The Boxcar Children Mysteries Box Set

by Gertrude Warner

  “Yes, we do,” said one of the rangers. “An old Indian lives there, the last of the tribe. Perfectly harmless. Just wants to live alone and be let alone. Every month I take over some flour, salt, sugar, and tea and a few canned things. Then I bring back sweet grass baskets in trade. They sell like hot cakes—I haven’t one left.”

  Henry asked, “Could I drive the car as far as the house?”

  “No. You can go a little way into the woods. Then you have to walk about a quarter of a mile. The path is easy to follow,” the ranger answered.

  Mr. Alden came up. He said, “I think we will drive over. My grandchildren are much interested.”

  John Carter said, “I have my car. I can take Benny and Violet.”

  Jessie said, “Fine. But we need some lunch. Let’s get some food from the store here and then go.”

  Grandfather agreed and let Jessie plan to get what was needed. “We can eat in the woods before we go up the trail,” she said.

  The Aldens were soon on their way, Henry driving in the lead. When they had driven as far as they could into the woods, Henry and Mr. Carter parked the cars.

  Lunch was quickly eaten because everyone was so curious about the Indian in the woods.

  Benny called back, “When we get there, do you think it is all right to knock on the door?”

  “I should think so,” said Henry. “What else can we do? We want to go in and meet him, don’t we? The ranger said he was perfectly harmless.”

  Soon they saw a small gray house with a large vegetable garden. A stone step was at the front door. Benny knocked.

  There was a soft sound of feet and the door opened. There stood a very tall Indian woman who held her head like a queen.

  For once Benny did not know what to say. Mr. Alden stepped forward quickly and said, “I hope we are not bothering you. My grandchildren saw your light from Old Flat Top. They were afraid you were in trouble.”

  The old Indian woman bowed her head a little, opened the door wide, and said, “Please come in.”

  CHAPTER 4

  Lovan’s Story

  The family was so surprised to find an Indian woman instead of a man that no one said anything.

  The room they looked into had two chairs and a couch. On a table lay an Indian basket that was not yet finished. Bunches of sweet grass were hung up to dry. The room was sweet with the smell of the grass.

  “Sit down,” said the Indian woman. She took the rocking chair, and Mr. Alden sat in the other chair. Mr. Carter sat on the couch and the others sat on the floor.

  Still no one had said a word. Then Benny, who was nearest the Indian woman, spoke. He said, “That man is my grandfather, James Alden. John Carter is sitting on the couch. I am Benny and there is my brother Henry and my sisters, Jessie and Violet.”

  The old woman said, “My name is Lovan Dixon. I am almost ninety years old.”

  “Well!” exclaimed Benny.

  Jessie said, “We were on Flat Top all night and saw your light. We were worried thinking somebody might be in trouble.”

  “You are very kind,” said the woman. “Why were you on Flat Top? Did you have an accident?”

  “Yes, I did,” said Benny. “When I was coming down, the first step broke away. But I don’t think about that any more. Grandfather said there was no use in it.”

  The Indian woman turned to Mr. Alden. “He was right,” she said. “I heard all the rocks coming down like thunder. I was worried about you. I saw your fire all night.”

  Violet looked at the old Indian and asked, “Is anything wrong?”

  “Not now,” said the woman.

  Then Benny cried, “Do you really want to live all alone here?”

  “Yes, child,” said Lovan Dixon. “I do want to. I do not like living in a town. Too many people laugh at Indian ways. I like to live alone.”

  Violet and Jessie looked around at the house. It was neat and clean. The old woman’s gray hair was as smooth as silk. Her strong old face was deeply wrinkled.

  Benny shouted, “Those people were mean. I’d like to tell them so.”

  “You are a kind boy. There is no need to bother with anyone. I like it here. I love the woods. I am the last of my people. My tribe always lived here and the government gave these woods to my tribe long ago. The woods go to the other side of Flat Top.”

  Now Grandfather spoke, “But I have a feeling that something is bothering you. Won’t you tell us?”

