Snowbound Mystery

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

  Nobody could believe the hunt was over and the recipe was found at last.

  Tom was thinking. He said slowly, “Those blue cards remind me of something. When I was a little boy I used to hear Mother tell my dad to use one of his blue-card recipes. I just thought she meant special ones. I didn’t know the recipes were really written on blue cards.”

  “But how did the cards get in the cabin attic?” asked Barbara. “That’s still a mystery.”

  “Yes,” agreed Tom. “There isn’t any way to get up in the attic from the main part of the cabin. No trapdoor or anything. Well, the important thing is that you found the card, Benny. And now I can make buns.”

  “Maybe we can find something else,” Benny said. But although he looked carefully, he could not find anything except leaves and twigs.

  Jessie said, “I’m walking around in a dream. Nothing seems real.”

  Puggsy said, “I feel like that when I get up too early.”

  “Let’s rest and then clean up the cabin,” Henry suggested. “We want to be ready to go when the men from the Highway Department get here.”

  It was about noon when the Aldens heard sounds, the scrape of snowshovels and the voices of men. They opened the front door and went out to meet their rescuers.

  The box of squirrels stood on the steps, but Watch was quiet now. He seemed to know he was going home.

  CHAPTER 10

  A Surprise in Store

  Three men from the Highway Department and a state policeman reached the cabin. They had shoveled a narrow path up the hill from the road.

  “We’re glad to see you!” Henry called.

  The men waved. They knew there would be seven people and a dog and a lot of luggage. But the box of squirrels was a surprise.

  “Well, now!” said one red-faced shoveler. “And why do you want to carry five squirrels home? There’s plenty in my backyard you can have.”

  Jessie explained. “They were in the cabin attic with a bushel of nuts. You see, there is a big hole in the roof. If we let them go, the squirrels will starve.”

  “Starve? Squirrels starve?” repeated the man. “Not them! Just put your bushel of nuts handy on the steps and let ’em go. You’ll see! Did you say a hole in the roof? They’ll take all the nuts back before night.”

  All the men nodded, laughing.

  “But look at the snow on the roof,” said Henry. Just the same though, he put the bag of nuts on the steps. Then he took the board off the squirrel box. In a minute one squirrel came out and looked at the bag. Out the others came, one by one. They sat perfectly still on the steps.

  The sergeant said, “Mike knows. Those squirrels will be all right. You could have shooed them out the door any time.”

  Tom Nelson laughed. “Yes, I believe you,” he said.

  Mike said, “You see that tree with the big hole? That will make a good nest and those squirrels will find it.”

  By now the Aldens and Nelsons were dressed to leave.

  “Mr. Alden will be glad to see you,” said the sergeant. “He’s waiting in his car. He said he couldn’t stay at home.”

  The procession started. Two shovelers went first, then the Aldens and Watch, then another shoveler, then the Nelsons, and last the sergeant.

  The path was long and slippery. Snow was piled high on both sides. It was like walking in a tunnel. Even Tom could not see over the top. It seemed as if they would never get down to the road.

  At last Benny and the others saw the station wagon. Grandfather was sitting in the driver’s seat, waving out the window.

  What a happy meeting it was! The sergeant watched a moment, then roared away on his motorcycle to help someone else. The workmen waved.

  Mr. Alden said, “I feel as if I’ll never let you out of my sight again. But I will.”

  Violet said, “Of course you will. But right now I want to sit beside you in the car.”

  “Good,” said Grandfather. “We can take seven people—eight people and a dog—in this car. I am grateful to you, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, for coming to help my family. I want you to stay with me until the snow is cleared and you can get home.”

  “We did have a great adventure, Grandfather,” said Benny. “Jessie said we would.”

  “Oh, so you did have an adventure!”

  “Yes,” Benny went on. “Henry says it was really a mystery. But it is solved now.”

  “Tell me about it when we get home,” said Mr. Alden as he started the car.

  Puggsy said, “We didn’t bring the box of squirrels.”

  “What?” asked Grandfather. “I hope not.”

  Benny said, “We’ll tell him later about the squirrels, Puggsy. It will be good to get home. I’d like some clean clothes and a bath.”

