Boxcar Children 54 - Hurricane Mystery by Warner Gertrude Chandler

Author:Warner, Gertrude Chandler [Warner, Gertrude Chandler]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4532-1356-8
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Published: 2011-07-25T05:00:00+00:00

“Or woman,” said Jessie, thinking of Diana. “We just don’t know.”

“Maybe Diana and Forrest Ashleigh are working together,” said Henry. “After all, she lives nearby. It would be easy for her to get to Mrs. Ashleigh’s house without being noticed. All we know is that it was the person in the raincoat.”

“And whoever it was knows his way around. That’s one of the reasons he got away,” said Henry.

The four children looked at each other.

The clues were beginning to add up. But they still weren’t sure why all these mysterious things had happened. That was the biggest mystery of all.

“I’m going to Charleston to see about the gate and to take care of some business,” said Mrs. Ashleigh a couple of days later, coming out onto the front porch.

The Aldens had finished repairing the porch and had even added new steps to replace the stump. Now they were painting. “I don’t suppose anybody would like to come with me,” Mrs. Ashleigh went on.

“Me!” said Benny, dropping his paintbrush.

“I think we’d all like to go visit Mr. Farrier’s studio,” said Jessie.

The Aldens changed out of their porch-painting clothes, and soon they were on their way to Charleston.

Many people were still working to clean up after the hurricane. “We can’t waste time here,” said Mrs. Ashleigh with a rueful smile. “You never know when the next hurricane will hit.”

Mr. Farrier’s shop was a low brick building not far from the Hoofbeats of History carriage tours stable. Inside, they found Mr. Farrier hard at work hammering a piece of red-hot iron into a curved shape. He wore a hat and safety goggles and gloves. The hammer rang against the hot metal with a dull clang, clang sound. Sometimes sparks flew up when the hammer hit the iron.

When he’d finished shaping the iron, he dipped it into a nearby bucket of water to cool it off, then put it down carefully. He pushed back his safety goggles, took off his gloves, and came over to shake hands.

“Mrs. Ashleigh. I’m glad to see you. I need to talk to you about that gate,” said Mr. Farrier.

“Can’t it be fixed?” asked Mrs. Ashleigh in a worried voice.

“Oh, yes, it can be fixed. But . . .” He stopped and looked around at the four children. “Anyway, if I could have a word with you in private.”

Mrs. Ashleigh said, “Of course. But I have an appointment at the bank right now.”

“Could we stay and watch Mr. Farrier work?” asked Jessie. “Just for a little while.”

“If it’s all right with Mr. Farrier. Then you can walk down to the bank to meet me.”

Mr. Farrier nodded. “You’re welcome to stay for a little while, and I can give you directions to the bank,” he said. “Just don’t get too close to the fire or the hot metal. You’ll have to sit over there.” He pointed to an iron bench along one brick wall.

The Aldens readily agreed.

As Mr. Farrier worked, he told the children about how he had learned his skill from his father, who had learned it from his father before him.

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