The Mystery at Mead's Mountain

“Mother!”
    A muffled scream answered him.
    By the time Trixie reached the happy twosome, Ellen Johnson was sitting up against the side of the cave, and Eric had removed her gag and was working at the ropes around her wrists and ankles. By the light of the lantern helmets, Trixie saw a couple of paperback novels and the charred remains of a fire. It did not look like a nice place to spend two weeks.
    “How—how is Dad?” Ellen managed to ask. “He didn’t make the money for those crooks, did he?”
    “He’s okay,” Eric said soothingly. “He made the money, but the crooks have been caught.”
    “I’m so glad,” sighed Ellen.
    The others gathered around Eric and Ellen, saying nothing, but grinning widely. Finally Pat said, “Honestly, Eric, the least you could do is introduce your mother.”
    “Just a minute,” Eric mumbled, still working on the ropes around Ellen’s wrists.
    “They’re very expertly tied,” said Ellen. “I tried constantly, but I wasn’t able to loosen these ropes.”
    “Your kidnappers were merchant marines,” Trixie explained. “Sailors are very good at tying knots.” Then she was silent. Maybe no one cared about Bert and Jack, now that Ellen was safe.
    “How are you? Did they hurt you?” Eric demanded. “I think I’m basically okay,” Ellen replied. “I’m just so glad to see you. I heard voices coming up the cliff, but I thought it was the kidnappers. I wasn’t about to get excited for them.”
    Eventually Eric untangled the ropes and made the introductions. Ellen smiled at each of them. It was obvious that Eric had inherited his perfect white teeth and easy manner from her.
    “I can’t thank you enough,” she said. When she tried to stand up, her wobbly legs wouldn’t hold her, and she collapsed into Eric’s arms. “All I need is a little practice,” she said weakly. “It’s been a while.”
    “Oh!” Honey cried. “I was so happy to see you I’m forgetting myself. Katie sent some sandwiches and hot soup for you.”
    “How thoughtful of her, whoever she is,” said Ellen. “One of the kidnappers—the short one, I believe— brought me sandwiches and fruit every day. But he didn’t come today, and I’d give anything for something warm to drink. The one bright spot in this whole thing is discovering that so many people I don’t even know care about me.”
    After Ellen had taken some nourishment, Eric and Brian supported her back down the cliff to where Pat was arranging blankets in the litter. They helped her into it and secured the blankets around her. Then the whole group carefully made their way back down the narrow path and to the lodge.
    Ellen protested vigorously against going to the hospital. The kidnappers had been taken into custody by the police, and she wanted to spend some time resting with Carl and Eric and her new friends. Mart and Jim built a toasty fire in the fireplace, while Carl and Eric helped Ellen onto the couch and the doctor began his check. Katie hurried to the lodge kitchen to bring back enough food for everyone, and Miss Trask made tea in the suite’s kitchen. Pat and Brian went to check on the party and tell Linda and Wanda to join the crowd in the Bob-Whites’ suite. Di and Honey ran to get pillows and blankets for Ellen, and Trixie just sat on the couch, so happy she couldn’t think of anything to do or say.
    After everyone was settled around the fireplace, Trixie and the others told the whole story from the beginning.
    “I just can’t believe how you figured this whole thing out, Trixie,” Pat said when she was through. “Did you always know it was Bert and Jack, or did you ever think it might be someone else?”
    Trixie turned beet red. “Well, there were a couple of other suspects at one time, but that doesn’t matter now.”
    “Why, Pat!” cried Katie. “I think by the way Trixie’s blushing that we must have been her other suspects. Is that true, Trixie?”
    “We did jump to a few wrong conclusions,” Trixie admitted in a sheepish voice.
    Mart nodded energetically.
    “What could have possibly made you think it was us?” asked Pat.
    “Well, you talked about how you were being forced to leave the lodge,” Trixie said hesitantly. “And you said you wished you had enough money to buy a place in the country. You had opportunity to do all the strange things that the ghost was supposed to have done. And you were there the night that Eric passed the phony money at the restaurant.”
    “Heavens, it