“While you were away,” Henry said, “Benny ran into a man at the library fair who looked exactly like you.”
“I thought it was you at first, Mr. Hudson,” Benny said. “But then I realized that the man was too …” Benny paused.
“Messy.” Francis finished the sentence.
“Yes,” Benny agreed, his face coloring. “Mr. Hudson is always dressed so neatly.”
“We may look alike,” Francis said, “but other than that we are as different as brothers can be.”
“We are very different,” Mr. Hudson agreed. “And I’m sorry to say that it led to quite a few fights when we were younger.”
“I’m sorry about those fights, Charles,” Francis said.
“I am, too.” Mr. Hudson looked at the Aldens. “Francis and I loved each other, but we disagreed about many things.”
“Charles was fussy and neat,” Francis said. “His half of the room was always clean and organized. I was a lot a messier and I drove him crazy sometimes.”
Mr. Hudson smiled. “And Francis was a great athlete, but I couldn’t even run without tripping over my own two feet. Francis liked to go sleep early, especially before big games, while I liked to stay up late reading. He used to be so annoyed with me for keeping the light on.”
Both brothers laughed at the memories.
“After our parents died, we fought a lot more often,” Francis said.
“I wanted you to stay in school and get a good education,” Mr. Hudson remembered.
Francis nodded. “And I wanted to quit school and work in my friend’s carpentry shop. One day, after a particularly big fight, I got very angry and I left home without a word. Since then, I’ve traveled all around the country. I’ve lived and worked in many different states. My life has been very interesting. But throughout all those years, I always missed my home and my brother.”
“Why didn’t you call or write?” asked Mr. Hudson. “I always wondered where you were.”
“I thought you might not want me back,” Francis explained. “I know that I was quite a troublemaker. I was afraid that we would just start fighting again. Then, a few months ago, I finally decided to take the risk and come back and see you. The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve realized how much my family and my old home mean to me. I was going to surprise you. But when I saw the sign on the lawn that said that the house was for sale, I became angry. You weren’t ever supposed to sell this house, Charles. Our parents wanted us to keep it in the family as long as we were alive. But I had been gone for so long. I knew I couldn’t demand anything from you.”
“So you decided to scare away the people who came to buy the house?” Henry asked.
“Yes.” Francis hung his head. “I admit it. I pretended to haunt the graveyard at night. I wore a cape and I even sprinkled fake blood on tombstones and people’s back porches. I tried to do all the things that the vampire did in the stories you used to tell me when we were growing up. I knew it would start people talking and word would get around. I thought that no one would want to buy a house with a vampire in the backyard.”
Henry pulled a small vial from his pocket. “Was this the blood that you used?”
“Yes!” Francis exclaimed. “But it is only colored water. Where did you find that?”
“You dropped it when we bumped into each other at the library fair,” Benny explained. “I tried to catch you to give it back, but you ran away.”
“I was worried when you called me ‘Mr. Hudson’,” Francis said. “I thought you might know who I was. I didn’t want Charles to know I was in town until I had finished scaring away all the buyers for the house.”
“Did you take The Legend of the Vampire from my backpack?” asked Benny.
“I did,” Francis said. “I saw you put it in there on that first day that you met my brother. I needed more ideas for my vampire haunting. I knew I could find them in the book.”
“And then you left the picture in the book,” Jessie added.
“Yes. I was so surprised to see young Benny there at the diner, that I jumped up and left, leaving the book behind. Imagine how surprised I was to find the book on the kitchen table later that night.”
“That’s because I left it there by accident.” Benny sighed.
“I figured as much,” Francis said. “The flowers were replanted and the porch was scrubbed. I knew you kids had been here.”
“You wrote those terrible words in ink on our front porch?” Charles asked. “How could you do that?”
Francis looked sheepish. “I’m very sorry, Charles. I promise to repaint the porch for you. I was only trying to be a good vampire. But I suppose I didn’t do a very good job of it. The Aldens came back to the house at night. I thought they would be too frightened for that.”
“We were looking for the book,” Benny explained.
“I knew Charles had gone out of town and so I took the key from under the pot. We always kept it there, even when we were children. I was having a nice sandwich and reading by flashlight when you children surprised me. I rushed into the basement. When I heard footsteps on the stairs I had to quickly sneak out the back door. I circled around to the front. I thought I could get back in to get the rest of my sandwich and the book, but these two kids where standing by the door.” Francis pointed at Violet and Benny.
“You tried to scare us with a bat,” Benny said.
Francis chuckled. He put his two hands together and flapped his fingers as though they were wings. “Remember this, Charles? We used to make all kinds of animal shapes in the shadows at night. I was quite good at it.”
