Midnight at the Haunted Hotel Read online

  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

  THE 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 HONEYBEE MYSTERY

  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

  THE CLUE IN THE RECYCLING BIN

  MONKEY TROUBLE

  THE ZOMBIE PROJECT

  THE GREAT TURKEY HEIST

  THE GARDEN THIEF

  THE BOARDWALK MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE FALLEN TREASURE

  THE RETURN OF THE GRAVEYARD GHOST

  THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN SNOWBOARD

  THE MYSTERY OF THE WILD WEST BANDIT

  THE MYSTERY OF THE SOCCER SNITCH

  THE MYSTERY OF THE GRINNING GARGOYLE

  THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING POP IDOL

  THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN DINOSAUR BONES

  THE MYSTERY AT THE CALGARY STAMPEDE

  THE SLEEPY HOLLOW MYSTERY

  THE LEGEND OF THE IRISH CASTLE

  THE CELEBRITY CAT CAPER

  HIDDEN IN THE HAUNTED SCHOOL

  THE ELECTION DAY DILEMMA

  JOURNEY ON A RUNAWAY TRAIN

  THE CLUE IN THE PAPYRUS SCROLL

  THE DETOUR OF THE ELEPHANTS

  THE SHACKLETON SABOTAGE

  THE KHIPU AND THE FINAL KEY

  THE DOUGHNUT WHODUNIT

  THE ROBOT RANSOM

  NEW! THE LEGEND OF THE HOWLING WEREWOLF

  NEW! THE DAY OF THE DEAD MYSTERY

  Copyright © 2018 by Albert Whitman & Company

  First published in the United States of America in 2018 by Albert Whitman & Company

  ISBN 978-0-8075-2850-1

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  THE BOXCAR CHILDREN® is a registered trademark of Albert Whitman & Company.

  Printed in the United States of America

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 LB 22 21 20 19 18

>   Illustrations by Hollie Hibbert

  Visit the Boxcar Children online at www.boxcarchildren.com.

  For more information about Albert Whitman & Company, visit our website at www.albertwhitman.com.

  CHOOSE A PATH. FOLLOW THE CLUES. SOLVE THE MYSTERY!

  Can you help the Boxcar Children crack the case? Follow the directions at the end of each section to decide what the Aldens do next. But beware—some routes will end the story before the case is solved. After you finish one path, go back and follow the other paths to see how it all turns out!

  ARRIVAL

  “There it is, up on the hill,” said Grandfather.

  Violet looked out the window as the Aldens’ car exited a grove of old oak trees. The mansion was still far off, but without trees in the way, she could already see it clearly.

  “It’s huge!” said Benny, Violet’s six-year-old brother. He leaned past her and stuck his nose up to the window to get a better view.

  Jessie scooted across the back seat to get a glimpse too. She was twelve—two years older than Violet. She held a bright yellow flier, which had the words GARDNER HOTEL GRAND REOPENING at the top. Tonight was the party to celebrate the grand reopening of the old hotel. And they were helping Grandfather’s friend prepare.

  Fourteen-year-old Henry, the oldest, sat in the passenger’s seat. He had a map open in his lap.

  “Turn left up ahead, Grandfather,” he said.

  Grandfather turned where Henry told him to. The car moved slowly down a gravel driveway, then it pulled into a loop in front of the hotel.

  “It’s so old and fancy,” Violet said after they were all out of the car.

  Jessie nodded. “Look at those bricks. They must be over a hundred years old!”

  The hotel was three stories high, all built in deep red bricks. But it’s steep, pointed gables made it look much bigger and fancier. Trimmed hedges and big pots of flowers surrounded the entrance.

  “Juliette sure has done a good job fixing up this place,” said Grandfather. “And here she comes now!”

  A woman with straight black hair walked quickly out of the hotel. She wore a rose-colored suit that matched the building. In one hand she held a clipboard, and in the other she had a cell phone.

  “She looks busy,” Benny whispered.

  “Grand openings are busy days,” said Jessie.

  “Hello, James! These must be your grandchildren!” The woman put her phone in her pocket and trotted down the front steps to greet them.

  “Yes,” said Grandfather. “Juliette, I’d like you to meet Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. Children, this is Juliette Baker, a dear old friend of mine. She bought the Gardner Hotel after it closed and has been fixing it up ever since.”

  Juliette shook their hands one at a time.

  “Nice to meet you,” Henry said. “We’re looking forward to helping you get ready for the big night.”

  “Grandfather’s told us all about the building,” Jessie added, holding up the flier. “I can’t believe it was closed. It’s so exciting that it’s reopening!”

  “It’s been a lot of work,” said Juliette. “I’m happy for the help tonight.”

  “Well, you children have a lot of fun ahead of you,” Grandfather said. “I’m going to go pick up supplies for the party. I’ll be back in time to celebrate though.”

  “Thanks, Grandfather!” Henry said. “See you soon!”

  They waved to Grandfather as he got in the car and drove off. Then Juliette led the children inside.

  “I’ll give you a tour!” she said. “The hotel was a mansion when it was first built in the 1880s. This was what’s called a grand entryway. In 1955, the Gardner family changed the mansion into a hotel, so this became the lobby. Pretty fancy, isn’t it?” She winked.

  “It’s beautiful,” said Violet.

  The floor was tiled black and white, and the room was furnished with a large clock, a fireplace, and red velvet chairs and couches. Even the front desk was fancy, made of dark shiny wood carved in complex swirls.

  Employees were hurrying back and forth hanging streamers and balloons and a sign that said GRAND OPENING. Two curving stairways on either side of the room led to the second floor. And in the middle was the strangest and most impressive part of the room. Between the two stairways was a shiny pipe organ.

