The Mystery at Maypenny's

anything wrong?” she asked.
    David looked startled. “I’m sorry,” he said.
    “I—I didn’t think anyone would notice. I guess I am a little worried.”
    “About what?” Brian asked.
    “About my uncle,” David replied. “He’s older than I thought he’d be. I worry about him, living so primitively at his age.”
    “Mr. Maypenny can take care of himself,” Jim said confidently.
    “What about that fire?” David demanded. “He wouldn’t have noticed it was out if Dan hadn’t mentioned it. I wonder if his eyesight’s failing.”
    “Mr. Maypenny can still bag a pheasant at forty yards,” Jim said. “His eyesight’s fine.”
    “As for his letting the fire go out,” Brian said, "I’m sure that had less to do with his eyesight than with his having company for the first time in years. He was probably so concerned with talking to you that he just forgot to check it. It’s perfectly understandable.”
    “I hope you’re right, of course,” David Maypenny said, still frowning. Then he grinned. “Actually, to a big-city boy like me, this type of life probably seems a lot more demanding than it really is. My uncle is probably much safer here than he would be on the streets of New York.” There was no time for further discussion, since Mr. Maypenny returned just then from the kitchen with a sliced cake, a stack of plates, and a handful of forks on a huge platter, along with a pitcher of milk and some glasses. For a time, chewing and murmurs of satisfaction replaced conversation.
    When they had finished, Mr. Maypenny went outside to check on the fire. As he left, Trixie realized for the first time that Dan had never joined the group inside the cabin. She started to speak, but her glance was caught by Jim’s. The red-haired boy shook his head slightly, and Trixie knew that he was signaling her not to say anything.
    He’s right, Trixie thought. There’s no way I can mention Dan’s absence without upsetting everybody. If he’s outside because he and David don’t get along, then I’d be sure to embarrass David if I said anything.
    Trixie forced herself to join in the conversation. The Bob-Whites told David Maypenny about their life in Sleepyside, and David told them about what it had been like to grow up in New York.
    “As I said before,” David concluded, “I’m a big-city boy. I don’t know a thing about small towns, and I know even less about the country.” Suddenly he started to laugh. “When my uncle was building the fire for the stew this afternoon, I watched him start with little twigs and put on bigger ones and then add wood, and I said—” David broke off and shook his head, looking embarrassed. “I said, ‘Where’s the charcoal?’ I had never seen a cooking fire made of wood before. Can you believe it?”
    “I can,” Honey said quickly. “Why, until my parents sent me to camp for the first time, I didn’t even know about charcoal. ”
    Everyone was laughing as Mr. Maypenny stuck his head in the door for a moment and called, “Soup’s on! I have the bowls out here, so just come on out and help yourselves.”
    The Bob-Whites and David Maypenny went outside, helped themselves to hunter’s stew and biscuits, and returned to the cabin. This time Dan came along and sat quietly in a corner, concentrating on his food.
    They had just finished eating, and Mart was wondering whether he could possibly find room for seconds when they heard the sound of a car engine outside. They looked at one another in puzzlement. Mr. Maypenny seldom had visitors —especially not someone in a car. The Bob-Whites always walked or rode the Wheelers’ horses or their own bicycles.
    They listened in silence as the engine was turned off and the car door opened and slammed shut.
    The sound seemed so eerie in the stillness of the September evening that Trixie jumped in spite of herself when she heard the knock on the door.
    Mr. Maypenny frowned at the door for a moment as if he were trying to see through it to the person outside. Finally he got up, crossed the small room in a few steps, and opened the door.
    “Mr. Maypenny?” said the voice from outside. “I’m happy to meet you. My name is John Score.”
    The Bob-Whites exchanged surprised looks as Mr. Maypenny said, “Well, come on in, John. We’re just having ourselves a little party. Join the fun.”
    John Score followed Mr. Maypenny back into the room, and Trixie swiveled in her chair to get the earliest possible glimpse of the young