The Mystery of the Grinning Gargoyle by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page A

corner to see their little brother standing in the middle of a green, prickly bush. In Benny’s hand was a gray, grinning gargoyle held high over his head.
    â€œWe can be sure that’s not a real statue now,” said Jessie.
    â€œYeah,” said Henry. “Benny might be strong for a kid, but nobody could lift one of the real gargoyles over his head.”
    Violet looked puzzled. “That gargoyle looks just like the statues on top of the library, though. If it’s not a real statue, what is it?”
    Jessie took the gargoyle from Benny and helped her little brother out of the bushes. She tapped the grinning creature with her finger. A dusting of white powder showered down from the bottom of the gargoyle. “This isn’t made of stone,” she said. “It’s made out of papier-mâché.”

    â€œPapier-mâché!” said Violet. “I know where I’ve heard that word before. It was on a book at the library.”
    â€œThen we need to go back to the library so we can finally solve the mystery of the grinning gargoyles,” Henry said.
    â€œAnd we will,” said Jessie, “just as soon as we get a good night’s sleep. We have a very big day tomorrow.”
    The Alden children took the papier-mâché gargoyle with them as they headed back into Harper Hall. Leaving the papier-mâché gargoyle with Annabel—to show her it had been a sculpture and not a living, breathing creature outside her window—the Aldens headed back to suite 4A.
    â€œI think Annabel had the right idea, wearing those pretty pajamas to bed,” Violet yawned as the children reached the front door of their suite.
    â€œThat reminds me of something you said back in Annabel’s room,” said Henry, holding the door for his siblings. “You said Raven was a made-up person, and I realized that Holly Page was made-up, too. I’ve been thinking about that ever since, and I think there’s someone whose name sounds a little bit like Holly and who spends the day looking through pages and pages.”
    â€œI think you’re right, Henry,” said Jessie. “And I think after we get some rest tonight, we know who to talk to.”

CHAPTER 8
    Checked Out
    The next morning, Jessie woke her brothers and sister very early.
    â€œI’m tired,” said Benny. “We were up so late.”
    â€œWe’re going to be busy today,” Jessie said. “There’s the groundbreaking ceremony, and then the big game…”
    â€œAnd we still have the mystery to solve, too,” said Henry, stretching his arms and climbing out of bed. “Let’s head right to the library.”
    â€œI’ll leave a note for Grandfather,” Violet said, pulling a purple pen and a pad of paper from her purple duffel bag. “We can meet him at the ceremony once we have finished our work.”
    On the way to the library, the Aldens stopped at the Bruin Beanery.
    Behind the counter was a smiling girl with light-brown hair. On the girl’s chest was a name badge that said Annabel.
    â€œHi, Raven!” said Benny. “I mean, Annabel. We’re going to have a little breakfast before we go to the library.”
    â€œWhat would you like?” Annabel asked. “Breakfast is on the house.”
    â€œOn the house?” Benny asked. “Don’t you mean on the roof?”
    Annabel laughed. “It means that whatever you kids want to eat for breakfast is free. It’s my way of saying thank you for helping me last night when I was scared.”
    â€œThank you,” Violet said. “You’re really nice, Annabel.”
    â€œYeah,” said Benny. “You’re about the nicest suspect I’ve ever met!”
    â€œAnnabel’s not a suspect,” Henry said. “Not anymore. But she can do one thing for us.”
    â€œWhat’s that?” asked Annabel.
    â€œYou and your friend with the video camera can