The Mystery of the Headless Horseman

happened. She went to school. Afterward, she did her chores and her homework. She helped exercise the horses. She looked after Bobby, and she went to bed.
    She did all these things without any enthusiasm. Di was still angry with her and refused to make up.
    The following Wednesday, on the way to school, Honey said, “Don’t worry about it, Trix. Di will come around. Harrison’s back at work now, and I’m sure everything will soon settle down to normal.”
    It didn’t.
    On Thursday, during gym, Trixie whispered, “I’ll eat lunch with you, Di. I’ll save a bench in the lunch court. Then maybe—”
    “No, thank you.” Di’s voice was cold. “It so happens, I’m eating lunch with Mart today. At least he doesn’t suspect my butler of being a thief!”
    So Mart had told her that, too!
    On Friday, on the school bus going home, Trixie was close to tears. “What am I going to do, Honey? I’ve tried everything.” She glanced across the aisle at Di’s averted face. “I’ve tried calling her on the phone. She won’t talk to me. Last night I invited her to dinner. She wouldn’t come. Now even Brian and Mart are angry with me.”
    “What on earth for?”
    “They say I’m always poking my nose in where it doesn’t belong. They even said that if we can’t get along as a group, maybe we should breakup.”
    Honey stared. “Break up? You mean—break up the Bob-Whites?”
    Trixie sniffed and nodded. “This business with Harrison has caused nothing but trouble. Even
    Jim says I’m bossy. He also told me last week I was suffering from mystery-itis.”
    “I’m not sure I know what that is,” Honey said.
    “I’m not sure I do, either.” Trixie sniffed again. “And there’s something else. I never did tell you, but my folks were very angry with me because we almost got lost in those woods last Saturday night. I’ve had to promise never to wander off like that again.”
    Honey nodded in sympathy. “I know. Me, too.”
    Dan poked his head up over the top of the bus seat in front of them. “I’m not angry with you, Trixie, and I think the answer’s easy.”
    Trixie stared at him. “What answer?”
    “The answer to the question of what to do about Di, of course. Why not take her out tomorrow? Go shopping. Make it a trip for just you girls. Have lunch at Wimpy’s, or something. Show her that you really care that she’s upset.”
    “She won’t come,” Trixie said. “I’ve been trying stuff like that all week.”
    “Then get Honey to ask her,” Dan answered. “She’s not mad at Honey, is she?”
    A slow smile spread across Honey’s face. “You know, that may not be a bad idea. In fact, the more I think about it, the better I like it. I’ll go and ask her right this minute.”
    Trixie closed her eyes and crossed her fingers as Honey slipped across the aisle to the empty seat next to Di. She waited impatiently. What was taking Honey so long? Trixie peeked. She could see the two heads bent close to each other—one dark, one the color of honey.
    The answer was yes! Trixie could tell even before a smiling Honey slipped back into the seat beside her.
    “It’s all set,” Honey said. “We’ll meet at Di’s mailbox at ten o’clock tomorrow morning. Don’t be late.”
    Trixie felt like singing. “Late? Don’t be silly! I’m ready to go right now!”
    Trixie tried to catch Di’s eye to tell her how glad she was that they were going out together again at last. But Di was busy looking out of the window.
    When she went to bed that night, Trixie felt happier than she had all week. Until now, she hadn’t even enjoyed watching Mart give a freshly bathed Reddy his obedience lessons. Trixie suspected that Mart hadn’t enjoyed giving them, either.
    Reddy, on the other hand, had a wonderful time. He hadn’t learned a thing.
    But Trixie wasn’t thinking about Reddy now.
    She lay staring up at the ceiling of her room.
    Our outing with Di tomorrow has just got to work , she thought. I don't know what I'll do if it doesn't.

Museum Mystery • 15

    THAT SATURDAY MORNING, Trixie was all ready for the shopping trip even before the rest of the family was out of bed.
    “Great heavens,” Mrs. Belden exclaimed when she hurried into the kitchen, “I can’t believe my eyes! You’ve set the table for breakfast and everything.”
    “I’ve also dusted the furniture and mixed the batter for waffles,” Trixie said, her blue eyes sparkling with happiness. “The only thing I haven’t done is to make