The Black Jacket Mystery

yeller,” Luke insisted with a sneer. “You’ve got it soft here, and your real friends don’t mean a thing to you anymore. I oughta give you a beatin’!”
    Trixie could see that Dan was afraid of the bigger boy. He stepped back a little as if he were expecting Luke to start hitting him at any moment.
    “Come on! I oughta leave you here, but I’ll give you one last chance. Are you comin’ or are you hangin’ around the backwoods some more?”
    “Aw, don’t rush me. I’m thinkin’ it over,” Dan said uneasily. “Anyhow, why can’t we just get out of here and head back to the city? We can figure out plenty of ways to get more money there than you can get breakin into Wheelers’. How about it, Luke? Let’s call off the action and pull out!”
    “Go ahead and welsh out, bud,” Luke said with a nasty laugh that made Trixie shudder. “But I’ll still go ahead the way we talked it over when your uncle was coming to get you from the court.”
    Even in the flickering light of the small fire, Trixie could see the expression of relief that came to Dan’s face at Luke’s words. “No hard feelings, Luke?”
    “Nah, kid!” Luke chuckled. “Only if I get nabbed by the cops, I’ll tell ’em you’re in on it, too. And I’ll tell ’em you clobbered old Maypenny and swiped his wallet.”
    “They won’t believe you! I wasn’t near the place! I didn’t know you were going to do it!”
    “Who’s goin’ to believe you, kid? Not the cops, not your Uncle Regan! Better change your mind and come along!” Luke laughed and picked up a small suitcase that had been sitting only a few feet from the fire. “Here!”
    Dan caught the small bag and stood holding it as Luke started to gather his own things.
    Trixie felt her heart sink. And then, as she tried to summon the courage to stop them and ask for help, she heard the eerie howl of the catamount just as Honey and she had heard it days before. And to her worried brain, it sounded as if it might be coming from the direction of the cave where Bobby was trapped and helpless. What if—if that had been its hiding place?
    Everything else was forgotten. She came out from behind the rock as Luke and Dan were turning away from the flickering fire.
    “Dan! You’ve got to help me! Bobby’s caught in a hole, and I can’t pull him out!” She stumbled and fell to her knees and burst out crying.
    Dan stopped, staring in amazement, and then, dropping his bag, he ran to her while Luke stood watching with a scowl.
    “Trixie!” Dan helped her to her feet. “What’s the idea of being way out here after dark? Don’t you have any brains?”
    “Trixie, hey?” Luke cut in before Trixie could start to explain. “So that’s the snooper! Come on, leave her there. She’s cooked up a story again, like you said she was always doin’. She don’t need any help. She’s probably tryin’ to stall us here so her snooty friends can catch you for Regan!”
    “I’m not!” Trixie glared at him through her tears. “Dan, you’ve got to believe me! Bobby’s stuck in a cave, and—” In the distance the catamount howled again, and she broke off with a little cry of despair. “If you don’t come and help him, that awful thing may get him!”
    “The poor little guy!” Dan said. “Where is he? How far is it?”
    “I’ll show you, but hurry!” Trixie pulled at his jacket sleeve. “Please, please hurry!”
    Dan looked apologetically at Luke. “Won’t take long. I’ll be right back. He’s only a six-year-old kid!”
    “And you’re a fool, Dan Mangan, if you think I’m hangin around any longer. Stay here with your friends, but don’t forget, if anything happens where I’m going, you’re in it deep!”
    With the last words, Luke turned and strode out of sight into the darkness of the woods.
    For a minute, Dan stared after him uncertainly. But Trixie pulled at his sleeve. “Please, Dan! We are your friends, really. Don’t mind him! Come and help Bobby, please!”
    “Okay, okay!” Dan said. “Which way? And we better hurry. That cat sounded nearer this time!” Trixie looked about quickly for the remains of the white wool sweater that she had dropped as she came out through the bushes into the clearing. It was still lying on the ground in front of the bushes, and the newly risen moon was shining clearly on it. “There! That’s the way!” She started toward it.
    “Wait a minute!” Dan called, and when she looked back impatiently, she saw him taking off