Four brave siblings were searching for a home – and found a life of adventure! Join the Boxcar Children as they investigate the mystery of a curious train caboose in this illustrated chapter book series beloved by generations of readers. The Aldens take a train journey! And at every stop, someone has something to say about the train car the children are riding in. It turns out Caboose Number 777 has an unusual past—one that comes with its very own mystery! What started as a single story about the Alden Children has delighted readers for generations and sold more than 80 million books worldwide. Featuring timeless adventures, mystery, and suspense, The Boxcar Children® series continues to inspire children to learn, question, imagine, and grow. A trip in a caboose at the end of a freight train leads to an old clown and a search. Gertrude Chandler Warner grew up in Putnam, Connecticut. She wrote The Boxcar Children because she had always dreamed about what it would be like to live in a caboose or a freight car―just as the Aldens do. When readers asked for more adventures, Warner wrote more books―a total of nineteen in all. After her death, other authors have continued to write stories about Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden, and today The Boxcar Children® series has more than one hundred books. Caboose Mystery By Gertrude Chandler Warner, David Cunningham Albert Whitman & Company Copyright © 1966 Albert Whitman & Company All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-8075-1009-4 Contents 1. Grandfather's Idea, 2. All Aboard!, 3. Beaver Man, 4. A Strange Tale, 5. Glass Factory Junction, 6. Benny's Adventure, 7. A Wild Ride, 8. The Rainy Day, 9. Engineer Benny, 10. Curing Sneezes, 11. Is It Real?, 12. Mysterious Message, 13. Surprise for Cho-Cho, 14. Best Trip of All, CHAPTER 1 Grandfather's Idea One morning Benny Alden sat in his room thinking. The four Alden children lived with their grandfather, James Alden. "What a lot of adventures we have had," thought Benny. "First we lived in a boxcar in the woods. That was fun! Then after we found Grandfather, we have been to so many places and had so many surprises. By the way —" Benny had a sudden thought. He ran downstairs as fast as he could. He found his grandfather at his desk. Violet was nearby, sewing on a button. Benny said, "Grandfather, I just remembered you had a plan for this summer!" Jessie walked in. "Yes, you did," she said. "And then we suddenly went away and found the mystery in the schoolhouse." Henry appeared at the door. "And that spoiled your plan, Grandfather," he said. "Oh, no," said Mr. Alden. "It didn't spoil my plan at all. We can still go on this trip if you want to." "Of course we want to!" said Violet. "You always have such wonderful ideas." "Come and sit under the trees," said Mr. Alden, "and I'll tell you all about it. Thank you, my dear, for sewing on my button." He put on his coat. Watch, the dog, trotted along with Jessie. He lay down on her feet. Grandfather began, "You see I have a friend who owns a railroad." "A railroad!" said Benny. Mr. Alden smiled. "Yes, it is called the Little North Railroad. Sometimes my friend lets people rent an old-fashioned wooden caboose. It is put on the end of a freight train and travels along with the train. So I thought we could take a trip in a caboose." "What a neat idea!" said Benny. "I never saw the inside of a caboose." "Neither did I," said Mr. Alden, smiling. Henry said, "That would be an adventure for sure. Where could we go?" "Anywhere the Little North Railroad goes." Violet asked, "Have you really rented a caboose, Grandfather?" "Yes, my dear, I have rented two." His eyes twinkled. "I was sure one of you would remember my plan. We can have two cabooses, one for the girls, and one for Henry, Benny, and me." "And we can get together for meals," said Benny. Henry laughed at his younger brother. "Always thinking of something to eat, Ben," he said. "I like to eat," said Benny. "Do we do our own cooking?" "Yes," said Mr. Alden. "That will be part of the fun. Every caboose has a few pans and dishes in it. There is always a stove and a sink, and an icebox, too. You may want to buy more dishes, Jessie. You are the housekeeper." "Oh, I'd rather use the caboose dishes. It would be fun to try," said Jessie. "Why can't we drive down to the freight yard now? We can see for ourselves what a caboose is like." "Just what I planned," said Grandfather, getting up. Henry got out the station wagon. Everyone climbed in. Benny saw the two cabooses first. He said, "Oh, they are not just alike! One is big and one is little." "There must be some reason," said Grandfather. "Just look at the new red paint on the big one! We'll soon find out." The conductor was on the steps of the small caboose. When he saw the family coming, he smiled and got off the train to meet them. He said, "Good morning. You must be the Aldens. My name is Carr." Benny said, "That's neat! Your name is Car