Mystery Ranch Quotes

“Out west on a ranch. The nearest town is Centerville,” Mr. Alden said. He looked very sad. ”Jane is old, and she is a very cross woman. The neighbor who stays with her is going to leave. Nobody will stay with Jane because she is so hard to get along with. She won’t leave the ranch, and yet I can’t let her stay there all alone.”
― Gertrude Chandler Warner, Mystery Ranch

“Soon, Violet was busy beating eggs in a bowl. Jessie put butter in a big pan and set it on the stove. The girls put pieces of dry bread in the eggs and milk, and Jessie began to brown them in the pan.”
― Gertrude Chandler Warner, Mystery Ranch

“Boy, look at that car!” said Benny, looking out the window. It was long and low. It was painted yellow and black. A man got out of the car. A guard spoke to him and nodded, and the man came to the back door.”
― Gertrude Chandler Warner, Mystery Ranch

“Now, one last idea,” said Mr. Alden. He looked at Jessie, with a twinkle in his eye.
“I heard all about your Mystery Man,” he said.
“He’s not my Mystery Man,” said Jessie, laughing. “But he was nice, wasn’t he?”
“He doesn’t seem like a Mystery Man any more,” said Violet. “I’d like to see him again sometime.”
Mr. Alden said, “He could come to the party tomorrow, if anyone asked him.”
“Very well,” said Aunt Jane. “I don’t mind having a Mystery Man at my birthday party.”
“Will he fly?” asked Jessie.
“No. He is already here,” said Grandfather. “He got off the train when I did!”
“And we didn’t even see him,” said Benny.
“Well, he is still a Mystery Man in some ways, isn’t he?” said Violet.”
― Gertrude Chandler Warner, Mystery Ranch

“Mr. Carter spoke, “I think your grandfather will be glad to help. I can go to Greenfield and tell him the whole story.”
He looked at his watch and got up quickly. “Good-by, children, and the best of luck.”
In one minute he was gone.
Benny said, “Mystery men work fast, don’t they?”
― Gertrude Chandler Warner, Mystery Ranch

“Do you think there are any sand paintings in our field now?” Benny asked hopefully.
“No,” answered Mr. Pond, smiling. “There haven’t been any Indians here for many years.”
“I’d rather have Indians here than whoever is living in that hut,” said Jessie.”
― Gertrude Chandler Warner, Mystery Ranch

“Do you know the name of these yellow stones, Mr. Pond?” asked Violet. She picked one up and gave it to him.
“No, I don’t know much about stones,” he said. “This yellowish rock makes a fine powder. I know that Indians long ago used it for their sand paintings.”
“Sand paintings?” asked Benny. “I never heard of sand paintings.”
“They are very interesting,” said Mr. Pond. “They are beautiful, too. The Indians took sand of all colors: blue, green, red, yellow, black, brown. They looked for a nice, flat place, and painted it with colored sand. They put the different colors in the right places. They would make a round sun like this.”
Mr. Pond quickly made a big yellow sun on the ground, to show Benny how it was done.
“Do you think there are any sand paintings in our field now?” Benny asked hopefully.
“No,” answered Mr. Pond, smiling. “There haven’t been any Indians here for many years.”
“I’d rather have Indians here than whoever is living in that hut,” said Jessie.
“I think you’re right,” said Mr. Pond. “But don’t worry about that. We’ll go to Stony Creek tomorrow and tell the sheriff, Mr. Bates, about this.”
He glanced at Henry, and the boy understood that Mr. Pond would tell the sheriff about some other things, too.”
― Gertrude Chandler Warner, Mystery Ranch

“The ranch is yours from this minute. All I have to do is write my name when Mr. Pond brings the papers. I want my ranch to belong to people who love it. That’s why I wouldn’t sell it to those three men.”
The four children said “thank you” very softly, as they left.
“The only thing about this that I don’t like is Grandfather,” Benny said. He threw himself down on the grass.
“You said that wrong, old fellow,” said Henry. “But we know what you mean. It leaves Grandfather out.”
― Gertrude Chandler Warner, Mystery Ranch

“We never let Watch get up on the beds,” said Violet softly.
“I always let my dog lie on my bed,” said Aunt Jane.
Watch looked first at one and then at the other.
“Up!” said Aunt Jane.
Watch gave a great jump and landed on the other side of the little lady. He lay down and put his head on his paws. He was not sure that he had done the right thing. He kept looking at Violet.
Violet was watching her aunt smile at Watch. She was sure that Watch had done the right thing.”
― Gertrude Chandler Warner, Mystery Ranch

“Do you want the window open?”
“No. This room is too cold already,” the little lady said.
“You said a minute ago that it was too hot.”
“Well, it was, a minute ago.”
“Oh, dear me,” said Maggie.”
― Gertrude Chandler Warner, Mystery Ranch

“Hello, Aunt Jane,” said Benny, going over to the bed. “I’m Benny. And aren’t you a cute little lady!”
Aunt Jane was taken by surprise. She almost smiled.
“And I suppose you are Henry,” she said.
“Yes. We are sorry you are sick,” Henry answered. He hardly knew what to say to this strange woman.
“Who said I was sick?” asked Aunt Jane. “Well, you certainly don’t look like your grandfather.”
“No, I’m afraid not,” said Henry.
“No need to be afraid about that,” answered Aunt Jane. “I’m glad you don’t look like him.”
― Gertrude Chandler Warner, Mystery Ranch

“Aunt Jane”
― Gertrude Chandler Warner, Mystery Ranch

“The children will go back to school. Sam and Annie can move into this house.”
― Gertrude Chandler Warner, Mystery Ranch

“The children will go back to school. Sam and Annie can move into this house. Maggie can stay happily with Jane. And best of all, I have a sister again.”
― Gertrude Chandler Warner, Mystery Ranch

“Watch lay down again, beside Jessie, as if to say, “Well, I don’t care. After all, I’m Jessie’s dog.”
― Gertrude Chandler Warner, Mystery Ranch

“There’s another surprise!” Sam said. “I’ve seen your Mystery Man!”
― Gertrude Chandler Warner, Mystery Ranch