The Boxcar Children Mysteries
THE BOXCAR CHILDREN
SURPRISE ISLAND
THE YELLOW HOUSE MYSTERY
MYSTERY RANCH
MIKE’S MYSTERY
BLUE BAY MYSTERY
THE WOODSHED MYSTERY
THE LIGHTHOUSE MYSTERY
MOUNTAIN TOP MYSTERY
SCHOOLHOUSE MYSTERY
CABOOSE MYSTERY
HOUSEBOAT MYSTERY
SNOWBOUND MYSTERY
TREE HOUSE MYSTERY
BICYCLE MYSTERY
MYSTERY IN THE SAND
MYSTERY BEHIND THE WALL
BUS STATION MYSTERY
BENNY UNCOVERS A MYSTERY
THE HAUNTED CABIN MYSTERY
THE DESERTED LIBRARY MYSTERY
THE ANIMAL SHELTER MYSTERY
THE OLD MOTEL MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN PAINTING
THE AMUSEMENT PARK MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MIXED-UP ZOO
THE CAMP-OUT MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY GIRL
THE MYSTERY CRUISE
THE DISAPPEARING FRIEND MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE SINGING GHOST
THE MYSTERY IN THE SNOW
THE PIZZA MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY HORSE
THE MYSTERY AT THE DOG SHOW
THE CASTLE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST VILLAGE
THE MYSTERY ON THE ICE
THE MYSTERY OF THE PURPLE POOL
THE GHOST SHIP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN WASHINGTON, DC
THE CANOE TRIP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN BEACH
THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING CAT
THE MYSTERY AT SNOWFLAKE INN
THE MYSTERY ON STAGE
THE DINOSAUR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN MUSIC
THE MYSTERY AT THE BALL PARK
THE CHOCOLATE SUNDAE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HOT AIR BALLOON
THE MYSTERY BOOKSTORE
THE PILGRIM VILLAGE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN BOXCAR
THE MYSTERY IN THE CAVE
THE MYSTERY ON THE TRAIN
THE MYSTERY AT THE FAIR
THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST MINE
THE GUIDE DOG MYSTERY
THE HURRICANE MYSTERY
THE PET SHOP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE SECRET MESSAGE
THE FIREHOUSE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN SAN FRANCISCO
THE NIAGARA FALLS MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY AT THE ALAMO
THE OUTER SPACE MYSTERY
THE SOCCER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN THE OLD ATTIC
THE GROWLING BEAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE LAKE MONSTER
THE MYSTERY AT PEACOCK HALL
THE WINDY CITY MYSTERY
THE BLACK PEARL MYSTERY
THE CEREAL BOX MYSTERY
THE PANTHER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE QUEEN’S JEWELS
THE STOLEN SWORD MYSTERY
THE BASKETBALL MYSTERY
THE MOVIE STAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE PIRATE’S MAP
THE GHOST TOWN MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE BLACK RAVEN
THE MYSTERY IN THE MALL
THE MYSTERY IN NEW YORK
THE GYMNASTICS MYSTERY
THE POISON FROG MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE EMPTY SAFE
THE HOME RUN MYSTERY
THE GREAT BICYCLE RACE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE WILD PONIES
THE MYSTERY IN THE COMPUTER GAME
THE MYSTERY AT THE CROOKED HOUSE
THE HOCKEY MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MIDNIGHT DOG
THE MYSTERY OF THE SCREECH OWL
THE SUMMER CAMP MYSTERY
THE COPYCAT MYSTERY
THE HAUNTED CLOCK TOWER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE TIGER’S EYE
THE DISAPPEARING STAIRCASE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY ON BLIZZARD MOUNTAIN
THE MYSTERY OF THE SPIDER’S CLUE
THE CANDY FACTORY MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MUMMY’S CURSE
THE MYSTERY OF THE STAR RUBY
THE STUFFED BEAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF ALLIGATOR SWAMP
