The train did stop at Beaver Lake after all. On the way from Pinedale, Benny said, “I’m glad you’re going to see Old Beaver. He has been angry ever since the police made you run away.”
“Yes, he would be,” said the Thin Man. “He didn’t know a thing about the money sewed in my coat. But he knew I’d never steal anything. By the way, where did you find the diamonds?”
“In the old black mattress in the lookout,” said Henry.
“Oh,” said the Thin Man, thinking it over. He nodded. “Yes, Chi-Chi did sleep there once in a while. You see the owner’s wife was important. She always slept in the lower bunk. But she thought a lot of Chi-Chi.”
The train slowed down for Beaver Lake. The Thin Man was all ready to get off.
“Here I go,” he said. “I’m going to see Old Beaver every week on my motorcycle. He is still my best friend.”
The Aidens watched him take the motorcycle off, then the train started again.
Jessie said, “Well, I’m glad those two are together. We don’t have to worry any more about either of them.”
The train rattled along without stopping. But the Aldens had plenty to talk about. They talked about their new friends and all their adventures.
“You solved the mystery as usual, Ben,” said Henry.
“Well, I don’t know,” said Benny. “Nobody could have solved it if Jessie hadn’t mended my mattress.”
Benny was quiet for a minute. Then he exclaimed, “Say! I just thought of something. Supposing we had told Grandfather’s friend we wanted new mattress covers! We would never have found those diamonds!”
“Good for you, Ben,” said Henry. “And nobody else would have, either.”
Mr. Alden agreed. “I think they would have been covered up for good. And now I think I shall begin to pack.”
“I don’t really want to pack,” said Benny. “I could go on and on riding in this caboose forever.”
“Well, I couldn’t,” said Mr. Alden. “I have to get back to work. I shall fly to New York and sell the necklace the very first thing I do.”
The next morning, the train began to slow down for the last stop. It ran into the freight yard where the Aldens had started on their caboose adventure. They were all on the back platform, ready to get out. The train stopped.
Benny shouted, “Yes, John Carter has come to meet us. The station wagon is right over there.”
Mr. John Carter worked for Grandfather in a great many ways. Everyone called, “Hello, Mr. Carter!” as they stepped off the caboose.
“I’m glad to see you back,” he called back. “And somebody else is glad, too. Here he is!”
Mr. Carter opened the car door, and Watch jumped out. He dashed over to Jessie. Then he went from one to another, barking and jumping. They each gave him a pat as he dashed on to the next one.
Benny said, “Watch, your name ought to be Dash. I didn’t know how fast you could run around. And I didn’t know how glad I’d be to see you.”
All the railroad men began to help take the things out of the caboose. Mr. Carter and Henry packed them in the Alden car.
Al said, “Maybe you will go again sometime. You were wonderful passengers.”
Mr. Carr said, “It was a pleasure to have you aboard.”
“I was just going to say that,” said Mr. Davis. “It was exciting, too!”
The Aldens piled into the station wagon and waved until the men were out of sight. When Henry drove the car up to the front door, they all unpacked the car. Mr. Alden went in and started to open his mail.
He called, “This is for all of us. It’s a postcard from Charley. He says how much he uses his knife.”
“Let me see it,” said Benny. “Yes, that’s a picture of the old station at Glass Factory. I’ll never forget that place.”
In a little while the Aldens sat down to supper.
“I think I’ll pack some clean things,” said Grandfather, “and fly to New York tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow!” said Jessie. “You just got home!”
“I know,” said Mr. Alden. “But I want to sell that necklace and send the money to Cho-Cho.”
“I don’t blame you, Grandfather,” said Henry. “You’d like to get it off your mind.”
Grandfather returned the same day from his trip.
“Oh, I’m so glad I went,” he told them. “A jeweler bought the diamonds for a good price. But he paid twice as much as I expected for the ruby. He said it was especially fine, and he could easily sell it.” Grandfather smiled at the thought. “So Cho-Cho’s worries are over.”
A week later a real letter came from Cho-Cho himself. Inside was a picture of Cho-Cho sitting in the cab of a truck. A horse-trailer with a roof was behind the truck. There was Major looking out of the big window.
“There’s Major’s little house,” said Benny. “I was hoping he would have a roof over his head when it rains. I’d like to go South with them, Jessie.”
“I think we have traveled enough for a while,” said Jessie. “But didn’t we have a grand time!”
“I think the caboose was the best adventure we ever had,” said Violet.
They all agreed.
And if the Little North Railroad could talk, it would have said, “This is the very best trip I ever had in my whole life, even when I used to carry the gold-and-white circus caboose, Number 777.” |