  The old woman did not speak for a time and it was very quiet in her little house. Then she said, “I hear that the woods will be cut over for lumber and I will lose my land.”

  Nodding, John Carter said, “It could be true, Miss Dixon. Many times, I am sorry to say, our government has forgotten its promises to the Indians.”

  Mr. Alden said, “From this minute on do not worry any more. I know a man who will find out who owns this land. He will buy it himself if he has to. You may use it as long as you live, Miss Dixon.”

  “Please say ‘Lovan,’” said the Indian woman with a bow.

  “Lovan,” said Benny at once because he liked the sound of the name. “When that step gave way on Old Flat Top, I thought I saw a big hole behind it. Do you think that was really true?”

  Lovan folded her arms and sat for a long time with bowed head. There was not a sound. After awhile she drew a long breath and said, “I trust you. Let me tell you a story. Years ago my grandfather told it to me, and he heard it from his grandfather. You ask about a hole, child. I believe there is a cave.”

  For a minute Lovan did not say anything more. Then she went on, “You understand this happened years ago. There used to be a cave on the other side of Flat Top, but no cave where you say the hole is. In those days you couldn’t get up the mountain by your trail, but you could get up on the other side. Flat Top didn’t have such a flat top at that time.”

  Every eye was on the old Indian woman. They hoped she would go on, and she did.

  “The story goes that a Frenchman who was a friend of the King of France ran away to America to live. There was a war in France and he escaped. He was shot accidently right near here. My great-grandfather, Running Deer, hid him and took care of him until he died. The Frenchman had a great leather bag with things in it which he expected to sell. But when he died, he gave the bag to my great-grandfather for taking care of him.”

  “What was in the bag?” cried Benny. Lovan smiled at Benny. “I never knew,” she said. “My great-grandfather died without telling anyone what was in it. But my grandfather thought that his father hid the bag in that old cave.”

  “Why didn’t he go up and find it?” asked Benny.

  Henry said, “Benny, you are asking too many questions.”

  Lovan smiled a little. She said, “I don’t mind. Nobody has ever dared before. Something happened to that mountain and the rocks moved and closed the cave. It looked as if it had been squashed together. That was when Flat Top became flat.”

  Mr. Carter said, “Didn’t anyone try to dig the cave out?”

  “No, the rocks were too heavy. Besides the climb was too steep.”

  Jessie said slowly, “If that bag was ever found, wouldn’t it belong to you?”

  Lovan bowed again. “Yes,” she said. “I am the last of the tribe and my grandfather told me it was mine.”

  “Wouldn’t you expect to get it then,” asked Henry, “if somebody found it?”

  “I don’t know,” said Lovan. “I have lost many things.”

  Violet said, “Do you suppose the hole Benny found is a sort of back door to that cave?”

  “I have no doubt of it,” said Lovan.

  Mr. Alden said, “Don’t worry any more about anything. I myself will see that you get what is yours.”

  Lovan said, “I am grateful to you. All I have left now is this house and my garden and my front step.”

  “What about your front step?” asked Mr. Alden.

  “Come and see,” said Lovan. “You must go down my step and watch.”

  S
he followed them out with a cup of water in her hand. They watched her as she poured the water slowly into some hollows in the step.

  “A big, enormous claw!” cried Benny. “It is almost as long as the step.”

  “A dinosaur track!” shouted Henry. “I’ve seen one at college.”

  Grandfather said, “Where did you get this? It is certainly a big piece of red sandstone.”

  “Yes,” said Lovan. “It came from the ledge right over there. My grandfather thought it was the track of a big magic bird. They called it a thunderbird track.”

  Benny laughed. “That’s a car,” he said.

  Mr. Carter said, “They named the car for the magic bird.”

  “I suppose you know,” said Jessie, “that a museum would like your step.”

  “But I want my doorstep,” said Lovan.

  “And you shall keep it,” said Mr. Alden. “The man who buys your woods would want you to have it. And now I think we should go. Thank you for everything.”

  “But we’ll be back,” said Benny. He gave Lovan a great smile, the kind only Benny could give.

