The Mystery of the Emeralds

didn’t get to the bottom,” she answered impatiently. “That’s what puzzles me. I’m sure I went down to the cellar level, because I counted the steps, and I was on the twentieth one when Brian called to me to come back.”
    “Let’s not worry about that right now,” Mr. Carver said, giving her arm a pat. “I think, my dear, a good night’s sleep is what we all need. We’ve had more than our share of excitement today.” Then, turning to Jim, he said, “Get her back to Williamsburg, Jim, and see that she takes it easy this evening.”
    “That’s a difficult order.” Jim laughed. “Trixie isn’t one to take it easy very often, but I’ll try.”
    “That’s a splendid idea, Mr. Carver,” Honey said. “I guess we could all stand a quiet evening for a change, and we still have one more day, before we leave for home, to see what’s at the bottom of the stairs.”
    “That’s not much time,” Trixie sighed, “but with luck, we may solve the mystery tomorrow, so keep your fingers crossed, all of you!”
    It wasn’t until the Bob-Whites were settled in the station wagon and turning out of the drive that Trixie, suddenly snapping her fingers, remembered Neil.
    “We’ve got to talk with him, if he’s still waiting for us,” she said emphatically.
    “Oh, Trixie, can’t you put him off until tomorrow?” Honey pleaded. “You must be dead tired. I know I am, and I haven’t been through what you have today.”
    “No,” Trixie answered in the same positive tone. “If we don’t talk to him now, when he’s ready for help, he may get discouraged and fall into worse trouble than before.”
    ‘Trixie’s right,” Jim said. “We don’t have to take much time—just assure him that were ready to help and maybe offer some suggestions.”
    They had gone past Rosewood Hall and were beginning to wonder if perhaps Neil had lost patience and decided not to wait for them, when Trixie spotted him. He was sitting under a tree by the side of the road.
    “Hi, Neil,” she called out as Jim brought the car to a stop.
    Neil got to his feet but seemed hesitant about coming closer until Trixie said reassuringly, “Come on over and meet the rest of my friends.”
    He then walked slowly toward them, twisting his cap in his hands and looking almost shyly from one to the other. Honey remarked later that she wouldn’t have known he was the same brash boy she had met at Miss Julie’s.
    “Jim, here, I think you’ve met before,” Trixie said with the hint of a laugh.
    “Yes, we met under rather unusual circumstances the other day,” Jim said, smiling warmly, ‘Taut let’s forget about that.”
    At this sign of friendship from Jim, Neil began to be more at ease and acknowledged each introduction with a “Pleased to meet you” and a bob of his head.
    “Hop in, if you can find room, and we’ll give you a lift,” Trixie said. “We’re awfully late, so we’ll have to talk on the way.”
    “That’s all right with me,” Neil answered. “I’m not going anywhere special.”
    “Not to Texas?” Trixie asked this with the trace of a smile as Neil got into the front seat with Jim and her.
    “Huh-uh!” Neil said emphatically. “That was just a wild dream. I’m always having wild dreams, like that necklace business.”
    “Trixie tells us you quit Jenkins,” Brian said. “Got any plans now, wild or not?” His tone was so genial that they could almost see Neil’s confidence returning to him.
    “Well,” he began slowly, “I want to get a job. I still like to work with horses, and I want to finish up high school, too, but I guess I can’t do both.”
    “How much longer do you have to go?” Mart asked. “Only a year,” Neil replied. “I’d have graduated last June if I hadn’t up and quit.”
    Di hadn’t said anything during this conversation, but as Neil finished, she leaned forward from the backseat.
    “You know,” she said, “I think Daddy might be able to suggest something. He’s wonderful about helping people if he thinks they really want to help themselves.”
    “Oh, I do I” Neil said. “Honestly, I do. All I want is a chancel”
    “Well, you come back with us to Williamsburg, and I’ll see when he can talk with you,” Di said. “You’ll like Daddy. He had a hard time when he was your age, too, so he’ll understand,” she added softly.
    “What’s Jenkins up to these days?” Trixie asked, trying to make her voice sound casual.
    “Oh, he keeps digging around in the