Midnight Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner

CHAPTER 1
Benny’s Flashlight Hat
    “It’s too dark in the backseat to play magnetic checkers.” Henry Alden grumbled. “I can hardly see any of my black pieces.”
    “That’s because I jumped most of them,” his brother, Benny, answered.
    Henry frowned. Like the other Aldens, Henry was usually cheerful on family car trips. But here he was, fourteen years old and losing at checkers to his six-year-old brother. “I’m no match for Benny and his flashlight hat,” he admitted.
    The two brothers, along with their two sisters, Jessie and Violet, had been riding in Grandfather Alden’s car for hours. Now it was dark and not a good time to play car games. But Benny could see fine, thanks to the new invention he wore on his head. On other nighttime car trips, Benny had wished for a hat with a built-in flashlight so he could see and have both hands free to play car games. When Grandfather’s friend Isabel Putter invited the whole family to take part in the invention convention she organized every year, Benny knew just what to invent.
    “Maybe I could invent a flashlight hat for you, too,” Benny offered. He sat back, waiting for Henry to make a tricky move in the dim light of the car.
    Henry groaned. “You rascal! You’re probably going to beat me at checkers and win first prize at the invention convention with your hat.”
    “Hope so.” Benny smiled confidently.
    To make the hat even more useful, Benny had attached a mirror to it. Violet, who was ten, had found an old dental mirror in her crafts bag, which was full of odds and ends. She and Benny had attached the small mirror-on-a-stick to the flashlight hat. Not only could Benny see in the dark, he could see what was behind him, too!
    Twelve-year-old Jessie didn’t need a flashlight hat. She always remembered to bring along a plain old flashlight to read maps in the car at night. “Good thing there’s a full moon tonight,” Jessie said as they drove past the building she’d been looking for. “I think that was the Red Rooster Diner, Grandfather. Ms. Putter said to look for the big wooden rooster on the roof and take the next right.”
    “You’re an excellent navigator, Jessie,” Mr. Alden said as he made the right turn. “Sorry we left Greenfield so late. I’m afraid we won’t arrive much before midnight. Not to worry, though. Isabel said she would wait up for us.”
    Mr. Alden looked thoughtful. “It’s a shame Isabel’s grandmother, Alice Putter, didn’t live long enough to see how Isabel has turned the invention convention into such a big event. Inventors come from all over.”
    “Even Greenfield,” Benny said, as if they had driven across the world.
    A few minutes later, Mr. Alden parked the car at the end of a long driveway. Several bright porch lights came on. The Aldens found themselves facing one of the most curious houses they had ever seen.
    “All the windows have different shapes,” Violet said. “And the chimneys, too. It looks like a cartoon house.”
    “I think it looks like a gingerbread house that’s melting,” Benny said.
    Mr. Alden laughed. “Even houses remind you of food, Benny!”
    The children could hardly wait to go inside. The house had many doors, each one a different size. The porch wasn’t like the one at Grandfather’s house, with its straight railings and steps. No, this porch went up, down, and all around the house on different levels.
    A concert of barking dogs greeted the Aldens as they opened the car doors.
    “Those two dogs look like sausages with legs,” Benny said. “Their bellies practically touch the ground.”
    Jessie giggled as the dogs waddled toward the car. A tall, graceful woman about Grandfather’s age walked behind the two basset hounds. “I’m so glad Ms. Putter has dogs, since we had to leave poor Watch at home.”
    Grandfather smiled. “Poor Watch? Oh, I wouldn’t worry about him. You know how Mrs. McGregor spoils him when we’re away. She’s not only the best housekeeper, but the