CHAPTER 1
A Game of Codes and Clues
“Wow!” cried six-year-old Benny. “Look at all the skyscrapers down there.” The youngest Alden was staring out the window of the airplane.
“Philadelphia’s a big city.” Twelve-year-old Jessie smiled at her little brother. “It won’t be easy tracking down clues.”
Henry laughed a little. “It wouldn’t be nearly as much fun if the mystery’s too easy,” he said. At fourteen, Henry was the oldest of the Aldens.
“We can do it!” said Benny. “We’re good detectives. Right, Violet?”
“Right,” ten-year-old Violet said. Then, with a worried frown, she added, “I know it’s a game of codes and clues, but … we’ve never had cameras following us around before.”
The four Alden children—Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny—were competing against another brother-and-sister team on “The Amazing Mystery Show.” Grandfather, who had business in the city, had come along, too.
“Hey, I can see a river down there!” said Benny, pointing.
Grandfather nodded. “That’s the Delaware River.” He was looking out the window, too, over Benny’s shoulder.
“I remember seeing a painting once,” Henry said thoughtfully. “It showed George Washington crossing the Delaware.”
James Alden nodded. “Yes, that’s a famous painting, Henry,” he told his oldest grandson. “Philadelphia’s a modern city, but it’s also a very old one. It goes all the way back to the Revolutionary War. In fact,” he added, “this is where they signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776.”
Benny’s eyebrows shot up. “That was before I was born!”
“Even before I was born, Benny.” Grandfather chuckled.
“Philadelphia is the home of the Liberty Bell,” put in Jessie. “We read all about it at school.”
“What’s the Liberty Bell?” Benny asked.
“It’s a big bell,” Henry explained, “but it has a crack in it. That’s why they don’t ring it anymore.”
“There’s an inscription on it,” Grandfather added. “RING LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND.”
“Cool!” cried Benny, catching on. “Know what else has a crack in it?”
The other Aldens looked over at their little brother. “What?”
“My cracked pink cup!” Benny said, making everyone laugh. “The one I found when we were living in the boxcar. Did you forget already?”
“We could never forget about your special cup, Benny,” Jessie told him.
After their parents died, the four Alden children had run away. For a while, their home was an empty boxcar in the woods. But then their grandfather, James Alden, found them, and he brought his grandchildren to live with him in his big white house in Connecticut. Even the boxcar was given a special place in the backyard. The children often used it as a clubhouse.
As they made their way through the airport, Violet suddenly slowed her step.
Jessie seemed to read her thoughts. “Don’t worry, Violet,” she said. She knew that her younger sister was shy, and being on television would make her nervous. “When we start tracking down clues, you’ll forget all about the cameras.”
Violet gave her sister a grateful smile. Jessie always knew just what to say to make her feel better. “It will be fun exploring Philadelphia,” Violet admitted, quickening her pace. “And I promised Mrs. McGregor I’d take lots of pictures.” Mrs. McGregor was the Alden’s housekeeper. She was staying at home with Watch, the family dog.
James Alden put a comforting arm around his youngest granddaughter. “I think it’ll be a great experience,” he assured her. “And I’m sure everyone on the show will make you feel at ease.”
After flagging down a taxi, the Aldens headed for their hotel in the heart of Philadelphia.
“I sure hope they have good food around here,” Benny remarked as they checked in at the front desk.
The young man behind the desk looked up, “Don’t worry,” he said, smiling at the youngest Alden. “Philadelphia’s known for
A Game of Codes and Clues
“Wow!” cried six-year-old Benny. “Look at all the skyscrapers down there.” The youngest Alden was staring out the window of the airplane.
“Philadelphia’s a big city.” Twelve-year-old Jessie smiled at her little brother. “It won’t be easy tracking down clues.”
Henry laughed a little. “It wouldn’t be nearly as much fun if the mystery’s too easy,” he said. At fourteen, Henry was the oldest of the Aldens.
“We can do it!” said Benny. “We’re good detectives. Right, Violet?”
“Right,” ten-year-old Violet said. Then, with a worried frown, she added, “I know it’s a game of codes and clues, but … we’ve never had cameras following us around before.”
The four Alden children—Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny—were competing against another brother-and-sister team on “The Amazing Mystery Show.” Grandfather, who had business in the city, had come along, too.
“Hey, I can see a river down there!” said Benny, pointing.
Grandfather nodded. “That’s the Delaware River.” He was looking out the window, too, over Benny’s shoulder.
“I remember seeing a painting once,” Henry said thoughtfully. “It showed George Washington crossing the Delaware.”
James Alden nodded. “Yes, that’s a famous painting, Henry,” he told his oldest grandson. “Philadelphia’s a modern city, but it’s also a very old one. It goes all the way back to the Revolutionary War. In fact,” he added, “this is where they signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776.”
Benny’s eyebrows shot up. “That was before I was born!”
“Even before I was born, Benny.” Grandfather chuckled.
“Philadelphia is the home of the Liberty Bell,” put in Jessie. “We read all about it at school.”
“What’s the Liberty Bell?” Benny asked.
“It’s a big bell,” Henry explained, “but it has a crack in it. That’s why they don’t ring it anymore.”
“There’s an inscription on it,” Grandfather added. “RING LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND.”
“Cool!” cried Benny, catching on. “Know what else has a crack in it?”
The other Aldens looked over at their little brother. “What?”
“My cracked pink cup!” Benny said, making everyone laugh. “The one I found when we were living in the boxcar. Did you forget already?”
“We could never forget about your special cup, Benny,” Jessie told him.
After their parents died, the four Alden children had run away. For a while, their home was an empty boxcar in the woods. But then their grandfather, James Alden, found them, and he brought his grandchildren to live with him in his big white house in Connecticut. Even the boxcar was given a special place in the backyard. The children often used it as a clubhouse.
As they made their way through the airport, Violet suddenly slowed her step.
Jessie seemed to read her thoughts. “Don’t worry, Violet,” she said. She knew that her younger sister was shy, and being on television would make her nervous. “When we start tracking down clues, you’ll forget all about the cameras.”
Violet gave her sister a grateful smile. Jessie always knew just what to say to make her feel better. “It will be fun exploring Philadelphia,” Violet admitted, quickening her pace. “And I promised Mrs. McGregor I’d take lots of pictures.” Mrs. McGregor was the Alden’s housekeeper. She was staying at home with Watch, the family dog.
James Alden put a comforting arm around his youngest granddaughter. “I think it’ll be a great experience,” he assured her. “And I’m sure everyone on the show will make you feel at ease.”
After flagging down a taxi, the Aldens headed for their hotel in the heart of Philadelphia.
“I sure hope they have good food around here,” Benny remarked as they checked in at the front desk.
The young man behind the desk looked up, “Don’t worry,” he said, smiling at the youngest Alden. “Philadelphia’s known for
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