The Black Jacket Mystery

shop!”
    “I thank you for the kind letter of recommendation,” Honey said with a laugh. They rode on together till they came to the Wheeler driveway and had a clear view of the clubhouse.
    Jim and Brian were just coming out. “Hey! Where have you two been? We've been waiting for you to come and start painting!” Jim called, shaking his finger at them.
    Honey spoke quickly to Trixie. “Do we have to tell them about my watch right now? They might get angry with Dan if we tell them we suspect him.”
    Trixie hesitated. “All we could tell them honestly is that you lost it, somebody found it, and you got it back. And they’d tease you about being careless.”
    “Thanks, Trix. That’s how I felt. It doesn’t seem fair to drag Dan Mangan’s name into it till we know.”
    “Why the deep conference?” Brian laughed as he and Jim came up to them. “Why so serious?”
    “If you had to make five or six beds before lunch, you’d look serious, too. To say nothing about getting lunch ready for some half-starved characters like I see before me!” Trixie answered saucily.
    “Sounds like a hint she needs help. Shall we sacrifice ourselves on the household altar?” Jim asked with a twinkle.
    “The offer’s accepted, with thanks!” Trixie giggled. “They’ve promised to unsaddle for us and clean the tack.” She swung out of her saddle. “Let’s give them a chance to be our heroes!”
    “Pure gall!” Jim sighed. “But I’m afraid it’s our only chance of getting fed today. Run along, little ones!” He helped his adopted sister lightly out of her saddle. “And now, scoot, both of you! We’ll expect a feast for the gods in half an hour!”
    “You’ll get ham sandwiches and milk in about an hour, or fix your own lunches!” Trixie retorted.
    “And make plenty while you’re at it!” Jim called after them, while Brian stood by smiling.
    It was a couple of hours later that the girls got back to the little clubhouse to start their painting. They found that Jim had done an excellent job of sketching the Mexican figures and blocking in the words announcing the date of the ice festival. The girls went to work at once, splashing gay colors on the cardboard.
    Early winter darkness was beginning to settle around the small cottage as they finished several posters and laid them aside to dry.
    The boys had gone to the lake with the first load of rough planks that were to become booths for the carnival. Brian was driving his jalopy with Jim beside him, and Mart, well-bundled, perched on top of the lumber.
    “There, that’s the end!” Trixie added a final dab of bright crimson poster paint to the skirt of a dancing señorita. “How’s this? It sort of hits you in the eye with all the reds and greens, doesn’t it?”
    “I think its gorgeous,” Honey said loyally. “Besides, red and green are Mexican colors, and it was clever of you to use so much of them—”
    All at once the wind struck the small window that faced toward the driveway and rattled it as if a fist had banged on it. Both girls jumped and stared, frightened, at the window. Then the wind rattled it again, and they saw there was no one glaring in at them. Only darkness.
    “Sounds like the start of another storm,” Trixie exclaimed. She hurried to the window and peered out. “It’s beginning to snow. Guess we’d better start for home now.” She pressed closer to the pane and shielded her eyes from the lamplight. “Somebody’s riding up. It’s Regan!”
    “I suppose he jumped all over poor Dan,” Honey said unhappily. “I wish I hadn’t told Mr. Lytell it was my watch.”
    “But you had to, Honey,” Trixie reminded her soberly. “It’s too bad about Dan Mangan, especially if he’s Mr. Maypenny’s grandson, but I guess Regan and your dad have a right to want people they can trust around the place.”
    She went to the door to open it for Regan. The snow was driving hard as the tall red-haired groom came up. His head and shoulders were whitened by it as if someone had sprinkled powdered sugar over them. Trixie couldn’t help noticing it, and she was about to mention it, when she saw his expression.
    She changed her mind and instead said hastily, “Come in. We saw you ride up.”
    “No time to visit. I’ve been longer than I expected,” Regan said brusquely. “I thought maybe I’d find some of you kids here. I wanted to tell you that you won t have any more trouble with Dan Mangan. Mr. Maypenny will be sending him away