“L
ook at that!” Violet Alden said as she pointed to a beautiful book on the shelf of the Greenfield Bookshop. The shelf was high above her head. “I'll bet Grandfather would love to have that book for his birthday. I want to look at it more closely, but I can't reach it.”

Jessie, who was twelve and a little taller than her ten-year-old sister, tried to take the book down for a closer look.

“I can't reach it either,” Jessie said.

“Maybe Henry can,” Violet suggested. “He's pretty tall for a fourteen-year-old.”

“Henry, can you help us?” Jessie said. “I think Violet's found the perfect birthday gift for Grandfather.”

“Where is it?” Henry asked.

“It's that book up there about the history of Greenfield,” Violet said, pointing to the shelf. “You know how much Grandfather loves to collect old books. Will you get it down for us?”

“Sure,” Henry said. He stretched as far as he could but the book was still out of reach.

“I can help,” said Benny, their six-year-old brother.

“I'm afraid you're not tall enough yet,” Jessie said, smiling down at her little brother.

“I'm tall enough if Henry picks me up,” Benny said.

“That's a great idea,” Violet said.

Henry picked up Benny. Benny grabbed the leather-bound book and handed it to Jessie.

“See,” Benny said happily. “I told you I could help.”

“Let me see the book, Jessie,” Violet said. The children gathered around Violet as she turned page after page of the beautiful book.

“You're right, Violet,” Henry said. “Out of all the things we've looked at in Greenfield, this is the perfect present.”

“I know Grandfather will love this book,” Jessie said. “He'll be so surprised.”

Grandfather Alden's birthday was on Sunday, just a few days away. The children had been shopping all morning hoping to find the right gift for their wonderful grandfather.

“How much does it cost, Violet?” Henry asked.

“I'm not sure,” Violet said. “There's no price tag on it.”

“Let's ask Mr. Owens,” Benny said. The children took the book to the counter. Mr. Owens, the owner of the Greenfield Bookshop, greeted them with a smile.

“Well, children,” Mr. Owens said. “Have you finished your shopping?”

“Yes!” Benny said. “We want to buy
The History of Greenfield
for our grandfather. It's a birthday present.”

Mr. Owens took the book and looked at it closely.

“That's the same book your grandfather was admiring the other day. He was in a hurry and said he'd be back to buy it later.”

“Really?” Violet said. “Then we must buy it for him and surprise him.”

“We couldn't find a price tag,” Henry said. “Can you tell us how much it costs?”

“This book costs $50,” Mr. Owens said.

“That's a lot of money,” Benny said.

“Yes,” Mr. Owens said. “But this book is leather and very old.”

“It
is
beautiful,” Jessie agreed. “But it costs more money than we have right now.”

“Well,” Mr. Owens said. “I can hold this book for you until Saturday. Maybe you'll have more money by then.”

“That would be wonderful,” Henry said. “I know we can think of a way to earn some extra money by then.”

“I'm sure we can if we try hard enough,” Jessie said.

“Thank you, Mr. Owens,” Violet said. “We'll be back on Saturday.”

The children left the bookshop and started to walk home. They tried to think of ways they could earn the money they needed to buy Grandfather's birthday present.

“Maybe I can cut grass or work in a garden the way I did when we lived in the boxcar,” Henry said.

“That's a good idea, Henry,” Jessie said.

After their parents died, the four Alden children lived in an old abandoned boxcar in the woods. They knew their grandfather was looking for them, but they thought he was mean. But when their grandfather found them, the children realized how kind he was. Now the Boxcar Children lived in their Grandfather's lovely old house in Greenfield. Mr. Alden had even moved their boxcar home into his backyard as a surprise.

“I'm hungry,” Benny said. “I think better when my stomach is full.”

“That's true,” Violet said, laughing. “It is almost lunchtime.”

“I'll race you to that lamppost in front of our house, Benny,” Henry said. “The faster we run, the sooner you can eat lunch.”

“Okay,” Benny said. He raced down the street. His brother and sisters ran after him.

“I beat all of you,” Benny said as he swung around the light pole in front of their house.

“Yes, you did,” Violet said. “There's nothing like thinking about lunch to make you move quickly.”

The children all laughed. Benny was always ready to eat.

“Look at this,” Violet said, pointing to a sign on the lamppost.

COME ONE AND ALL TO THE

GREENFIELD COUNTY FAIR!

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY!

RIDES! RIDES! RIDES!

LIVESTOCK SHOW!

MARCHING BANDS!

