The Mystery of the Blinking Eye

me, anyway? You’d think I really believed in it!”
    Time passed quickly as they discussed the prophecy. Much later, Brian walked to the window and looked out. “The rest of the gang is back from the zoo. The cab’s just stopping down in front to let them out. Tell them, Trixie, and see what they think.” Barbara and Bob, Ned, Diana, Dan, and Mart burst through the door of the apartment, all talking and laughing at once.
    “Gosh, the zoo was the greatest!” Bob said happily. “How are you feeling, Trixie?” He looked at Trixie with concern. “What did her knee look like, Brian?” Barbara slipped off her shoes and curled up in a chair. “You look a lot better, Trixie,” she said, “but kind of queer. You look funny—odd....”
    “Yeah, what’s up?” Mart asked curiously. “Come °n, give!”
    So Trixie and Honey, talking together, told them about the prophecy and let them read it. Jim called their attention to its application to the incident outside the park that morning.
    Excited, they sat on the floor in a circle, shouting out as each couplet was read. Mart ridiculed it from time to time, although he didn’t miss a word that was read.
    Miss Trask arrived to find them sitting, sprawling, and pacing the floor. Barbara was hopping from one stockinged foot to the other.
    “What happened?” Miss Trask asked quickly when she spied the bandage on Trixie’s knee.
    “I’m all right!” Trixie said reassuringly. “But listen to what really happened!”
    After they told her, Miss Trask said sadly, “I wish I’d never translated it for you.” Her voice quieted them. “I can see what is going to happen from now on. Trixie Belden, you’ll actually wish those awful things into happening.”
    “I honestly won’t do any such thing,” Trixie said, laughing. “I’m not silly enough to think anyone would know in advance what is going to happen to anyone. It’s just fun and exciting.”
    Miss Trask sighed, appearing somewhat relieved. “I don’t know what to think about you, Trixie. I really can’t decide.”
    “You’re not alone in that, for sure,” Mart said fervently.
    “I like Trixie,” Barbara said indignantly. “I think, it’s the most wonderful, wonderful thing in the world to be near her. Things happen!”
    “You can say that again,” Mart admitted. “When do we eat around here? I don’t suppose Trixie had better go out anyplace tonight.”
    “We don’t want to go anyplace, anyway,” Bob and Barbara said, practically in unison. “There are some good programs on TV,” Barbara added.
    “I’ve a big casserole ready to pop into the oven,” Miss Trask said with a smile. “Trixie should have all the rest she can possibly get if you are all going to see the United Nations tomorrow.”

    “I’m ashamed of myself. I slept just like a log last night,” Trixie said next morning when the group had gathered for breakfast.
    “I did, too,” Barbara echoed. “I never thought either one of us would shut an eye after all that excitement yesterday. Trixie, you aren’t even limping this morning.”
    “No. I’m good as new. Let’s get going. I suppose it’s the hospital again for you, Miss Trask?”
    “Yes,” Miss Trask replied. “I’m quite encouraged about my sister. I’m reading to her now. We both enjoy that. Are you all ready to start? Then let’s go down in the elevator together.”
    Trixie showed very little sign of her injury of the day before as they all walked briskly toward the United Nations buildings.
    “My mom and Bob and Barbara’s mom have both done a lot of work for UNICEF,” Ned said, stepping along at Trixie’s side.
    “I know,” Trixie said with a warm smile. “Barbara rounded up all the children in the neighborhood to collect money for UNICEF on Halloween, didn’t she? One of the girls at Rivervale High, when I was visiting in Iowa, told me that the little ‘Trick-or-Treaters’ raised nearly two hundred dollars.”
    “That was swell!” Mart said. “I’m going to try to do some organizing myself at Sleepyside this year. I’ll see if some of the bigger kids won’t lay off the trick stuff and maybe have a special basketball game to raise money for the International Children’s Fund instead.”
    “Say, that’s a neat idea,” Ned said eagerly. “We can try it at Rivervale, too. Mom and Mrs. Hubbell sell lots of UNICEF Christmas cards every year. Mom wants me to tell her all about the United Nations when I get back home.”
    “That’s a