Honeybee Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Boxcar Children Mysteries
    T HE B OXCAR C HILDREN
    S URPRISE I SLAND
    T HE Y ELLOW H OUSE M YSTERY
    M YSTERY R ANCH
    M IKE’S M YSTERY
    B LUE B AY M YSTERY
    T HE W OODSHED M YSTERY
    T HE L IGHTHOUSE M YSTERY
    M OUNTAIN T OP M YSTERY
    S CHOOLHOUSE M YSTERY
    C ABOOSE M YSTERY
    H OUSEBOAT M YSTERY
    S NOWBOUND M YSTERY
    T REE H OUSE M YSTERY
    B ICYCLE M YSTERY
    M YSTERY IN THE S AND
    M YSTERY B EHIND THE W ALL
    B US S TATION M YSTERY
    B ENNY U NCOVERS A M YSTERY
    T HE H AUNTED C ABIN M YSTERY
    T HE D ESERTED L IBRARY M YSTERY
    T HE A NIMAL S HELTER M YSTERY
    T HE O LD M OTEL M YSTERY
    T HE M YSTERY OF THE H IDDEN P AINTING
    T HE A MUSEMENT P ARK M YSTERY
    T HE M YSTERY OF THE M IXED -U P Z OO
    T HE C AMP -O UT M YSTERY
    T HE M YSTERY G IRL
    T HE M YSTERY C RUISE
    T HE D ISAPPEARING F RIEND M YSTERY
    T HE M YSTERY OF THE S INGING G HOST
    M YSTERY IN THE S NOW
    T HE P IZZA M YSTERY
    T HE M YSTERY H ORSE
    T HE M YSTERY AT THE D OG S HOW
    T HE C ASTLE M YSTERY
    T HE M YSTERY OF THE L OST V ILLAGE
    T HE M YSTERY ON THE I CE
    T HE M YSTERY OF THE P URPLE P OOL
    T HE G HOST S HIP M YSTERY
    T HE M YSTERY IN W ASHINGTON , DC
    T HE C ANOE T RIP M YSTERY
    T HE M YSTERY OF THE H IDDEN B EACH
    T HE M YSTERY OF THE M ISSING C AT
    T HE M YSTERY AT S NOWFLAKE I NN
    T HE M YSTERY ON S TAGE
    T HE D INOSAUR M YSTERY
    T HE M YSTERY OF THE S TOLEN M USIC
    T HE M YSTERY AT THE B ALL P ARK
    T HE C HOCOLATE S UNDAE M YSTERY
    T HE M YSTERY OF THE H OT A IR B ALLOON
    T HE M YSTERY B OOKSTORE
    T HE P ILGRLM V ILLAGE M YSTERY
    T HE M YSTERY OF THE S TOLEN B OXCAR
    M YSTERY IN THE C AVE
    T HE M YSTERY ON THE T RAIN
    T HE M YSTERY AT THE F AIR
    T HE M YSTERY OF THE L OST M INE
    T HE G UIDE D OG M YSTERY
    T HE H URRICANE M YSTERY
    T HE P ET S HOP M YSTERY
    T HE M YSTERY OF THE S ECRET M ESSAGE
    T HE F IREHOUSE M YSTERY
    T HE M YSTERY IN S AN F RANCISCO
    T HE N IAGARA F ALLS M YSTERY
    T HE M YSTERY AT THE A LAMO
    T HE O UTER S PACE M YSTERY
    T HE S OCCER M YSTERY
    T HE M YSTERY IN THE O LD A TTIC
    T HE G ROWLING B EAR M YSTERY
    T HE M YSTERY OF THE L AKE M ONSTER
    T HE M YSTERY AT P EACOCK H ALL
    T HE W INDY C ITY M YSTERY
    T HE B LACK P EARL M YSTERY
    T HE C EREAL B OX M YSTERY
    T HE P ANTHER M YSTERY
    T HE M YSTERY OF THE Q UEEN’S J EWELS
    T HE S TOLEN S WORD M YSTERY
    T HE B ASKETBALL M YSTERY
    T HE M OVIE S TAR M YSTERY
    T HE M YSTERY OF THE B LACK R AVEN
    T HE M YSTERY OF THE P IRATE’S M AP
    T HE M YSTERY IN THE M ALL
    T HE M YSTERY IN N EW Y ORK
    T HE G YMNASTICS M YSTERY
    T HE P OISON F ROG M YSTERY
    T HE M YSTERY OF THE E MPTY S AFE
    T HE M YSTERY OF THE W ILD P ONIES
    T HE H ONEYBEE M YSTERY

THE HONEYBEE MYSTERY
    created by
    GERTRUDE CHANDLER WARNER
    Illustrated by Hodges Soileau
    ALBERT WHITMAN & Company
    Chicago, Illinois

CHAPTER 1
    An Unpleasant Surprise
    â€œI have to admit,” Grandfather confessed as he drove along, “I’ve been thinking about it all week.”
    â€œWe know you have,” Jessie told him, watching the green farmland roll by her window. “We’re almost as excited as you are.”
    â€œThis is the best honey in the world,” he said for about the hundredth time, looking at Benny and Violet in the little mirror. Henry was belted into the seat next to him. “The very best.” Grandfather actually licked his lips. “Oh, I can’t wait.”
    Visiting the small roadside stand at the front of Sherman Farm had become a yearly tradition for James Alden. He had noticed it coming home one evening and decided to check it out. It was only a few miles from his house.
    Grandfather, who had always loved honey, decided to buy a jar of their homemade brand. He put it on toast that night and enjoyed it so much that he came back the next day and bought another jar. He made a promise never to miss the first harvest in early summer, when the season’s honey was fresh.
    He pulled alongside the stand and parked the car. All four doors opened, and James Alden and his four grandchildren