  “Well, Ben!” said Henry. “That doesn’t sound like you. You don’t like baths too much.”

  “Me either,” said Puggsy, “but my mother gives them to me just the same.”

  When the station wagon came up the drive, Mr. and Mrs. McGregor opened the door. They both worked for Mr. Alden.

  “We are glad to see you!” Mrs. McGregor said. “And Watch! You come with me, Watch, and see what I have for you.”

  Henry said to his grandfather, “Something very important has happened to the Nelsons. We must tell you right away.”

  “Never mind putting your things away just now,” said Mr. Alden. “Just sit down and tell me what the mystery was.”

  Benny told most of the story. But they all helped him. Mr. Alden understood all about the recipe for buns. He knew how valuable it must be. He turned to Tom Nelson and asked him for his story.

  Tom could hardly talk fast enough. “It’s too good to be true. For years I’ve wanted to make buns like my grandfather’s and now I can.”

  “You can make a few right in my kitchen,” said Mr. Alden, smiling.

  “Oh, I’d like that,” replied Tom. “I can make them for supper. There will be enough time for them to rise.”

  Benny said with a nod, “Grandfather, Tom is a good worker, but business is bad out in the country where his store is. If he can get more money, he may start a store in town.”

  “I might be able to help,” replied Mr. Alden. “But of course I have to try a bun first.” His eyes twinkled.

  “Where is your kitchen, Mr. Alden?” asked Puggsy.

  Grandfather said, “Benny, take Mr. Nelson out and show him the kitchen. Puggsy can go too if he likes.”

  Tom was delighted. They went to the kitchen at once. Benny explained to Mrs. McGregor all about the buns.

  “Fine,” said the good lady. “Help yourself, Mr. Nelson. Flour is here, sugar here, eggs—”

  “In the refrigerator,” said Tom, smiling. “I am used to strange kitchens. I think I can find everything I want. I can even find a bowl.” He took down a yellow mixing bowl as he spoke.

  Benny asked, “Do you find that strange thing here? I mean that question mark. Do we have any?”

  “Yes, I found it,” said Tom. He winked at Benny. “It is very common. Everyone has it. But it is still a secret.”

  Benny and Puggsy and Mrs. McGregor watched Tom as he mixed the buns and set them to rise. He put the bowl in a warm place with a cloth over the top. Then Tom and the boys went back to the rest of the family.

  “I watched Tom,” said Benny. “But I never saw him put in anything strange.”

  “Well, I put it in,” said Tom. “You just didn’t notice. I’m going to call them Benny’s Buns.”

  The buns rose to the top of the bowl. Tom kneaded them down again. Later, he made them into balls. He put the buns very close together. Then he set them to rise again.

  “These are sweet,” he said. “They go better with dessert.”

  “Ice cream for dessert,” said Mrs. McGregor with a smile. “We have four different kinds in the freezer.”

  When the dessert came, everyone was excited. The buns were tall, and light as a feather. A raisin was on the top of each. Everyone watched as Grandfather took a bite.
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  “Now these are amazing, Mr. Nelson!” he said. “I never ate such delicious buns! And I can’t tell what makes them so different, either.”

  “That’s good,” said Tom. He was happy. And Barbara was happy to see her husband doing the thing he loved so much.

  Next morning Mr. Alden said to Tom, “I’d like to take you down the street to meet some people. You know that shoppers come here from many other towns.”

  Benny looked at Henry and laughed. They knew their grandfather was up to something.

  Before he went, Mr. Alden asked Mrs. McGregor if she needed anything.

  “Yes, Mr. Alden. Get some hamburger and hot dogs for Benny. I’ll bake some beans in the electric bean pot and put the hot dogs on top.”

  “Oh, boy!” said Puggsy. “I like that. I wish I could go.”

  “You may,” said Grandfather, looking at Mrs. Nelson. “If your mother is willing. In fact, everyone can go.”

  They all started off, except for Henry. He had to get ready to go back to college. Watch did not go either, so they had more room in the car.

  Grandfather drove past the supermarkets, past the school and many stores. Then he turned around and came back another way.