THE MYSTERY AT SKELETON POINT
THE TATTLETALE MYSTERY
THE COMIC BOOK MYSTERY
THE GREAT SHARK MYSTERY
THE ICE CREAM MYSTERY
THE MIDNIGHT MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN THE FORTUNE COOKIE
THE BLACK WIDOW SPIDER MYSTERY
THE RADIO MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE RUNAWAY GHOST
THE FINDERS KEEPERS MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HAUNTED BOXCAR
THE CLUE IN THE CORN MAZE
THE GHOST OF THE CHATTERING BONES
THE SWORD OF THE SILVER KNIGHT
THE GAME STORE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE ORPHAN TRAIN
THE VANISHING PASSENGER
THE GIANT YO-YO MYSTERY
THE CREATURE IN OGOPOGO LAKE
THE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL MYSTERY
THE SECRET OF THE MASK
THE SEATTLE PUZZLE
THE GHOST IN THE FIRST ROW
THE BOX THAT WATCH FOUND
A HORSE NAMED DRAGON
THE GREAT DETECTIVE RACE
THE GHOST AT THE DRIVE-IN MOVIE
THE MYSTERY OF THE TRAVELING TOMATOES
THE SPY GAME
THE DOG-GONE MYSTERY
THE VAMPIRE MYSTERY
SUPERSTAR WATCH
THE SPY IN THE BLEACHERS
THE AMAZING MYSTERY SHOW
THE CLUE IN THE RECYCLING BIN
MONKEY TROUBLE
THE ZOMBIE PROJECT
THE GREAT TURKEY HEIST
THE GARDEN THIEF
THE BOARDWALK MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE FALLEN TREASURE
THE RETURN OF THE GRAVEYARD GHOST
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN SNOWBOARD
THE MYSTERY OF THE WILD WEST BANDIT
THE MYSTERY OF THE SOCCER SNITCH
The Mystery of the Grinning Gargoyle
Created by Gertrude Chandler Warner
ALBERT WHITMAN & COMPANY
Chicago, Illinois
Contents
1. The Old Library
2. A New Mystery
3. Nice Catch
4. The Gargoyle Gyro
5. Online Sleuths
6. Scratch, Scratch, Scream
7. An Unsuspecting Suspect
8. Checked Out
9. Breaking Ground and Cracking the Case
10. The Big Screen at the Big Game
CHAPTER 1
The Old Library
“Aren’t the leaves lovely?” Grandfather Alden asked as he steered the car over the winding, wooded road. Autumn leaves of red, orange, and yellow covered the trees on either side.
“They sure are,” said Violet Alden. “Fall is my favorite time of year.”
“Those red leaves are the same color as your tie, Grandfather!” said Violet’s six-year-old brother Benny.
Grandfather Alden wore that particular necktie for a reason. As the car carrying the Alden family rounded one last curve, they saw the beautiful campus of Goldwin University, the college Grandfather had attended many years before.
Red and white were the university’s colors, and could be seen on flapping red flags with white letters hanging on poles around the grassy grounds. The spirited school colors could also be seen on the red and white jackets and sweatshirts of the college students walking from buildin
g to building and playing games on the lawn. Grandfather showed his school spirit by wearing a bright white suit and a bright red tie.
“Where is the new library going to be?” asked Jessie Alden, who was twelve. She looked at the college’s buildings, many of which were over a hundred years old.
“It will be where that open space is,” Grandfather Alden said, pointing to an empty field. “That is where the groundbreaking will be held tomorrow morning before the big game.”
“Groundbreaking?” said Benny. “Why would anyone want to break the ground?”
“It’s okay, Benny,” said Henry, the oldest of the Alden children. “A groundbreaking ceremony is what people do when a new building is going to be built.”
“And don’t worry,” said Jessie, “nothing is going to be broken. All that’s going to happen is a hole will be dug, just like when you dig in the sand at the beach.”
