The Mystery of the Hidden Painting Read online

  They all finished their ice cream and then left the shop. Mrs. Garrison said, “Good-bye children, I don’t think we’ll be meeting again.”

  Henry watched her get into her car and drive off. “This is really it, Jessie. We’ve reached the end of the road. I think we do have to forget about the necklace.”

  “Maybe,” Jessie said, but she didn’t sound so sure.

  The next day, Grandfather and the children were in the kitchen eating a breakfast of Mrs. McGregor’s perfect pancakes with real maple syrup, milk for the children, and coffee for Mr. Alden.

  The young Aldens walked to the door with their grandfather, so that Jessie, Violet, and Benny could kiss him good-bye before he went to his office. Henry shook hands with Mr. Alden, thinking that he was too grownup to kiss Grandfather now.

  As Mr. Alden was going out to the front door, a car pulled up in the driveway and stopped. A woman and man got out.

  When Jessie saw them, she gasped. “Oh! My!”

  It was Mrs. Newton and Carl Mason.

  Mrs. Newton walked up to the Aldens. “I am sorry to come like this, without calling, and so early. But I knew if I didn’t do this right away, I would lose my nerve.”

  She turned to Mr. Alden. “I’m Lorraine Newton. This is Carl Mason, who is the curator of the Elmford Museum. Your grandchildren know both of us. We would like to talk to all of you.”

  Grandfather looked very puzzled, but he said politely, “Of course. Won’t you please come in.”

  In the living room, Mr. Alden asked his guests, “Would you like some coffee or something to eat, perhaps?”

  “No, thank you very much,” Mrs. Newton answered. She reached into her large handbag, took out a velvet jewelry box, and handed it to Mr. Alden. “I think this belongs to you.”

  Grandfather opened the box and gasped. There was the sapphire necklace, sparkling against a white satin background. He looked at Mrs. Newton. “It’s my wife’s necklace. But I don’t understand. How did you get it?”

  Mrs. Newton sighed. “This is a long story. But before I begin I must say that I am very sorry for what I have done … for all the pain I must have caused you and your wife.”

  “Please, tell us your story, Mrs. Newton,” Mr. Alden said.

  She nodded. “I had a son, Evan Newton. He really wasn’t a bad person, but he was lazy. He was married and had two children, and they all lived with my husband and myself, because Evan just didn’t want to work.

  “Finally, after a few years of this, my husband told Evan he wasn’t going to give him any more money. Evan had to get a job. Well, he did, with a caterer.”

  “Oh!” Violet said.

  Mrs. Newton went on. “Not long after he got the job, he left it, bragging that he was going to have enough money soon to do all sorts of things. I was very suspicious. One day, when Evan was out, I went up to his room, looking for some explanation of his attitude. In his drawer, under a pile of shirts, I found the necklace.”

  “I can hardly believe this,” Mr. Alden cried out.

  Mrs. Newton, twisting her hands in her lap, went on. “I was very upset. I asked Evan where he had gotten the necklace and he wouldn’t tell me. My husband and I kept asking him, but he would never answer. I never read anything about a theft of a necklace in any newspaper. We waited for weeks, trying to find something out. I wanted to return it.”

  “Why didn’t you go to the police?” Henry asked.

  Mrs. Newton wiped away a tear. “I should have, but Evan was my son and I couldn’t stand the thought of his going to jail. And then there were his children. How would they feel about a father who was a thief? Susan, Evan’s wife, begged me not to tell the police.”

  “So you didn’t,” Grandfather said, nodding his head.

  “I didn’t,” Mrs. Newton said. “But I didn’t want to keep the necklace, either. So I donated it to the Elmford Museum. I felt, in that way, I wouldn’t be keeping the necklace and lots of people would be able to enjoy looking at it in the museum. I told Mr. Mason the whole story and he took the necklace even though he was reluctant.”

  “I know I shouldn’t have done that,” Carl Mason said. “I thought about what to do for days. I knew I should go to the police, but Mrs. Newton was a dear, old friend. I felt sorry for her.”

  “Where is Evan now?” Violet asked.

  “Evan died a number of years ago,” Mrs. Newton answered. “Then his wife married John Barstow and they moved to Silver City, where Evan’s children grew up. I wanted to forget about the necklace, but recently, Mr. Alden, your grandchildren came to Elmford and went to see Elizabeth Harkins.”

  “Why did you all do that?” Grandfather asked Jessie.

  The children told him the story of seeing Mrs. Harkins’ picture and everything that happened after that.

  Mrs. Newton said, “Elizabeth and her husband are old friends. They were the only people I told about Evan and the necklace, except, of course, for Carl. So the Harkinses called and told me about the children’s visit to her.”

  Henry turned to Mr. Mason. “You threw away Violet’s drawing, didn’t you?”

  “Yes,” Mr. Mason admitted. “I did. I thought you children would give it up. But you didn’t.”