  “I know!” said Benny. “You want to stop at Franklin’s Store for the hot dogs.”

  “Right,” said Mr. Alden. “Franklin’s has the best meat in town. And the best groceries.”

  Mr. Alden parked the car in front of the store. The sign said:

  ROGER FRANKLIN, MEATS AND GROCERIES

  Mr. Franklin had to laugh when the whole family came in at once. He was busy with other customers, but he said, “Good morning, Mr. Alden. I’ll be with you in a minute.”

  “Don’t hurry,” said Grandfather. “We’ll look around.”

  Benny whispered to Jessie, “Look at Grandfather’s face! Doesn’t it look as if he’s up to something?”

  “I’m sure he is,” said Violet. “I noticed it when he asked Mr. Nelson to ride down the street.”

  But nobody ever knew what Grandfather’s plans were until he was ready to tell them.

  At last the other people went out, smiling at Puggsy as they passed him. It seemed as if people always smiled at Puggsy.

  “Just some hamburger and hot dogs, Roger,” said Mr. Alden. “And do you have any sweet buns?”

  “No,” Roger Franklin shook his head. “I don’t carry baked things. I wish I did. I could sell them all right. Maybe someday—” He did not even finish the sentence.

  Grandfather sat down on a stool and whirled around and around. He made them all laugh, he looked so funny. They were all waiting for Mr. Alden to surprise them.

  Suddenly he did. He said without a smile, “The store next to you is empty. And there is a door between.” He pointed.

  “Yes, I’d like to use that store,” said Mr. Franklin. “But I can’t afford to buy it. I really need more room.”

  Benny burst out, “If you had that store, you could have a bakery department!”

  Mr. Alden didn’t even smile then. He was as sober as a judge. He said, “I see my grandson has guessed my plan.”

  “Your plan?” The storekeeper was puzzled.

  “Let me introduce a baker, Mr. Tom Nelson,” said Mr. Alden. “He makes buns from a secret recipe. They are called Benny’s Buns.”

  “After Benny, I suppose,” nodded Roger Franklin. He began to understand.

  Puggsy said, “That’s not all he makes. My dad makes pies and birthday cakes and doughnuts and cookies.”

  “Oh, he does!” said Mr. Franklin. He stared at the little boy.

  “Yes, he’s the best baker in the world,” said Puggsy.

  Mr. Franklin looked at Mr. Alden. He said, “That would be a good thing for Franklin’s Store, wouldn’t it—to have the best baker in the world in my store.”

  Grandfather said, “I see you are a quick thinker. If you want to rent that corner store, I think Tom might work for you. Perhaps you don’t know that I own that empty store.”

  The two young men looked at each other. Tom liked Roger, and Roger liked Tom.

  Tom said, “I think we could make a go of it. This is my wife, Barbara. She helps in our store in the country. And so does Puggsy. He’s quite a salesman.”

  “I should imagine so,” said Roger Franklin, laughing.

  “Let me show you the empty store,” Mr. Alden said.

  He unlocked the door between the stores and they all went in. It was a bright, sunny place with many windows.

  “What a perfect place for a bakery,” said Violet. “We girls will stop here on the way home from school to buy buns.”

  Mr. Alden said, “That’s fine, my dear. But this place must be cleaned and painted. And this wall must be taken down to make one big store. It will be a while before you can buy buns.”

  Benny said, “But not too long, Grandfather, if you have anything to do with it.”

  “That’s the stuff, Ben,” said Puggsy.

  CHAPTER 11

  One More Question

  Benny was right. It did not take too long to fix the store. First, some carpenters took down the wall between the two stores to make one big room.

  Benny noticed one special carpenter. He was an old man. He was slow, but he did fine work. He kept looking at Benny and Puggsy with a twinkle in his blue eyes. The Aldens noticed that he listened to every word they said. The old man always stopped pounding for a minute when they talked about the cabin or Tom Nelson’s baking.

  Jessie said, “I wonder why that old carpenter is so interested? He’s a good workman. He fixed all the windows so that they don’t rattle.”

