HIDDEN IN THE HAUNTED SCHOOL

  For years there have been spooky rumors about the old abandoned school in Silver City. Now it’s being fixed up as an art center and the Aldens have volunteered to help clean it up! But one of the classroom doors seems to mysteriously lock by itself, and ghostly messages appear on the chalkboards! Can the Boxcar Children uncover the truth about the haunted school?

  ALBERT WHITMAN & COMPANY

  Publishing award-winning children’s books since 1919

  www.albertwhitman.com

  Cover art by Anthony VanArsdale

  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 GRINNING GARGOYLE

  THE MYSTERY OF THE SOCCER SNITCH

  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

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication

  data is on file with the publisher.

  Copyright © 2016 by Albert Whitman & Company

  Published in 2016 by Albert Whitman & Company

  ISBN 978-0-8075-0718-6 (hardcover)

  ISBN 978-0-8075-0719-3 (paperback)

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmit
ted 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.

  Printed in the United States of America

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 LB 20 19 18 17 16

  THE BOXCAR CHILDREN® is a registered

  trademark of Albert Whitman & Company.

  Illustrated by Anthony VanArsdale

  For more information about Albert Whitman & Company,

  visit our web site at www.albertwhitman.com.

  Contents

  1. Ghost Stories

  2. The Old Becomes New

  3. An Important Lesson

  4. The Locked Door

  5. A Mysterious Warning

  6. Unusual Business

  7. Behind the Curtain

  8. An Unexpected Discovery

  9. Unlocking the Past

  10. A Grand Opening

  CHAPTER 1

  Ghost Stories

  Crunch! Benny Alden took a big bite out of his crisp, red apple as he sat in the backseat of the family’s minivan. It was a late-fall Saturday, and he and his brother and sisters had helped their grandfather run errands in Silver City, the town next to Greenfield. They’d made a lot of stops, including at the farmers’ market. Benny, who was six years old and always hungry, was munching on his second apple, which he’d retrieved from one of the bags of fresh fruits and vegetables tucked near his seat. Now it was late afternoon, and the Aldens were headed home.

  Twelve-year-old Jessie put her hand on the cool glass of the minivan’s window. She watched trees with red, orange, and yellow leaves whiz by. She thought the leaves looked even prettier than usual in the setting sun. Just then, she remembered the notebook in her backpack. She pulled it out and opened it to check the list of errands they’d made that day. She liked making lists and used her organizational skills to help her family.

  “Grandfather,” Jessie called to the front seat. “I think we forgot to pick up the dry cleaning.”

  “You’re right!” her grandfather replied. He clicked on the turn signal and turned the van down a side street. “It’s a bit out of the way, but I think I know a shortcut to the cleaners.”

  Benny looked around the minivan.

  “I don’t think we have room for one more thing,” he said. “It’s crowded in here!” He was sitting next to Violet, his ten-year-old sister, who was busy doodling with her favorite purple pen in her sketch pad. They were surrounded by bags and boxes holding everything the Aldens had bought or picked up on their errands.

  “We’ll make room,” Henry told his little brother. At fourteen, Henry was the oldest of the Alden children. He sat in the front seat, tinkering with the radio. “Watch can sit on your lap!”

  Watch, the Aldens’ terrier, replied with a small yap—as if he knew everyone was talking about him. They all laughed as the dog jumped into Benny’s lap and curled into a ball.

  A few miles and a couple of turns later, the minivan drove down a narrow road that ran along the edge of town. The street was very quiet. The children didn’t see any other cars, just rows and rows of trees in the woods on either side of them.

  “What’s that?” Benny asked, pointing out his window. The Alden children turned to see an old brick building surrounded by a black iron fence. The fence had spiked posts, and overgrown vines hung from the roof. Henry looked beyond the locked gate to read the letters carved into the stone above the entrance.

  “Hawthorne School,” he said. “I’ve heard stories about it.”

  The dark shadows behind the school’s broken windows made Violet shiver in her seat.

  A few minutes later, Grandfather drove the minivan into the lot of Silver City Plaza, a shopping center with half a dozen stores. The spots in front of the dry cleaning shop were full, so he parked in front of Weaver’s Flower Shop.

  “I’ll be right back,” he told his grandchildren.

  Grandfather had been gone only a moment when Benny spoke up. “Tell us about Hawthorne School,” he said to his brother. “It looks spooky.”

  “Do you mean Haunted School?” Henry asked. “That’s what they call it.”

  “Why?” Violet asked. Although she certainly thought the school looked haunted.

  “Well, it’s been abandoned since the 1950s,” Henry said. “The gates haven’t been opened since the day it closed.”

  “That doesn’t make it haunted,” Violet pointed out.

  “Of course not,” Jessie agreed. “But now that you mention it, wasn’t the ghost story we heard last weekend about this school?”