Grandfather Alden parked the car in a parking lot near where Alden Library would stand. Alden Library was the reason for the family’s visit. Grandfather had donated money to help build the new library. The professors and other leaders of the university were so thankful that they planned to name the building for him.
The Alden children climbed out of the car to stretch their legs and look around. Next to the empty field stood a very tall, very old building with high walls made of dark stone and high, arching windows.
“Wow!” said Benny. “Is that a castle?”
“It’s not a castle,” said a woman’s voice, “though it looks a bit like one. This is Goldwin Library.”
A tall, thin woman stood outside the doors of the old building. “James Alden,” she said, “you must be here for the big ceremony.” The children always found it funny to hear someone call their grandfather by his first name.
“Children,” said Grandfather Alden, “this is Miss Hollenberg, the head librarian at Goldwin University. She began working at the library back when I was a student.”
“And what a student your grandfather was,” Miss Hollenberg said, straightening her glasses and smiling. “He spent a lot of time reading and studying in the library in order to do well in his classes.”
“I only spent four years at Goldwin University, but Miss Hollenberg has spent her entire career working in this old building,” said Grandfather Alden. “Because she has worked here so long, she can find information on anything a student-or anyone else-might want to learn about. And it has been her job to take care of the library.”
“Of course I’ve had a little bit of help from the grinning gargoyles,” Miss Hollenberg said.
“Gargoyles?” asked Violet. “Who are they?”
Miss Hollenberg pointed to the top of the old library building, past the arches and other decorations that covered its rock walls. There, at each corner of the roof, hunched the statue of a strange creature. Each statue had small, beady eyes, a pair of wings, long claws, and a smiling mouth full of sharp, stone teeth.
The Alden children craned their necks to look up at the statues.
“Those look like monsters!” said Benny. “Or dragons! They’re kind of scary.”
“They are scary looking, even if they’re just stone statues,” said Jessie. “But how could a statue protect the library?”
“This is a little-known fact Miss Hollenberg told me back when I was a student,” Grandfather said. “As you can see from their open mouths, gargoyle statues were added to buildings to act as rain spouts—carrying rain water away like the gutters on our house. Without such protection, water would eat away at the stone.”
“But some people believe that gargoyles are more than just statues,” Miss Hollenberg said. “Legend has it that gargoyles guard the buildings they call home. And here at Goldwin, students have long believed that these grinning gargoyles won’t be so happy if their home—the library—isn’t treated right. Gargoyles are mythical creatures, of course—no such thing as a real one. But for years, troublemakers and good-for-nothings have spread rumors of running into living, breathing gargoyles. It’s all balderdash, if you ask me…”
“Well, I’d like to take a closer look at the gargoyles,” said Benny, “and the rest of this cool castle-looking library that they live in!”
“This library sure is cool,” laughed Miss Hollenberg. “I’ll surely miss it when they tear it down—now that we’ll have the new library to use. I don’t see why you children can’t take a look around, as long as you behave yourselves, and as long as your grandfather says yes.”
“We promise to behave,” Jessie said. “Can we explore the library for a bit, Grandfather?”
“Why, surely,” said Grandfather Alden. “I’m already late to see an old friend at the football stadium. But when you’ve finished your library visit, why don’t you meet me there? We can watch the Goldwin Bears practice.”
The Alden children followed Mrs. Hollenberg through the tall, arched doorway. Benny looked up before walking inside and saw the gargoyles were still looking down at him, grinning.
Miss Hollenberg pointed the children to a stairway that would lead them to the top floor of the library. “You all explore,” she said as she stepped behind her computer desk. “I have library work to do.”
“Race you to the top!” shouted Benny, running ahead of his brother and sisters.
“I bet we can win the race,” Henry told his sisters. “Do you see that elevator?”
The other three Aldens pushed the up button on a nearby elevator panel. When the doors slid open, a library worker pushing wheeled carts of books also climbed onto the elevator. The carts were connected to each other, allowing three of them to be pushed at the same time.
