Henry didn’t want Mr. Woodruff to find him hiding behind a couch in the living room. He figured it would be better to just come out and explain what he was doing. But just as Henry was about to emerge from behind the couch, Mr. Woodruff passed the living room and began moving down the hall toward the family room. Henry spotted the man’s limp when he walked. But hadn’t Sara said her father didn’t limp? And she would know, wouldn’t she?
Curious to see if he was going to join the party, Henry followed Mr. Woodruff. But as he stepped into the hall, the floor creaked loudly, and Mr. Woodruff turned around. Suddenly Henry was confused. The man looked like Mr. Woodruff, but older. His hair had more gray in it, and his face was creased with lines.
“Who—who are you?” Henry asked, startled.
“I knew I shouldn’t come here, but—” the man began.
Just then Sara came running down the hall. “Uncle John!” she cried, giving the man a big hug. “I was hoping you’d come!”
“Uncle John?” Henry repeated, confused.
Mrs. Woodruff was just behind Sara, and Bob Woodruff appeared on the stairs.
“John?” Bob Woodruff said. For the first time, Henry saw Mr. Woodruff smiling.
“Bob!” the other man said. “I’ve come to apologize.”
“No, I should apologize to you,” said Bob Woodruff, coming down the stairs and giving his brother a big hug. Henry watched Mrs. Woodruff smile broadly as the two men embraced. Sara clung to her uncle’s waist, a big grin on her face, and Henry was very glad he hadn’t signaled to Grandfather.
Violet, Jessie, and Benny emerged from the family room. After a few minutes, the Woodruffs became aware of the Aldens watching them. Mrs. Woodruff tried to explain.
“Bob and his brother, John, have always been quite close,” she explained. “They were friends, golf buddies, business partners. He was like a second father to Sara. But about a year ago, they had a disagreement, something silly, really. But one thing led to another, and they stopped speaking. Both men are so proud—they each refused to be the one to admit he was wrong.” Mrs. Woodruff paused, looking at the two brothers, who stood with their arms around each other, Sara happily nestled in between them.
“I thought your uncle John had … died,” Jessie said to Sara.
“It felt almost as if he had,” said Sara.
“I guess I was acting pretty ridiculous,” Bob Woodruff admitted.
“No, I was,” said John. “And I knew it, too. I just couldn’t figure out how to admit it. And I felt especially badly because I knew Sara’s birthday was coming up, and I hated to miss it. I’ve never missed any of your birthdays, cupcake,” he said, ruffling her hair with his hand. Sara smiled up at him.
“I’ve been miserable since our fight,” said Bob. “I just couldn’t figure out how to make things right. I haven’t been able to sleep at night, I’ve been so upset.”
“Yes, and you’ve been taking it out on everyone,” said Mrs. Woodruff with a laugh.
“You sure have,” Sara piped up.
“I’m sorry, honey,” Bob Woodruff said, his voice kinder than the Aldens had ever heard it. “I’m not going to be that way anymore.”
“And I’ve been lurking around your house, trying to get up my nerve to come in and apologize,” said Uncle John. “I’ve even been following Sara and her friends around, thinking maybe if I talked to her, I could get up my nerve to talk to you, Bob.”
“So that’s it!” Benny shouted. Everyone turned to look at him. “You’re the person who’s been following us!”
“I thought you’d seen me,” John Woodruff said.
“I did! I thought you were Sara’s dad, but I knew there was something about you that was different. And then I got confused because you walk with a limp and he doesn’t, right?” Benny said.
“Yes, that’s right,” said John. “I was injured falling off a horse many years ago, and my leg never healed properly.”
“You were following the children?” Mrs. Woodruff asked, disbelieving.
“I know it sounds ridiculous,” said John. “I finally decided that today, Sara’s birthday, it was time to just come on in and apologize.”
“Well, we’re glad you did,” said Mrs. Woodruff. “Now come join the party!”
All the Aldens and the Woodruffs returned to the family room, where the Aldens led the children in a few more games. Bob and John Woodruff sat side by side, smiling at Sara and her friends.
Soon it was almost time to serve the cake. “I’ll go pour the juice and get everything ready,” Jessie said, heading down the hall. She was passing through the living room when she stopped and gasped. She grabbed the window curtains and shook them frantically to signal Grandfather.
Standing in the living room was a tall person wearing a black mask, taking the Woodruffs’ jewelry and stuffing it into a bag.
CHAPTER 10
The Trap Is Sprung!
“Help! Thief!” Jessie loudly screamed.
The person dropped the bag and ran out the other door of the living room.
“Stop!” Jessie screamed again, chasing after the burglar.
The person was almost to the front door, but just at that moment Grandfather opened the front door and stepped inside, blocking the stranger’s way out. Henry and the others heard Jessie scream and came running. In no time they raced down the hall to the front door.
The person stopped and turned around, looking frantically from side to side for a way out. By now the Woodruffs and most of the children from the party had come into the hall as well.
The burglar realized there was nowhere to run, no way to escape.
“Cassandra, is that you?” Benny asked boldly.
The thief didn’t answer. Instead, she slowly began to peel off her mask. When at last the Aldens could see her face, they couldn’t believe their eyes.
“Ms. Fox?” Jessie asked.
“Aren’t you the woman from the party store in town?” Mrs. Woodruff asked.
“Yes,” Ms. Fox admitted. “I am.”
“But what are you doing here? Are you the thief who’s been breaking into houses in Greenfield? The Pierces’ and the Graysons’?” Benny asked.
“Yes, I’m afraid I am,” she said quietly.
“But—but … why?” Violet asked in a sad voice.
“Same reason most people steal,” said Patti Fox. “For the money.”