  Last weekend, Grandfather had treated Henry, Jessie, and a few of their friends to a campfire. Violet and Benny had stayed in the house to watch a movie with Mrs. McGregor. As the group sat around the small fire pit, they roasted marshmallows and exchanged their scariest ghost stories. Jessie’s friend, Rose, had told everyone the tale of a haunted school—a school that she said was nearby. It had to be Hawthorne School.

  Henry nodded. “I remember. The story says the ghost of the former principal still walks the halls of the school.”

  “A ghost?” Benny asked.

  “That’s right,” Jessie said, recalling the story. “She was fired from her job because a teacher reported that she was stealing money from the school. After weeks of insisting she didn’t do it, the principal was still told to leave. As she walked out of the building, she put a curse on the school!”

  “The money was later found,” Henry continued. “It turns out she didn’t steal it after all.”

  “Did she get her job back?” Benny asked.

  “No,” Jessie replied. “Nobody could find her after she was asked to leave. She seemed to just…vanish.”

  “Now,” Henry added, “if you look through the old windows, you can see her walking back and forth through the halls. Or that’s what they say, at least.”

  “Wow!” Benny exclaimed.

  “A real ghost!” Violet said.

  “We don’t really believe the story,” Henry said. “It’s probably just a local legend.”

  The Alden children looked at one another, deep in thought. They heard the clicking sound of the door being unlocked and turned their attention back to Grandfather. He had returned from the dry cleaners with an armload of plastic-covered shirts.

  “Look what I found,” he said, climbing into the minivan. He handed a yellow piece of paper to Jessie. “You might want to consider this for service work.”

  Jessie read the paper. She smiled and handed it to Henry.

  “Volunteers needed,” he read aloud. “Thanks, Grandfather!”

  Henry and Jessie’s middle school required them to work ten hours of community service every year. In return, they received extra credit. They both enjoyed helping in the neighborhood and meeting new people, and they were looking for new places to volunteer.

  “I was thinking about helping the teachers at Greenfield Day Care Center,” Jessie said as Grandfather started the car on the journey home. “They can always use an extra pair of hands.”

  “And the Rec Center is looking for junior camp leaders,” Henry added. “Taking little kids on adventures would be fun!”

  Benny looked out the window and into the woods as they drove past them again. He thought about his own exciting adventure.

  Years ago, the children’s parents had died, leaving them without a home. They knew they had a grandfather but had never met him, and they had heard he was mean. So, when they thought they would be sent to live with him, they ran away into the woods. There they found an old boxcar, which they made their home. They found their dog, Watch, while they were living in the boxcar. When Grandfather finally discovered the children, they learned he was actually a very kind man. He loved them very much. They became a family, and Grandfather moved their boxcar into the backyard of their home in Greenfield so they could use it as a clubhouse.

  “I wish I could help with the little kids,” Benny said. The Aldens laugh
ed, since Benny was not much older than the campers.

  “It would be great to find a place where we could all work together,” Jessie added.

  “Any other ideas?” Grandfather asked.

  The Aldens were quiet for a moment as they tried to think of places where they could all volunteer as a family.

  Suddenly Violet gasped. “Stop!” she cried. “Look!”

  Grandfather pulled the car over to the side of the road.

  “What’s the matter, Violet?” he asked.

  They were sitting in front of Hawthorne School.

  Violet pointed a shaky finger out the window.

  “The door to the school is open!” she exclaimed. “It wasn’t before!”

  The Aldens peered out to see that the iron gate of the old school was wide open. And so was the front door!

  “I thought the school has been locked up since it closed,” Benny said.

  “It has been,” Henry replied.

  The siblings looked at the old school. The sun was setting behind the trees, casting a long shadow across the front of the building. In the darkness, the children could clearly see a flickering light in one of the upstairs windows.

  “Is someone in there?” Violet asked. “Is this school really haunted?”

  CHAPTER 2

  The Old Becomes New

  “Well, would you look at that,” Grandfather marveled. “Nobody’s been in that place for over fifty years. I wonder what’s happening.”

  “Do you think it’s haunted?” Benny asked.

  “I saw a light flickering!” Violet said.

  “So did I,” Jessie added. “Look through the upstairs window!”

  Through the window, everyone saw a dim flicker of light. Then, the school went dark again.

  “Wait,” said Henry. “I think I know what’s going on.”

  He unfolded the yellow piece of paper that Grandfather had given them. “I saw something on this flyer, and now it all makes sense.” He read the flyer over before reading it aloud.

  “‘Volunteers needed,’” he began. “‘For a renovation project and cleanup at the new Hawthorne Art Center.’”

  “That’s right,” Grandfather said, scratching his chin. “I remember reading something about this in the Greenfield Gazette. Silver City has been planning to fix up an old building for their art center. They must have picked the old Hawthorne School.”

  “A community art center?” Violet asked. “I wonder what art programs they’ll offer.” She motioned for Jessie to hand her the flyer. “Art and dance classes,” she read aloud from the paper. “And, they will have a theater for plays and music recitals!”