The Mystery of the Screech Owl
Read The Mystery of the Screech Owl Online
Authors: Gertrude Chandler Warner
The Boxcar Children Mysteries
T
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B
OXCAR
C
HILDREN
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URPRISE
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SLAND
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HE
Y
ELLOW
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OUSE
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ANCH
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LUE
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AY
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REE
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INE
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AP
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ALL
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UN
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ICYCLE
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ACE
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ILD
P
ONIES
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HE
M
YSTERY IN THE
C
OMPUTER
G
AME
T
HE
M
YSTERY AT THE
C
ROOKED
H
OUSE
T
HE
H
OCKEY
M
YSTERY
T
HE
M
YSTERY OF THE
M
IDNIGHT
D
OG
T
HE
M
YSTERY OF THE
S
CREECH
O
WL
THE MYSTERY OF THE SCREECH OWL
created by
GERTRUDE CHANDLER WARNER
Illustrated by Hodges Soileau
ALBERT WHITMAN & Company
Chicago, Illinois
Contents
5. The Amazing, Fantastic Tree House!
CHAPTER 1
Broken Moon Pond
“S
now!” exclaimed Jessie Alden, peering out the rental car window. “When we left Greenfield this morning, Mrs. McGregor's daffodils were blooming.”
“Canada is farther north. It snows even in the spring here,” said Henry from the front seat. At fourteen, he knew a lot about the places the Alden family visited.
“Fun!” said six-year-old Benny. He was thrilled to see snow any time of the year.
“I can't wait to see Broken Moon Pond,” said Violet, sitting beside Benny. “It sounds great.”
Grandfather slowed down for a curve in the country road. “I can't wait to see it, either,” he replied. “I haven't been there since I was ten years old.”
“You were my age,” Violet remarked, gazing at the passing scenery of patchy snow and stark trees.
“We came every year at this time,” Grandfather went on. “My parents were friends of the Dupré family, who own Broken Moon Pond. In those days, we didn't fly from Connecticut to Quebec and rent a car. It took much longer to get here.”
“Did you come by horse and buggy?” asked Benny.
Everyone laughed.
Jessie reached across the seat to ruffle her little brother's hair. “Benny, Grandfather isn't
that
old!” At twelve, Jessie liked to look after her younger brother.
After their parents died, the Alden children lived in an abandoned boxcar. They learned to take care of themselves because they believed they were alone in the world.
But their grandfather, James Alden, found the children and gave them a real home. The children were happy living in Greenfield with Mrs. McGregor, the housekeeper, and Watch, their dog. Grandfather even had their old boxcar towed to the backyard so they could play in it.
Now they were off on a late-spring trip to Broken Moon Pond.
“There's the sign to Nibelle,” Henry pointed out. He sat up front to give directions.
Grandfather turned off onto another road. Moments later, trees and fields gave way to farmhouses and then the village of Nibelle.
Old stone buildings were arranged around a square with a fountain in the middle. Grandfather pulled the car into a parking spot.
“This is the real estate agent's office,” he said. “I need to pick up the key to our cabin.”
“Doesn't the Dupré family live there?” asked Jessie as she got out and stretched.
Grandfather put on his wool hat. “I don't know. When I phoned the main cabin, my call was switched to this agency. Let's go in and we'll find out.”
