The Boxcar Children Mysteries Box Set

by Gertrude Warner

  The Aldens did as Eddie said. The island children were catching fish after fish. But the Aldens caught nothing. Suddenly Mr. Alden had a bite.

  “Pull her in, mister!” cried Eddie. “Don’t rush it. Hand over hand! But keep it even-like.”

  Mr. Alden pulled as well as he could through thirty feet of water, and landed a beautiful big fish on the wharf.

  Benny said, “Aren’t you going to fish any more, Grandfather?”

  “No. I’m afraid I’ll catch another.”

  “Well, I’m not,” said Benny. “I wish I could catch one. I would eat that whole fish myself.”

  Everyone was quiet. The island children went on pulling in the fish. But the Aldens still caught nothing.

  All at once Grandfather said slowly, “I believe I see our strange man at last!” Something in Grandfather’s voice made the Aldens look up quickly at the cliff walk. The island children paid no attention.

  “Who in the world is that?” said Jessie. “He is dressed like an Englishman.”

  The stranger wore a cap that shaded his eyes. He had on dark blue shorts and a soft shirt with a scarf tucked in at the neck. His socks were red and blue and came up to his knees. He carried a walking stick.

  “Maybe he’s a friend of Miss Gray’s,” said Henry. “He is coming from that way.”

  Then Violet said in a very low voice, “Grandfather! Do look at him! It’s Mr. Carter!”

  “It is,” said Henry softly. “Look at his walk! It’s John Carter’s walk. Now why is he here?”

  Mr. Alden said, “I telephoned him about Willet, but I didn’t send for him. Maybe he began to look up Willet’s business and thinks we need help.”

  Henry whispered, “He’s coming this way. Act as if you don’t know him.”

  The man in shorts came down to the wharf. Benny wanted to smile, but he stopped in time.

  “Hello, everybody! Fishing?” said the man, as if he had never seen the Aldens before.

  “Well, sir, these children are fishing,” said Mr. Alden. “But we have caught only one.”

  “I say, that’s a big one!” It was exactly as if an Englishman were speaking. Not one of the island children turned around. But they heard every word.

  “You’re a stranger here, sir,” said Grandfather. “Are you staying long?”

  “A week or so, don’t you know? My name is Wilder-Smith. Guest of Miss Gray’s. My mother went to college with Miss Gray. Great old friends.”

  “We are the Aldens,” said Grandfather. “Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny.”

  Mr. Wilder-Smith bowed. He knew that the island children were listening. He went on, “There’s another stranger here, Mr. Willet. Today he is going to visit the good people and look over some dusty old things. He likes old things. Bit odd, don’t you know?”

  Isabelle spoke up loudly. “He isn’t odd. He’s wonderful!”

  “There, now,” said Mr. Wilder-Smith, “you see! He’s wonderful. I may go with Mr. Willet on his calls.”

  “Go with him?” asked Benny, surprised.

  “The man invited me. Of course I don’t know anything about old things. By the way, did you know there is no post office on this island?”

  “Yes, the mail has to come from Northport,” said Henry.

  Mr. Wilder-Smith shook his head. “I’ll have to find some other way. I have to get my letters by fast post.”

  “Maybe we can think of a way to help you,” said Benny. “We’ve got a car.”

  “Right,” said Mr. Wilder-Smith. “I have important letters. Maybe you can help. But I must toddle along. Cheerio! Top-hole to meet you.”

  Mr. Wilder-Smith walked back along the wharf. Not a child spoke. They went right on fishing.

  “Let’s go!” said Henry. “Thanks, Eddie, for the fishing lessons.”

  “OK,” said Eddie.

  When the Aldens reached the sand, Jessie said, “Why do you suppose Freddy ever asked Mr. Carter to come with him?”

  “Because he’s a smart man,” said Grandfather. “Freddy wants us to think he is honest. But he’ll find that John Carter is smarter than he is.”

  Nobody on the wharf could hear what the Aldens said now. Benny said in a low voice, “Mr. Carter wanted to find some way to send us messages, didn’t he—talking about the post office?”

  “That’s what I thought,” said Jessie.

