The Mystery of the Memorial Day Fire

hurry to catch up. “Jane Dix-Strauss! Is that where you got all that stuff?” She grabbed the front page out of Mart’s hands and looked at the article on arson. Sure enough, the young reporter’s name was prominently displayed above the story. “Ugh!” With an expression of distaste, she shoved the paper back at her “almost twin” brother.
    “But, Trixie, you said you thought the coverage was excellent!” Brian said in mock-innocence.
    “You tricked me into saying the story was good,” Trixie retorted. “Before that, what I said on my own was that I didn’t want to hear another word about arson. I don’t understand why Jane Dix-Strauss keeps writing all those depressing news articles. Does she just enjoy spoiling people’s breakfasts?”
    The teasing smile faded from Brian’s face, and he told his sister seriously, “You don’t know that Jane Dix-Strauss enjoys writing about fires, Trix. She may hate them as much as you do — worse, even. But as a top-notch reporter, she has to give the facts.”
    “‘Top-notch’ doesn’t have to be rude,” Trixie retorted.
    Just then the phone started to ring, and Trixie, relieved at the interruption, jumped up to answer it.
    All thoughts of Jane Dix-Strauss were pushed out of her mind when she recognized the distraught voice of Nick Roberts.
    “They’ve arrested my father!” he told her.



5 * A Trip to Jail

    “ARRESTED!” Trixie’s voice was barely a squeak. “Why? When?”
    “They just came and took him away a few minutes ago. They say they want to talk to him about the fire.” Nick’s voice was strained. He was just barely managing to keep himself under control.
    “Oh, Nick, that’s awful! They can’t do that! Your father didn’t do it! Is there something we can do?” Trixie knew she was rattling on confusedly, but she couldn’t express her tangled thoughts any more clearly.
    “I need the name of an attorney,” Nick said.
    “Of course, you do,” Trixie agreed. “Dad has already left for the bank, but I’ll call him and ask him whom he can recommend. Then I’ll call you right back.” She pushed down the button to disconnect Nick, released it, and started to dial the bank.
    “What’s going on?”
    Trixie was so lost in her concern for Nick Roberts and his father that the voice sounding close behind her made her jump and whirl around. Both of her brothers were standing there.
    “It was Nick,” Trixie told them. “The police have arrested his father. They think he set fire to his own store!”
    “An abhorrently asinine accusation!” Mart exclaimed angrily.
    Brian winced and shook his head. “I didn’t even want to say it out loud, but given the location of the fire and Mr. Roberts’s previous dealings with criminals, I really was afraid he might be a suspect.”
    “But Nick’s father is innocent!” Trixie said.
    “I agree with you. But obviously the police aren’t so sure. Why did Nick call here?” Brian asked.
    “Gleeps!” Trixie exclaimed, suddenly remembering the telephone receiver in her hand and the all-important call she still hadn’t made. “Nick needs a lawyer. I’m to call Dad and ask for the name of one,” she explained while she dialed.
    “I know just the right person,” Mr. Belden said when Trixie had breathlessly explained the problem. “Pat Murphy, a fine attorney who’s interested injustice and the law. I’ll call and see if Pat’s free. You wait by the phone.”
    Trixie hung up and relayed her father’s message to her brothers. All three of the Beldens stared at the phone through a silence that seemed to stretch on forever. When the ring finally did shatter the stillness, all three of them jumped.
    “Dad?” Trixie asked when she picked up the phone.
    “Pat Murphy is headed over to the jail now. Pat knows the background of the case, of course — everyone in Sleepyside does. The first concern is to find out whether Mr. Roberts has been, or is going to be, charged. Then Pat will see about arranging bail. Do you want to tell Nick?”
    “I certainly do,” Trixie said warmly. “Thanks, Dad. You’re perfectly perfect!”
    Trixie dialed Nick Roberts’s number. “There’s an attorney going over to talk to your father right now,” she told Nick when he answered on the second ring. “Pat Murphy—one of the best, Dad says.”
    “Thank you,” Nick said. He sounded dazed. “I guess I’ll — I think — Dad said to wait here with Mother, but I can’t. I’m going over to the jail,