The Mystery of the Headless Horseman

to the museum.
    Through the archway to her right was an area that everyone called the Oriental Room. It contained ancient suits of armor that had once belonged to Japanese warriors. There were also displays of scroll paintings and delicate porcelain dishes and platters from China. Trixie guessed that it was there the Ming vase would have been proudly displayed.
    Even as she gazed toward the room, she heard the sound of approaching footsteps, and a group of people sauntered through the archway.
    A soft voice said clearly, “And that, ladies and gentlemen, concludes our tour for today. If you have any questions or wish to arrange special tours at any time, feel free to contact me. We hope you’ll visit us again.”
    The remarks were made by a young woman wearing a name tag that read JANET GRAY. She nodded pleasantly to everyone and disappeared into the museum’s office.
    Honey gasped and whispered, “Trix? Wasn’t that-?”
    Trixie nodded and whispered back, “She was in Harrison’s room at the hospital. We saw her at the bazaar, and she turned up in that deserted barn. Honey, that’s another of Harrison’s accomplices. Not only that, but it’s also no wonder that I thought I’d seen her before. She used to give lectures for us schoolkids when we came here on field trips.”
    “She doesn’t look like a crook,” Honey remarked. “But then, I don’t really know what a crook is supposed to look like.”
    Di looked past them and called, “Ah, there you are. I was looking for you. May I see you for a moment, please?”
    Trixie turned. Her jaw dropped. She found herself face-to-face with Charlie the guard. She thought he looked startled to see them.
    “Oh,” he said, “good afternoon, miss. I didn’t know you were coming here today.”
    “I was wondering if you’d settle a small argument for my friends,” Di said. She waved a slim hand toward a puzzled Trixie and Honey. “You see, we want to know who owns the yellow bicycle we saw you riding a few minutes ago. My friends here insist that it belongs to my butler, Harrison. I say it doesn’t.”
    Charlie coughed nervously. “The bike’s mine,” he muttered. “I just lent it to Harrison one time when he needed quick transportation.”
    “Then why did Harrison say the bike was his?” Trixie asked, feeling foolish.
    “I’ve no idea, miss.”
    “You see, Trixie,” Di continued, “Charlie Burnside here is the museum’s guard. Miss Gray is its lecturer. Both are Harrison’s friends. They have been for some time.”
    “Then would you answer a question for us?” Trixie asked Charlie. “Why were the three of you at that deserted barn last week?”
    Charlie looked uncomfortable. “Deserted barn? I don’t know anything about any deserted barn. Excuse me, miss. Janet and me have got some doughnuts to eat.” He hurried to the office and closed its door firmly behind him.
    “Well?” Di said. “Are you satisfied?”
    “I—I suppose so.” Trixie still felt puzzled. “But why didn’t you say you knew who these people were before?”
    “I was angry,” Di confessed. “I didn’t feel like telling you anything at all.”
    “Charlie still didn’t say what he was doing in the woods,” Honey said.
    “Or if Miss Gray told Harrison about the clue in the nursery rhyme book,” Trixie added.
    “What if she did?” Di said. “They’re friends, and maybe she did mention it. And maybe, too, Harrison wanted to help look for the Ming vase.”
    Or steal it for himself Trixie thought. He got himself discharged from the hospital especially so that he could search for it.
    Di was obviously feeling happier now that she felt she had won the argument.
    “I want to show you something else,” she said in a friendlier tone of voice. She led the way into the Oriental Room and walked up to a small glass case.
    Trixie and Honey bent down to see a beautiful little green jade goddess who stood gracefully on an ebony pedestal. Her small arms and tiny cupped hands were outstretched as if to greet them.
    “Oh, Di,” Honey breathed. “How lovely!”
    Di was smiling. “Isn’t she perfect? Her name is Lien-Ting. Dad lent her to the museum last year.”
    Trixie nodded. “Is the case locked? I suppose it must be. I would imagine she’s very valuable.”
    “Yes, she is,” Di answered, bending toward the little statue. “You’d never believe all the security arrangements we had to go through when Harrison brought her here. She had to be packed in a special