Boxcar Children 54 - Hurricane Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B
Authors: Gertrude Chandler Warner
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very moment, the lights came back on.
CHAPTER 11
The Hurricane Gate
I t was time for the Aldens to go back home to Greenfield.
“It seems as if we just got here,” said Violet. “Time went so fast!”
Mrs. Ashleigh patted Violet’s shoulder. “Hard work and solving mysteries makes time go extra fast,” she said.
“We didn’t finish all the work,” said Henry, looking around. “And that last big storm didn’t help.”
Diana, who was repairing one of the front window shutters, said, “Don’t worry. I can take care of the rest.”
“We don’t have to leave right this minute, do we?” asked Benny.
“No, Benny,” Grandfather told him. “Not until after lunch.”
“And you’ll be back, Benny, won’t you? For the special exhibit in the museum. The Pirate’s Gate is going to be the main attraction. I expect the newspaper will even want to interview you again,” said Mrs. Ashleigh.
“Okay,” said Benny. He added, “Will we have our picture in the paper again, too?”
Everyone laughed.
“Maybe,” said Mrs. Ashleigh.
All four Alden children, and Watch, too, had had their picture in the newspaper along with Mrs. Ashleigh. Beneath the picture was a story with the headline the secret of the pirate’s gate. Mrs. Ashleigh had donated the gate to the museum along with the papers that she and the Aldens had finally gotten organized. The story had told all about how Henry, Jessie, Violet, Benny, and Watch had figured out the secret. It had even mentioned Diana’s name, because she was the one who’d first told them about the Golden Gate Bridge. And there had been a whole separate article about Mr. Farrier, since he’d known the secret, too, and since he was an expert on cast-iron and wrought-iron work.
But the story hadn’t said anything about Jackie and Mike. Mrs. Ashleigh understood that Jackie was desperate for money, so she hadn’t called the police. But she had warned them that if anything else at all suspicious ever happened again, she would.
They hadn’t seen Jackie or Mike since then. But another, more recent article in the newspaper had been about how Hoofbeats of History was for sale because the owners were moving. Neither Jackie nor Mike’s picture had been included with the article.
Again and again, Mrs. Ashleigh looked at her watch, then down the street.
“Are you expecting someone?” asked Jessie.
Just then a car pulled up out front. Forrest Ashleigh got out. He was holding a big box.
“I thought I’d come to lunch,” he said. He held up the box. “And I brought desserts. Chocolates, from a wonderful store in Charleston.”
“Chocolate is my favorite thing,” said Benny. He thought for a moment and said, “ One of my favorite things.”
Watch wagged his tail. Benny looked down at him. “No, Watch,” he said. “Chocolate is not one of your favorite things. Chocolate is very bad for dogs, remember? You like dog biscuits.”
Forrest came up the walk and stopped at the foot of the steps. He looked up at the Aldens and Diana and his mother. Today, he wasn’t wearing a suit and tie. He was wearing jeans and an old shirt and he didn’t look so much like a banker.
“But aren’t you supposed to be at work, dear?” Mrs. Ashleigh said. “Shouldn’t you be wearing your suit?”
“I’m taking a little time off,” said Forrest. “Thinking of making some changes.” He smiled up at his mother. “I was wondering if you would let me stay here for a while. I used to have so much fun on this island when I was a kid.”
“Of course. As long as you don’t start talking to me about selling it,” said Mrs. Ashleigh.
Forrest shook his head. “I was wrong. You have good friends and good neighbors. And you have a family. Even if a hurricane does blow this house away, it can’t change that. And that’s what is important.”
Ellen Ashleigh nodded. “Yes,” she said. “I’ve always known that. I’m glad you see it now, too.”
Diana slapped the side of the
CHAPTER 11
The Hurricane Gate
I t was time for the Aldens to go back home to Greenfield.
“It seems as if we just got here,” said Violet. “Time went so fast!”
Mrs. Ashleigh patted Violet’s shoulder. “Hard work and solving mysteries makes time go extra fast,” she said.
“We didn’t finish all the work,” said Henry, looking around. “And that last big storm didn’t help.”
Diana, who was repairing one of the front window shutters, said, “Don’t worry. I can take care of the rest.”
“We don’t have to leave right this minute, do we?” asked Benny.
“No, Benny,” Grandfather told him. “Not until after lunch.”
“And you’ll be back, Benny, won’t you? For the special exhibit in the museum. The Pirate’s Gate is going to be the main attraction. I expect the newspaper will even want to interview you again,” said Mrs. Ashleigh.
“Okay,” said Benny. He added, “Will we have our picture in the paper again, too?”
Everyone laughed.
“Maybe,” said Mrs. Ashleigh.
All four Alden children, and Watch, too, had had their picture in the newspaper along with Mrs. Ashleigh. Beneath the picture was a story with the headline the secret of the pirate’s gate. Mrs. Ashleigh had donated the gate to the museum along with the papers that she and the Aldens had finally gotten organized. The story had told all about how Henry, Jessie, Violet, Benny, and Watch had figured out the secret. It had even mentioned Diana’s name, because she was the one who’d first told them about the Golden Gate Bridge. And there had been a whole separate article about Mr. Farrier, since he’d known the secret, too, and since he was an expert on cast-iron and wrought-iron work.
But the story hadn’t said anything about Jackie and Mike. Mrs. Ashleigh understood that Jackie was desperate for money, so she hadn’t called the police. But she had warned them that if anything else at all suspicious ever happened again, she would.
They hadn’t seen Jackie or Mike since then. But another, more recent article in the newspaper had been about how Hoofbeats of History was for sale because the owners were moving. Neither Jackie nor Mike’s picture had been included with the article.
Again and again, Mrs. Ashleigh looked at her watch, then down the street.
“Are you expecting someone?” asked Jessie.
Just then a car pulled up out front. Forrest Ashleigh got out. He was holding a big box.
“I thought I’d come to lunch,” he said. He held up the box. “And I brought desserts. Chocolates, from a wonderful store in Charleston.”
“Chocolate is my favorite thing,” said Benny. He thought for a moment and said, “ One of my favorite things.”
Watch wagged his tail. Benny looked down at him. “No, Watch,” he said. “Chocolate is not one of your favorite things. Chocolate is very bad for dogs, remember? You like dog biscuits.”
Forrest came up the walk and stopped at the foot of the steps. He looked up at the Aldens and Diana and his mother. Today, he wasn’t wearing a suit and tie. He was wearing jeans and an old shirt and he didn’t look so much like a banker.
“But aren’t you supposed to be at work, dear?” Mrs. Ashleigh said. “Shouldn’t you be wearing your suit?”
“I’m taking a little time off,” said Forrest. “Thinking of making some changes.” He smiled up at his mother. “I was wondering if you would let me stay here for a while. I used to have so much fun on this island when I was a kid.”
“Of course. As long as you don’t start talking to me about selling it,” said Mrs. Ashleigh.
Forrest shook his head. “I was wrong. You have good friends and good neighbors. And you have a family. Even if a hurricane does blow this house away, it can’t change that. And that’s what is important.”
Ellen Ashleigh nodded. “Yes,” she said. “I’ve always known that. I’m glad you see it now, too.”
Diana slapped the side of the
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