The Mysterious Code

League-Matt Devlin.”
    “Why, good evening!”
Mr. Stratton’s surprised voice interrupted Tad. “This is pretty late for you to
be in town on Thursday night. Of course, I know why you stayed.”
    “Yes, we couldn’t
possibly wait till tomorrow. We can’t possibly wait another minute!” Trixie
caught Mr. Stratton’s arm as he reached to open his door. “Tell us, won’t you?”
    “Yeah,” Tad said.
“The Hawks want to know, too.”
    “I’m sorry it’s too
late to ask you to come in,” Mr. Stratton said. “Here it is, straight from the
shoulder. I won’t tell you of the discussion that came first. The members of
the board were indignant about what has been going on at our junior-senior high
school.”
    “Did you tell them
we didn’t have anything to do with it?” Trixie asked.
    “No, because I don’t
think they were thinking in specific terms about anyone. When I had an
opportunity, I explained how the Bob-Whites came into existence. Then I
outlined the project you have in mind for UNICEF...”
    “And?” Trixie could
wait no longer.
    “Well, they didn’t
say outright that you would have to disband.”
    They all sighed with
relief.
    “What they did say,
however,” Mr. Stratton continued, “was that you would be expected to prove your
value ”
    The girls groaned.
The boys shuffled their feet. “They will be watching the outcome of the antique
show,” the principal went on. “So, boys and girls, it’s up to you. If you make
a great success of the show, and the members of the board see how well you can
work together to accomplish great good—they did think that raising money for
UNICEF is very worthwhile—then they will certainly encourage your work ”
    “Hurray!” they cried
in unison.
    A window went up
upstairs. “Jeepers, were sorry,” Trixie called up to Mrs. Stratton, whose head
appeared. “But thanks a million times, Mr. Stratton, We know it was the way you
talked to them that won them over. Thanks!”
    “Well, now, thank you,” Mr. Stratton said
and reached again for the doorknob.
    “Say, how about the
Hawks, sir?” Tad’s voice was low, most unusually humble.
    “The Hawks?” Mr.
Stratton repeated. “Oh, yes, the board members said right away that they could
continue—good for the health of the members— good for the school—yes. Now, good
night!”
    He went into the
house.
    Tad, cocky again,
and triumphant, shook his clasped hands over his head. “The winnah!” he said
and dashed away.
    “That’s what he
thinks,” Mart said as the group followed Tad up the street. Regan would be
waiting for them at the drugstore on Main Street.
    “Let’s not bother
about what Tad thinks,” Jim said. “Right, Trixie?”
    “Right, Jim!” What a co-president
he is! Trixie thought.
    Out in the street
they went, hand in hand, heads held up proudly.
    Nothing could stop
them now!

Treasures
in the Attic • 4
     
    Here comes Reddy again!” Bobby
shouted. “He’ll get right in front of my sled! Down, Reddy! Please go back
home, Reddy!”
    Trixie had taken her
little brother out to the hill behind Crabapple Farm to slide. Reddy, their
Irish setter, wanted to go sliding, too. That is, he wanted to do anything Bobby wanted to do.
It was plain which one of the Belden children he liked best. Maybe it was
because Bobby had more time to play with him.
    “Go back home,
Reddy!” Trixie ordered. “Bad, bad dog!”
    “He’s not a bad dog.
He’s a good dog. He minds me,” Bobby said. “Sit down, Reddy! Sit down and watch
me slide! Now, mind!”
    Reddy obediently settled
on his haunches at the top of the hill. He watched as Trixie settled her
brother on the sled, then pushed him on his way. Reddy did want so much to
play. He whimpered to try to tell them so.
    Down the hill Bobby
went. Trixie ran along behind him.
    The next time Reddy
did not sit still when Bobby started down. Instead, he ran back and forth,
barking, till the little boy pushed off.
    Then Reddy settled
himself on his haunches on the icy slide and went down after Bobby.
    At the bottom of the
hill, he jumped to his feet and barked furiously. “I can slide, too,” he seemed
to say.
    Again and again they
went down the hill; Bobby, then Reddy, sliding, and Trixie running along beside them.
    “This is the last
time this morning,” Trixie finally called as Reddy, tired of sliding, raced
after Bobby.
    “Reddy and me don’t
like last times,” Bobby said when Trixie caught up with him at the bottom of
the hill.