“You still are!” Violet said. “It looked very much like a real bat. We were frightened.”
Mr. Hudson shook his head. “Francis, I wish you hadn’t done all these things. I wish you had just come and talked to me.”
Francis sighed. “I know that now. And I’m sorry.” Francis turned to Violet. “I apologize for frightening you.”
“And where did you put all the ‘For Sale’ signs that you stole?” asked Mr. Hudson.
“You have to return them to Josh. You upset him as well.”
Francis looked confused.
“Your brother didn’t steal the ‘For Sale’ signs,” Violet said. “Josh did that.”
“What?” Mr. Hudson turned to look at his realtor. “Why would Josh steal his own signs? That doesn’t make any sense. He wants to sell the house. It’s his job.”
Josh stuck his hands even deeper into his pockets. He seemed to be trying to find something to say.
“Josh has a friend who wants your house, Mr. Hudson,” Violet explained. “Only he can’t afford to buy it unless you lower the price. Josh didn’t start the vampire rumors, but he helped them along. He thought that if buyers were frightened away, you would be happy to sell the house for a lot less money to his friend. I saw the missing ‘For Sale’ signs in the back of Josh’s car and I overheard him on the phone with his friend.”
Josh’s face was bright red. “You should know that it is not right to eavesdrop!” he shouted at Violet.
“I was not eavesdropping!” Violet crossed her arms and stood her ground. “I was working in the garden when you made a call near the front porch. I couldn’t help but hear what you said.”
“And you should know that you were supposed to be working for me and not for your friend,” Mr. Hudson added. “You’re fired as my realtor, Josh.”
Josh bit hard on his lower lip. He took a few steps toward the door, then turned back around. “I’m very sorry, Charles,” he said. “And I’m sorry for accusing you, Violet. My friend doesn’t have a lot of money and he has five children. I thought this would be the perfect house for him. But it was wrong of me to try to ruin your chances of selling at a good price. I didn’t mean any harm, but I know what I did was wrong. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
Josh pushed open the screen door to leave just as Mrs. Fairfax was about to knock.
“What is going on over here?” she complained, stepping into
the living room. “All this commotion has got to stop. Realtors, children, police cars. What next?”
“Hello, Martha,” said Francis.
“Francis? Is that Francis?” Mrs. Fairfax put her hand over her heart.
Mr. Hudson helped Mrs. Fairfax into a seat. “It’s my brother all right, Martha,” he said with a smile. “He’s come back to live with me.”
“So you’re not selling the house?” Mrs. Fairfax asked.
Mr. Hudson looked at his brother and paused. “No, I’m not selling. That is,” he continued, “as long as Francis agrees to move in and help me out with the house.”
Francis stood and threw his arm around his brother’s shoulder. “Thank you, Charles,” he said. “There is nothing I would like better. It is so good to be home!”
Suddenly, a loud growling noise came from the sofa. Everyone turned to look.
Benny’s face turned bright red. He clasped his hands over his stomach. “Excuse me,” he apologized.
Everyone laughed, even Mrs. Fairfax.
“I suppose tracking down vampires can make a person quite hungry.” Mr. Hudson smiled.
“Everything makes Benny hungry,” Henry explained.
Mr. Hudson brought out a pitcher of lemonade and set a tray of snacks on the table for his company.
Everyone was excited when Mr. Hudson told them that the producers had agreed to film the movie version of The Legend of the Vampire. It was going to be set right in Greenfield.
“Maybe we can all have a role in the film!” Benny cried.
“That would be so exciting,” Jessie agreed. “At the very least, perhaps we can come and watch the filming. Would that be all right with you, Mr. Hudson?”
“Of course!” Mr. Hudson said. “You are more than welcome.”
“Are you going to write any more books, Mr. Hudson?” Violet asked.
“I never stop writing, Violet,” Mr. Hudson said. “And I’m always looking for ideas for my next story.”
As Benny reached for a third helping of cheese and crackers, his stomach let out another loud growl.
Mr. Hudson laughed. “Maybe my next book could be called The Legend of the Bottomless Stomach.”
“And if that book is made into a movie, I could have the lead role!” Benny grinned. “I knew my stomach would make me famous!”
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
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 Black Raven
The Mystery of the Pirate’s Map
The Mystery in the Mall
The Mystery in New York
The Gymnastics Mystery
The Poison Frog Mystery
The Mystery of the Empty Safe
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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 © 2001 by Albert Whitman & Company
978-1-4532-2909-5
This 2011 edition dist
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