“Those look like the boxcars from a train!” Violet said. Henry and Jessie laughed. Violet’s comment made them think of their own boxcar back home. When the Alden children became orphans, they had run away and lived in an old boxcar in the woods. They had been afraid to live with their grandfather, fearing that he wouldn’t be nice. But when they found what a kind man Grandfather Alden was, they were happy to live with him in his big house in Greenfield. As a gift, he even placed the children’s boxcar in the backyard, where they used it as a playhouse.
“These are just books that have been recently returned,” said the man who worked in the library, pointing to a sign on the first cart that said “TO BE SHELVED.”
The elevator slowly went up floor by floor. Ding. Ding. Ding. Halfway to the top, the doors opened and the library worker wheeled the cart out of the elevator.
“Maybe this elevator wasn’t the fastest way of getting to the top,” said Jessie.
At last the elevator doors opened at the top floor.
“Benny!” Violet called out. “We beat you!”
But there was no Benny. There were only bookshelves full of books, stretching row after row in all directions.
“Where do you think he is?” Jessie asked.
“I don’t know,” said Henry. “Maybe taking the stairs was even slower than that slow elevator.”
“Or maybe he stopped on the way up,” Violet said. “Maybe he got tired…or hungry.”
“I bet you’re right,” said Henry. The youngest Alden was always hungry, though the library seemed like a better place to find a book than a snack.
Jessie looked back into the stairwell. She called her little brother’s name. “Benny!” her voice echoed.
Just then, the three children heard their brother’s voice echo back up the stairwell. “Oh, no!” Benny screamed. “A gargoyle is staring right at me!”
“A gargoyle?” gasped Violet.
“There’s no way Benny could have seen a gargoyle,” said Henry. “The gargoyles we saw from the ground were at the top of the building, on the outside. We’re at the top of the building, not Benny. And there aren’t any windows on this floor.”
“Come on,” said Jessie. “Let’s find out what’s going on.”
The three ran down the stairs as quickly as they could. They dashed down the stairs to the door of the
next floor. Henry reached for the doorknob, anxious to find out where his brother was calling from. The door opened onto a floor with bookshelves full of books and a large window on one wall. It also opened onto Benny because at the very same time, Benny Alden reached for the doorknob on the other side, trying to get back into the stairwell. As Benny’s three siblings were about to exit the stairwell, though, their little brother bumped right into them.
“Let’s get out of here!” Benny yelled as his brother and sisters collided with him. “That spooky gargoyle’s staring into the library at me!”
Benny pointed at a large window just outside the stairwell door. And as the four Alden children tumbled to the floor in a heap, Henry, Jessie, and Violet caught a glimpse of something in the window.
Something that floated.
Something with beady eyes.
Something with sharp teeth.
Something with a grin on its face.
“Yikes!” said Violet, falling on top of Jessie.
“Ouch!” said Jessie, falling on top of Henry.
“Huh?” Henry said, landing on the floor with his sisters and brother tangled on top of him.
All four Aldens struggled to free themselves from their twisted pile of arms and legs, trying to look back at the window where they all thought they’d just seen the beady-eyed, sharp-toothed, grinning face of a gargoyle!
CHAPTER 2
A New Mystery
The four Alden children untangled themselves from one another and picked themselves off the floor of the stairway landing. Then they all looked back to the large window where they’d just seen the face of a gargoyle—a grinning gargoyle just like the ones that decorated the top of the old library building.
But the window was empty. The gargoyle was nowhere to be seen.
“Did you guys see that?” Jessie asked.
“I sure did,” said Violet. “It was a gargoyle.”
“I saw it, too,” said Henry. “But gargoyles aren’t real creatures. They’re just stone statues.”
“But if I saw it, and you all saw it, then it must have been real,” Benny said. “Right?”
“We all saw something,” said Henry, “but the real questions are what exactly did we see and where did it go?”
Henry was already looking out the window—up and down and to each side—with his siblings crowded around him. “I don’t see it anywhere,” he said. “I wonder where it went…whatever it was that we saw.”