  “I know a way,” said Benny. “You know that old log on the beach that Grandfather sits on? There’s a deep hole in one end. We can put a small piece of paper in the hole any time. And so can he.”

  “Good!” said Jessie. “Let’s send him our message right away. The people know that we often sit on that log. They won’t notice.”

  Henry wrote it. He made it as short as he could. “Light in schoolhouse at night. Back window has no lock. Broom closet goes into secret room in chimney. Look out of Washington’s coat button.”

  “Now how shall we put it in the log?” asked Violet.

  “I know!” said Jessie. “We’ll make some sandwiches and have a picnic on the beach. While we are eating we can hide the paper.”

  The girls quickly made some cheese sandwiches. They packed the basket with many other things. Mr. Alden sat on the log. “Why don’t you hide the paper yourself, Gramps?” said Benny. “You know where the hole is.”

  “Don’t watch me,” said Mr. Alden. Then in a minute he said, “It’s all done.” Not a sign of paper showed.

  “I wonder how Mr. Carter will get it out?” said Benny.

  “Well, that’s his lookout,” said Mr. Alden. “I wouldn’t worry about him.”

  CHAPTER 12

  A Sockful of Money

  The picnic was over. The Aldens sat looking out over the blue water when the factory whistle blew.

  “Oh, dear,” said Benny. “Now everyone will go to work and nobody will be at home when Freddy comes.”

  “They don’t all go to work,” said Jessie. “By the way, I need some stuffing for the fish tonight. I’ll go to the store while you take the picnic things home.”

  “I’ll go for you, Jessie,” said Benny. “I’d like to.”

  “Good boy,” said Henry.

  Benny walked up to the store, whistling. Mr. Fenton had the fish stuffing, and the two began to talk. The door opened, and who should come in but Freddy Willet!

  “Hello, kid,” said Freddy. “I saw you come in. You one of the youngsters that teaches the funny school?”

  “It isn’t a funny school,” said Benny with good nature. “And I do teach the smallest ones. They’re pretty keen kids, too.”

  “Your name?” asked Mr. Willet.

  “Benny.”

  “Well, Benny, how would you like to learn something yourself? Come with me to the Easton family and watch me buy their old money. I bet you don’t know money when you see it. You’d never think a common penny was worth a dollar, would you?”

  “No,” said Benny. He kept wondering why Freddy had invited him and Mr. Wilder-Smith to watch while he cheated the people. Benny took his box of stuffing and the two walked over to the house where the Eastons lived.

  Mrs. Easton was waiting at the door with a smile. At that moment Mr. Wilder-Smith came along.

  “Well, here we all are,” said Freddy. “Now you can watch me work. Mrs. Easton, we are all happy to be here. Let’s get started.”

  Benny could hardly believe his eyes when Mrs. Easton put an old stocking on the table and poured out a pile of money. Some of the coins were very old, and a few had hardly been used at all.

  Mrs. Easton said, “Some of that money was saved by my grandfather.”

  They sat down at the table. Mr. Willet moved like lightning. He picked out one coin after another and dropped each in an empty box. He checked some coins by using a magnifying glass. Mr. Wilder-Smith just looked on. He did not seem to know a thing about coins.

  “Is this an old penny?” asked Benny. It was almost as big as a half dollar, but it was made of copper.

  “Yes, that’s an old
penny. Let’s see. The date is 1864. I can pay Mrs. Easton ten dollars for it.” He put a ten-dollar bill on the table and the penny in the box.

  Mrs. Easton smiled and said, “Mr. Willet works fast. He knows his business.”

  “You can say that again!” said Freddy. He showed his teeth in a wide smile. He went on, “This is a nice job, Mr. Wilder-Smith. I have already bought five-hundred dollars worth of coins and things from these fishermen. They are very grateful to me.”

  “No wonder, old boy,” said Mr. Wilder-Smith. “What in the world do you want them for?”

  “Oh, I’m crazy about old things,” said Freddy. “I like ’em all. But I like coins best.”

  Benny said, “I don’t see how you remember the prices without a book.”

  “Easy!” said Freddy. “I’ve been at this business for many years. I know a coin the minute I see it.”

