“Tiresome? How do you expect me to be? You almost cost me my college degree!” said Elliot.
“What are you squawking about?” asked Dinosaur Dan. “You took my name off our research project. You made it look like you did all the work yourself.”
“I did what?” asked Elliot. The children noticed that he looked very surprised. “You abandoned me and took all your notes!” said Elliot. “I had to do it alone.”
Dinosaur Dan scratched his head. “Well, I sure didn’t take my name off of anything,” he said.
“Well, if you didn’t, who did?” asked Elliot.
“Good question,” said Dinosaur Dan. Just then, a truck pulled in next to Elliot’s jeep. “Look, we have company.”
Mr. Gordon got out and walked over to the group. Henry realized that it was the truck he had seen earlier.
“Hey, I sort of followed you folks,” said Mr. Gordon. “I saw you turn onto this road and decided to come back and see what you were up to.”
“See?” said Dinosaur Dan, looking at the Aldens. “The guy is nosy. Like I said.”
“My business is seeing what you diggers are up to,” said Mr. Gordon. He smiled. “So what did I miss?”
“We were just getting reacquainted,” said Elliot.
“We’re old friends,” said Dinosaur Dan. He patted Elliot on the back.
“We have a question for you if that’s okay,” said Henry.
“Please ask,” said Mr. Gordon.
“We saw you looking through a crate of bones at the museum today,” said Henry.
“And when Jolanda saw us, she quickly put the crate under the counter,” said Jessie.
“Oh yes!” said Mr. Gordon. “I thought it was odd, but Jolanda said the bones were a secret. I didn’t want to ruin my chance to buy them.”
“What kind of bones were they?” asked Dinosaur Dan. “Were they perhaps bambiraptor bones?”
“Why yes, they were!” said Mr. Gordon. “I’d like to purchase them.”
“They were stolen from me,” said Dinosaur Dan. “You’re saying that you aren’t the one who stole them?”
“No, no, no!” said Mr. Gordon. “I didn’t steal anything.”
Just then Sweet Pea clumped over to Mr. Gordon and nuzzled his pocket.
“Oh, hello there,” he said. He stroked Sweet Pea as she nibbled at his jacket. “I’ll bet you want the corn in my pocket.” He pulled out a handful of corn and tossed it on the ground. Sweet Pea gobbled it up.
“Where did you get that corn?” asked Dinosaur Dan. “That’s the special food that I buy for Sweet Pea!”
“Jolanda had a bowl of it behind the counter at the museum. I grabbed a handful, thinking it was snack food of some kind,” said Mr. Gordon. “It’s a little rough on the teeth, I must say.” He chuckled.
“Jolanda brings it to me in big bags,” said Dinosaur Dan. “Why would she have a bowl of it?”
“I don’t know,” said Mr. Gordon. “She didn’t see me take it.”
“Like I said, nosy,” grumbled Dinosaur Dan.
Mr. Gordon smiled. “I’m a snoop, that’s for sure,” he admitted.
Jessie turned to Elliot and Dinosaur Dan. “Do either of you remember Jolanda from college?” she asked.
“No,” said Elliot. “Was she there?”
“Yes,” said Violet. “There’s a photo in the museum of your graduating class. Jolanda is there, and so are you, Elliot.”
“I left before that photo was taken,” said Dinosaur Dan. “But I don’t remember Jolanda either. I guess people change when they get older.” He laughed. “Not me, I was already an old guy!”
“Jolanda must look different now,” said Elliot. “I don’t remember her at all.”
“Maybe you never noticed her,” said Violet.
“It was a big school,” said Elliot. “There were a lot of paleontology students.”
“But we think that maybe Jolanda remembers you,” said Henry.
“Let’s go see Jolanda in the morning,” said Jessie. “It looks as if she has something to do with everything that has happened to you both.”
CHAPTER 10
The Clues Add Up
The next morning after breakfast Henry, Jessie, Violet, Benny, and Elliot piled into the jeep. Watch jumped in with them.
“Watch wants to come with us this time,” said Jessie.
“Grandfather said he wanted to go bird watching today,” said Violet. “I think he’s enjoying the peace and quiet.”
