The Mystery of the Emeralds

question, Trixie told him who she was and started explaining how she had happened to be on hand, but he cut her short.
    “Oh, yes,” he said, “Edgar told me about you all last evening. I can’t tell you how fortunate it is you arrived when you did. Now, keep him warm, and see that his head is elevated a little. It shouldn’t take me more than a few minutes to get there.”

An Unlikely Friend • 12

    IT PROBABLYwas only a few minutes, but to Trixie it seemed like hours before she heard a car come up the driveway and, looking out, saw a tall, well-built man stride rapidly toward the house and up to the terrace door. Except for hurried introductions and a word or two of reassurance to Edgar Carver, Dr. Brandon lost no time before going about the business of examining his friend.
    “It might be a good idea for you girls to make some hot tea,” he said as he pulled up a chair beside the sofa. “The kitchen is at the end of the hall, beyond the studio. In the meantime, we’ll finish getting Edgar bandaged up and see if we can’t relieve his headache.”
    As Trixie, Di, and Honey went into the kitchen, they thought at first they had made a mistake and were in the wrong room. It was unlike any kitchen they had ever seen. There were no wall cabinets above the working surfaces, and the sink and stove were unusually low, but Trixie almost immediately came up with the explanation for this unorthodox arrangement.
    “It’s designed so Mr. Carver can reach everything he needs from his wheelchair,” she exclaimed. “What a clever idea!”
    It didn’t take Honey long to find the teakettle and fill it with water. The kitchen was neat as a pin, the tea things arranged on a low shelf near the stove for easy access.
    “What can I do to help?” Trixie asked. “You know me and a kitchen. I’m helpless!”
    Di, who was already busy putting extra cups and saucers on a tray, said, “Why wouldn’t it be a good idea to get the sandwiches from the box lunches to serve with the tea? It’s not lunchtime yet, I know, but we’ve had so much excitement, I think everyone might like a bite to eat.”
    “You can be sure Mart will.” Honey laughed. “It’s a good idea, Di. How about getting the boxes from the station wagon for us, Trixie?”
    “That sounds like an assignment I could manage.” Noticing that the kitchen door led out to the driveway, she used it so she would not disturb the doctor and Mr. Carver. She was rounding the comer of the house, when she heard a voice call to her.
    “Hey! Trixie!”
    She spun around and found herself face-to-face with Neil, who apparently had been hiding behind a tall clump of bushes. His face was white, the expression in his eyes was worried, and, as he approached her, his shoulders were hunched and he was wringing his hands nervously. Trixie was about to ask him what he was doing there, but something in his manner made her wait to let him speak first.
    “Is he all right?” Neil asked. “Jenkins mentioned an accident. He’s not hurt bad, is he?”
    Trixie was dumbfounded. Her amazement must have shown on her face, because before she had time to answer, Neil went on, “Please say he’s all right. I can’t stand any more cruelty.”
    “I don’t think he’s badly hurt,” Trixie said. “What did Mr. Jenkins tell you? Mr. Carver thinks he fell out of his wheelchair, but I have other ideas.”
    “You mean,” Neil asked incredulously, “he doesn’t remember anything?”
    “That’s right,” Trixie answered sharply. “His mind seems to be a complete blank about the fall.”
    “I wish I could tell you what happened, Trixie, honest I do!” The boy’s face was wretched. “All Jenkins said was there had been an accident. If I can get anything more out of him, I’ll tell you, I promise. I want to talk with you, Trixie. I want you to know why I came down here and all. Please give me a chance.”
    “I’d like to talk to you, too, Neil,” Trixie said, her voice softening a little. “Right now I’ve got to get some things out of the station wagon and go back to the house, but if you’re serious, and I think you are, I’ll come back as soon as I can. You wait here.” And she was off.
    He was still there when she returned with the lunch boxes, and, as she passed him, she said, “I’ll make it as fast as I can. You just stay put.”
    When she, Di, and Honey got back to the library with the tea tray and sandwiches, they found Dr. Brandon talking with Brian about Mr.