It was a beautiful summer night. When the meeting was over many people stopped to talk before starting their cars. There was a light wind, fresh and clean. One man said, This is the way it should always be. There should be clean air everywhere. Im gl...
As the Aldens drove up to the town hall in Oakdale Benny exclaimed, Look at the crowd! I never thought so many people would come to a town meeting. Grandfather smiled. He had been at town meetings before. Do you see Frank anywhere? Jessie asked. I ho...
Frank put the dead fish in the trunk of his car. He locked the door of his house, then he got in the drivers seat. The Aldens slid in, with Benny and Henry sitting in front with Frank. Im glad we dont have the fish with us, Violet whispered to Jessie...
Not one of the Aldens moved. They watched the man on the bus station steps. What was he going to do? Henry motioned to Jessie and Violet. He wanted them to stay where they were. He whispered to Benny, Come with me. Benny nodded and tiptoed behind Hen...
The next morning Benny lay in bed wondering what excuse he could give to get back to the bus station. He couldnt think of anything. He wondered what had happened to Jud and Troy after Mr. Pickett had driven off with them. Would they get to the town m...
The bus for Greenfield was right on time. Quite a few people got on the bus. A man asked the driver, You stop at the junction, dont you? Thats right, the driver said. Ill call out the name when we get there. But you just stop there to let passengers...
Benny and Henry sat together on the bus. They rode along without saying anything for a few minutes. Then Benny said, Id like to know what Frank was talking about. Its just as if we stepped into the middle of a mystery. Henry smiled. Were always doing...
The minutes went by, but no bus pulled up in front of the station. Frank did not come back either. The strange boys were gone, but nobody knew where. Not even a car passed. Benny finally spoke up. Its one oclock now. Thats long past lunch time, and I...
Frank hadnt been gone more than a few minutes, and now the wind was howling. The four Aldens walked to the front windows of the bus station-lunchroom. The sky was darker than ever, and the dust was whirling around in the air. Here comes the rain, Ben...
The bus station really turned out to be a small lunchroom. There was a counter on one side, and along one wall were some small tables with chairs pushed up to them. There was one bigger table. Near the door was a bench where passengers could wait for...
Wait Outside! Listenlisten to this! said Benny Alden. He was reading the newspaper after breakfast. Science and Hobby Fair. Oakdale, July 2526. The last days today! A two-day science and hobby fair? asked Jessie. That sounds interesting. Id like to g...