The Mystery of the Headless Horseman

else. Not that it has. And maybe it never will now, so I’ll tell you. The real clue, my dears, was ‘It’s elementary.’ ”
    Trixie was quiet as she and Honey began the journey back through the woods. The light had almost faded. Already they could hear the soft scuttlings of tiny night creatures in the trees around them.
    “Trix?” Honey’s voice sounded scared again. “I—I don’t think I like this. I wish we hadn’t come. I wish Mrs. Crandall had offered to take us home again. Even Reddy would look good to me now.”
    The words were hardly out of her mouth when Reddy came racing toward them through the trees. Unexpectedly, he stopped politely when he saw them.
    Trixie bent down to pet him. She smiled. “Now that you mention it, I’m glad to see him, too. If I could only think of the command that would make him stay with us—”
    She stopped as she felt Reddy stiffen under her fingers. He growled, and it was no playful growl. Reddy meant business. Trixie could feel the hair rise on the back of his neck. He was staring fixedly at the path ahead.
    “Quick, Honey, hide!” Trixie whispered urgently. “Reddy’s warning us that someone’s coming!”
    Quick as a flash, both girls were off their bicycles and off the trail. They crouched low, sheltered from view by a stalwart pine.
    In another second, a fearsome rider loomed blackly against the darkening sky. The ground shook as noiseless hooves galloped swiftly toward them. A rush of cold air brushed across their staring faces.
    And the headless horseman sped silently past.

Bob-White Breakup? ● 14

    TRIXIE HAD OFTEN WONDERED what Reddy would do to protect her. She soon found out.
    He took one startled look. He gave one startled bark. Then he turned and fled. He dashed off through the trees, away from the terrifying sight. His tail was tucked firmly between his legs. Trixie and Honey could still hear him yelping in fright long after he had disappeared.
    Trixie let out her breath in one long sigh. She felt like running herself—in two different directions at once. The horseman, too, had disappeared. She wanted to follow him to see where he was going, but she also knew she should follow Reddy and stop his panicked flight.
    She resigned herself to the inevitable. “We’re going to have to find that silly dog,” she told Honey. “He’s got no sense at all, and he’ll probably get lost in these woods.”
    “Oh, no, Trix!” Honey’s teeth were chattering. “Please let’s go home. Reddy will probably come if we call him.”
    “I doubt it, but we’ll try.” Trixie raised her voice. “Reddy! R-e-d-d-y!”
    She walked a little way into the woods, then a little farther. Nervously, Honey followed. The lights from their bicycles pierced the darkness ahead, but Reddy was nowhere in sight. The two girls called and called until their voices were hoarse.
    “It’s no good, Trix,” Honey said at last. “We can’t find him. Let’s go back.”
    They turned to find their familiar path once more, only it wasn’t where they expected it to be.
    Trixie groaned. “Don’t look now, Honey, but I think Reddy’s not the only one who’s lost. The main thing is not to panic. Maybe the path’s over this way. Oh, that dog! Wait till I get my hands on him!”
    Still talking, she led the way first up one trail, then down another.
    “Trixie?” Honey said suddenly. “I don’t think this is the right way at all. We’re going uphill again.”
    “I know, but maybe this path will at least lead us back to Sleepyside Hollow.”
    The path didn’t. It led them instead to another clearing high on a hill. A large building stood on top of it. When the girls shone their lights toward it, they could see it was an old barn, which seemed to be deserted. From where they stood, they could see little but peeling paint and rotting timbers.
    Honey shivered and pressed close to Trixie. “Let’s get out of here,” she whispered. “We’ve found another spooky place.”
    “Wait!” Trixie had seen something move by the wide barn door. She flashed her light toward it. “Reddy,” she called softly, “is that you?”
    But it was only a cottontail rabbit doing some exploring of his own.
    “Come on, Honey,” Trixie whispered. “Let’s take a look around. Reddy could be hiding in that barn, or maybe he’s lying there, hurt.”
    They switched off their lights, hid the bicycles in the bushes, and hurried inside. The dark interior smelled warm and fragrant. It reminded