The Homerun Mystery (9 page)

“But you overlooked one important detail,” said Grandfather.

Beverly sighed deeply. “I was hoping you wouldn't bring that up.”

“Bring up what?” asked Benny.

“The old factory was declared historical,” said James Alden. “If the town could find a good reason to make the ballpark a historical landmark too, it would stay.”

Benny was confused. “I don't understand.”

“It means there was a good chance that the Percys' sweet deal could be ruined,” Henry replied. “The letter from Mrs. Percy's great-aunt proved that Home Run Herman didn't do anything wrong. Knowing the truth would make people feel good about that old ballpark, and she didn't want that.”

“That's right,” said Violet.

“If the town found the letter,” said Grandfather, “they might keep the ballpark. The Percys would lose their chance to buy the land cheaply and sell it back to the town for a profit. If the land could be made into a parking lot it would be worth a lot more to them.”

Mr. White had been studying the letter. Now he passed it to the next council member around the table. “I think this document casts a new light on the situation. Please review it and we'll discuss it.”

While Mrs. Pettibone's letter was being examined, the Aldens still had some questions for Mike and Beverly Percy.

“How did you get in the old factory?” Henry asked them. Carl Soper has the only keys.”

Beverly shook her head. “That's not true. The town has a set, too. As a member of the town council, I had a right to inspect the old factory. I took the keys and had duplicates made.”

“You gave a set to Coach Jenkins,” Jessie guessed. “And kept one for yourself. That way you could get into the factory and the clubhouse whenever you wanted.”

Mike nodded. “Even though we knew Herman Soper had left: Pikesville years ago, the original of Daisy Pettibone's letter might still be around. As it happens, we were looking in the wrong places.”

“How did you get out the other night?” Jessie asked the couple. “I smelled Mrs. Percy's perfume, so we knew it was you. But we didn't see you leave.”

“Coach Jenkins pried open a back door,” Mike explained. “When we heard you coming, we left.”

“What about the game?” Emily asked Mike. “Did you know Coach Jenkins was making the Eagles cheat?”

“Yes. Bev and I needed help hunting for that letter. The factory is pretty big and we could only search at night, after work,” confessed Mike. “So we asked Coach Jenkins if he'd help. He wanted his team to win the championship. And we figured if the Half Moons started losing all the time, it would be more reason for the council to tear down the old ballpark. I suggested corking a couple of bats.”

The council members had finished reviewing the letter.

Mr. White rapped on the table. “I think we've had ample time to reach a decision.” He looked long and hard at Mrs. Percy. “I expect your resignation from the town council before this meeting ends. Ladies and gentlemen, let's vote.”

Mr. White asked, “Should the ballpark attached to the factory be torn down?”

All the members replied, “No.”

“Should the ballpark then be declared a historical property and be restored to its former glory?” Mr. White asked the group.

One by one, the members answered, “Yes.”

“Yay!” cried Benny

Mr. White grinned. “Very good. I'll meet with the newspaper this afternoon to tell them the truth about Herman Soper. Mrs. Pettibone's letter will be printed, too.”

“People will be fascinated to learn an old wrong will finally be righted,” said Grandfather. “You will have lots of publicity for the factory renovation.”

“You should name it after Herman,” Violet suggested.

“That's an excellent idea!” Mr. White agreed. “We'll call the new mini-mall Herman Soper Place. We'll put up a statue of Home Run Herman in the ballpark.”

“Are we going to keep the ballpark for sure?” Emily asked eagerly.

“Of course! It'll be a great place to have fairs and other events when you young people aren't playing ball,” said Mr. White, “and it's right in town, close to everything.”

The Percys were edging toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Henry called loudly.

“Oh. I don't think we're needed here anymore,” said Mrs. Percy. “Mike and I have an appointment … in another town.”

They left in a hurry.

“Good riddance,” Carl Soper remarked. Then he turned to his granddaughter with a happy smile. “The Soper name has been cleared at last! We'll never know what happened to Herman, but at least his good name has been restored.”

“I wonder where they'll put the statue of Herman,” said Benny.

“Maybe by the bleachers,” said Violet. “So he can ‘watch' all the home runs Emily will hit.”

Emily blushed. “You know, Benny,” she said, “you hit a home run yourself.”

Benny was surprised. “I did? When?”

“When you found the letter and ran to the town hall. You hit a winning run! The ballpark is saved. Gramps and I can't thank you all enough.”

“We were glad to help,” Violet said, speaking for her brothers and sister.

They had solved the doubleheader case. They'd caught the cheating baseball team and prevented a ballpark from being torn down. And a local hero would finally be recognized.

While the council members gathered around the children to get the details of the last several days, Benny seemed lost in thought. Grandfather noticed and asked him what was on his mind, and Mr. White turned to listen.

“Well,” Benny began slowly, “I like the idea of a statue of Herman in the ballpark, but there is something the ballpark needs much more.”

“And what might that be?” asked Mr. White.

“It needs a refreshment stand. The Herman
W
. Soper Refreshment Stand!”

Mr. White clapped Benny on the back.

“A fine idea, Benny!” Mr. White exclaimed. “But maybe we should call it the Benny Alden Refreshment Stand.”

G
ERTRUDE
C
HANDLER
W
ARNER
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 the 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.

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, 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 © 2000 by Albert Whitman & Company

Albert Whitman & Company

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www.albertwhitman.com

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FROM ALBERT WHITMAN & COMPANY
AND OPEN ROAD MEDIA