The Mystery at Maypenny's

groaned. “I can just hear him,” she said. She lowered her voice in an imitation of Mr. Maypenny’s. “ ‘I’ve been hunting and fishing on this land since before you were born, Matt Wheeler!’ ”
    In spite of herself, Honey giggled. “That’s it exactly,” she said. Then her voice grew serious again. “That’s not all, though. He went on to say that there had never been a case of botulism in the preserve until International Pine moved in. That made Daddy mad, according to Jim. He shouted, ‘Botulism is not a by-product of furniture making, you old goat.’ ”
    Trixie groaned again.
    “Then,” Honey continued, “Mr. Maypenny began shouting about those greedy fools building their smoky factory right on the marshy area where the ducks have fed since Indian days, so the ducks have had to go to some germy swamp for food.”
    “Do you suppose that’s really why the ducks are getting botulism all of a sudden, Honey?”
    “Jim says it could be,” Honey reported. “I think he’s having second thoughts about whether Daddy should sell any land to International Pine.”
    “Oh, woe,” Trixie moaned. “I thought this whole thing would be settled today after the town council meeting. Now even if they vote to change the zoning laws, Jim might persuade your dad not to sell, and the whole thing will probably start over again on another parcel of land.”
    “The company might decide not to build in this area at all,” Honey reminded her. “That would be too bad, too—I mean, if the council decides that most of the people in Sleepyside want the factory here.”
    “That reminds me,” Trixie said. “Mart and Brian and I are going to the meeting. Would you like to come along?”
    Honey hesitated. “Daddy and Jim are going together,” she said. “They offered to take me along, but— Oh, Trixie, I think I’d rather go with you. I’m afraid they’re both going to lose their tempers during that meeting. Does that sound cowardly?”
    Trixie pictured the big, redheaded Matt Wheeler. Then she remembered the look of cold fury in Jim’s eyes the few times she’d ever seen him get really angry. “If that’s cowardly,” she told Honey, “then you can dress me like a chicken, because I wouldn’t want to be around them, either. We’ll pick you up around twelve-thirty.”
    “I’ll be ready,” Honey promised.

    By the time Honey and the three Beldens arrived at town hall, the parking lot outside was filled with cars. Brian maneuvered his jalopy skillfully into a tiny parking place a block away, and the four young people ran all the way to the building and up the marble steps.
    The meeting room was jammed with people, and the four Bob-Whites were forced to stand in the back of the room. Scanning the crowd, Trixie spotted two redheads in the front row. She nudged Honey and pointed. “There are Jim and your father,” she said.
    Honey craned her neck to see them. “They won’t miss a thing from where they’re sitting,” she said. Then she giggled. “Nobody will miss them, either.”
    The five town council members were sitting at a long table facing the crowd. The chairman of the council had a gavel, which he now pounded on the table. “I’d like to call this meeting to order,” he said loudly, making his voice heard above the noise of the crowd. “Before we start the discussion on the rezoning, George Gemlo, who is the head of the local office of the state wildlife department, has asked if he could make an important announcement. George?”
    George Gemlo, who had been leaning against the wall at the front of the room, stepped forward. “The announcement I have to make today isn’t a very pleasant one, I’m afraid. We have confirmed two cases of botulism in ducks found in the game preserve owned by Matthew Wheeler.” The reaction from the crowd was immediate. Shocked gasps and cries of “Oh, no!” rose above the rumble.
    George Gemlo held his hands up to request silence. “The strain of botulism in these ducks is not—I repeat, not —harmful to humans. However, it is very important that we find the source of the bacteria and get rid of it. Employees of the state wildlife department are already at work on the problem. What I would like to request is that everyone try to avoid going into the wildlife areas until further notice. Your presence will only hamper our investigations. I’ve contacted the Sun , and that request, as well as more details on the cases of botulism we’ve found,