The Happy Valley Mystery

spareribs,” Ned went on, “but a couple of men showed up with fresh lamb carcasses and offered to sell them real cheap. The committee decided to have them instead. We’ll save money that way.”
    A light as bright as an electric bulb began to burn in Trixie’s brain.
    “Who were the men?” she asked.
    “I don’t know,” Ned said. “I talked to one of them. He said they had a frozen-food locker in Valley Park. These carcasses hadn’t been frozen, but if we didn’t take them, they’d have to go into the locker, and it was already pretty full. He offered them real cheap, and, well, we’re trying to make money on the barbecue.”
    “Didn’t anyone on the committee think there was anything queer about such an arrangement?”
    “Well, no. I guess some of them knew all about the locker. Why are you so bothered? Do you think you’re going to get poisoned?”
    “No,” Trixie said seriously, “I’m not worried about that. It just sounded too much like coincidence. There they were with the lambs, freshly killed, and here you were with a barbecue coming up.”
    “Say, you think of a lot of things that other girls don’t,” Ned said. Trixie wasn’t sure whether he meant that as a compliment.
    At the other side of the table, Jim was laughing and teasing the tall blond girl. Defiantly Trixie turned to Ned with a bewitching smile. She had watched Diana use such a smile to good advantage many times. “How do you know what girls think about?” she asked. “I’ll bet you just imagine all sorts of things. What do you think I’m thinking right now, for instance?”
    “I don’t know,” Ned said, “but all at once you sure don’t act natural. That’s what’s the matter with girls. They don’t act natural. I thought you were different.”
    “That’s what boys always say,” Trixie answered as she saw Jim put his arm across the chair back of the tall blond girl and lean over to talk to her. “And when girls act natural, boys lose interest.”
    “Not me,” Ned said. “I don’t go in much for girls, anyway. I don’t have much time.”
    “I guess you wouldn’t,” Trixie said, “if you play basketball.”
    “And baseball and football. I like all sports, and we have the best coach in the whole country.”
    “I’d match our Sleepyside coach against him any time,” Trixie said loyally.
    “Well, maybe,” Ned admitted. “He must be an ace basketball coach, anyway. Anyone could tell that from the way you and Jim and Brian and Mart threw that ball around. Say, I saw you go by on Mr. Belden’s Satan’s Baby this morning, coming back from Waterworks Park. You sure know how to ride! I don’t know why all girls aren’t interested in sports.” Ned motioned down the table to where Honey and Diana and some of the girls of Rivervale High were laughing and teasing the boys. “Don’t they act crazy?” he asked. “All they think about is dancing and lipsticks and combing their hair. Phooey!”
    “You couldn’t be more mistaken,” Trixie said. “Honey and Di can both shoot a basketball better than I can. They can ride better than I can. They can swim better than almost anyone and skate better, too. I just happened to be the one who got into the limelight!”
    “Gee whiz, I didn’t say anything about Honey or Di,” Ned said hastily. “You act as though you’d like to haul off and hit me. They may be able to ride and all that, but just look at them right now... both using lipsticks!”
    “I think I may need to use mine,” Trixie said and took out her compact.
    Ned laughed. “You’re just doing that because you’re irritated with me. They’re clearing the floor now for dancing. There’s some sense to dancing. It’s exercise.” He’s just about the queerest boy I ever met, Trixie thought to herself. I just have to get Jim and tell him about those lamb carcasses. I know whoever sold them
    to the school has something to do with Uncle Andrew’s stolen sheep.
    “You are sore at me,” Ned said. “You haven’t said a word.”
    “I’m not sore about anything. I was just thinking about something. Ned?”
    “Yes?”
    “If I tell you something, will you promise not to say anything about it to anyone?”
    “Sure. What is it?”
    “Well, it’s just this: I think those lambs that your school committee bought at such a bargain were stolen lambs. And I think they were stolen from my Uncle Andrew.”
    Whee-ew! Ned whistled. “What makes you think that? The men said they had a locker in