The Indian Burial Ground Mystery

Honey
and me clattering down the stairs, he panicked. The only way for him to leave
the room without being seen was through the window.”
    “I get it,” Brian said. “And as an afterthought—just to keep you and
Honey from getting a copy of the map, too—he stole the book.”
    “Right,” answered Trixie. “But he made one mistake. He forgot to take
his yellow pad. That’s how I managed to make a pencil rubbing of the treasure
map.”
    “Oh, dear,” sighed Mrs. Belden. “So many people think there’s gold
hidden around this neck of the woods. I’ve always wondered where they get the
idea that hidden gold would stay hidden for very long at the rate people look
for it.”
    Charles turned beet red, and looked down at his plate.
    “I think you have to live around here,” Brian said, seeing his friend’s
embarrassment, “to know how impossible finding gold really is.”
    “I bet Professor Conroy and Harry would have stolen the
gold from Charles—that is, if he ever found it,” Trixie said.
    “You’re probably right,” Honey added. “Well,” Mr. Belden said, clearing
his throat, “I think it’s time for me to tell you what my surprise is.”
    Trixie clapped her hand over her mouth. She was so engrossed in her
explanation of the day’s events that she’d forgotten all about her father’s
surprise.
    “This concerns Charles,” Mr. Belden began, directing his attention to
the silent young man at the end of the table. “Brian told me about your problem
with tuition for school. So this morning, after I’d heard about the amazing
feat you’d all accomplished, I decided to look into it. As an officer of the
bank, I thought there was something I might do to help.” There was a long
silence at the table. Everyone’s attention was on Mr. Belden.
    “I’ve cleared it with our loan department, and everything is all set,”
Mr. Belden went on. “If you’ll stop by the bank tomorrow, I’ll have all the papers
ready for you to sign. We at the First National Bank would be delighted if you
would give us the opportunity to help you finish your education—in comfort.”
    “You mean—you mean you’ll give me a loan?” Charles said slowly. “Why, I
don’t know what to say. I don’t know how to thank you, Mr. Belden. This is more
than I ever expected.”
    Charles leapt up, and quickly walked over to Mr. Belden. Grasping the
older man’s hand, he shook it gratefully.
    Unable to contain herself any longer, Trixie started to whoop. “Yippee!”
she yelled. Her joy was so infectious that Bobby joined in, and they were soon
followed by everyone else, including Reddy.
    “This is definitely something to celebrate,” Mart said, swallowing a
mouthful of salad. “I’ll have another hamburger in your honor, Charles!”
    You see,” Honey said happily, “everything worked out, just like Di said
it would.”
    “I guess you’re right,” Charles agreed. “I came here looking for
treasure, and I found the Bob-Whites, instead. Now that’s a treasure!”
    “And we’ll keep on looking for the gold, if you like,” Honey added. “If
we find it, we’ll give it all to you.”
    Trixie’s eyes brightened. “We still have the map.”
    “That’s nice of you,” Charles said, “but maybe you should give it to UNICEF. I’m sure those children
need the help a lot more than I do.”
    “You know what,” Trixie said with a slightly pained expression, “I
suddenly realized what this all means.”
    “Oh, no,” said Mart. “Not another mystery!”
    “No, silly,” Trixie said with a smile. “It means that now we have to go
back to being full-time candy stripers.”
    “And I’m supposed to believe that means no more mysteries?” Mart asked
with a sidelong glance at his sister.
    “Don’t bet on it,” Brian interrupted with a laugh. He tousled Trixie’s
blonde curls. “Where there’s Trixie, there’s bound to be a mystery!”