They picked up Dinosaur Dan at his campsite. On the way to the museum, Elliot mentioned that it would be fun to see his old friend’s dig.
“Oh, you bet, Elliot,” said Dinosaur Dan. “I’d be happy to show it to you. And we can get caught up on all those lost years.”
The children smiled. They were happy that the two men were friends again.
Jolanda was unlocking the door to the museum when they arrived. She headed inside and closed the door.
“Did she see us? asked Violet.
“I’m not sure,” said Jessie. “If she did, that was not very nice to ignore us.”
They found that the door was unlocked and headed into the museum.
“Hello. Are you open?” asked Elliot.
Jolanda popped up from behind the counter. “Oh,” she said. She shoved something behind her with her feet. “Can I do something for you people?”
“We wanted to ask you a few questions, Jolanda,” said Dinosaur Dan.
“Is that so?” asked Jolanda.
“We went to the same college,” said Elliot. He pointed at the class photo hanging on the wall. “That’s me in the photo.”
“I remember you,” said Jolanda. “Not that you paid any attention to me, Elliot Boyce. You and Dan spent all your time trespassing on my great-grandfather’s land. Those bones you were digging up and claiming as your own were part of the Hogan legacy!”
“The land was leased by the college,” said Dinosaur Dan. “Your great-granddaddy deeded it to them years ago. We had every right to dig there.”
“Not as far as I was concerned,” said Jolanda. “That coelurosaur you two found was on our family’s original land. Credit belonged to the Hogans, not you.”
“That really made you mad, didn’t it?” asked Henry.
Jolanda glared at Henry. “You bet it did, kiddo. And I got even.”
“You did something to our presentation?” asked Elliot. “Did you take Dan’s name off the project somehow?”
Jolanda laughed. “It took you long enough to figure that out,” she said. “One day I saw you leave the library without logging out of the computer there. I found your files and removed Dan’s name from your presentation.”
“Why would you do such a thing?” asked Dinosaur Dan. “I left college because of your nasty prank!”
“Like I said, you men are nothing but thieves,” said Jolanda. “Maybe you need to leave my museum.” She walked over to the door. “All of you, please leave.”
Henry quickly ducked behind the counter. He grabbed the blue crate and plunked it onto the counter. “First I think we need to talk about this,” he said.
“Those are my bambiraptor bones!” cried Dan. “Why did you steal them from me, Jolanda?”
“Prove they’re yours,” said Jolanda. “I dare you.”
Violet took out her camera and showed the photo she took of the crates in Dan’s cave. The crate marked Bambi was in view. “The crate was in Dan’s cave yesterday,” said Violet. “You sneaked in later and stole it.”
Jolanda glared at Violet. “You can’t prove that I took them,” she said.
“You knew where Dan’s site was because your great-grandfather used to own this land,” said Henry.
Jolanda shook her head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said.
Violet pulled out the bag of corn. “And you kept Sweet Pea from biting you by feeding her corn that you took from Dan’s supply,” she said.
Jolanda rolled her eyes. “You kids
sure know how to make up a story,” she said.
“We found an old chisel in the cave,” said Violet.
“The chisel was marked B.H.,” said Henry.
Jessie pointed at a display of chisels hanging on the wall. “It looks like it used to hang in that empty space on the wall, next to the others just like it.”
Jolanda’s eyes got wide. “That chisel is my property. You better give it back!” she cried.
“We found it right next to the crate of bones stolen from Elliot,” said Jessie.
Jolanda shook her fist. “I must have dropped it. I always have it with me. It brings me good luck.”
“Why would you steal our dinosaur bones, Jolanda?” asked Elliot.
“Let me tell you something,” said Jolanda, shaking. “My great-grandfather’s legacy must never be forgotten. I was willing to do whatever it took to make sure that didn’t happen!”
“I don’t think that Bones Hogan would be happy that you stole things,” said Violet.
“And nearly cost me my college degree,” said Elliot.
“And caused me to leave college!” said Dinosaur Dan.
