The Indian Burial Ground Mystery

was obviously
surprised to see how chummy his sister and Charles had become.
    “I suppose you’re right,” Brian said with a shrug. “Why not give it a
try?”
     
    The next morning, Trixie’s plan to catch the thieves went into effect.
    Trixie met Honey at the foot of the driveway to the Manor House, and
then they rode their bicycles into Sleepyside. Trixie was so excited, she could
hardly breathe. When they arrived at the hospital, they immediately went to see
Professor Conroy. After fluffing up his pillows and straightening his blanket,
they were ready to begin. Honey pulled up a chair and sat down. Trixie stood
behind her.
    “I have something to tell you, Professor Conroy,” Honey said. “I’m going
to have to leave the dig.”
    “That is most unfortunate,” Professor Conroy said. He seemed distracted,
and uninterested in Honey’s news. “Well, it’s been very nice having you, my
dear.”
    “I hope my leaving won’t be an inconvenience, but it can’t be helped,”
Honey went on. “My parents are staying in Europe longer than they’d planned, and Miss Trask and I are joining them there. We’re closing
down the house for the rest of the summer. I’m sorry. I know you need all the
help you can get, especially now that you’re sick.”
    The professor lifted his head from the pillow, and Trixie saw a look of
intense interest cross his face. But he quickly softened his expression.
    “It’s no problem,” he confided in a gloomy tone. “We might have to cut
the dig short, anyway. This injury is affecting my ability to supervise.
However, it certainly has nothing to do with you. Please don’t worry about it.”
    “Oh, I’m so glad you don’t mind,” Honey said, pretending to be relieved.
“I was upset about backing out on such short notice.”
    “Short notice?” asked Professor Conroy. “When are you leaving, my dear?”
    “Miss Trask is packing now, and we’re leaving on a 6 o’clock flight
tonight. I know it’s awful for you, but—”
    “Don’t think a thing about it, Miss Wheeler,” the professor said with
kind concern. “I hope you’ll have a happy summer.”
    “Oh, thank you,” Honey said warmly. “I’m sure I’ll have a very happy
time, and I hope you get better soon.”
    “Why, thank you,” the man said. Then he sank back on his pillows weakly,
casting his eyes to the ceiling. “I hope so, too. Now, though it’s been lovely
talking with you, I need to rest.”
    “I’m so sorry, Professor Conroy,” Trixie said, hoping she sounded
contrite. “Of course, we’ve tired you out.”
    “Not to worry, girls. I’ll just take a short nap now, and I’m sure I’ll
feel more chipper.” Professor Conroy closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
Trixie and Honey tiptoed out of the room. They quietly closed the door behind
them, and then ran for the stairwell where no one could hear them.
    “Oh, brother,” Trixie gasped. “Did you hear that? He fell for it—hook,
line, and sinker!” Honey could barely control her laughter. “We’ll see if he
did, won’t we?”
    The girls continued their rounds. The morning went slowly, but 1 o’clock
finally came. With a burst of enthusiasm, they rode home as quickly as they
could. Trixie ran into her house and found her mother in the kitchen.
    “Moms,” she said, “Di and I are going to stay over at Honey’s tonight.
Is that all right with you?”
    “Of course, dear,” Mrs. Belden answered. “Why, we’ll be practically
alone tonight. Mart and Brian just told me they’re going to visit Jim at summer
camp tonight. There’s supposed to be a powwow.”
    “You still have Bobby to keep you company,” Trixie said with a laugh.
    “Thank goodness for that. I don’t know if we’d be able to stand too much
silence after all these years of a home filled with noisy children.”
    Trixie threw her arms around her mother and gave her a big kiss. Then
she bolted upstairs and collected her nightgown and toothbrush.
    “ Where’ya going, Trixie?” Bobby called to her
as she started down the stairs.
    “To Honey’s,” Trixie called back. “See you tomorrow.”
    “You want to help me with my garden tomorrow?” Bobby shouted to Trixie.
“You said you would.”
    Trixie stopped for a minute, somewhat ashamed. It was true that she’d
promised Bobby she’d help him. But so many things had happened that she’d
completely forgotten.
    “Maybe not tomorrow, Bobby,” said Trixie, “but definitely the day