The Mystery of the Grinning Gargoyle Read Online Free PDF Page A

anyone messing with the old library. We’d better remember that as we try to solve this mystery.”
    â€œMystery? Are you children on the case of another mystery?” It was Grandfather Alden, having left Coach Woods’s side to catch up with his grandchildren. He knew that they were very good at solving mysteries, and was very proud of their detective skills.
    â€œYes, Grandfather,” said Violet. “We’re investigating the case of the grinning gargoyles.”
    â€œYou heard Miss Hollenberg tell us about the legend of the gargoyles, didn’t you?” Jessie asked.
    â€œI certainly did,” said Grandfather Alden.
    â€œWhen I was running up the stairs at the library, I saw a gargoyle!” Benny said.
    â€œWe all saw it,” said Jessie.
    â€œWe all saw something,” said Henry, “since gargoyles are just stone statues and can’t actually fly down from the roof and scare people. It must be someone making everyone think the gargoyle legend is true, and we’re going to figure out who it is!”
    â€œWell, maybe we should get some dinner,” Grandfather Alden said. “Detective work is always more productive on a full stomach.”
    â€œDinner sounds great,” said Benny. “Playing football and playing detective both make me really hungry!”
    â€œI know just the place,” said Grandfather Alden. “We’ll eat at what was my favorite restaurant when I was a student.”
    The Aldens said goodbye to the football team and Coach Woods, then climbed the old gray steps of Goldwin Coliseum. The five of them laughed and talked as they crossed the college campus, admiring the beautiful autumn leaves that fell from the trees.
    Soon they came to an old wooden building with a sign that said Goldwin Gyros.
    â€œIt might not look like much,” said Grandfather Alden, “but Goldwin Gyros serves the tastiest food on campus.”
    Grandfather held the door for his grandchildren and, of course, Benny was the first one into the restaurant. But no sooner had Benny dashed inside, he yelled and turned around.
    â€œYou guys have to see this!” he said, pointing. Standing there was a big, bald man with a big, bushy, black mustache and a big, bright smile. He looked friendly, so Benny shouldn’t have been alarmed.
    But the big sign the man held didn’t look so friendly. On it was painted a sharptoothed, smiling creature with wings—a gargoyle! The sign read “BITE INTO A GARGOYLE GYRO!”
    The Alden children looked past the sign and around the main dining room of Goldwin Gyros. Painted on the walls were other gargoyles, peering down at the customers with toothy grins. There were gargoyles over each table and booth. There were gargoyles over the counter and underneath the cash register. There were even gargoyles painted onto the restroom doors—one wearing a skirt for the girls’ room, and one without a skirt for the boys’.
    And on the t-shirt that the bald man wore under his white, dusty apron was yet another gargoyle and the words, “DON’T LET THE GARGOYLE GET YOU!”
    While Benny peeked out from behind Grandfather Alden’s back, Henry, Jessie, and Violet looked at one another. All four children watched as the man stepped toward them and said, “Welcome, Alden family. I’m so glad you dropped by!”
    â€œWhere are all the customers?” Violet whispered to Jessie.
    â€œMaybe they were scared off by all of the gargoyles,” Benny whispered.
    â€œThis place is a little bit spooky, being so empty,” Jessie whispered.
    â€œMaybe we should keep our eyes peeled for clues,” whispered Henry, trying not to be heard as the bald man surrounded by all of those gargoyles welcomed the family into the empty, spooky place.

CHAPTER 4
    The Gargoyle Gyro
    â€œIzzy!” Grandfather Alden said to the mustached man in the apron. “It’s so good to see you