  Violet had seen pipe organs like it in books. The instrument looked like an upright piano except it had rows of brass pipes that rose out of the top. Some of them almost reached the ceiling.

  “Is that a real organ?” Violet asked.

  “Yes,” said Juliette. For the first time, the children saw her smile fade a little. “Let’s go down to the main office. We can go over the list of things I need help with.”

  “Isn’t the organ supposed to have a keyboard?” asked Jessie.

  “Yes, but it’s been missing for some time,” Juliette replied quickly. It seemed like she didn’t want to talk about it. “Come on. The office is this way.”

  As the children followed Juliette, they passed an empty hallway, and Violet thought she heard the creaking of a door. But when she looked, there was no movement. The old hallway was spooky. She reminded herself of the first day she and her siblings had come to live with Grandfather. After their parents had died, they had been living in an old boxcar in the woods. Moving from the boxcar into Grandfather’s house had been a big change, and sometimes the parts of the house they hadn’t explored seemed scary. But after living there and getting used to it, the kids weren’t nervous about any part of the old house. Not even down in the basement where Grandfather kept his old fishing rods and garden equipment.

  Juliette opened the office door and let them in. The room was like every other part of the hotel, with fancy red carpet and luxurious furniture. A man dressed in jeans and a suit coat was sitting on the couch along with a suitcase and duffel bag. He was wearing expensive, shiny shoes and had thick black eyebrows. Juliette was surprised to see him.

  “Excuse me,” she said. “Can I help you?”

  “I’d like to book a room,” the man said. “It’s opening night, isn’t it? The name’s Eddie. Eddie Gardner.”

  Juliette frowned. “Eddie…Charles Gardner’s son?”

  The Aldens stared at Eddie. This was the son of the man who had once owned the hotel!

  “Yes,” said Eddie, looking serious. “But now I’m just a guest. I came to see you because the clerk said you don’t allow pets. Is that true?”

  “Yes. That’s always been the policy in the hotels I’ve managed,” said Juliette.

  Eddie stood up and gently lifted his duffel bag. He shook his head. “My father loved pets. He would have allowed them.”

  “Even so, my rule is that we don’t,” Juliette said. “You’re welcome to stay the night if you would like. But please, it’s very important that the opening goes smoothly—especially with the rumors that caused the hotel to close in the first place.

  “As you may know, the historical committee is coming to see the building. If they approve the hotel as a historical landmark, it will be protected by the historical registry. Wouldn’t you like to see that, for your father’s sake?”

  Eddie eased the duffel strap over his shoulder.

  “Yes, of course I would,” he said. “Even if the only reason you want it is because it would be good for business.” He got up to leave the office without saying hello or good-bye to the Aldens. As he walked through the door, something caught Violet’s eye. She tugged on Henry’s sleeve and nodded with her chin.

  “What is it?” Henry asked.

  “His bag,” Violet said. “I think I saw it move!”

  CONTINUE TO PAGE 9

  A MYSTERY AND A MISSION

  The Aldens gathered around Juliette’s desk. She shook her head.

  “Having the last owner’s son around is the last thing I need tonight…but I guess it can’t be helped. I just hope he doesn’t cause a scene. I imagine he’s upset that I took over the hotel that was in his family for
generations.”

  Jessie remembered something Juliette had said. “You mentioned rumors to Mr. Gardner. Did something happen that caused the hotel to close?” she asked.

  “Well…” Juliette cleared her throat. “I might as well tell you. There are many reasons the hotel closed. I believe it’s mostly because the old owner, Charles Gardner, stopped taking care of it. But many people believe that the real reason the hotel closed is because it’s…haunted.”

  “Haunted!” cried Benny. “Like by ghosts?” He tried to imagine what it might be like to stay in a hotel haunted by ghosts. There were so many dark hallways and empty rooms. He shivered, but it was exciting to think about.

  “Yes,” said Juliette. “The rumors really got out of hand when Charles Gardner was running the hotel in his old age. But they’re just rumors. I’ve never heard any of the noises or seen any ghosts. All I know is that the stories are bad for business. People don’t want to stay in a hotel that might be haunted.”

  “Don’t worry,” said Jessie. She knew Juliette was worried about the opening, especially because the historical committee was going to be there. “Everything is going to go great.”

  Henry agreed. “Jessie’s right. We’re here to help you get ready. Let us know where we should start.”

  Juliette let out a big breath. “Right! Right. Where was that list…ah, here we go.” She gave the Aldens a checklist from her clipboard. “These are the things you could help me with. When you are done, you can visit the kitchen for a snack. I let the chef know you’re helping.”

  Jessie read over the list and handed it to Violet and Benny. Benny was just learning to read, so Violet helped him sound out some of the words.

  “‘Sweep the lobby. Wash the windows. Polish the railings,’” he read out loud. He knew how to do all of the things on the list! “And then the best part—snacks!”

  Juliette smiled and led them out of the office. “Thank you! I’ll show you where the cleaning closet is, where we keep the supplies.”

  As they headed toward the lobby, a man in a clerk’s uniform hurried over. Jessie remembered seeing him decorating the lobby. He was out of breath. His cheeks were pale, like he’d seen something frightening. In his hand he had a white piece of paper.

  “What’s wrong, Alex?” asked Juliette. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Were they hoping to rent a room tonight?” She winked at Benny.

  “I got a strange message just now. Someone left it at the front desk. It’s…it’s…” Alex had trouble finishing his sentence, so Juliette gestured for him to give her the paper. When he did, she read it out loud.