  “And I made the call to your aunt’s, telling you to go home,” Mrs. Newton said. “It was so wrong to do that.”

  “Did you follow us in your car, Mr. Mason?” Benny asked. “You scared me.”

  Mr. Mason smiled. “I’m sorry, Benny. I just wanted to see if you were all going to Mrs. Newton’s that day. When I saw you weren’t, I drove away.”

  Violet said, “We knew, we really knew it was our grandmother’s necklace.”

  Mrs. Newton twisted a handkerchief in her hands. “Laura wanted to tell you all along. In fact, when she made that appointment to come here the night before last, it was to tell all of you the whole truth. But I found out and I couldn’t let her do it. So I persuaded her not to come.

  “Susan Barstow wanted to keep the truth hidden, too. She just couldn’t face telling her children what their father had done. She told me about your visit to her house. She felt very bad about the way she acted, but she didn’t know what else to do.”

  Henry stood up and faced Mr. Mason. “Were Jessie and I right? Was someone here the other night?”

  Mr. Mason sighed. “I’m sorry. I was here that night. All I wanted to do was look at the portrait. I had to see if the children’s story was true. As soon as I saw the necklace I knew, Mr. Alden, it was yours. I can’t tell you how guilty I feel for having broken in here. It was wrong for me to have done that and I apologize.”

  “How did you get in?” Mr. Alden asked.

  Carl Mason smiled. “Well, the lock on your patio door can be opened very easily. You should have it looked at. I am very sorry if I frightened you.”

  “What did you do after you were here that night?” Jessie asked.

  “I called Mrs. Newton right away, even though it was the middle of the night, and told her that the necklace was Mr. Alden’s. Then she said she would have to return it to him, no matter what.”

  Mr. Alden opened the jewelry box again and looked at the glittering sapphires. “How happy Celia would be if she knew it was back!”

  Mrs. Newton stood up. “I’ll leave you now. I could never apologize enough for what I have done all these years.”

  Mr. Alden stood, too. “I understand what you felt … that you wanted to protect your son. You don’t have to worry. My grandchildren and I will never let anyone know that Evan was the thief. I have Celia’s necklace, and that’s all that matters. Your son is dead. There is really nothing to be gained by reporting this matter to the police at this time.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Alden,” Mrs. Newton said. Then she turned to the children, “And thank all of you for not giving up looking for the truth.”

  Then she and Carl Mason left.

  The children all gathered around Mr. Alden and looked at the necklace. Mr. Alden handed the box to Jessie. “I told you o
nce that this was to be given to the oldest granddaughter. Well, that’s you, Jessie.”

  “You’re rich, Jessie!” Benny cried.

  Jessie gazed at the necklace for a long moment. Then she closed the box. “Grandfather, would you mind if I gave it back to the museum?”

  “Why, Jessie?” Grandfather asked.

  Jessie answered, “Well, I’m too young to wear it now. So what would we do with it?”

  “I’d put it in the safe,” Grandfather said.

  Jessie nodded and said, “And no one would see it. But if I gave it to the Elmford Museum, people could come and enjoy our beautiful necklace. I’d like that.”

  Grandfather smiled at Jessie. “You are a very generous, thoughtful girl. Of course, if that’s what you want, that’s what we’ll do.”

  Benny shook his head. “But, Jessie, it’s yours. ”

  “I know, Benny,” Jessie said, “and that’s why I can give it to the museum.”

  CHAPTER 9

  Happy Endings

  The next morning, Grandfather and the Alden children drove to the Elmford Museum. Mr. Mason looked up as they all walked into his office.

  “My granddaughter has something to say to you, Mr. Mason,” Mr. Alden said.

  Mr. Mason looked very nervous. “Oh,” he said.

  Jessie wet her lips. “Mr. Mason, I’ve decided that I want to give my necklace to your museum.”

  “You do?” Mr. Mason cried out. “How wonderful! But are you sure?”

  Jessie nodded. “I’m sure,” she said as she handed him the jewelry box. Mr. Mason put an arm around her shoulder. “Let’s all put it back into its case.”

  They walked to the little room that had held the necklace. Mr. Mason opened the display case and put the necklace in it. The six of them stood and admired its beauty.

  Suddenly, Mr. Mason, said, “Just one minute. I’ll be right back.” He left the room and returned five minutes later. He had a small card in his hand that he slid into a yellow window below the necklace.

  Jessie bent over and read aloud, “Donated by Miss Jessie Alden.”

  “Wow!” Benny said. “You’re famous now, Jessie.”

  Mr. Mason smiled. “Jessie, when you get older, anytime you want to wear the necklace … to a dance or a very fancy party, whatever, you just call me.”

  Jessie smiled. “I’d like that.”

  Mr. Mason turned to Violet. “You draw very well, young lady. Don’t stop.”

  Violet grinned. “Thank you!”

  Then the Aldens left.

  The ride home was a happy one. They were all excited by the events of the morning.

