The Black Jacket Mystery

up! Everybody thinks our carnival is a great idea. We practically sold all the space in the program!”
    “And we have the principal’s permission to use the printing press at school to run the programs off!” Brian added proudly.
    “I hope you informed this bear trainer that he’s supposed to do the posters!” Trixie wrinkled her nose at Jim. She hadn’t forgiven him for fooling her and Honey.
    Jim grinned at her. “They gave me all the bad news, and I’ll start working the very first thing after school tomorrow, Madam President.”
    “What about the lumber company?” Honey asked as they unmapped some of the prizes.
    “We asked for the flooring, and it looks like we’ll get it. How’s that?” Mart gloated.
    “Perfect! Everything’s just perfect!” Trixie said dreamily.
    “Except Moms was looking for you when we stopped by there just now,” Brian told her dryly.
    “Yeeks! I forgot again!” Trixie dashed for the door.
    “Wait for me!” Honey laughed, and a moment later they were running down the driveway, headed for the Belden farm.
    The telephone was ringing in the kitchen when they came dashing in. Mrs. Belden, looking very harassed, was trying to peel potatoes and keep Bobby out of the cookie jar at the same time.
    “I’ll talk to you later!” she told Trixie. “Take over with Bobby. Get him ready for dinner. And, Honey, look at the roast, please.” She dashed for the phone.
    The girls obeyed the orders quickly, but, as Trixie was leading Bobby upstairs for a wash-up, she heard her mother say, “Why, yes, Miss Trask. I think it’s a splendid idea. It might help a lot.”
    A few minutes later, when Honey joined her to help with Bobby and wash her own hands and face, she was full of curiosity about the conversation. “Did Moms tell you what Miss Trask’s splendid idea was? I’m dying to hear it!”
    “Goodness, you hear everything!” Honey teased her. Then she sobered. “It was about Dan Mangan. She’s given Regan permission to lend old Spartan to Mr. Maypenny so Dan can do his patrolling in the game preserve on horseback.”
    “I suppose Miss Trask wants us to teach him how to ride!” Trixie frowned.
    “I don’t mind. I’ll be glad to. We can talk to him about it tomorrow morning while were all waiting for the bus.”
    But Dan Mangan didn’t take that bus to school. He had gone in earlier. And all that week he went in earlier than they did, and when he met any of them on the school grounds, he either pretended not to see them, or he answered them as briefly as possible.
    At lunch on Friday, he sat with a group of boys a couple of tables away from the Bob-Whites, and he seemed to be very popular with them as he swaggered and sprawled at the table and talked big about his life in the city.
    “Listen to him!” Trixie whispered darkly to Jim. “That story he’s telling about how he talked back to the police captain when he was arrested! I bet he never was arrested in his whole life! And if he was, I bet he was too scared to peep!” She laughed, but Jim didn’t laugh with her.
    Instead, Jim looked serious. The others were busy talking over details of the carnival plans with Di Lynch, and Jim took the opportunity to speak soberly to Trixie.
    “I don’t know why Dan Mangan’s out in the country here working for Mr. Maypenny, but I get the idea, somehow, that he isn’t here because he wants to be. And I can tell by the look in his eyes that, no matter how big he talks, he’s scared.” Trixie frowned. “That’s sort of funny, Jim. You know, Honey said almost the same thing. She thought he looked sad, too. But I think he just looks ornery.”
    “I know somebody else who had the same reputation not so long ago. He was a runaway kid who didn’t believe anybody would want to be friends with him. Then he met two girls who made him change his mind. They even helped give him a sister and a dad and mother he’s very fond of.” Trixie looked at him solemnly a moment. “You mean you. And thanks for saying nice things about Honey and me. But it isn’t fair for you to say you were like Dan Mangan. You didn’t wear a black leather jacket and silly cowboy boots and talk about what a big man you were someplace else!”
    Jim’s eyes twinkled. “There’s nothing wrong with a black leather jacket, Trix. It’s warm. And it’s probably all Dan Mangan has to wear.”
    Trixie looked troubled. “I guess maybe you’re right, Jim.”
    “Try to be nice to the kid, Trix, even if