Benny recognized the figure instantly. Officer Hyde! he exclaimed, running to meet him. Midnight is in trouble! Thomas Hyde looked sternly at everyone. Whats going on? Where is Midnight? On the other side of the ravine, said Jessie. Its filled with w...
Shad walked the Aldens to his place. It seemed to take a long time and the sky grew darker all the while. He lived in an old house with several outbuildings near the shore. Come see this first, said Shad, leading them to a shack half buried in a thic...
Lets have our lunch on the deck, Jessie suggested. Good idea. Henry loaded a tray with egg-salad sandwiches and a plate of carrot and celery sticks. Violet followed him out the sliding glass doors with a pitcher of limeade. The children sat down on t...
What are you talking about? Jessie asked. Winifred glared at them. I left a bowl of apples here yesterday. Id just bought them so I could paint a still life today. Now theyre gone! You think we took your apples? said Henry. Why would we do that? I do...
The children gathered in the living room to discuss what they should do next. But how can we prove that Winifred took Midnight? Violet asked. We cant, said Henry. Not yet, at least. Well need to look for evidence that Midnight was stolen. But we cant...
Ill pick you up in about twenty minutes, said Grandfather. The children scrambled out of the station wagon. When Grandfather said at breakfast that he needed to pick up some items hed forgotten at the grocery store, the children leaped at the chance...
I saw Magic, Benny declared the next morning. The other children stopped fixing breakfast and stared at him. Grandfather had left for an early-morning exercise class at the Seagull Resort. You saw what? asked Henry. Magic, the ghost horse. He was on...
A ghost horse! Benny said excitedly as they walked back to Gullwing Cottage. Neat! Now, Benny, Jessie said gently. Its just a story. I bet Mr. Toler likes to tell stories. But it could be true, Benny insisted. Violet silently agreed with her little b...
Were going someplace special for dinner, Grandfather announced. Eagerly the children climbed into the car. The long trip and the salty air had made them all hungry. As Grandfather swung the station wagon onto the road, Jessie noticed a sign she hadnt...
Look at the water! Benny Alden exclaimed happily as Grandfather drove the station wagon over the bridge. Below, blue-green water sparkled in the bright sunlight. Ten-year-old Violet was excited, too. Are we at the Outer Banks yet? Not yet, said their...