  “I say,” said Mr. Wilder-Smith, “you might make a mistake.”

  “Not me,” said Freddy. “I know these coins like old friends. I never make a mistake. There! This is the best one I’ve found.”

  He pushed a dime over to the two visitors. “Here is a new coin in perfect condition. But look at the date. 1901S. I’ll pay Mrs. Easton plenty for that. She’ll never forget Freddy Willet, you bet.”

  “I certainly won’t,” said Mrs. Easton.

  “I’m sure of that,” said Mr. Wilder-Smith. “That dime looks as if it had never been used.”

  “That’s right. It never has been used. That dime has sat here for more than sixty years.”

  “By Jove, I thought a worn-out coin was worth more,” said the Englishman.

  “No, not if it’s worn smooth. Then it’s worth nothing. See this big copper penny? Smooth as silk. I can’t read the date. That penny is old enough, but it’s not worth a cent!” He laughed loudly at his own joke.

  “That’s all,” said Freddy. “The rest are no good. I’ll just settle up with Mrs. Easton.”

  “Thanks very much,” said Mr. Wilder-Smith. “It was a jolly good show. I learned a lot from you.”

  “I guess you learned something today, too, young man,” said Freddy.

  “Yes, I did,” said Benny. He said goodbye to Mrs. Easton, and he and Mr. Wilder-Smith went out together.

  Benny whispered quickly, “Hole in the log.” And Mr. Wilder-Smith whispered, “Look three times a day.”

  Then Benny went one way and Mr. Wilder-Smith another. They did not seem to know each other, for the Englishman took off his hat to the boy.

  Benny had a great deal to tell his family. He told it in a whisper.

  Jessie said, “It’s funny how we all whisper. It seems as if somebody is listening all the time.”

  “Maybe someone is,” said Violet.

  They were noisy enough when Jessie put the baked stuffed fish on the table. They had baked potatoes, too, and onions, and apple pie and cheese.

  “A big dinner at last,” said Benny. “I’m hungry.”

  When it grew dark, the Aldens sat out in the yard in front of the hotel. Henry was on one end. He turned suddenly as he heard a noise coming from the bushes behind the house. It was a whisper.

  “Benny! Come with me to the schoolhouse. Bring the back door key. Follow me through the bushes.” It was John Carter’s voice.

  They all heard it. Henry gave the key to his brother. Benny went without a sound.

  “Why did he want Benny?” Jessie wondered.

  “Maybe his small size is better than my big size,” guessed Henry, speaking low. Then he began to talk about other things in his own tone of voice.

  At ten o’clock Benny came back. He was very much excited.

  “Whisper, Ben,” said Henry. “Who knows who is listening?”

  So Benny said in a whisper, “We tried the room in the chimney. We could both get in, and we could see right through the coat button into the schoolroom. Mr. Carter thinks Freddy is hiding things in the schoolroom. But we couldn’t find them. He is going to hunt again. He thinks Freddy will stay a while longer because he has a lot of families left to visit.”

  “Well, well,” said Mr. Alden. “You will have something to tell Max. It won’t be dull, either.”

  “It’s funny,” said Benny. “We didn’t do anything to make this happen.”

  “No, Benny,” said his grandfather. “But you all kept your eyes open. You cared enough about your new friends to worry about them. And you listened when they told you about the man who paid so much for a quarter. You guessed that he was cheating in every trade.”

  “But we can’t prove a thing,” said Henry.

  “No,” said Grandfather. “That’s why I am so glad to see John Carter.”

  CHAPTER 13

  Surprise for Violet

  The Aldens could hardly teach school on Monday with Mr. Willet making calls on every family in the village. All the children knew about it. They couldn’t help talking about it. At recess they did not want to play. They wanted to talk.

  “Oh, my ma’s got an old gold pin with a lion’s head on it,” said one girl. “The Money Man’s going to pay her real money for it. And she’s got an old garnet ring, too.”

  “And my grandma’s got a big box of old valentines,” said her brother. “The Money Man is going to buy those.”

  “My pa has got an old tin dish they used to cut meat on,” said Tommy Spoon.

  “Could that be pewter?” asked Violet.

  “Pewter? No, I never heard of that.”

