The Gatehouse Mystery

asked.
    Dick got out of the car and said, "I took him into the village after his lesson. Said he wanted to get a crew cut like Mart's. He roasted while he was mowing the lawn earlier."
    "But where is he now?" Honey asked worriedly. "We're going to have supper soon and go to the movies."
    Dick shrugged. "He said not to wait supper for him. He's going to have a bite at the dog wagon and meet you at the Cameo."
    "Oh," Honey said in a relieved tone of voice. "I thought he might be planning to walk home after his haircut. He'd never get here in time for supper if he did."
    Trixie was staring at Dick. "Did you say Jim was going to eat at the dog wagon?" she asked in a puzzled tone of voice. "Why, he hates that place."
    Dick walked away without bothering to reply, and Honey bit her lip. They hurried into the house, and while they changed into cool, cotton dresses, she said, "It makes me furious. Dick is so rude to you, Trixie."
    "Skip it," Trixie said cheerfully. "Let's put our bait back in its proper place. We'll catch him in our trap at midnight, and then it'll be my turn to be rude." Together, they returned the jewelry box to Honey's dressing table in the room across the hall. "Wasn't it a scream," Honey asked when they were back in Jim's former room, "the way neither of us noticed the box on the bureau in here this morning? If it had been a snake, it would have bitten me."
    "Me, too," Trixie admitted ruefully. "But after all, Honey, while we were getting ready to go swimming before lunch, we had our minds on forged signatures." Miss Trask came in then and sat down on the window seat. "It hardly seems worthwhile taking food out of the refrigerator. Brian and Mart said they couldn't eat a thing, and Jim won't be home. How do you girls feel about food?"
    "We're not a bit hungry," Honey said. "Let's have a picnic supper when we get back from the movies. It should be cooler then."
    "A good idea," Miss Trask said. She glanced at Honey appraisingly. "Your hair should be trimmed, dear. I don't blame Jim at all for getting a crew cut."
    "Is he really going to?" Trixie asked curiously. "Did he tell you that when he phoned, Miss Trask?"
    "Why, no," Miss Trask said. "He didn't phone, Trixie. He sent word by Dick that he would meet us in the Cameo lobby at seven thirty."
    "He didn't phone!" Trixie repeated, surprised. "Why, even Mart has better manners than that. I can't believe Jim would make plans without asking your permission, Miss Trask. The line must be out of order."
    Miss Trask smiled. "It isn't really a question of manners, Trixie. Jim is very independent, you know. And he's so sensible. I never worry about him."
    "I still think the line must be out of order," Trixie said stubbornly. "It wasn't like Jim not to call you."
    Miss Trask sighed. "Both the phones are working, dear. I'm so hot I telephoned Regan instead of walking across to the garage. I just called him a minute ago to tell him that we're going to leave all the doors and windows open. We don't want to shut in the hot air and shut out the cool air, but it may rain before we get back."
    "I hope it pours," Honey said and added quickly, "Oh, no, I don't. If it does, Regan will have to leave the television set while he and Dick close the house. Regan is wild about the wrestling matches."
    "I know," Miss Trask said with another sigh. "But Celia and the cook are just as wild about the Saturday evening TV programs. Maybe we should shut up the house ourselves and leave them all in peace."
    "Oh, let's not," Honey pleaded. "I'd rather come back and find every room a swimming pool than shut out an inch of the cool evening air."
    Miss Trask glanced out of the window at the gray-blue sky. "I have it," she said suddenly. "I like to watch the wrestling matches, too, although I'm not quite as wild about them as Regan is. I'll drop you children off at the movies, and then I'll invite myself to share Mr. Lytell's television set with him. He's asked me to a dozen times, and his home is so near I could get back here in plenty of time to prevent swimming pools at the first drop of rain."
    Honey threw her arms around Miss Trask. "Everyone leaves the worst chores to you," she cried. "It's not fair. You go to the movies with Trixie and the boys. I'll stay here and keep an eye on things."
    "I'll stay with you," Trixie said quickly. She grinned at Miss Trask. "You don't really want to miss two hours in an air-cooled theater, do you?"
    Miss Trask chuckled. "You're both sweet, generous girls;