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The Power Down Mystery
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THE POWER DOWN MYSTERY
The Aldens are visiting Port Elizabeth for the tall ships festival! The children love seeing the big ships and learning about the old-fashioned way of sailing. But their plans change when a bad storm ends the festival early—and leaves behind a big mystery.
With the power down, the Boxcar Children must use some old-fashioned techniques of their own to investigate and find out who is up to no good.
Albert Whitman & Co.
100 Years of Good Books
www.albertwhitman.com • www.boxcarchildren.com
Cover art by Anthony VanArsdale
Copyright © 2019 by Albert Whitman & Company
Printed in the United States of America
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
THE LEGEND OF THE HOWLING WEREW
OLF
THE DAY OF THE DEAD MYSTERY
THE HUNDRED-YEAR MYSTERY
THE SEA TURTLE MYSTERY
NEW! SECRET ON THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR
NEW! THE POWER DOWN MYSTERY
Copyright © 2019 by Albert Whitman & Company
First published in the United States of America in 2019 by Albert Whitman & Company
ISBN 978-0-8075-0757-5 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-0-8075-0758-2 (paperback)
ISBN 978-0-8075-0759-9 (ebook)
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 24 23 22 21 20 19
Illustrations by Anthony VanArsdale
Visit the Boxcar Children online at www.boxcarchildren.com.
For more information about Albert Whitman & Company,
visit our website at www.albertwhitman.com.
100 years of Albert Whitman & Company
Celebrate with us in 2019!
Contents
1. The Coming Storm
2. Unplugged
3. The Bear Facts
4. Shipwreck on Main
5. Follow That Bear!
6. Copies and Clues
7. Getting Warmer, Getting Cooler
8. The Bear Trap
9. Treasure on a Trailer
10. Cleaning Up Clues
CHAPTER
The Coming Storm
The Aldens stood on the boardwalk and looked out over the harbor. Grandfather had brought the children to Port Elizabeth for the annual tall ships festival. But now the ships were sailing away.
Six-year-old Benny swung underneath the wooden railing at the edge of the marina. “Look at all the sails on that one!” he said. “Ten sails. No, eleven. Wait, twelve!”
At first, he had been sad the festival was ending early. But seeing the big boats in action was exciting. Colorful sails billowed on tall wooden masts. And the old-fashioned ships crashed through the waves.
In the marina, waves lapped onto the docks.With the tall ships gone, most of the docks were empty. On the ones that weren’t, people scrambled about, getting ready to move newer, smaller boats.
Henry leaned his elbows on the railing next to Benny. Unlike his brother, Henry wasn’t watching the ships. He was looking at the dark clouds chasing them away. At fourteen, Henry was the oldest of the Alden children, and he liked to pay attention to the weather. “The storm is coming in fast,” he said. “I hope everyone gets to safety.”
“The real storm isn’t supposed to hit until later tonight,” said Grandfather. “The ships will have plenty of time to find shelter up the coast.”
“I’m glad we have people to forecast the weather,” ten-year-old Violet said. “Imagine if we didn’t have any warning before the storm.”
Grandfather’s friend Marie Freeman spoke up. “There are ships at the bottom of this harbor from the days when the sailors didn’t get enough warning before storms hit.” Ms. Freeman was the Aldens’ host for the festival. She had lived in Port Elizabeth all her life. She loved to study old things.
“Even today, weather can be hard to predict,” said Grandfather. “But it seems pretty likely that this storm will reach us before it dies out. I think the folks who run the festival made the right decision.”
Benny was still more interested in the ships than the storm. As the children started walking toward the exit of the marina, he asked, “How do they know where to go? Once they get away from shore, all there is is waves! They don’t even have street signs to follow! Don’t they get lost?”
Ms. Freeman smiled. “I have a feeling those big, old ships might have some new technology onboard to tell them where they are. But sailors still have to know how to travel the old-fashioned way, just in case. What would they do if their computers failed?”
Benny stopped suddenly. “In the middle of the ocean? They’d never get home!”
“They would if they had the old tools and knew how to use them,” Henry said. “We should try using a compass and map to find our way around.”
“That sounds fun,” Jessie said.
The Aldens came to the end of the marina. Violet noticed a line of smaller, newer-looking boats. Instead of sailing the boats away, people were loading them onto big trailers. On the dock next to the boats was a thin man in an orange raincoat. Around him were half a dozen people. They looked to be arguing with him.
“That’s Hector Valencia,” said Ms. Freeman. “He owns this marina. Poor guy. Ending the festival early can’t be good for his business.”
“Those people don’t look happy with him,” said Henry.
“I suppose everyone is trying to get their boats out of the water before the storm rolls in,” said Grandfather. “But it looks like there’s some sort of holdup.”
“Looks like the boats are being inspected,” Ms. Freeman said. “Unfortunately, there are rumors of smugglers here in Port Elizabeth.”
