Four brave siblings were searching for a home – and found a life of adventure! Join the Boxcar Children as they investigate the mystery of an old woodshed in this illustrated chapter book series beloved by generations of readers. The Boxcar Children visit the old farmhouse where Grandfather and Aunt Jane grew up! But people in the nearby town seem to think something isn't quite right about the house. As the Boxcar Children investigate, they start to uncover secrets about the farm's past—dating all the way back to the Revolutionary War! What started as a single story about the Alden Children has delighted readers for generations and sold more than 80 million books worldwide. Featuring timeless adventures, mystery, and suspense, The Boxcar Children® series continues to inspire children to learn, question, imagine, and grow. Gertrude Chandler Warner grew up in Putnam, Connecticut. She wrote The Boxcar Children because she had always dreamed about what it would be like to live in a caboose or a freight car―just as the Aldens do. When readers asked for more adventures, Warner wrote more books―a total of nineteen in all. After her death, other authors have continued to write stories about Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden, and today The Boxcar Children® series has more than one hundred books. The Boxcar Children The Woodshed Mystery By Gertrude Chandler Warner, David Cunningham Albert Whitman & Company Copyright © 1990 Albert Whitman & Company All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-8075-9207-6 Contents CHAPTER, 1 A Farm for Sale, 2 Making Plans, 3 Grandfather Takes Over, 4 The Potato Pit, 5 An Old Flintlock Gun, 6 Exploring the Woodshed, 7 Clues from an Old Book, 8 A Light in the Dark, 9 What Was in the Box, 10 Back to the Woodshed, 11 A New Discovery, 12 Too Much Excitement, 13 Just in Time!, 14 A Treasure Bag, 15 Letter from Long Ago, 16 Aunt Jane's Surprise, CHAPTER 1 A Farm for Sale The telephone gave a long, loud ring. Supper was over. Benny Alden was going through the hall. He answered it. "Telephone, Grandfather!" shouted Benny. "It's for you. Long distance." Mr. Alden came to the telephone and said, "Hello. Oh, yes." Then he said nothing for a long, long time. Benny and his sister Violet couldn't help listening. At last Grandfather said, "That's just fine, Jane!" "It's Aunt Jane!" Violet whispered to Benny. Benny nodded, and a smile spread over his face. "Just wonderful, Jane," said Grandfather again. "Yes, I do. Yes, I think it is a fine idea. Yes, Jane. I'll think it over and call you very soon. No, Jane, I won't be long, maybe a day or two. Yes, I know you like to do things fast. You are like Benny." Grandfather winked at Benny. At last Grandfather said, "Good-by, Jane. See you soon." "See you soon?" said Benny. "Are we going out West to see Aunt Jane again?" "No, she is coming here," said Mr. Alden. "Oh, my, my!" said Benny. "Yes, that's what I say too," said Grandfather. "Oh, my, my, my! Now you four children get together and we'll talk this over. Benny, you find Henry." "And I'll get Jessie," said Violet. "She is up in her room." The four Aldens — two girls and two boys — lived with their grandfather in a big house. Henry was in college. Jessie was a senior in high school, and Violet was just ready for high school, too. Benny still went to grade school. In a few minutes the four young Aldens were sitting with Mr. Alden in his den. Grandfather looked around and smiled. "This is the big news," he said, laughing. "Aunt Jane wants to come East to live in New England again. She wants me to buy a farm for her, right away quick." "Quick like a fox," said Benny. "Right," said Grandfather. He laughed again. "Why does she want to move?" asked Jessie. "She has such an exciting place to live on Mystery Ranch." "Well, you see Jane and I were born in New England on a farm," said Mr. Alden. "We all moved to the West. I should say Jane was about eighteen when we went. I was younger than Jane. After awhile I wanted to come back and go into business. But Jane wouldn't. She said she would stay and run the ranch alone." "Stubborn," said Benny. "I remember," said Jessie. "That is what made the trouble between you and Aunt Jane." "Yes, she was too proud to give in. She found she couldn't run the ranch alone. So she almost starved to death." "Wasn't it lucky we went out there when she was sick?" said Violet. "We found such a lovely aunt." "Well, yes — she is lovely now," said her grandfather, smiling. "Now I am going to surprise Jane. Maybe I can buy the very farm where we used to live! She would like that." "Oh, wouldn't that be wonderful!" cried Jessie. "We could go up to the farm and get everything ready. Do you suppose we'll have to get chairs and tables and beds? We could get in food and make the beds. We'd love to do that." "What fun that would be!" said Violet. Her eyes were very bright. "When are you going to try, Grandfather?" asked Benny. "Well, my boy, I am