Jolanda looked stunned. She didn’t say anything for a moment, like she was thinking hard. Then she took a deep breath and sighed. She lowered her head sadly. “I’m sorry about that,” she said. “Violet, you’re right. Bones wouldn’t be happy with me at all.” She looked around the room. “It’s just that my great-grandfather’s legacy is slowly disappearing. I want to honor him by writing a book, but this museum and diner bog me down. Then it seemed like you were coming in to take whatever you wanted …”
“That was no reason to steal from us and cause trouble between friends,” said Elliot.
“I know that now,” said Jolanda quietly. “I’m very sorry.”
“Jolanda, you know me. If you needed help, you could have asked,” said Dan.
“Help?” Jolanda looked at Dan curiously. “How could you to help me?”
“I’ve made a pretty penny peddling my dinosaur finds,” said Dinosaur Dan. “Maybe I could invest in your museum and diner and get you some help.”
“Oh!” said Jolanda. “You would do that?”
“Sure,” said Dinosaur Dan. “And Elliot might be interested in being the museum curator. How about it, Elliot?”
“That would be great!” said Elliot. “I’d be honored to run the museum and tell visitors about Bones Hogan.”
“Yes!” said Jolanda. “You could work on your finds in the shop out back. “Everything you need is there.” She smiled at Elliot.
Elliot smiled shyly back at Jolanda.
“Maybe we had some differences, Jolanda,” said Dan. “But there is one thing we agree on, and that’s honoring your great-granddaddy’s legacy.”
“That would be wonderful,” said Jolanda. “I can turn the place over to you two, Mickey can hire extra help, and I can write my book!”
“Then I reckon it’s settled,” said Dan. He put out his hand and Jolanda shook it.
“I’ll give back your bambiraptor bones, of course,” said Jolanda. “I’m very embarrassed about all the trouble I caused you two. And now you’re being so nice to me.”
“Sometimes good things just start off on the wrong foot,” said Dan.
“You’re right about that!” said Elliot.
Benny smiled at everyone. “Is it time for lunch yet?” he asked.
Everyone joined in the laughter. “Yes, Benny,” said Jolanda. “I can make you some sandwiches.”
“Thank you,” said Jessie.
“We’ll help you!” said Violet.
“We can take them back to Dinosaur Dan’s dig site,” said Benny. “That will be fun!”
Everyone headed into the diner and helped Jolanda prepare a picnic lunch.
“We’ll work out the details tomorrow,” said Dinosaur Dan. “How does that sound?”
“Okay,” said Jolanda. “I’m excited to get started on my book, but I can wait one more day!” She smiled and shook Dan’s hand again.
Elliot turned to the children and grinned. “We sure are grateful to you kids for figuring out what was going on!”
“We like to solve mysteries,” said Violet.
“Especially a mystery about dinosaurs,” said Benny.
Elliot stopped by the ranch to pick up Grandfather on the way to Dinosaur Dan’s site. Along the way he and Elliot talked about the Hogan Museum and Diner.
“I think you and I should do more than just invest in the museum. I think we should buy that place,” said Dan. “We can be partners. What do you say?”
“I think that’s a great idea,” said Elliot. “The one good thing Jolanda did was try to keep the memory of Bones Hogan alive. She just didn’t go about it the right way.”
The friends shook hands as they entered the dinosaur valley.
“Wow,” said Elliot. He looked around and gasped. “This valley is like a dinosaur museum!”
“It’s an amazing place,” said Dinosaur Dan. “And wait until you see what the kids and I uncovered.”
Dan led them to the ornithomimid remains and smiled. Elliot examined it and agreed that it was not like anything that had ever been found before.
“So what are you going to name it?” asked Grandfather. “Whoever finds a new dinosaur gets to give it a name.”
Benny raised his hand, grinning.
“Do you have a suggestion for a name, Benny?” asked Dinosaur Dan.
“Yes,” said Benny. “I think we should call it a Bennysaurus!”
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 the 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.
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 l979. 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
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
MYSTERY IN THE SNOW
THE PIZZA MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY HORSE
THE MYSTERY AT THE DOG SHOW
THE CASTLE M
YSTERY
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 MYSTERY AT THE CROOKED HOUSE
THE HOCKEY MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MIDNIGHT DOG
THE MYSTERY OF THE SCREECH OWL