“Why was it always the houses where we were giving parties?” asked Henry.
“It was such a perfect plan,” said Ms. Fox. “When you told me about the people who’d hired you, they always had lots of money and valuables in their homes. And with all the commotion of a birthday party going on in a separate part of the house—or even outside the house, like at the skating rink—I knew it would be easy to sneak in without anyone noticing.”
“So whenever we told you we were planning a party—” Jessie began.
“I’d find out where and when, and I’d plan a robbery,” Patti Fox said.
“How awful,” Violet said sadly. “How did you open all those safes?”
“I’ve been doing this for a long time,” Ms. Fox explained. “My father used to design safes, so I know all about them.”
Just then, there was the sound of a siren outside as a police car pulled up, its lights flashing. While they’d all been talking, Bob Woodruff had called the police.
When the officers came into the house, they recognized Patti Fox immediately.
“Yes, that’s me,” Patti Fox said quietly.
In a few minutes, the officers had taken Patti Fox away.
Over the next few days, the Aldens got several more phone calls from people asking them to plan parties. They hated to turn anyone down, but it would be hard to prepare for so many parties and do a good job.
Then Violet came up with a good plan. Now that they knew Cassandra th
e Great wasn’t a burglar or out to get them, she suggested they pay her a visit.
The children met Cassandra at her office in Greenfield. She was just as tall and beautiful as she looked onstage, but now she was dressed casually in jeans and a sweater.
“So what can I do for you?” she asked the children once they were seated in her office. Her voice was businesslike, but she had a warm smile on her face. “You said on the phone you had a business proposition for me?”
“Yes,” said Henry. “You entertain at a lot of birthday parties in Greenfield, and so do we. We don’t want to compete with you, and we’re getting so busy we can’t keep up with all the parties. So we were thinking maybe we could work together.”
“How would we do that?” Cassandra asked.
“We could do the preparation and the cleanup, make decorations, buy party favors and paper plates, things like that,” Jessie explained. “We could make the cake and take care of all the refreshments. Maybe even plan a few small activities for the kids to start with. But you could do most of the entertainment with your magic act.”
“I see,” said Cassandra thoughtfully. She drummed her fingers on the desk for a couple of minutes as she mulled over what the Aldens had just suggested.
“I like the idea,” she said at last. “I’ve never been interested in handling the food or the cleanup, but some parents have asked me to. I think working with you kids might be just the answer.”
“Great!” said Jessie.
“I should be honest with you,” Cassandra said. “I was worried about your party service taking some of my business. I depend on that business for a part of my income, and it hasn’t been doing so well lately. Several parents I spoke with chose you over me. I was starting to wonder who you Aldens were and what was so special about you.”
“Is that why you tore down our posters?” Benny asked.
Cassandra’s face turned red. “That wasn’t me—that was my manager. He tends to get a little carried away sometimes. I’m sorry about that.”
“We thought maybe you recognized our name when we came up to volunteer in your show,” said Jessie.
“Yes, I did.” Cassandra laughed. “I was quite surprised when you said your name was Alden, and I wondered how a bunch of kids could be causing me so much trouble!”
“We’re not just kids, we’re detectives!” Benny said, drawing himself up to his full height.
The others laughed and Jessie mussed Benny’s hair.
“Detectives, and great party planners. Working together might solve a lot of problems,” said Cassandra.
“That way you wouldn’t have to get rid of us,” Benny said.
“Get rid of you?” Cassandra repeated, confused.
“Yeah, you know, like you told your manager when you were in the party store,” Benny explained.
Cassandra looked puzzled for a second, and then she burst out laughing. She laughed for several moments, while the Aldens just looked at one another.
“What’s so funny?” Benny asked at last.
Cassandra stopped laughing and caught her breath. “You heard me say something about ‘getting rid of’ someone and you assumed it was you?” she asked.
“Well, yes,” Jessie said.
“I wasn’t talking about you,” Cassandra said. “I was talking about Larry and Betty.”
“Who are they?” asked Benny.
“My doves! I’ve been having trouble with the trick where I make them disappear. I told my manager that if I couldn’t get it to work, I’d have to get rid of the birds and return them to the animal trainer.”
Cassandra was no longer the only one laughing. The Aldens couldn’t help but laugh over the misunderstanding. Cassandra leaned down and reached under her desk.
“I’m glad to know you weren’t planning to get rid of us,” said Benny.
“Rid of you?” Cassandra laughed as she drew something out from under the desk. “It would take more than a magician to get rid of the best detectives in Greenfield,” she said, placing a white dove on Benny’s head.
About the Author
GERTRUDE CHANDLER WARNER discovered when she was teaching that many readers who like an exciting story could find no books that were both easy and fun to read. She decided to try to meet this need, and her first book, The Boxcar Children, quickly proved she had succeeded.
Miss Warner drew on her own experiences to write the mystery. As a child she spent hours watching trains go by on the tracks opposite her family home. She often dreamed about what it would be like to set up housekeeping in a caboose or freight car — the situation the Alden children find themselves in.
When Miss Warner received requests for more adventures involving Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden, she began additional stories. In each, she chose a special setting and introduced unusual or eccentric characters who liked the unpredictable.
While the mystery element is central to each of Miss Warner’s books, she never thought of them as strictly juvenile mysteries. She liked to stress the Aldens’ independence and resourcefulness and their solid New England devotion to using up and making do. The Aldens go about most of their adventures with as little adult supervision as possible — something else that delights young readers.
Miss Warner lived in Putnam, Connecticut, until her death in 1979. During her lifetime, she received hundreds of letters from girls and boys telling her how much they liked her books.
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
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 IN THE CAVE
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 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 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