  “And we’ve got an old hourglass they used in church over in Northport,” said Eddie.

  “We’ve got a glass paperweight full of flowers. The Money Man is just crazy over it,” said another child.

  Then suddenly Hal got up on a rock and began to talk. “You kids, listen here!” he began. “You got all the afternoon to talk about the Money Man. And this morning you got a good chance to learn something. We don’t ever get any teachers like these Aldens, teaching us interesting things. And they won’t be here much longer. Let’s stop talking and learn. That’s all I’ve got to say.”

  Some of the children clapped for Hal’s speech, and soon everyone was busy. The morning flew by. Then Violet said, “Now let’s paint. We can go down to the beach.”

  Marie and Hal were more excited than the other children. Marie begged, “Please teach me to paint the harbor the way the artist did.”

  “I’ll help you as much as I can,” Violet promised.

  The girls and boys took their painting things down to the water. The Aldens helped them get started. Violet had Marie and Hal draw the harbor first with pencil. She showed them only one thing. She said, “Notice that the lines of the wharf look as if they get closer together as they stretch into the water.”

  As soon as Violet had shown the children how to hold their brushes she said, “Now paint away, just as you feel.”

  Soon Jessie and Henry came over by Violet to watch the Moss twins.

  Both Hal and Marie dashed on blue and green paint that was just the right color for the sea. The boats that they made looked like real boats, but they were drawn with only a few lines. It was hard to believe that this was the first time the twins had had watercolors.

  All at once Violet knew the truth. Here were two natural artists, much better than she would ever be. There was something different about their painting—something all their own.

  Marie cried, “Oh, here’s that purple place,” and she splashed purple and black under the wharf. She was not careful at all. Her picture made Jessie exclaim, “Beautiful!”

  Hal’s picture was just as good, but it was different.

  “May I take your paintings to show our grandfather?” Violet asked the twins.

  “I could paint another!” cried Hal. “I know a different way to paint the ocean, the way it looks in a storm.”

  Just then Mr. Alden came walking along the beach to see what was going on. Violet ran to show Mr. Alden the two paintings.

  “Well, well!” he said. “What have we here? Water
colors? These are really good! These artists ought to go to art school. Not now, but later.”

  School was over for the morning. The bell was ringing. Henry knew that Benny would soon lock the schoolroom door and come back to the beach.

  “Old Ben wants his lunch,” he said, laughing.

  “So do I,” said Mr. Alden. “I wish Benny would come.”

  As they were eating, Violet said slowly, “I think Miss Gray ought to see these paintings.”

  “Oh, so do I,” said Benny. “I’m sure she’d like them.”

  After lunch the whole family set out with the two pictures. They climbed the cliff walk and rang Miss Gray’s bell.

  Eva opened the door. She laughed. “I don’t have to ask any more when it’s you,” she said. “Come right in.”

  When Miss Gray saw the Aldens she really smiled. It was the first time the Aldens had seen her smile like this.

  “How is Freddy?” she asked.

  “Well, Freddy is getting into trouble,” said Grandfather. “He is too brave. He is going a little too far.”

  “How about the books?”

  Mr. Alden had to say, “We don’t know yet about the books.”

  “I’m sure you will get them back,” said Benny. “You see—”

  Henry looked at his brother. Benny stopped.

  Miss Gray said, “Yes? What were you going to say?”

  “Well, I guess it wasn’t important,” said Benny. “We’re watching Freddy most of the time.” Benny was not sure what Miss Gray knew about her English guest.

  Mr. Alden said, “We really came to show you two watercolors. We’d like to know what you think of them.” He passed them to Miss Gray.

  “The harbor,” said Miss Gray. “Very good. Were they done by one artist or two?”

  “Two,” said Violet with bright eyes. “The twins, Hal and Marie Moss.”

  “Hal and Marie!” said Miss Gray. “They never had a lesson!”

  “No,” said Grandfather, “they were born that way.”

  Jessie said, “They have seen only three paintings in their lives. An artist came here long ago and painted their house and the harbor. And there’s George Washington in the schoolroom.”

  “That’s why they have a style of their own,” said Miss Gray with a nod.