Brianna said, “To apply for the manager’s job there.”
“Yes. From that job, I could move up in the corporation— especially if I could put the Ice Cream Barn out of business,” Jean explained. “That’s when I thought up the plan to hide Butterscotch for a little while—right after the interview.”
“You know, you didn’t have to do all these awful things,” Brianna said. “Your business plan and your ideas were very good. I’m sure the Sugar Shop would have hired you just because of that.”
“I didn’t think good ideas were enough,” said Jean bitterly. “Sometimes you’ve got to be ruthless to get ahead.”
“I’m sorry,” said Brianna, “but I don’t think your terrible behavior got you anywhere.”
Then Jean said, “What are you going to do now? Are you going to call the police?”
Brianna shook her head slowly. “No. Not this time. But I am going to call Mr. Smithers to tell him what you did.”
“What you did was wrong,” said Violet.
“I know,” Jean said softly. She wouldn’t meet their eyes.
“Don’t come back to the Ice Cream Barn,” said Brianna.
Jean stood up. “All right,” she said, and walked slowly out of the barn. At the door, she stopped and turned. “I’m sorry,” she said.
“If you’re really sorry,” said Violet, “you’ll never do anything like this again.”
Without answering, Jean went out to her car. A minute later they heard it drive away.
Brianna let out a long breath. “Well,” she said. “That’s that.”
Shortly after that, the farmer came into the barn. “Well,” he said, “do you and the horse need a ride?”
Brianna smiled broadly. “Yes, thank you. Butterscotch is going home.”
The Aldens were sprawled in the grass in the shade outside their big old white house. Playing soccer had made them hot and tired. Watch had rolled over on his back with all four feet in the air and was panting in his sleep.
Suddenly Benny sat up. “Did you hear that?” he said.
“What?”
Watch woke up and rolled to his feet. He gave a quick bark.
“That!” said Benny, jumping to his feet, too. “The ice-cream wagon.”
“It is!” said Violet.
“Oh, good,” said Jessie. “I could use some ice cream right now.”
“Me, too!” said Henry.
Butterscotch and the ice-cream wagon came into sight and all four Aldens waved enthusiastically.
Brianna waved back and guided the wagon into the driveway.
“Look who is with her! It’s Preston!” said Jessie.
Preston jumped down from the driver’s seat to tie up Butterscotch. He grabbed the bucket from the side of the wagon.
“You can fill it up from the hose over at the side of the house,” offered Henry.
“Thanks,” said Preston with a big grin.
“Who wants ice cream?” asked Brianna, flinging the window of the wagon open.
“I do!” said Benny, hopping up and down. He wasn’t hot and tired any longer.
Preston came back and set the bucket down. “I heard you were the ones who found Butterscotch,” he said admiringly. “That was great! How did you figure it out?”
“Jessie did, mostly,” said Violet.
“No, we all did,” said Jessie. “We’d eliminated all our suspects and I’d just about given up. Then I remembered a clue and it all came together.”
“The thief kept buying ice cream and not eating it,” said Benny disapprovingly.
“But we set a trap and caught her,” Violet said.
“Found your horse, did you?” called a familiar voice.
Everyone looked up to see Mr. Bush standing on the sidewalk.
“We did,” said Brianna.
“So you’re detectives,” said Mr. Bush.
“We are,” said Jessie.
“Hmmm,” said Mr. Bush.
“Would you like some ice cream?” asked Brianna.
“Maybe I would,” said Mr. Bush.
“You would?” Benny’s eyes got round.
“I said I don’t like horses, not that I don’t like ice cream,” said Mr. Bush. He almost smiled. He walked around the wagon, staying well away from Butterscotch, and went up to the window. “I’d like a sundae, with raspberry ice cream and hot fudge, whipped cream, no nuts, and extra cherries,” he said.
“Wow,” said Violet softly.
“Good ice cream,” said Mr. Bush, after he’d tasted his sundae. Then, still giving Butterscotch plenty of room, he walked on.
“Double wow,” said Jessie.
“Who else wants ice cream?” asked Brianna.
“All of us,” said Henry.
“Good, because I’ve got just the flavor for you. And it’s on the house. Or the wagon,” said Brianna.
She made four enormous ice-cream cones.
Each of them took a taste.
“Butterscotch,” said Violet.
“And fudge,” said Henry.
“And salted nuts,” said Benny.
“Cashews, right?” guessed Jessie. “And something else, too, but I don’t know what. It’s awfully good, though.”
“Mmm. What is it?” asked Violet.
“Our newest flavor,” said Brianna. “Mystery Ice Cream for the Ice Cream Mystery.”
“It’s great,” said Henry.
“What do you think, Benny?” asked Brianna.
Benny grinned. “I think that when I grow up I’m going to be a detective—and drive an ice-cream wagon!”
About the Author
GERTRUDE CHANDLER WARNER 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.
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
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
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, 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 © 2003 by Albert Whitman & Company
978-1-4532-2151-8
This 2011 edition distributed by Open Road Integrated Media
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