“Okay, okay,” said Winn Winchell. “So I was taking money from Cody. He wanted to win the batting title, and he was willing to pay me to help him.”
“What you have done is dishonorable,” said Mr. Tanaka. “You are fired,” he added.
Mr. Tanaka opened the door. Four ballpark security guards stood in the hallway.
“Take Winn Winchell out of Cogwheel Stadium,” said Mr. Tanaka. “Never let him come here again.”
The guards escorted Winn Winchell out of the owner’s box.
Mr. Tanaka waited until they were out of sight. Then he turned toward Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. “Thank you so much for discovering who the spy was,” he said. “And thank you also for all the other help you have given the Cogs and me.”
“You’re welcome,” said Jessie. “We like to help.”
“And we play fair,” said Benny.
Mr. Tanaka smiled. “Tomorrow is the last game of the season,” he said. “If the Hatters win, they will win the pennant. If the Cogs win, they will win the pennant. The game will be a fair game, with no sign stealing, thanks to the four of you.”
“Do we get to watch the game?” asked Grandfather. “Or will we be in your office working on seating plans?” he teased his old friend.
“We will be sitting right here, in the owner’s box,” said Jim Tanaka. “And Jessie, Violet, and Benny will be with us.”
Everybody looked at Henry.
“I know where I’ll be,” said Henry.
The last game of the season was a night game. Grandfather couldn’t park the car in his usual space because the stadium parking lot was so full.
“Are you adding more parking spaces for next year?” Violet asked him.
“Yes,” said Grandfather. “And if the Cogs win the pennant tonight, I’ll bet I have to add even more seats and parking spaces.”
“I hope they win!” said Benny. He was wearing his autographed Wheelie T-shirt.
Henry went to Wheelie’s dressing room. Jessie, Violet, and Benny hurried to the owner’s box with their grandfather.
The owner’s box was above the ground seats of Cogwheel Stadium. It was just to one side of home plate.
“This is a great view,” said Jessie, looking out at the ballpark through the open windows.
“Did we miss Henry?” asked Benny.
“Henry did a wonderful job as Wheelie,” said Mr. Tanaka. “He gave away more T-shirts and water bottles than ever. Now he’s on his way to the bleachers.”
“Did he jump up and down and pump his arms?” asked Violet.
“Oh, yes,” said Grandfather with a chuckle. “And the fans loved it.”
“I think the players loved it, too,” said Mr. Tanaka. “They think Wheelie brought them luck yesterday, so they’re glad he’s doing the same thing today.”
A vendor came into the owner’s box and set a large tray of hot dogs on a table.
“Please help yourselves,” said Mr. Tanaka.
Then the game began.
“You can see the whole ballpark from here,” said Jessie.
“Yes, the owner’s box has an excellent view,” said Mr. Tanaka.
“You can see the whole stadium from the bleachers, too,” said Benny.
Mr. Tanaka and Grandfather laughed. “Yes,” admitted Mr. Tanaka, “you can.”
Benny looked toward the bleachers and spotted Carlos Garcia. Benny waved, even though Carlos couldn’t see him. Benny saw Wheelie sitting in his special chair on the platform. Benny waved. Wheelie waved back.
“There are so many interesting people in the bleachers,” said Violet. She was looking at Emma Larke, who was wearing the same Cogs uniform she wore yesterday.
“Look!” said Violet. “That’s Simon Brock sitting next to Emma Larke.”
“It was very good of you children to introduce her to Mr. Brock,” said Mr. Tanaka.
Violet watched Emma and Simon Brock.
They were talking to one another, and Mr. Brock was writing something in his notebook.
In the bottom of the second inning, Reese Dawkins hit a home run. The fans rose to their feet and clapped loudly. Wheelie turned five cartwheels in one direction, then five more in the opposite direction.
“Good,” said Mr. Tanaka. “If Reese gets one more hit and Cody doesn’t get any, Reese will win the batting title. And the car!”
Before he stepped into the dugout, Reese Dawkins waved toward the bleachers. Carlos Garcia waved back. So did Emma Larke. And so did Wheelie. The Cogs were leading, 1-0.
Even though Cody Howard didn’t get a hit, the Hatters tied the score in the top of the ninth, 1-1.
In the bottom half of the ninth, the Cogs loaded the bases. There were two outs, and Reese Dawkins came to the plate.
Wheelie jumped up and down on his platform and pumped his arms. The fans jumped up and down and pumped their arms.
Reese Dawkins blasted the ball out of the stadium—a grand slam home run! The Cogs won the ball game, 5-1.
The Cogs won the pennant!
This time Wheelie did not turn cartwheels. This time, Wheelie did three backflips!
The players rushed out onto the field to celebrate. They lifted their caps toward the bleachers.
“Hmmm,” said Mr. Tanaka. “I would be honored if you children would visit Cogwheel Stadium next year, too.”
“I would love to see the Cogs play next year,” said Jessie.
“I would love to catch another baseball,” said Violet.
“And I would love to help Wheelie throw T-shirts and water bottles!” said Benny.
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.
When Miss Warner received requests for more adventures involving Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden, she began additional stories. In each, she chose a special setting and introduced unusual or eccentric characters who liked the unpredictable.
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 1979. 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 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 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 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
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this ebook onscreen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
copyright © 2010 by Albert Whitman & Company
978-1-4532-2911-8
This 2011 edition distributed by Open Road Integrated Media
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EBOOKS BY GERTRUDE CHANDLER WARNER
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