  But when the painters came everyone forgot the old man. They painted the walls bright yellow. Franklin’s Store was painted the same color. Now it was one big store.

  A gray tiled floor was put in, and the windows were washed until they shone. Big stoves and refrigerators were moved into the bakery side. A new sign was put up outside:

  FRANKLIN’S STORE

  BENNY’S BUNS

  That was not all. The radio carried news about the store and the newspapers had pictures of Tom, Barbara, Puggsy, and Benny.

  The Nelsons bought white uniforms. Barrels of flour came rolling in, barrels of sugar, boxes of eggs.

  At last the store opened. It was a Saturday. Benny and Puggsy were there, but Henry was at his college.

  People were interested in the new store. There was no doubt about that. When the Nelsons and Roger Franklin came to unlock the door early Saturday morning, there were six people waiting on the steps.

  Benny and Puggsy put on their white uniforms at once and stood behind the counter. They sold buns with Mrs. Nelson. Puggsy was too young to take the money and make change, but he could sell buns and put them in bags. Everybody smiled when they saw him and the women said, “How cute!”

  People who came to Franklin’s Store went into the bakery. People who came into the bakery went into the grocery department. Roger Franklin began to sell twice as much because he now had a bakery.

  A woman came in and said, “Tm interested in these buns. There must be a story about the secret recipe.”

  “Yes, there is,” said Puggsy.

  A crowd gathered around Benny and Puggsy. When they told about Watch chasing the squirrels, everyone laughed.

  “That’s a wonderful story,” the woman said. “I like those letters on the closet door. Do you know what the question mark stands for?”

  “No,” answered Puggsy. He shook his head. “Nobody knows except my dad and my mother.”

  Just as Benny was getting hungry the door opened and in came Mr. Alden, Jessie, and Violet.

  “How are you doing?” asked Mr. Alden.

  “Very hungry,” said Benny.

  Tom laughed. “That’s right. But we are selling so much we can’t stop to eat.”

  “That’s why we came,” said Mr. Alden. “You need a change. We’ll sell while you go out to eat lunch.”

  “We planned to eat buns and cof
fee right here,” said Tom.

  “Never mind,” said Mr. Alden. “You’ll work harder when you come back. Just give me your white uniform. Violet can wear Benny’s.”

  Barbara gave her uniform to Jessie, and soon everyone was ready. His friends thought it was a joke to find Mr. Alden working in a bakery.

  The four hungry workers went down the street to a restaurant. On the way people stopped them to say how good Tom’s baking was.

  While they waited for lunch Benny heard a girl say, “I’m delighted to have a real bakery here. I love that little Puggsy at the counter.”

  The man with the girl said, “I’d go in just to hear him talk.”

  Benny and Puggsy made faces at each other.

  It was a long day, but a happy one. The Nelsons had dinner with the Aldens before going to their home over the old store.

  Puggsy said, “I do miss the squirrels. It was fun to see Watch chase them.”

  “Well, I don’t miss them,” Jessie said. “But I do wonder where they went.”

  Benny said, “Listen, some day let’s go back to the cabin and see if we can find the squirrels.”

  “We could take a lunch with us,” Violet said.

  Jessie looked at Tom and said, “I still don’t know how that blue card got up in the attic over the bedrooms.”

  Tom answered, “I don’t either.”

  Not long after that on a beautiful day the Aldens and the Nelsons went up to the hunters’ cabin. Before they reached the cabin Watch began to bark.

  “Listen!” said Benny. “That’s pounding!”

  They walked faster. A ladder was leaning against the side of the cabin. A man on the roof was pounding shingles. He saw them and waved.

  Jessie said, “That’s the carpenter who worked on Franklin’s Store. Remember?”

  Benny shouted, “Did you get all the squirrels out of the attic first?”

  “No squirrels there!” called the carpenter. “I looked.” Then he pointed at the tall tree in front of the cabin. “I think you’ll find your squirrels in that tree. There’s a lot of ’em.”

  “Oho!” Puggsy said. “Mike said they might move into that tree. And there they are.”

  At first no one could count the squirrels. They were running around in the tree, chasing each other. At last Benny was sure there were five. Not a nut was left on the step.