Mystery of the Runaway Ghost by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B

Benny piped up. “It’s shaped just like a big box, and it’s hidden in the shadows of the trees.”
    “Exactly — yes!” said Fran, who seemed delighted that Benny had figured it out.
    Benny grinned.
    Glancing at his watch, Grandfather said, “I hate to rush off, but I have a dinner meeting to attend.”
    Fran waved that away. “You’re here on business, James. I know that.”
    Grandfather lifted the suitcases from the car. “I should have everything wrapped up in a few days,” he said, smiling at his friend. “Then we’ll have time for a nice visit.”
    Fran smiled back. “I’ll look forward to it.”
    The children waved good-bye to their grandfather, then they followed Fran into the house. As they set their suitcases down in the front hall, she turned to them. “Your grandfather tells me you’re real experts at solving mysteries.”
    Benny beamed. “That’s our specialty.”
    “We have solved quite a few,” admitted Henry.
    Fran was quiet for a moment, then she said, “The thing is, a mystery fell into my lap the other day. And I’m completely baffled by it.”
    “We’d love to help,” offered Violet. And the others nodded eagerly.
    Fran smiled gratefully. “I’ll tell you about it after dinner,” she promised. “But right now, it’s time to introduce you to the runaway ghost.”
    The Aldens looked at one another in amazement. Were they about to meet a real ghost?

CHAPTER 2
The Ghostly Painting
    Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny followed Fran into a cozy living room that looked out on Cedar Creek. Fresh flowers in colorful vases had been placed on every table. A sunny-yellow couch and buttercup-patterned chairs were grouped together invitingly around a large stone fireplace.
    “What a pretty room,” Jessie said admiringly.
    “Thank you, Jessie,” Fran smiled. “It’s my favorite spot in the house.”
    “Oh, a painting of Shadowbox!” Violet said in surprise.
    The other Aldens followed her gaze to the picture hanging above the fireplace. It was a peaceful summer scene with the stone house peeking out from among the trees. Nearby, a black-and-white cow grazed lazily in the late afternoon shadows.
    “Meet the runaway ghost!” Fran gestured to the painting with a big sweep of her arm.
    The Aldens looked at one another in confusion. Before they had a chance to ask any questions, Fran spoke again.
    “It’s wonderful, don’t you think?” She sounded proud.
    “It’s a lovely painting,” Jessie said, “but where’s the runaway ghost?”
    Henry added, “All I see is Shadowbox.”
    “Oh?” Fran lifted an eyebrow. “Perhaps there’s something you’re missing.”
    Henry looked again. “You can’t mean … the cow?”
    Nodding, Fran brushed a wisp of silver hair back from her face. “Her name was Buttercup. But she’s known as the runaway ghost.”
    The children were so surprised by Fran’s words, they were speechless. Was the family ghost really a black-and-white cow? Jessie noticed a shiny brass plaque attached to the picture frame. Sure enough, the title of the painting was The Runaway Ghost.
    “Buttercup’s story begins many years ago,” Fran said, making herself comfortable on the couch, “back when Shadowbox was still part of a big farm.”
    “This was once a farm?” Benny asked in surprise.
    “Yes, indeed!” Fran told him. “My great-great-grandparents, Selden and Anne Gorton, started the farm back in the 1850s. They raised cows here for many, many years.”
    Benny looked puzzled. “What happened to it?” he wanted to know. “The farm, I mean.”
    “Selden and Anne’s grandchildren decided not to be farmers. They sold off the land in bits and pieces. Now there’s only Shadowbox and the lawns around it.” A sad smile crossed Fran’s face.
    “Was Buttercup one of Selden and Anne’s cows?” asked Jessie.
    “As a matter of fact, she was the very first cow they ever owned,” Fran replied.
    Benny looked over at the painting. “Oh, I get it!” he said.