The Mystery in Arizona

scrape the sky.”
    Bobby pulled away from her. “You don’t know nothin, Trixie.” He appealed to his older brothers. “Does she?”
    Brian chuckled. “She knows enough to correct your mistakes, Bobby.”
    Trixie gathered up her books, trying hard to keep back the tears which were burning behind her eyes.
    Slowly she trudged up the driveway behind her brothers. Bobby was right. She was stupid. Oh, why hadn’t she studied?
    Indoors, she hurried straight to her room and began to work on her math problems. In a few minutes Mart tapped on the door and poked his head inside.
    “Brian and I,” he said, “have parental permission to depart on Monday. And Honey just phoned to say that everything is all set so far as she and Jim are concerned.”
    “Don't rub it in,” Trixie moaned. “Did Moms and Dad say anything about me?”
    He shook his head and disappeared.
    Trixie kept on working until it was time to set the table for supper. Then she joined her mother in the kitchen.
    “Your father and I have been discussing the Arizona trip, dear,” Mrs. Belden told her.
    “Oh, I know I can’t go,” Trixie exploded. “I’ve got to stay home and cram for the midyears. Don’t let’s talk about it, Moms. Please.”
    Trixie’s young, pretty mother laughed. “I felt that you should stay home, too, but the men in this family are all for your going. Dad thinks it will be a very broadening, educational experience which you shouldn’t miss. The boys insist that you can study out there as well as you can here. Better, in fact, because Brian and Jim are going to tutor you.”
    Trixie could hardly believe her ears. “Th-then I-I c-can go?” she stuttered.
    Mrs. Belden nodded. “Only on the condition that you spend time every day doing the assignments Brian and Jim will give you.”
    “I will, I will!” Trixie shouted, throwing her arms around her mother’s neck. “Oh, Moms, you’re the most wonderful mother any girl ever had!” She dashed off to telephone the good news to Honey.
    “It’s great,” Honey agreed. “But we’ve got lots of shopping to do tomorrow. Miss, Trask says she’ll drive us to Peekskill. There’s a big store there where we can buy all the dude ranch clothes we’ll need. Can you leave right after breakfast?”
    “Oh, yes!” Trixie cried and hung up.
    In the days when Honey had been a “poor little rich girl,” Miss Trask had been her governess. Now, with the help of Regan, the friendly groom, Miss Trask ran the whole huge Wheeler estate.
    As Trixie set the table for supper, she told her mother about the shopping plans. “Is it all right if I go along?” she asked.
    “Of course,” Mrs. Belden replied. “You’ve plenty of jeans and T-shirts and sweaters and skirts, thank goodness. But you’ll need two pretty frocks to wear in the evening. I’m afraid that’s all we can afford, dear.”
    “One will be plenty,” Trixie said with a laugh. “I hate to get all dressed up.”
    But that evening when she went to bed she began to worry. Di and Honey would be able to buy plenty of expensive dude ranch clothes. Would she, Trixie, stick out like a sore thumb if she didn’t wear things like real cowboy boots and a ten-gallon Stetson hat?
    Di’s father, who had recently become a millionaire, had already announced that he intended to pay for the plane tickets, and while they were in Tucson they would be the guests of Di’s uncle. So there would be no expenses connected with that part of the trip. But clothes were something Trixie hadn’t thought about until Honey brought up the subject.
    “Well, there’s no sense in worrying,” Trixie finally decided and fell asleep.
    The next morning Honey settled the matter right away. “Daddy has given me a big check,” she said, “so we can buy everything we need. You’re not to spend a cent. It’s his Christmas present to us.”
    “Oh, I can’t accept it,” Trixie cried. “Moms and Dad would have a fit.”
    “No, they won t,” Miss Trask said with a smile. “Mr. Wheeler talked to your father while you were on your way up here. Mr. Belden finally agreed that you should accept the gift, Trixie.”
    Trixie grinned. “What a relief! Your dad is a regular Santa Claus, Honey, and I’ll never be able to thank him enough.”
    And when they returned from the shopping trip late that afternoon, Trixie felt as though she had really been visited by Santa. She donned her beautifully decorated cowboy boots immediately and began to practice