The Berenstain Bears in Maniac Mansion (2 page)

BOOK: The Berenstain Bears in Maniac Mansion
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“It wasn't just Farnsworth,” said Bonnie. “The old-time Grizzlys were a bad lot. Farnsworth was the last of the bad ones, but he was far from the worst.”

“Who was the worst?” asked Cousin Fred.

“Follow me and I'll show you,” said Bonnie.

She led them to the very end of the hall, where a large portrait hung high on the wall. It was a painting of a very mean-looking bear dressed in what might have been pirates' clothes. He wore a black wide-brimmed hat with a feather in it and a black waistcoat with huge gold buttons. In one side of his belt was tucked an old-fashioned pistol; in the other was an antique dagger. Across his eyes stretched a black mask, and his mouth was twisted into a snarl.

“Is
that
a Grizzly?” asked Sister, staring up at the portrait.

“The very first one,” said Bonnie. “He was an orphan, and no one knows who his parents were. Have you guys ever heard of Bad Bart Grizzly?”

“The Maniac of Mountain Highway?” said Cousin Fred. “You mean
he
was related to the squire?”

“That's the only reason he's here on the wall,” said Bonnie.

“Who was he?” asked Sister.

“He was a famous highway robber from centuries ago,” said Fred. “He and his band of thieves used to rob stagecoaches along Old Mountain Highway in the Great Grizzly Mountains. It was just called Mountain Highway in those days.”

“Like Robin Bear of Bearwood Forest?” asked Sister.

“Not exactly,” said Bonnie. “Robin Bear robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. Bad Bart robbed from the rich, stole from the poor—and kept everything for himself! He didn't just rob travelers, either. At night he would break into the cottages of the poor mountain folk, scare them out of their wits, and take everything they owned. That's why they called him a maniac.”

Sister looked up at the portrait again and shivered. “Can we go back downstairs now?” she said. “It's kind of creepy up here.”

Cousin Fred groaned. But Brother was feeling protective toward his little sister. “Come on, Sis,” he said. “We'll go see the ballroom instead.”

As they passed the portrait of Farnsworth Grizzly on their way to the stairs, Brother suddenly felt Sister's hand on his arm. “What's wrong, Sis?” he said.

She glanced over her shoulder at the portrait. “Is that a trick painting?” she asked.

“What do you mean?” said Bonnie.

“The eyes followed me as I went past!” said Sister.

Brother chuckled and put his arm around Sister's shoulders as they went down the stairs. “Isn't it amazing what your imagination can do when you're scared?” he said.

Chapter 3
Farnsworth Grizzly's Curse

Meanwhile, in Squire Grizzly's office, Papa and the squire were also talking about Grizzly forebears. The conversation turned in that direction when Papa asked the squire why Lady Grizzly and Greeves were having trouble sleeping.

“You wouldn't believe what's been going on around here the last couple of weeks,” said the squire, shaking his head. “And all because of that silly old curse.”

“What curse?” asked Papa.

“The curse put on the mansion by my great-grandfather Farnsworth Grizzly,” said the squire. “When my grandfather, Farnsworth's son, turned his back on crime and became an honest banker, Farnsworth was furious. He said that Bad Bart Grizzly must be turning over in his grave, and he predicted that someday Bad Bart's ghost would come to haunt Grizzly Mansion.

“I never told my wife about the curse, because I know she believes in ghosts, and I didn't want to frighten her. But she found out about it from one of the history books in my study. She got all upset. Then she told the servants, and
they
got all upset.

“A couple of weeks ago they started hearing noises at night and wondered if the ghost of Bad Bart had finally come to haunt the mansion. A few nights later Maisie, the cook, heard noises coming from the ballroom in the west wing. She got out of bed and peeked into the ballroom. She claims that she saw three figures. Two of them were carrying a table across the room, and the third was walking ahead of them, lighting their way with a candle.”

“Burglars?” said Papa.

“Nonsense,” said the squire. “She says the figures were wearing masks and outfits like the ones worn by highway robbers in olden times. And remember, the leader carried a candle instead of a flashlight. Obviously, she imagined it all. She expected to see the ghosts of Bad Bart and his thieves in that ballroom, so that's exactly what she saw. Since she knew they were thieves, she imagined them stealing something.

“I checked the ballroom the next morning and found nothing missing. Every piece of furniture was exactly where it should be. That
proves
it was just her imagination.”

“And now no one can sleep at night listening for ghosts?” said Papa.

“All but Bonnie and me,” said the squire. “I know it's nonsense, and I've forbidden the others from telling Bonnie about it. I don't want her young mind disturbed with such silliness. But my wife sleeps most of the day now, and Greeves and Maisie and Tillie the housekeeper are all so tired they can hardly do their jobs. Why, it takes forever to get a cup of tea around here now . . .”

Squire Grizzly rang the cook's buzzer and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Maisie, where is our tea?”

“What about the noise at night?” asked Papa.

“Oh, it's just mice running around all those secret tunnels that Farnsworth Grizzly built into the mansion—tunnels and stairways and hidden rooms with hidden entrances. He used to hide his money in them. From time to time he'd sneak around in them to switch the hiding places. He was a strange one, that Farnsworth Grizzly.”

There was a knock at the door, and a very tired Maisie appeared. She was carrying a tray with two cups on it. “I'm sorry it took so long, sir,” she told the squire. “I'm so tired that I seem to be doing everything in slow motion.”

“More noises in the west wing last night?” asked the squire.

Maisie nodded and put a hand to her mouth to cover a yawn.

“Must be the Maniac of Mountain Highway,” scoffed Squire Grizzly.

“Oh, we don't call him that anymore, sir,” said Maisie. “Lady Grizzly says it's out of date.”

“Oh?” said the squire. “And what do you call him now?”

“The Maniac of Grizzly Mansion!
” said Maisie.

Squire Grizzly rolled his eyes at Papa as Maisie turned and trudged wearily from the room.

Chapter 4
Sister's Nightmare

Papa Bear knew very well that Sister was sometimes frightened by ghost stories and other scary tales. But on the way home from Grizzly Mansion, he couldn't help telling the cubs about Farnsworth Grizzly's curse and what Maisie thought she had seen in the ballroom.

“Now don't tell Bonnie about it when we take the chair back tomorrow,” he added. “The squire doesn't want to scare her.”

“Bonnie isn't scared of ghosts,” said Brother. “She doesn't believe in them.”

“I don't believe in ghosts, either,” said Sister. “But they scare me anyway.”

BOOK: The Berenstain Bears in Maniac Mansion
10.02Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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