GREAT EVENTS FOR ADULTS

AND CHILDREN!

$25 CASH PRIZES FOR THE BEST

ARTWORK

BAKED GOODS

CRAFTS

FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW

TO ENTER. ALL ENTRIES MUST

BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN

OFFICIAL FORM.

“Maybe we can make something to enter in the fair,” Henry said. “If we win, we can use the money to buy Grandfather's birthday present.”

“That's a wonderful idea,” Jessie said.

Violet looked at the brightly colored poster and began to smile. “I know what I am going to do! I'll paint a picture.”

“Mrs. McGregor helped Benny and me make a blueberry pie once,” Henry said. “Maybe we could bake another one and enter it in the fair.”

“That's a good idea,” Jessie said. “The blueberries are ripe now. We could pick some this afternoon after lunch.”

“Why don't we take a picnic lunch with us and go to the blueberry patch now,” Violet said. “The sooner we get started the better.”

“Maybe I can make something to enter in the contest, too,” Jessie said. “Surely one of us will win something.”

Henry began tearing off entry blanks. One for Violet, one for Jessie, and one for himself and Benny.

A slender man, who was wearing a baseball cap, crossed the street and quickly approached the children.

“Hello,” the man said. “Are you children going to use those forms or are you just playing around?”

“We're going to enter the fair competition,” Henry said.

“We're hoping that we win so we can buy a birthday present for our grandfather,” Jessie explained.

“Winning that money won't be easy,” the man said. “I can tell you that for a fact.”

“Well, we can try,” Violet said. “As long as we try we have a chance of winning.”

“Maybe,” said the man. “If you're very, very lucky. What are your names and what kinds of projects were you going to enter?”

“Well,” Jessie said a little uneasily, “my name is Jessie Alden. I'm entering the crafts competition. This is my sister, Violet. She's entering some artwork.” Why was this man asking so many questions?

“Henry and I are going to bake a blueberry pie,” Benny said. “My name is Benny. What's yours?”

“I've got to go now,” the man said quickly. “See you later.” He crossed the street and hurried away.

“How mysterious,” Jessie said. “I wonder why he was so interested in our fair projects?”

“Did you notice that he didn't answer when Benny asked him his name?” Henry said.

“Maybe he's a little shy,” said Violet. She was also shy about meeting new people. “Or maybe he was just in a hurry.”

“I'm in a hurry, too,” Benny said as he tugged on Henry's arm. “I'm ready to eat lunch.”

“So am I,” Violet said. “Let's go inside.”

CHAPTER 2

The Picnic

“W
ell, now,” Mr. Alden said with a chuckle when the children entered the house. “My early birds have returned.”

“We had a lot of things to do,” Henry said.

“Are you going away on a business trip, Grandfather?” Violet said when she saw his garment bag.

“Yes,” Mr. Alden said. “But only for a few days. I have a meeting to attend in New York.”

“Will you be away on your birthday?” Henry asked.

“No,” Mr. Alden said. “I'll be back by noon on Sunday. I'd almost forgotten that's my birthday.”

“We didn't forget,” Benny said.

Mr. Alden's eyes twinkled as he looked from one grandchild to the next. He knew they were up to something.

“Let's go eat lunch now,” Jessie said quickly. She didn't want Benny to accidentally tell their Grandfather about the surprise party they were planning.

“Good idea,” Violet said. “I think I smell cookies.”

“Cookies!” Benny said. “See you later, Grandfather. Have a nice trip.” He began to run down the hall that led to the kitchen.

“You children better hurry,” Grandfather said, laughing. “Or there won't be anything left. Take care and I'll see you all Sunday afternoon.”

The children said goodbye to their grandfather. Then they quickly ran down the hall after Benny. The delicious smell of freshly baked cookies greeted them as they entered the kitchen.

“There you are,” Mrs. McGregor, the Alden's housekeeper, said with a smile. “I've just finished taking the last pan of chocolate chip cookies out of the oven.”

“I love chocolate chip cookies,” Benny said as he helped Mrs. McGregor remove the cookies from the pan. He picked one up, but before he could eat it, Jessie stopped him.

“You can have some cookies after you eat your lunch,” Jessie said. “May we pack a picnic lunch, Mrs. McGregor? We're going to pick blueberries.”

“Of course,” Mrs. McGregor said. “It's a lovely day for a picnic. I've already made some sandwiches for you.”

“Two sandwiches for me please,” Benny said. “Let's pack some doggie biscuits for Watch, too. He'll want to come with us.”

BOOK: The Mystery at the Fair

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