Dog-Gone Mystery

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Dog-Gone Mystery Page 6

by Gertrude Chandler Warner


  Henry stood up. “Thank you for showing us your dogs,” he said to Ms. Wilson.

  “I told you I had nothing to hide,” she said as she led them out of the room.

  Once they were outside, Henry spoke. “That black malamute is not really black,” he told his sisters and brother. “Its fur has gray and white roots.”

  “Ms. Wilson dyed its fur!” said Jessie.

  “And the white dog had white fur with black roots,” said Benny. “She must have dyed its fur, too!”

  “The white dog was Boxcar,” said Violet. “I know it was Boxcar.”

  The children walked directly back to the dentist’s office. They found an empty bench on the sidewalk and sat down. Henry pulled out the cell phone that Grandfather made sure they took with them.

  “It’s time to make some phone calls,” said Henry.

  CHAPTER 10

  Reunion!

  By the time Grandfather was done at the dentist’s, Henry had made all the phone calls.

  “Should we have lunch while we wait?” asked Grandfather.

  Henry shook his head. “Everybody will be here soon,” he said. “And I think we should act quickly.”

  “That’s right,” said Jessie. “We’ve been watching to make sure that Ms. Wilson’s van is still there.”

  Just as she said that, a car pulled up and parked. Mr. Brooks and Mrs. Servus stepped out of the car. “Here we are,” said Mr. Brooks.

  Another car pulled up and parked. Mr. Kovack stepped out of the car. “Everybody’s here,” he said. “Good work, Henry and Jessie. Good work, Violet and Benny.”

  Grandfather introduced himself to Mr. Brooks and Mrs. Servus and Mr. Kovack. “My grandchildren always do good work,” he said with a smile.

  The group of eight people walked down the side street and into Dogs—Yippee!

  Candy Wilson looked very nervous. “What are you all doing here?” she demanded. “I’m about to close. You’ll have to come back another time.”

  “I’m here to see the Dalmatian dog you have for sale,” said Mr. Brooks.

  “And I’m here to see the malamute you have for sale,” said Mrs. Servus.

  “Those dogs have already been sold,” said Ms. Wilson.

  “We want to see them anyway,” said Mr. Brooks.

  “We sure do,” said Mrs. Servus.

  “No,” said Candy Wilson. “You wouldn’t like these dogs. They aren’t as nice as your dogs were.”

  Benny walked up to the locked door in the back of the store. “The dogs are back here,” he said. Mr. Brooks and Mrs. Servus followed him.

  “We won’t leave until you unlock this door,” said Mr. Brooks.

  Candy Wilson jangled her big key ring and walked to the door. “All right, all right,” she complained. “I have nothing to hide.”

  She unlocked the door. Benny walked into the kennel room. Mrs. Servus and Mr. Brooks followed him. Everybody else walked into the kennel room, too.

  As soon as Mrs. Servus and Mr. Brooks stepped into the room, two dogs started barking. The barks were very loud and very happy.

  Mr. Brooks ran up to the all-white Dalmatian, which was jumping around in its cage and barking. Mr. Brooks knelt down and the Dalmatian licked his face.

  “Boxcar!” said Mr. Brooks. “What happened to you—where are your spots?” He petted Boxcar and tried to hug him through the cage.

  “That’s white dye,” said Henry. “Ms. Wilson dyed his spots so that he would look different. If you ruffle Boxcar’s fur, you can see black roots where his spots are.”

  Mr. Brooks looked. “You’re right,” he said. “That’s ridiculous!” said Ms. Wilson.

  Mrs. Servus was trying to hug the all-black malamute, which had its paws on the cage and was trying to get out.

  “Grayson!” she said. “I’d recognize you anywhere! You have such beautiful blue eyes!” She also tried to hug her dog through the cage.

  Mrs. Servus turned toward the Aldens. “I suppose that Grayson has been dyed black?”

  “Yes,” said Henry. “If you ruffle his fur, you’ll see white and gray roots underneath.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” said Candy Wilson. “Utterly ridiculous.”

  Mrs. Servus faced Candy Wilson. “Unlock this cage at once,” she demanded.

  Candy Wilson stood there, unsure what to do. Mr. Kovack reached over and took the key ring from her hand. Then he found the right keys to unlock the cages that Grayson and Boxcar were in.

  Both dogs jumped out and jumped up to lick their owners. Mr. Brooks and Mrs. Servus hugged their dogs.

  Mr. Kovack chuckled. “Now is not the time to say down, is it?” he asked everybody.

  Mr. Brooks turned to face Candy Wilson. “You stole our dogs,” he said.

  Candy Wilson looked very nervous. “I found these dogs,” she said. “They were roaming the streets.”

  “No,” said Henry. “You stole these dogs from the Dog Gone Good training center. You gave them dog biscuits so they would know you. Then, when we were all in the office, you took the dogs. You used a pair of your grooming scissors to cut Grayson’s leash.”

  “You put each dog in your van,” said Jessie. “And you drove away. Nobody could see the dog in your van. I heard a car drive away when Grayson was stolen. It was your van.”

  “I found these dogs, that’s all,” said Ms. Wilson.

  “You changed the way they looked,” said Violet. “But you couldn’t change the color of their eyes.”

  “Such beautiful eyes,” said Mrs. Servus, hugging Grayson.

  “I agree,” said Mr. Brooks, hugging Boxcar.

  “Ridiculous,” said Ms. Wilson. “Why would I steal your dogs.”

  “We know why,” said Mr. Kovack. “Boxcar and Grayson are beautiful dogs. They are popular breeds. You could get a lot of money for each dog. But neither dog is a show dog. So you wouldn’t have to worry about somebody recognizing the dog.”

  Mr. Kovack pulled out his cell phone. “It’s time to call the police,” he said.

  Later, after the police had come and taken statements from everybody, Grandfather and the children left Dogs—Yippee! So did Mr. Kovack, Mrs. Servus, and Mr. Brooks. So did Grayson and Boxcar.

  Candy Wilson had left in the police car. She was going to have to answer a lot of questions.

  “Thank you for finding Boxcar,” said Mr. Brooks to the children. “Now I’m happy again.”

  “Yes,” said Mrs. Servus, “thank you for finding Grayson. I love my dog.”

  Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny watched as two people and two dogs piled into Mr. Brooks’s car. They waved goodbye as the car drove away.

  Mr. Kovack turned toward the children. “I want to thank you, too,” he said. “I was working on the case, but you were the ones who solved it.”

  “We had to think hard to solve this mystery,” said Jessie.

  Mr. Kovack nodded his head. “You solved the mystery because you’re smart—not because you’re lucky.” He gave each of them a business card.

  “When it comes time for you to get a job, you should consider detective work,” he said.

  Grandfather smiled. “Maybe they will,” he said. “But until then, I think my grandchildren still have a lot more adventures ahead of them.”

  Then Mr. Kovack got in his car and drove away.

  Benny turned toward the corner restaurant. “I know we’re smart,” he said, “but sometimes we’re lucky, too. Like now. It’s way past lunch time, and we’re standing next to a restaurant.”

  The Aldens all laughed as they followed Benny into the restaurant.

  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 t
racks 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

  THE AMAZING MYSTERY SHOW

  THE PUMPKIN HEAD MYSTERY

  THE CUPCAKE CAPER

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this ebook onscreen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

  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 © 2009 by Albert Whitman & Company

  978-1-4532-2908-8

  This 2011 edition distributed by Open Road Integrated Media

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  New York, NY 10014

  www.openroadmedia.com

  EBOOKS BY GERTRUDE CHANDLER WARNER

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