The amusement park myste.., p.6
The Amusement Park Mystery,
p.6
No answer.
“Violet?” he called, raising his voice.
No answer.
“Henry!” he called in a louder tone.
No answer.
All at once Sheila appeared. Her eyes were wild and her red scarf was half untied and flapped around her face. “You!” she gasped, glaring at Benny.
Benny couldn’t move.
Sheila grimaced and then vanished behind a mirror.
“Henry!” Benny yelled at the top of his lungs.
“I’m here!” Henry said, stepping from behind a mirror.
Benny turned around and saw a tall skinny Henry. He reached out, but his small hand touched cold glass. “Henry?”
“Here I am,” Henry said, tapping Benny on the shoulder.
Benny sighed with relief. “Sheila was here!” he gasped.
“We’ll stick together,” Henry said. “Joshua’s here, too.”
And sure enough, Joshua seemed to step out of a mirror.
“Where did Sheila go?” Joshua asked urgently.
Benny shook his head. “She went in back of a mirror and just disappeared.”
“We’ll find her,” Joshua said, his jaw square and set.
A slight rustling noise startled them. Henry turned one way, Benny another, and Joshua still another. “Who’s there?” Benny cried.
“Come out!” Henry said in a forbidding voice.
Surprised, Violet and Jessie appeared before them.
“We’re all together,” Jessie exclaimed. “Didn’t you see Sheila?”
“I did,” Benny said proudly, “but she got away.”
The five of them stood in the center of the House of Mirrors, wondering which way to turn.
All at once Violet put a finger to her lips. She nodded in Joshua’s direction.
Slowly, Henry turned and glimpsed the tip of a red scarf.
“I see Sheila,” Benny whispered.
“Stay close to me,” Joshua said. “I know every passageway.”
Jessie glanced at him. Did they dare approach Sheila? There was no telling what she might do.
CHAPTER 12
The Horses Come Back
Silently, Joshua moved toward the mirror where Sheila was hiding. The only movement was the quiver of the red scarf.
Suddenly Joshua flew around the corner and pounced on the woman. Henry followed. Sheila and Joshua scuffled, but Henry grabbed her arm and she stopped struggling.
“All right,” she growled, yanking her arm free of Henry’s grip. Henry recognized the suddenly gruff voice.
“I can tell you made the phone calls!” he said. “What a coward you are!”
“You kids were always interfering,” she sneered. “I had to do something to stop you!” She glared at Henry. “But nothing kept you away from the amusement park. Not even my letter!”
“This way, Sheila!” Joshua ordered.
Henry, Jessie, and Violet walked on one side of Sheila while Joshua was on the other. Benny trailed behind.
“Just in case Sheila tries to escape,” he said fiercely.
After Joshua explained to the waiting police what the Arnolds had done, they led Sheila and Frank away.
“Whew!” Benny said. “I’m glad that’s over!”
All at once Karen raced across the grounds, flying into her father’s arms. “Oh, Dad, I’m sorry I wanted to get rid of the merry-go-round. Ned told me about the thieves.” She paused, gazing fondly at him. “I didn’t realize how important it was to you.”
“You’ll keep the merry-go-round?” Benny asked, his brown eyes growing big.
Karen tossed back her red hair, laughing. “Yes, Benny. The carousel will be the main attraction in our park.” She glanced at her father, her green eyes sparkling. “A roller coaster would take up too much space! I’ll never complain about the horses again.”
Joshua squeezed his daughter’s hand. “You don’t know how much this means to me, dear. The real horses are hidden in Old Jim’s barn.”
Karen’s eyes glistened. “Let’s go and get them.”
“First, I’ll need a truck,” Joshua said, grinning.
“I’ll call Peter. He’ll rent one,” Karen said. “Can’t we all go out to the barn? If it hadn’t been for the Aldens we wouldn’t have discovered the three fake horses.”
“Yes, indeed. The children are invited!” Joshua beamed at each of the Aldens. “This is the happiest day of my life,” he said.
Within an hour, Peter drove up in a truck and the children piled in back. Joshua and Karen sat up front with Peter.
When they arrived at Old Jim’s barn, they couldn’t see a sign of the horses.
“Where could they be?” Joshua asked with a puzzled frown.
Benny noticed a patch of gray shining through the straw piled in one of the stalls. He ran over and tossed straw in the air. “The dapple gray!” he exclaimed. “Here!”
Karen and Peter hurried into the next stall and brushed away the straw on the chocolate brown while Henry, Jessie, and Violet uncovered the pale gray.
Carefully, Joshua and Peter placed the dapple gray, the pale gray, and the chocolate brown horse on the truck.
Driving back to the amusement park, everyone felt happy and relieved. The mystery was solved. And the horses were safe.
Ned met them at the merry-go-round, and he and Joshua installed the precious Dentzel horses in their rightful places.
“Aren’t they beautiful?” Violet said in a hushed tone.
“The most beautiful sight in the world,” Jessie answered, standing back to admire the entire spectacular carousel.
Peter, standing with the Aldens, said, “Which is your favorite, Benny?”
“The dapple gray,” he answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“It so happens I have something for you,” Peter said, his dark handsome face lighting up with a grin.
Benny tilted his head. “For me?” he asked, pleased.
“For you,” Peter replied, taking a drawing from his sketchbook. With a big smile he held it out to Benny.
Benny’s mouth dropped open in amazement. “Look,” he said. “This is my dapple gray! It’s beautiful!”
The others crowded around Benny. “Oh,”Violet exclaimed. “What lovely lines. How real it looks!” Being interested in art, she could appreciate Peter’s skill. She looked up at Peter. “Was this what you were drawing at the carousel that day?”
Peter grinned. “I like to draw. I wanted to surprise Benny with a sketch.”
“We’ll have it framed, Peter,” Jessie promised. “And, Benny, won’t it look beautiful framed, and hanging above your bed?”
Benny, still gazing at his wonderful horse, said, “Yes! I’d like that!”
Happily, the Aldens returned to Joe and Alice’s house. It was time to return to Grandfather’s.
They related what had happened and Alice said, “We’re proud of you. The Dentzel horses are part of our American history, and you’ve helped save them.”
“We’ll miss you,” Joe said, reaching over and roughing up Benny’s hair. “We didn’t have a dull moment since your arrival!”
“We’ll miss you, too,” Jessie said, “but we’ll come back again.”
“You’d better,” Alice said, chuckling.
That night the children packed, and the next day Joe drove them to the bus.
On the way back to Greenfield, each Alden had satisfied and happy thoughts. But all of them were glad that they had helped Joshua find his beautiful horses!
Benny couldn’t wait to tell Grandfather the whole story. And to hug Watch!
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 each 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 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 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
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
copyright © 1992 by Albert Whitman & Company
ISBN: 978-1-4532-1247-9
This 2011 edition distributed by Open Road Integrated Media
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Gertrude Chandler Warner, The Amusement Park Mystery