  Jessie said to Violet, “You know, you can borrow the necklace anytime, too.”

  Violet laughed. “I’ll wear it to my first real grown-up dance or party.”

  As soon as the car pulled into the Alden’s driveway, the children ran to the boxcar. The word “party” had made them all think of the same thing … Grandfather’s birthday.

  “It’s only a week away,” Henry said.

  “We have a lot to do,” Benny said.

  “Let’s go up to the attic and pick out what we are going to wear,” Jessie said.

  Henry and Benny both frowned. “Are you sure we should do this?”

  “Of course,” Violet insisted. “It will be fun.”

  They went up to the attic and started going through trunks and closets. Henry decided to wear the velvet coat he had found before. Violet wanted the lavender hat and she found a long white dress to wear with it. Jessie held up a blue chiffon dress that reached the floor. “I like this one,” she said.

  “Think of how lovely your necklace would look with that,” Violet said.

  Benny found an old child’s sailor suit and complained when his sisters made him put it on.

  “You look wonderful,” Jessie said. “Grandfather will love it.”

  But Henry covered his mouth with his hand, so Benny wouldn’t see him laughing.

  “I’m only wearing it for Grandfather,” Benny said. “I think it looks silly.”

  The next day the Aldens went to Barlow’s Men’s Shop and looked at sweaters for Mr. Alden’s gift. Benny wanted to buy a bright red one. Violet wanted a blue one. Jessie loved a green sweater. Henry finally said, “Let’s buy one that Grandfather would want, not one we’d like for ourselves.”

  They all had to agree that the gray wool was what Grandfather would like the best.

  When they reached home, they went up to Violet’s room and she wrapped the sweater in gift paper. She had made her own card and they all signed it. When she made a big bow for the top of the gift box, Benny said, “Violet, you’re the best wrapper in the world.”

  They had planned the party as a surprise dinner party and had invited Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy. The morning of Mr. Alden’s birthday, the children all pretended to sleep late, so that Grandfather would go to his office before seeing them. They wanted to give him his present at the dinner party.

  That day, Mrs. McGregor made Mr. Alden’s favorite dinner … fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a big salad. All the children helped make the chocolate cake. Violet decorated it very carefully. When the cake was finished, Jessie decorated the dining room and living room with balloons. Then she hung streamers around the portrait of their grandmother. Violet practiced the Blue Danube waltz, which she had decided to play on her violin. Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy arrived at five o’clock, and everyone was waiting when Mr. Alden came home at five-thirty.

  The children all had on their clothes from the attic and they shouted “Surprise!” as Grandfather came into the balloon-filled living room. A big sign on the doorway read HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

  Grandfather laughed out loud when he saw the children. “Where did you get those clothes?” he asked.

  “From your very own attic,” Benny answered.

  Grandfather said to Benny, “You are wearing your great-grandfather’s sailor suit.”

  “Really,” Benny said. “I didn’t even know I had a great-grandfather.”

  Mr. Alden opened his present from the children, and even though it was a warm evening, he put the sweater on for a little while. Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy gave him a book he had wanted.

  Then they all went into the living room and enjoyed every bite of Mrs. McGregor’s wonderful meal. When she came in carrying the cake everyone sang “Happy Birthday.” Watch barked along with the song.

  Violet played her violin piece and Henry recited his poem. Just then the doorbell rang. Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy looked at each other slyly. Mrs. McGregor answered the door and came back with Mrs. Newton, who was carrying an armful of roses. “I always seem to be visiting you uninvited. But Aunt Jane told me it was your birthday, Mr. Alden. I wanted to bring these flowers to put on the mantelpiece next to your wife’s picture. They are my own prize-winning roses, which I grow in my yard. I though they would look very pretty with the portrait.”

  The whole family went into the living room. Jessie got a vase filled with water and they placed the roses next to the portrait.

  Grandfather smiled. “This is one of the best parties I’ve ever had.”

  He looked at the portrait. “And do you know what one of the best presents I’ve ever gotten is?”

  “What, Grandfather?” Violet asked.

  “It’s knowing,” Grandfather said, “that your grandmother’s necklace is safe and sound. I thank you children for that.”

  “Aunt Jane helped, too,” Benny said.

  Grandfather turned to his sister and said, “I thank you, too, Jane.”

  Jane smiled. “It really was the children, not me. They just wouldn’t give up. I told them they took after you.”

  Violet said shyly, “There is no better person to take after.”

  One by one they went over to their grandfather and kissed him. Even Henry forgot about trying to be grown-up and kissed his grandfather.

  Jessie looked at the necklace in the portrait and said, “I think it is sparkling more now
than any other time.”

  “That’s because it’s Grandfather’s birthday,” Benny said.

  “I think he’s right,” Mrs. Newton said.

  They all laughed and turned to Grandfather who was looking at his wife’s portrait with love. “Thank you, all,” he said.

  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 each mystery. As a child she spent hours watching trains go by on the tracks 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