The Mystery of the Antique Doll

homework.”
    “Gleeps, Moms, I know all that,” Trixie said. “But I always have some time to help someone out, don’t I?”
    “Yes, I suppose you always do,” Mrs. Belden said with a proud smile.
    “If we both help, it’ll be easy,” Honey offered. “We can get the school bus driver to let us off at Mrs. De Keyser’s house after school.”
    “And we were going to study for the spelling contest together anyway,” Trixie said. “We can test each other while we work. So this won’t interfere at all.”
    “I knew I could count on you girls,” Dr. Ferris said. He finished jotting down a few notes on Bobby’s record, and then stood up.
    “Isn’t Mrs. De Keyser the one who lives next to the new antique store that just opened on Glen Road?” Trixie asked, as she helped Bobby put on his coat. “We always see it as we go by on the school bus. We’ve been wanting to stop in and have a look.”
    “That’s her,” Dr. Ferris replied. “The store is called The Antique Barn, I believe, and it’s right next door to Mrs. De Keyser’s house.”
    “Well, now we’ll get a chance to look at all the antiques,” Honey said hopefully. “Should we stop by Mrs. De Keyser’s house this afternoon, or do you think it can wait until tomorrow?”
    “Tomorrow will be just fine. I’ll tell her to expect you,” Dr. Ferris said, ushering them out the door. “And, Bobby, I want you to keep right on eating all that good food your mother makes for you, and grow up big and strong.”
    “Like your sister, right?” Trixie giggled and made a small muscle in her arm.
    “Superman!” Bobby yelled, as he jumped down the three steps of the doctor’s office and ran ahead to the car.
    Trixie and Honey climbed in after him, and Mrs. Belden backed out of the parking lot. She drove back toward town, and soon they came to Main Street.
    “I have to stop at the market before we go home,” she said. “I’m out of onions. I won’t be long, so why don’t you three just stay in the car and wait for me?”
    But as she was about to pull the car into the one empty space in front of the little grocery store, another car shot in front of her and pulled into the spot. Helen Belden jammed on the brakes and just managed to avoid hitting the other car broadside.
    “Well, of all the nerve,” she said, surprised at the other driver’s behavior. “Oh, well, I guess I’ll just go into that spot across the street.”
    “Who was it, Moms?” Trixie asked.
    “I’m not sure,” her mother answered. “But it doesn’t matter. I’ll be right back, kids.” While they waited in the car, Bobby played the game he loved most when he was with his older brothers. Trixie was not good at the game, but she agreed to play because Bobby had been such a good boy.
    “That’s a Ford!” Bobby yelled as he watched a car go by. “And that’s a Bee-yoo-ick!”
    “You’re absolutely right,” Honey said. She winked at Trixie, and leaned over to whisper in Bobby’s ear.
    “Bobby, when you play this game with us, you’re always right. Do you know why?”
    “Yes,” Bobby said firmly. “Because you don’t know the names of any of the cars and I know all of them, that’s why.”
    “That’s right,” Honey said. “But then how do we know when you’ve made a mistake?”
    “I never make a mistake,” Bobby said, smiling happily.
    “Hey,” Trixie said, tapping Honey on the arm. “Take a look at that car—the one that cut Moms off.”
    She pointed to the sleek maroon foreign sedan that had cut off Mrs. Belden. It was still parked across the street.
    “That’s a Mercedes-Benz! Neat-o,” Bobby said, trying to purse his mouth into a whistle. A lot of air came out, but no whistle.
    Just then, Mrs. Belden came out of the store with her package. She was walking behind a man with his hat pulled down low over his eyes. The collar of his camel’s hair coat was turned up. He hurriedly got into the Mercedes-Benz, and started to back out into the oncoming traffic. Horns honked loudly.
    Mrs. Belden got behind the wheel of the station wagon. “Well, he’s certainly in a big rush,” she said. Her exasperation was evident in the tone of her voice. “He pushed ahead of me at the check-out counter.”
    “Who is that?” asked Trixie. “Does he live in Sleepyside?”
    “The cashier said he’s the man who just opened The Antique Barn next to Mrs. De Keyser’s house,” Mrs. Belden said, collecting herself.
    “Well, he has a very nice car,”