The Mystery of the Emeralds

all the way, but almost,” Neil said, “and when I got here, I heard about Jenkins and his stable being at Rosewood, and I got me a job.”
    “Yes, yes! Go on,” Trixie urged impatiently.
    “Well, at first Jenkins seemed like an okay guy, and I told him what I’d heard about the lost necklace, thinking he could help me and we could split the loot,” Neil continued. “Right after that, he began to treat me mean and beat me. He beat the horses, too, and that got to me! I can take care of myself, but I don’t like to see no animals hurt.” He paused briefly, shaking his head, before he went on.
    “Then, that day in the cemetery— I guess you wonder why I broke in on you that way,” he said.
    “Well, it was rather unexpected,” Trixie said, trying to repress a chuckle. “What was your idea?”
    “You see, my old man—I mean, my father’s a cripple, like Mr. Carver, always in a wheelchair. Got his legs smashed in a machine when I was a kid.” Neil, hands thrust deep in his pockets, his head low, was having trouble continuing, but Trixie didn’t hurry him. After a pause he looked up at her and went on. “He’s a great guy. He never complains, and he makes all kinds of things with his hands, but it was always hard times for my mother and my two sisters and me. That’s why I quit school and scrammed out of there. School wasn’t really that bad, but I couldn’t go on sitting down to supper every night and seeing Mom and Pop going without so us kids would have enough. I had to do something!”
    “I’ll admit that’s enough to make anyone want to do something drastic,” Trixie replied sympathetically, “but I still don’t see what it has to do with your attack on us yesterday.”
    “It’s on account of Mr. Carver, really,” Neil continued. “I saw him the first day, when I was out exercising one of the horses. He was sitting in his wheelchair out in the garden, drawing or painting or something, and I... well... I just felt awful sorry for him. I didn’t want anyone to do anything to hurt him. See?”
    “Yes,” Trixie said slowly. “I see. As a matter of fact, I sort of half suspected something like that, but why are you telling me all this?”
    “Because now I know you don’t mean no harm to him, and I want to get away from Jenkins and never have to see him again!”
    “Okay,” Trixie said gently, placing her hand on his arm. “I believe you. I can’t talk to you any more right now, but you meet us down the road when we leave this afternoon, and we’ll try to figure out what’s the best thing for you to do.”
    Neil’s thanks were still ringing in her ears as she went back to the kitchen.
    “Where have you been?” Honey and Di demanded as she came in. “You’re just in time to see the dishes all washed and put away.”
    “I’m sorry I couldn’t help clean up,” Trixie said, “but, believe it or not, I’ve been having a very interesting conversation with Neil.”
    “Neil!” they cried in disbelief. “Where did you find Neil?”
    “He found me!” Trixie laughed. “I’ll tell you all about it in a minute. Where are the boys?”
    “Brian’s gone with the doctor, I guess,” Di said, “and Mart and Jim are in the study.”
    “Let’s go in there,” Trixie suggested. “They’ll want to hear about Neil, too.”
    They found Mart and Jim trying to figure out a way to fix Mr. Carver’s wheelchair.
    “Don’t worry about that right now,” Trixie said. “I’ve got news for all of you.” She proceeded to tell them of her encounter with Neil.
    “Well, what do you know!” Mart cried when she had finished. “Another coup for the head of the Belden Detective Agency. Take a bow, Trixie the Shamus!”
    “Oh, cut it out, Mart,” Trixie snapped. “This isn’t the time for any of your brilliant comments. Neil is in trouble and needs help badly. We’ve got to think of something to do.”
    “I somehow don’t think Neil’s going to be a problem for long,” Jim commented. “Now that he realizes he was on the wrong track, he has half the battle won. A good job and a little guidance are what he needs now.”
    “We’ll work out something,” Trixie said, “once we put our minds to it, but right now we’ve got to think about the cellar. I wish I’d thought to ask Mr. Carver how to get down there.”
    “Oh, he told us before he left,” Mart said. “The door’s in the front hall.”
    “Let’s get going, then,” Trixie said eagerly, heading for the front of