Benny’s eyes got big. “Smugglers? You mean like pirates?”
Ms. Freeman chuckled. “Not exactly. Smugglers are people who bring things in or out of the country illegally.”
“What happens if they get caught?” Violet asked.
“It depends,” said Ms. Freeman. “Say the smugglers brought in something that was legal to own, like jewels, but they snuck it in without paying taxes. They’d probably get a fine.”
“That seems silly,” said Jessie. “Why risk a fine when you could be honest and not get in trouble?”
Ms. Freeman smiled. “That is a very good question. Sadly, not everyone is as sensible as you are. Most people are honest though. They just want to get their boats to safety.”
Henry pointed at a large speedboat out in the bay. “I wonder whose boat that is,” he said. The boat was anchored, and it didn’t look like there was anyone aboard.
“I hope the owner hasn’t forgotten about it,” said Jessie. “If they don’t move it and the storm hits, who knows what could happen to it?”
The empty boat bobbing on the dark water gave Benny a bad feeling. It reminded him of spooky stories he’d heard about ghost ships and pirates. He was happy when Ms. Freeman changed the subject.
“I’d like to check in on my shop before the storm hits,” Ms. Freeman said. “Would you all mind if we stopped by?”
The Aldens agreed, and they followed Ms. Freeman into town. Along Main Street, they passed by empty gift shops and restaurants. Many were boarded up to protect against the coming storm.
The Happy Bear Ice-Cream Shop was just off Main Street. Outside the shop there was a tall statue of a bear standing up on its back legs. The bear was wearing blue overalls and holding an ice-cream cone piled high with scoops.
“You didn’t tell us you had an ice-cream shop!” said Benny.
“I love your statue,” said Violet. “It goes perfectly with the name of your shop.”
“Why, thank you,” said Ms. Freeman. “Bears became the symbol for our town a few years ago, and this fellow was made for my shop. I liked him so much, I changed the shop’s name to match.”
“So it’s a town mascot?” Jessie asked.
“That’s right,” Ms. Freeman said. “The tourists like taking pictures with all the different bear statues around town.”
A man in front of the shop next door gave a snort. “Maybe the storm will do everyone a favor and blow that one away.”
“Why do you say that?” Henry asked.
The man stopped hammering and wiped his brow. He spoke with a strong southern accent. “I believe this should be a high-class town with high-class shops. People see that silly bear and the silly name and think they can bring their drippity ice cream anyplace.” He frowned at t
he children. “Kids come into my shop and let it drip all over. Then they touch things with their sticky hands.”
The man turned back to his work. “At least my shop will be protected from this coming storm,” he said.
Once the Aldens were in the ice-cream shop, Violet whispered, “That man didn’t seem very nice.”
Ms. Freeman sighed. “That is George Williams. He’s not really so bad. He just moved here from Georgia. He doesn’t understand Port Elizabeth yet. If he had it his way, there’d only be fancy gift shops like his.”
“Why does he want you to change your shop’s name?” asked Jessie.
“Yeah, I like The Happy Bear,” said Benny. “It’s… happy!”
Ms. Freeman gave a small smile. “My shop used to be called Sailor’s Delight Sweets and Treats. It went along with the name of the shop next door, The Stylish Sailor Boutique. But a couple years ago, I decided to just sell ice cream and changed the name. He’s always trying to get me to go back to selling fancy candies and knickknacks.”
“Well, I think ice cream is the perfect thing to sell,” said Benny. “Shoppers need energy. They can take a break with ice cream and have more energy to shop.”
“I’ll bet you’re right,” Ms. Freeman said. “How about some energy for you kids? Give your orders to Savannah.”
The young woman behind the counter had not looked up from her cell phone since the Aldens entered the shop.
Ms. Freeman sighed. “Savannah!”
The young woman jumped and looked up. She had long, brown hair and wore a purple shirt.
“Take the Aldens’ orders, please,” Ms. Freeman said. “I’m going to check on the generator.”
As the woman rang them up, Violet said, “I like your shirt. Purple is my favorite color. Your bracelets and earrings are nice too. Are the red stones rubies? And pearls?”
The young woman blushed. “Oh, these? They aren’t anything special. Only stuff I put together.” She turned away to scoop ice cream. Violet wanted to ask about her name tag, which said Sarah instead of Savannah. But it did not seem like the woman wanted to talk.
The children and Grandfather sat at a table and ate their ice cream. Soon Ms. Freeman joined them.
Henry asked, “Are you worried about the storm, Ms. Freeman? Should we put up boards like the man next door?”
“I’ve seen enough storms hit Port Elizabeth,” Ms. Freeman said. “We’ll survive one more. I’m only concerned about one thing. We’ve had some issues with the power lately. It’s the strangest thing. Some days I come in, and the ice cream is soft and runny—like it’s been melting overnight.”