The Mystery in Arizona

now. “And again last night to a teacher at the school after La Posada .”
    He threw up his hands. “Okay. But it’s got to be our secret, Trix. I’ll lose my job if you give me away, although Mr. Wilson knows, of course, that I’m working for my Ph.D. at the University. This is just a part-time job so I can earn the money for my expenses.”
    “Oh!” Trixie exclaimed. “Then someday you will be Dr. Stetson?”
    He nodded. “After I finish my thesis—and if it’s good enough. There’s an assistant-professorship waiting for me at the University when I get my degree. Last year I earned my expenses teaching math at the Indian School. But a boarding-school teacher doesn’t have much time to himself in the evening. Among other things, there are always papers to be corrected, pupils who need extra instruction, and—”
    “Math!” Trixie croaked. “If ever a pupil needed special instruction in that subject it’s me... I mean I.” She thrust her workbook at him. “Does problem three make any sense to you?”
    He glanced through it swiftly. “Easy as failin’ off a hoss. Come sit here beside me on the glider, and I’ll show you where you went off the beam.”
    In less than a minute Trixie discovered, to her amazement, that the problem was really very simple, after all. In another minute she had worked out the right answer.
    “You certainly are a wonderful teacher,” she sighed with relief. She explained to him then why she had to study during the holidays. “The trouble with the boys is,” she finished, “they have no patience with me. No”—she corrected herself with a giggle—“the truth is that I have no patience. I didn’t really read that problem carefully. If I had, I wouldn’t have had the answer come out in gallons instead of square miles. No wonder Jim glares at me when I make such stupid mistakes.”
    Tenny laughed. “I’d like to keep on helping you while I’m here, but I can’t. A lot of the dudes wouldn’t like it if they knew I was working for my Ph.D. They want their cowboys to behave and talk like the cowboys they’ve read about and seen in the movies and on TV. So you mustn’t give me away, Trix.”
    “I won’t,” she promised solemnly.
    He took her hand and swung her to her feet. “Get rid of that workbook. The rodeo will start soon.”
    Trixie reached in through the window and dropped the workbook on the floor. Then she and Tenny started off for the corral.
    “I’ve been wondering,” he said, “why you didn’t go riding with the other kids. I’m glad that mystery has been cleared up. You look as though you could ride like a streak.”
    “I’m nowhere near as good as Honey and Jim are,” Trixie told him, “but I just love it.” Then she added thoughtfully, “Now I know why you didn’t bother to speak cowboy lingo to Rosita. She recognized you right away, because you were her math instructor last year.”
    He nodded. “I feel awfully sorry for that kid. It’s a shame she can’t finish school. Her ambition is to be an airline stewardess, you know, but she can’t apply without a high-school diploma.”
    “Oh, that’s awful,” Trixie moaned. “Don’t you think she’ll go back to school when her father is able to use his hand again?”
    He stopped on the gravel path to stare down at her. “So you know all about drat accident?”
    “Yes,” Trixie said, “and I also know now why you said Mrs. Sherman has a heart as big as a horse blanket. You found out that she bought Rosita’s jewelry for a hundred dollars.”
    “Rosita finally told me,” he said, “because she was afraid I might think she had stolen it.” He shook his head. “Rosita is her own worst enemy. She is so very proud. Leaving school now will mean that if she wants to get her diploma, she will have to go back next fall and repeat the whole year. I’m afraid she won t do that because it would look as though she had been kept back; moreover, she would be the oldest girl in her class. Kids of that age are very sensitive about things like that. No,” he finished, “she’ll stay on here or get a similar job at another place. And there goes her dream of being a flight stewardess.”
    “We’ve got to do something about Rosita,” Trixie said determinedly. “I’ll talk to the other Bob-Whites. Maybe they’ll have some good ideas.”

In the Op’ry House • 16

    ARE YOU GOING to ride in the rodeo?” Trixie asked Tenny as they continued on down toward the corral.
    He roared