in their backyard. It was a special place for them. After their parents died, they had been scared to go live at their grandfather’s house. Fearing he would be mean, the children had run away and found an old boxcar in the woods. They lived there until their grandfather found them. He was not mean at all, and he even arranged for the boxcar to be brought to his yard.
“I like Violet’s idea.” Benny jumped up and down. “We can have a breakfast picnic!”
Jessie smiled at Benny’s excitement. “We have some blueberry muffins I made and there are some bananas. That would be a good breakfast.”
“Perfect,” Henry said.
“Violet, will you carry the muffins?” Jessie asked. “I’ll take the plates and the bananas. Henry can carry the glasses. Benny, that means you are in charge of the juice.”
They took everything out to the boxcar, squishing their way across the wet backyard.
“There is something about this morning that feels so different,” Violet said as they laid out their breakfast. Rain began to ping on the roof of the boxcar.
“Except the rain.” Henry sighed.
“At least the rain makes the air smell good,” Violet said.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever heard so many birds chirping this early in the spring,” Jessie said. “Listen.”
It did seem as if their yard was filled with birds. The children were quiet as they ate their breakfast, enjoying the sound of the birds.
“Sometimes I wish this boxcar was still attached to a train,” Benny said when they were finished. “And that we were going someplace right now.”
“I wish we could have an adventure this week,” Jessie said. “We haven’t had any mysteries to solve recently, and I’m ready for one. Anyone heard of any mysteries that need solving?”
“No,” Henry said glumly. “I’ve even asked around. No one has lost anything or seen any strange things lately.”
“It’s like all the mysteries have been solved,” Violet said, just as glumly as Henry.
“Don’t be sad.” Benny looked around at his brother and sisters. “It’s still the first day of spring break. Let’s play a game. Everybody close your eyes and imagine where you’d like the boxcar to go.”
“There are so many places. It is hard to”—a rumbling noise drowned out the rest of Violet’s sentence.
“Do you hear that?” Benny opened his eyes. “Is the train moving?”
Henry got up and went to the door of the boxcar. “No, it’s thunder. Looks like it’s going to storm again.”
“Let’s get inside before the rain gets too heavy,” Jessie said. They collected the picnic supplies and got ready to run for the back door. Watch jumped out of the boxcar and then stopped, his ears perking up. He gave a bark and then dashed toward the front of the house. As he disappeared around the corner, he began to bark again.
“He’s going to wake up the neighbors,” Jessie said.
“Watch!” Henry called.
Watch didn’t come back. He kept barking.
“We’d better go see what he’s doing,” Benny said. The four of them ran around the house to the front yard. Violet was in the lead, but when she got to the front yard, she skidded to a stop on the wet grass. The others nearly ran into her. “There’s someone on our front porch,” she said.
They could see a man standing on the top of the steps looking at Watch. Watch was on the walkway at the bottom of the steps looking back at the man.
He was an older man, about Grandfather’s age. He was very small with a wrinkly face and silvery gray hair that stuck out from underneath a purple cap.
When the man saw the Aldens, he tipped his cap at them and smiled. Violet noticed the cap matched the purple bow tie he wore. He had a silver hoop earring in one ear and one fro
nt tooth capped in silver.
“Good morning, children,” he said. “Lovely day, isn’t it?”
Jessie wasn’t so sure such a gray rainy day could be called lovely, but the man didn’t even seem to notice he was all wet.
“Sorry about our dog,” Henry said to the man. “Watch won’t hurt you. He just barks at strangers sometimes.”
“That’s all right,” the man replied. “I understand. Back when I was a pirate, I learned you can’t trust everyone. Sometimes you need to bark at people just to let them know you are watching them.”
Benny’s eyes opened wide. “You were a pirate?”
The man’s smile grew. “Some people called me that a long time ago. Today I’m just passing out flyers. I’ve put one in your door.” He winked at them and then tipped his cap again. “Good day to you.”
He came down the steps and patted Watch on the head as he walked by. The dog wagged his tail. The Aldens watched as the man then strolled down the sidewalk away from them. Right before he turned the corner and disappeared from the Aldens’ sight, he jumped up and clicked his heels together.
“That was an interesting man,” Jessie said. “Maybe he was the exciting thing we thought would happen today.”
“He was interesting, but now he’s gone,” Henry said. “That’s not very exciting.”
“I wonder why he left us a flyer.” Violet ran up the steps and pulled out a piece of paper that had been stuck between the door and the frame. She held it up for the others to see.
The flyer had an image of an old storage trunk on the top and the words “Reddimus Curiosities Antique Dealers” beneath.
Benny pointed to the next line. “I can read the first part. It says We make house calls. I can’t read a couple of the other words in the rest of the sentence.”
Violet read it for him. “It says We make house calls to appraise all your curiosities.”
“I don’t understand,” Benny said. “What does appraise mean?”
“It means to look at something and decide how much it is worth,” Henry told him. “This antique dealer comes around to people’s houses to see if they have valuable old things they might want to sell. A curiosity is an interesting or rare item.”
“That old trunk on the flyer looks exactly like the one we have in the study. So is our trunk a curiosity?” Benny asked.
“I guess it could be,” Violet replied. “I never think about our trunk because it’s always been there.”
“Mrs. McGregor thinks about it,” Jessie said. “She doesn’t like it because it takes up so much room.”