  CHAPTER 5

  More Plans

  When the Aldens were in the car, Violet said, “We can see right through you, Grandfather. You are the man who is going to buy the woods, aren’t you?”

  “Of course,” said Grandfather, smiling at her. “What better thing could we do for Lovan? She will feel free, and don’t forget, I will have a fine woodlot. John, you attend to that for me, will you?”

  Mr. Carter laughed. “I was already planning my first step.”

  Henry said, “I don’t see how we can go home and leave this whole thing, Grandfather. What do you think of staying at a motel for a few days?”

  “All right,” said Mr. Alden, “that’s a good idea. We can ask the ranger where the nearest motel is.”

  Benny said, “Three rooms would be right for us. One for the girls, one for us boys, and one for Grandfather.”

  Turning to John Carter, Mr. Alden said, “It’s settled that we’ll stay here. I think you had better drive back to look after business details.”

  Everyone waved as Mr. Carter drove off. At the log store, the Aldens found the ranger they knew.

  “Did you find Lovan Dixon at home?” he asked.

  “Oh, yes,” Jessie said “What a wonderful old woman she is!”

  “You will never believe it,” said the ranger, “but that Indian woman, ninety years old, has to walk five miles to the swamp to get the sweet grass and five miles back. Quite a walk for ninety. We sell the baskets just as fast as we get them.”

  “I’d like a sewing basket like that,” Jessie said, “and so would Violet.”

  “I think Miss Dixon would make you some if you asked,” the ranger said. “But if you ask her first, don’t try to pay for them. It will be a gift, you can be sure. She gave one to my wife, so I know. I tried to pay her and she was very much hurt.”

  Now Grandfather spoke, “Do you happen to know if Dr. Percy Osgood and his men are working somewhere in this neighborhood? I have an idea Percy would be interested in the cave Benny found by accident.”

  “Yes, we saw the cave from the helicopter. The rocks were huge that fell away to leave it open,” one of the rangers said. “Look out of the door and you can see the pile that rolled down the mountain.”

  Indeed there was a pile of rocks of all sizes, perhaps ten feet high. “And I am glad it did not turn into a bigger rockslide,” the ranger said. “I know Dr. Osgood is not too far off. Let me make some calls and I will get his telephone number for you.”

  “Good,” said Mr. Alden. “Let’s find that motel. Where is the nearest one?”

  “Go back to the main road, turn to the right, and then go about half a mile. That’s the nearest motel, and the best one, too.”

  “How lucky we are!” said Benny. “Things seem to happen just right for us.”

  The family went out to the station wagon and Henry started the car. They drove away, waving at the ranger.

  “We’ll be back soon,” cried Benny.

  “Perhaps not until tomorrow,” called Grandfather with a wink.

  “The kids are pretty tired, I guess,” shouted the ranger.

  “I wasn’t tired at all until he said that,” said Jessie, “and now I guess I am.”

  “I guess I am, too,” said Grandfather. “The first thing I will do will be to take a nap.”

  Henry drove just as the ranger had said. He soon came to a motel. It was a long row of log buildings. At one end there was an office and at the other a restaurant.

  “Good,” said Jessie. “I shall be glad to have a real dinner. It seems as if we’ve been gone much longer than two days.”

  Benny said, “I know just what I’m going to eat, too.”

  Grandfather said, “Don’t tell, then. Keep it for a surprise.”

  The three motel rooms were just alike. Each had two beds and a bathroom.

  Benny said, “Oh, I can hardly wait to wash my hands! It has been two days since I’ve really washed them!”

  “Funny to hear you say that, Ben,” said Henry. “I’m going to take a shower the first thing I do.”

  It did not take long for the Aldens to make themselves at home in their three motel rooms.

  “First thing is a shower for me,” said Henry.

  “I’m next,” Benny said. “And after that I’m going to try out that bed.”

  Violet and Jessie, too, decided to shower and nap. But it was Grandfather who was the first one asleep. There hadn’t been much sleep for anyone for two nights.

  An hour or so later Benny saw that Henry was awake. He said, “Guess what I’m going to hare for dinner.”

