The Marshland Mystery

against his fluffy topknot. “He is awfully brave. He’s not afraid of anything. He’s my best friend, and we love each other.” The poodle licked the tip of her nose, as if he agreed, and then barked happily.
    They helped Gaye to her feet. Though she seemed a little unsteady for a moment, she got over it at once, and she and Bobby were soon running hand in hand up the driveway.
    “That story about Mr. Poodle Poo attacking the snake is pure fiction, and we know it!” Mart grinned as he shook a warning finger at Trixie.
    “Well, he was walking straight toward it when I called him back. He could have been going to attack it,” Trixie admitted with a giggle. “Anyhow, I made her feel a little friendlier. I actually got a smile from her!”
    “So, Mart, my lad”—Brian waved his hand—“Trixie didn’t really fib. It was like your telling Di that you did all right in that math exam last week, when actually you only passed by the skin of your teeth!”
    Mart flushed as the. girls giggled and Jim fought back a smile. They all knew that he was anxious to have Di admire him. It was obvious that he couldn’t think of anything to say for a moment, but when his eyes fell on the horses tied to the fence post, he scowled at Trixie and nodded toward them. “I’d hate to be in your shoes, Miss Trixie Belden, if Regan sees where you left Susie, standing in the wind!”
    “Gleeps! Thanks for reminding me, Mart,” Trixie said hastily. “Come on, Honey. We’ll do our duty, even though we’re fainting from fatigue!” She gave the boys a hopeful look.
    “Not a chance,” Brian said promptly. “You roped us into doing your work for you yesterday. Today you do it yourself!” Jim agreed, with a vigorous nod and a twinkle in his eye at Trixie’s disappointed pout.
    “Okay,” she said with a heavy sigh of resignation. “But if I should faint from exhaustion, you’ll have to finish.”
    “Oh, no! Don’t be a copycat, sister dear!” Brian chuckled. “It’s a good act only when Gaye does it!”
    “You mean she didn’t really knock herself unconscious just now? She was only making believe?” Trixie asked, her cheeks beginning to burn and her blue eyes flashing.
    Brian grinned and pretended to stroke an imaginary beard. “Doctors never tell,” he said in as deep a voice as he could manage.
    “I wondered about that.” Honey giggled. “She could not have fallen hard enough. I think she was a little stunned, and when she heard Trixie calling us, she just couldn’t resist acting a little.”
    “She certainly fooled me!” Trixie said angrily.
    “I wouldn’t let it upset me if I were you,” Jim said gently. “You’re a friend of Gaye’s now, because you said kind things about the puppy. And from what I’ve seen of the poor kid, she needs friends.”
    “I suppose so,” Trixie admitted. Then she smiled. “At least I know now that prodigies have some feelings.”
    “She adores that little dog,” Honey commented as she and Trixie were grooming their horses a few minutes later. “Look at her and Bobby romping up there with him now.”
    Trixie looked up toward the wide expanse of lawn. Gaye was chasing Bobby across the lawn, with Mr. Poo running at their heels. They were laughing and shouting. “Bobby.’s having the time of his life,” Trixie said a little wistfully and went back to her job.
    Honey looked at her mischievously. “There’s green in those blue eyes, Miss Belden!” She laughed, but the laugh stopped as she looked up toward the romping youngsters again. “Oh, dear, wouldn’t you know it?” she said disgustedly. “Here comes trouble!”
    Trixie looked and nodded agreement. Miss Crandall had suddenly emerged from the house and was stalking after Gaye. They watched her corner Gaye and then take her firmly by the arm and lead her into the house. The little dog romped after them, and the door was closed in Bobby’s face. He stood looking at the closed door for a long moment and then turned with an aimless air and wandered over toward the garage, where the boys were talking to Regan.
    “The course of true love,” Honey said lightly, “has hit a detour.”
    But Trixie, although she smiled a little at Honey’s joking remark, looked serious a moment afterward. “I guess,” she told Honey, “when a person is a prodigy, it’s wrong to have fun and want to play like ordinary people. I’m glad I’m not gifted. It must be sort of like being in a prison.”
    “I suppose that’s