Free Haunted Clock Tower Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B

middle of the night to search. I only had a flashlight on, so I didn’t think anyone would see me.”
    Suddenly Violet remembered something. “It was your muddy footprint we saw, wasn’t it?” she said, looking down at the sneakers Don was wearing.
    “I suppose it must have been,” Don agreed. “When I was searching around up here, I tried to look inside and behind the carillon—I’m afraid I may have broken some of the wires by accident when I leaned on them. I even went up to look at the bells and unscrewed some of the parts to see if somehow a treasure could be hidden inside.”
    “That was a terrible thing you did,” Ezra said angrily. “It took me a long time to fix the carillon.”
    Don’s face turned red, and he looked at the floor. “I’m so sorry,” he said quietly. “I wasn’t thinking. I’d come so far, and I didn’t want to leave empty-handed. I’ll repay you for the time you spent repairing them.”
    “What I don’t understand is: Why were you being so secretive? Why not tell the university what you’d found?” Professor Meyer asked.
    “I know what I did wasn’t right. But I never intended to keep the money. I just wanted to find the treasure.” Don looked at his father.
    “Still playing detective?” Joel asked.
    “I guess so,” Don said sadly. “I’m sorry.”
    “Well, I’m glad all the mysteries have been solved,” the professor said. “Thanks to the Aldens.” She smiled at the children, who smiled back proudly.
    “What’s going to happen to the treasure?” Benny asked.
    “We’ll have to notify the Chambers family,” Professor Meyer said. “For now, perhaps, we should bring the treasure to the president’s office for safekeeping.”
    “That sounds like a good idea,” said Jessie.
    The next day, the Aldens were getting ready to leave Goldwin and return home. Their suitcases were packed and ready. The family was just finishing up lunch in the dining hall.
    “I’ve enjoyed being here again after all these years, but it will be good to get back to Greenfield,” Grandfather said.
    “I agree,” said Jessie.
    “I miss Mrs. McGregor’s cooking,” Benny said.
    “Look, there’s Professor Meyer,” Violet called out as they stood up to leave.
    Grandfather waved to her and she came right over. “I’m glad I found you before you left,” she said. “I spoke with Laurence Chambers last night. He was overjoyed to hear that you had found the family valuables—he couldn’t believe it. In fact, he took the first flight here and arrived this morning.”
    “Really?” Henry said. “Has he seen the treasure yet?”
    “Yes, and it was more wonderful than he’d imagined,” the professor said. “He’d like to meet you and thank you in person.”
    The children looked at one another, their eyes glowing.
    “We’d love to,” said Jessie.
    The Aldens went with the professor up to the top of the tower one last time. When they reached the top, a tall dark-haired man was standing looking out the window. As he turned to face them, Violet said, “You look like your great-great-granduncle.”
    “Do I?” Mr. Chambers asked.
    “Yes,” Henry agreed. “We saw a picture of him in a book.”
    “And you must be the Aldens,” Mr. Chambers said. “I can’t thank you enough for finding my family heirlooms.”
    “It was our pleasure,” Jessie assured him.
    “I’d like to give each of you a small piece of the treasure,” Mr. Chambers went on. He held out his hand and showed the children four old gold coins. “Will you accept these as your reward?”
    The children were too stunned to speak. As he handed each of them a coin, Grandfather said, “They’re speechless. I think that means they accept your offer.”
    At last the children remembered their manners. “Thank you!” they each said.
    “As I was saying, it is the sentimental value, not the money, that matters to me,” Mr. Chambers said. “Last night I discussed with my family what to do with this