  “You can’t keep that secret, Ben, can you?” said Henry. “But wait. They may not have it.”

  “I never thought of that,” said Benny. “I hope they will, because I’ve got my mind all made up.”

  At five-thirty nobody could wait any longer. They walked down to the restaurant and found a table for five.

  “Too bad Mr. Carter’s missing this,” said Violet. “I’m going to have roast beef and mashed potatoes and peas!”

  “And a fine hot summer diet, too!” said Mr. Alden. “I’ll have the same.”

  Jessie and Henry could not think of anything better, but Benny said, “Corned beef and cabbage! And lots of chili sauce and turnips and carrots!”

  How wonderful that meal did taste! The waiter was amused. He watched Benny cut the tender red corned beef as if he were starving.

  After the first few bites, Jessie said, “Grandfather, what is the first step that Mr. Carter is going to take?”

  “Try to buy the woodlot is first,” said Mr. Alden. “Then you all heard the name of Dr. Percy Osgood. He is a great man and an explorer. He has written several books on caves and mountains. He is always interested in any new crack or landslide. I used to know him years ago. He can tell right away whether this hole is interesting or not.”

  “I bet it is!” cried Benny.

  “Well, I won’t bet against you,” said Grandfather, smiling. “I think it is, too, otherwise I should not have asked the ranger to send for Percy Osgood and let him waste his time.”

  “Let’s stay in the motel until the whole thing is solved,” said Benny. “Don’t you agree, Grandfather?”

  “Yes, my boy,” said Mr. Alden, smiling. “I couldn’t tear myself away now for anything.”

  Henry said, “The great question is, is it a cave or is it just a hole?”

  Jessie said, “Or is it a cave with something interesting in it or is it a cave with nothing in it?”

  Benny was drinking milk now. He said, “I’m going to have bread pudding for dessert.”

  “I hope you can hold all that food,” said Grandfather, looking at him.

  “Oh, I can!” said Benny. “I have a hollow leg.”

  Henry said suddenly, “Grandfather, did you expect an accident on Flat Top?”

  “No,” said Mr. Alden, “but I n
ever like a place that has only one way to get in and only one way to get out.”

  That night at about twelve o’clock a man came to the office and took the room next to Henry and Benny. At one o’clock another man took the last room next to the restaurant. But nobody woke up and none of the Alden family knew anything about the two men until the next morning at breakfast.

  CHAPTER 6

  Back Up the Trail

  The Alden family did not get up very early next morning. But when they walked into the dining room they had a surprise. There sat John Carter at a large round table for seven.

  “Oh, I’m glad you found us!” shouted Benny.

  “I never lost you,” said John Carter, getting up. He pulled chairs out for Jessie and Violet and soon they were all chattering at once.

  “I thought you might like to see this paper,” Mr. Carter said. He unfolded a newspaper to show a headline that read “Rescued by Helicopter.”

  “Here we are!” Benny said. “And it tells about the rockslide and the hole in Old Flat Top and everything.”

  “That’s right,” Mr. Carter said. “How does it feel to read about yourselves in the paper?”

  Jessie was looking around at the table, “Who is the seventh place for?” she asked.

  Mr. Alden and Mr. Carter looked at each other.

  “Then he got here last night?” Mr. Alden asked, “He is not one to waste time.”

  “Who got here?” Benny asked.

  “I’ll make a guess,” Henry said. “Dr. Osgood?”

  “If it is Dr. Osgood—and I’m not saying it is—how do you think he’ll look?” asked Grandfather.

  Jessie answered, “Oh, I guess he is a tall, large man. He must be strong to climb all these high mountains.”

  “Yes, that’s right,” said Mr. Carter. “He must be a very strong man.”

  Benny said, “If a big tall strong man should come in that door, I should say it would be Dr. Percy Osgood.”

  Mr. Alden said, “Better order your breakfast, and not keep the waiter waiting!”

  Everyone ordered bacon and eggs and toast and orange juice and milk. Grandfather and Mr. Carter had coffee.