Book One
The Holt Children and the Hidden Treasure

Chapter 1

THE LOST TREASURE

“Oh, look, Joe!” Eleven year old Pamela Holt said, excitedly pointing a something soft and black on the side of the road.

“Why, it’s a puppy!” Pam's twelve year old brother, Joe, said. He had blond hair.

Pam's curly shoulder-length golden-blond hair rippled in the wind as she said, “Oh, mother, won’t you turn the car around? I want to see it!”

“Yes, momma, do!” Betty, who was the baby of the family, and only six, said.

Chapter II
Alice opened the door. “Oh, hi Jill! Hi Ashlyn!” She said.

“Hi, Alice. Mom’s waiting for us in the car. Are you ready to go?”

“Yep. Be right back. I’m going to tell mom bye,” Alice said.

“Are you going now, Alice?” Mrs. Gladden asked.

“Um-hm,” Alice said. "Ashlyn and Jill and her mom are out there waiting for me. I was just going to say goodbye to you.”

“Oh? Well, bye, dear. I’ll be seeing you. Do you think you’ll be here for lunch?”

“No, mom. I might be, but I doubt it. Bye, now!”

“Bye, Alice.”

The Stolen Horseshoes

The Mystery of the Missing Grandfather

1. First Dates
I’ll never forget the first time he ran his hand through my hair. I was engulfed in the way he looked at me: like I was a treasure, like I meant something. I’ll remember the chilly autumn air and the shudder in my bones when his chapped lips met mine. I’ll remember how embarrassed I was when I pulled away from him in surprise. “Nonono, I didn’t mean to, do it again!” I recall crying, shoving my hands in my pockets. I remember how he laughed at me and after a period of begging, he kissed me again with his chapped lips and I didn’t pull away.

Chapter VII
The Gangs Capture

All next day Sally and her cousins sat near the telephone, hoping for the Chief

Police to make a phone call with good news, but it didn't come.

“I think we should find the gangs new hideout,” Sally said suddenly.

Her cousins looked up from the books they were reading, surprised.

“What?”

“I said,” Sally repeated herself, “Why don't we find the gangs hideout?”

Callie shrugged. “Because we have no possible way of finding it and it's too dangerous and—”

Listen to this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyvuc_GjzfU

Imagine the earth.

Imagine looking out over the horizon. Imagine trees and birds. Imagine laughing rivers, massive oceans and expansive skies.

Now, imagine it all gone.

Imagine a dead world, where rock and dust replace the once lush plains of the world we used to call home. Imagine a planet scorched by the flames of a red sun. Everything is cold.

Chapter VI
The Gang Disappears

Sally lay outside on her back, eyes open, staring blankly at the stars.

“Did you hear any time they were going to at?” Asked the deep-voiced Police Officer.

Sally shook her head. “Just that they're coming tonight,” she said.

Callie sat up. “What time is it?” She asked.

“It's eleven-o'clock,” Sally replied, looking at her wrist watch.
Callie whistled.

“We've been here for three and a half hours,” she said.

Sally nodded, then turned back to Officer Troy Kennings.

Chapter V
The Gangs Meeting

The third night, as the three girls lay outside, Callie said, “If we could just find the place where the thieves are, we could set a Police-trap and catch 'em if they came back.”

“Say, Cal, you might just have given me a great idea!” Carrie said.

Her sister looked at her quizzically. “Whats that?” She asked.

“There aren't but a few motels and apartments in town,” Carrie replied. “And if we could look for someone under the name Jones, maybe we could set up a trap!”