The Mystery of the Grinning Gargoyle (9 page)

“Your gargoyle looks really good,” said Violet, patting the papier-mâché creature. “It looks just like the real statues. But it also scared people, and that wasn't very nice.”

“I'm sorry,” Izzy said. “I didn't mean to scare anyone.”

“There's someone you should really apologize to,” said Jessie, motioning to Annabel. “It was Annabel's window that you hung the gargoyle in front of last night, and it really scared her.”

“Oh, dear,” said Izzy. “I was trying to put the gargoyle in front of your window, Alden children. I already knew you weren't scared of the gargoyles, so I figured it wouldn't hurt.”

“We were staying in 4A, right next door to Annabel's room in 4B,” Henry said.

“I am so sorry, Annabel,” said Izzy. “How can I make it up to you?”

“It's okay, Izzy,” Annabel smiled. “There is one thing you can do, though—an interview for this latest online video. It'll be a hit with my fans and it'll bring more business to Goldwin Gyros! Are you camera shy?”

CHAPTER
10

The Big Screen at the Big Game

The Goldwin Bears got off to a good start, even though Number 44 was sitting on the bench and hadn't played.

The clock was running down before halftime as Benny Alden returned to the red metal bleacher he'd been sitting on. In his arms he carried a stack of stadium snacks to share with his siblings.

Henry thanked Benny for the hot dog with extra mustard.

Jessie smiled and took a bite of her salty soft pretzel.

Violet wiped her mouth after taking a sip of her hot chocolate.

And Benny took turns putting popcorn and peanuts into his mouth.

Just then, the crowd began to cheer. From the bench where the Goldwin Bears were sitting a familiar player stood up and started to trot onto the field.

“Go, Number 44!” Benny cheered.

The Goldwin Bears lined up to run their next play. The play began, with players of both teams scurrying across the grass of Goldwin Coliseum.

The Bears' quarterback got the ball and took a step backward, staring down the field. He looked right. Then he looked left. Would he find someone who could catch the football?

And then, just like the play Coach Woods had drawn on the chalkboard at the library, and just like the play Benny had run on the field the day before, Number 44 streaked down the field. His ankle seemed to be better, allowing him to run fast across the grass.

The quarterback reared back and threw the football.

Up, up, up into the air went the ball.

Then down, down, down it came.

Number 44 leaped into the air, too, stretching out his arms and diving for the football.

It looked like the quarterback might have thrown the ball too far. Or maybe Number 44 wasn't able to run quite as fast as he needed to.

The ball looked like it would fall just out of the reach of the star player's outstretched fingertips.

And then those fingertips stretched just a little bit further, and Number 44 caught the ball, rolling into the end zone, just as the clock on the big screen reached zero.

Touchdown!

The crowd cheered.

Benny Alden looked up at the screen, hoping to see a replay. But instead, the screen began to show a very interesting halftime show.

There on the screen, in front of thousands of happy fans, were Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden.

“That's me!” Benny said. “Up there on the screen!”

And next to the four Alden children stood two familiar faces.

“Hello, Goldwin University. My name is Annabel,” a smiling girl with light-brown hair said to the camera. “But you might know me better as Raven, the girl in all of the gargoyle videos you've watched on the Internet.”

The crowd cheered—they had seen Raven's videos.

“Well, the mystery of the grinning gargoyles has been solved, just like I promised it would be on my last video,” Annabel said.

The crowd gasped—they wanted to know how the mystery ended.

“Although I wanted to be the one to solve the mystery,” said Annabel, “my four friends here proved that they are better detectives than I could ever be. I'd like to introduce you to Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden.”

The crowd roared their approval—for the Alden children waving to them from the big screen, as well as the Alden children sitting with them in Goldwin Coliseum.

Annabel smiled on the big screen and said, “I now give you, the man behind the mystery, the man behind the grinning gargoyles, and the man behind the Gargoyle Gyro—Izzy, the owner of Goldwin Gyros!”

Izzy was on the video, too. He twirled his mustache and wiped a hand over his bald head, then began to speak. “I would like to apologize to everyone who might have been scared of the gargoyles. They were not real. I only wanted to let everyone know about the good food I would like to share with you. And now I hope you not only appreciate the great gargoyle statues we are lucky to have here at Goldwin University, but that you enjoy the free Gargoyle Gyros I will be serving at my restaurant after the game.”

The crowd screamed at the top of their lungs and stomped their feet and clapped their hands—for the end of the mystery and for the promise of free food.

The video ended with Izzy, Annabel, and the Alden children waving to the camera.

And the big game ended with Goldwin University winning 28-0.

As the Alden family walked to Goldwin Gyros after the game, Benny smiled and said, “Grandfather, I can't wait until next year when we can come watch the big game at the brand new Woods Stadium. Although the only gargoyle I want grinning at me is a Gargoyle Gyro!”

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof 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, events, 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.

Cover art by Logan Kline

Illustrations by Anthony VanArsdale

Copyright © 2014 by Albert Whitman & Company

ISBN: 978-1-5040-0752-8

Published by Albert Whitman & Company

250 South Northwest Highway, Suite 320

Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

www.albertwhitman.com

Distributed by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.

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www.openroadmedia.com

THE BOXCAR CHILDREN
MYSTERIES

FROM ALBERT WHITMAN & COMPANY
AND OPEN ROAD MEDIA