The Mystery of the Antique Doll

it’s suspicious for Mr. Reid not to know about antiques, at the bank we see that as an everyday occurrence.”
    “But Mrs. De Keyser says he doesn’t even have customers!” Trixie said. “What kind of a business is that? I still think it’s strange, and I’m going to investigate some more.”
    Her eyes flashed as she looked around the table. “Believe me, you’ll see who’s right!”



4 * Trixie Investigates

    THE FOLLOWING DAY after school, Trixie and Honey decided they’d better devote their entire afternoon to studying the list of spelling words for the contest. Mart insisted on helping them—in between his huge snacks—but Trixie complained that he was not being entirely helpful.
    “You’re just showing off, Mart,” Honey agreed, laughing. “We all know that you know a lot of big words, but I’ll bet you that the word prestidigitator isn’t anywhere on that list!”
    “It is inconsequential and irrelevant to worry about things like that!” said Mart. “How you can even begin to lay claim to the exalted position of local spelling finalist and potential Eastern Regional winner, without a thorough knowledge of spelling, is beyond me.”
    “You just want us to know you can pronounce that word!” Trixie argued.
    “Oh, by the way, ladies,” Mart said, faking a tremendous yawn, “I forgot to mention your newspaper assignments.”
    Trixie picked up one of the couch pillows and tossed it at Mart’s head.
    “Forgot?” she howled, as she took aim with another pillow. “How could you forget something like that? I have half a mind to bury you in feathers!”
    “Now don’t get excited! The articles aren’t due for three weeks, so try and be temperate. Smooth your ruffled feathers!”
    Honey, acting like an island of sanity in a sea of hysteria, grabbed the pillow from Trixie’s hand and sat on it.
    “Just tell us the assignment,” she said merrily. “Unless you’ve forgotten what it is.”
    “I most certainly didn’t forget what it is,”
    Mart said pompously. “We’re each supposed to choose a local merchant, and interview them about what they sell and how seasonal buying habits affect their merchandise. And at the same time we’re supposed to encourage them to take out ads in the school paper.”
    “Oh boy, that’s a hard one,” Trixie muttered. “They want interviews? What if the storekeepers don’t have time to talk to us?”
    “What if we don’t have time to talk to the storekeepers?” Honey asked.
    “Well, a newspaper can’t consist entirely of editorials, can it? Just because an opinion is easier to get down on paper doesn’t mean that’s what the people want to read about, little sister. Hieroglyphics.”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “Hieroglyphics. It’s the next word on the list, so start spelling!”
    “H-e-i-r-o-g-l-i—”
    “You might as well stop right there, because you’re way off,” Mart said. “You’ve already made two errors, and you’re not even finished with the word yet.”
    “Let me try,” Honey said, frowning slightly and closing her eyes to concentrate. “H-i-e-r-o-g-l-i—”
    “You’re both hopeless,” Mart said, throwing down the pillow he’d been holding. “I really doubt that either of you will win this contest. As a matter of fact, it completely escapes me how you even got to be local finalists.”
    Trixie started to throw the pillow she was holding at him, when suddenly she stopped. A bubble of laughter caught in her throat, and then Honey and Trixie began to giggle uncontrollably.
    “You’re just jealous, Mart,” Honey teased. “Don’t worry. If one of us wins, we’ll let you keep the trophy in your room, okay?”
    “Perhaps you should win it first—then we’ll discuss who gets to keep it!” Mart said. “I’m going out to practice basketball. You two don’t appreciate my attempts at your edification, that much is clear.”
    “That’s not true,” Trixie had to admit. “We’re glad you want to help us. By the way, that word is spelled e-d-i-f-i-c-a-t-i-o-n, for your edification!”
    Mart laughed. “See you later,” he called, and went to get his jacket.
    The girls settled down to some serious studying. They covered every word on the list twice—once for Honey, and once for Trixie. All the while, they could hear the wop-wop sound the basketball made on the driveway.
    “Studying together is so much fun,” Honey said, “but I think I’d better head home now, Trixie. Miss Trask already thinks I’ve