The Mystery of the Midnight Marauder

and see what I mean.”
    Trixie scanned the letter quickly. Then she looked up and announced, “It’s written in block capitals, and this is what it says: ‘Dumb Miss Lonelyheart: You think you’re so smart with your slick answers, but let me tell you something. I’ve tried everything, and nothing’s worked. I’m fed up with being ignored by everyone at school. No matter what I do, no one likes me, so now I’m really going to do something to make people sit up and take notice. A desperate situation calls for desperate measures. I’ve made up my mind. Saturday’s the day! You have been warned!’ ”
    Di craned her neck to see. “Who signed it?”
    “It isn’t signed at all,” Trixie answered, turning the paper over to see if anything had been written on the back. Nothing had.
    “So now you know,” Mart said, standing up suddenly. “I tried, and I failed to help. The whole Lonelyheart idea was dumb, and I shouldn’t have started it in the first place.”
    Trixie looked up at him. “I still don’t understand, Mart, why Sergeant Molinson should suspect you of anything.”
    Mart looked down at his feet. “I’ve had to do really sneaky things, Trix, so that no one would find out that it was only me who was Miss Lonelyheart. Yesterday there were so many people around the journalism department, all looking to see who was going to pick up Miss Lonelyheart’s mail, that I had to leave it there. I sneaked back last night on my bike to get it. One of the kids must’ve seen me there and told the police this morning. That’s the way it happened.”
    Trixie gasped. “So that’s where you were!”
    Mart nodded. “And when Sergeant Molinson asked me about it—”
    Brian looked at him with sudden understanding. “You lied about it.”
    Mart’s face flushed. “Yeah, I did. Real dumb, huh? But if I’d admitted being on the school grounds, I’d have had to say what I was doing there. And not only that, I’d have had to tell the police what I suspected.”
    Dan stared at him. “Then why didn’t you?” Mart held out his hand, then let it drop to his side helplessly. “Because I’ve got no proof,” he said. “No proof at all. I think the person who’s been writing to me is the same one who vandalized the school—”
    “—and Wimpy’s, too,” Trixie added.
    “And it could be any one of half a dozen people,” Mart said, nodding. “I’ve been watching so many kids these days that I can’t see straight anymore. You know the people I think it could be, but I can’t watch them all now.”
    “So you want the Bob-Whites to help?” Brian asked.
    “Of course he does,” Trixie answered for Mart. “And I’m going to do all I can.”
    “Me, too,” Honey added quickly.
    Jim looked at the circle of solemn faces. “I guess that goes for all of us. When one Bob-White’s in trouble—”
    “It’s up to the rest of us to help,” Di said, nodding her head.
    “Then the only thing now,” Trixie put in, “is to decide exactly what we’re going to do.”
    Dan frowned. “I still think Mart should tell Sergeant Molinson everything he knows about this.”
    “Aw, let’s try it this way first,” Mart said, almost pleading. “Then if it doesn’t work—well— I’ll be the first to admit it and go tell the police what I know. Okay?”
    In the end, they took a vote on it. The final result was six to one in favor of the Bob-Whites trying to find out the identity of the Midnight Marauder themselves.
    Dan gave in with good grace. “Okay,” he said, “I guess I’ll have to go along with what you’ve decided. But I still think you’re wrong, you know.”
    “Jeepers!” Trixie said to Honey, as they made their way to the family room, “I’m sure glad we’ve got that settled. Wow! What a day! First I thought Reddy was missing—” She broke off and looked around at Di. “Speaking of Reddy, where is he? I expected him to come barking and running to meet us when we arrived.”
    Di pushed back her long hair. “Oh,” she said vaguely, “I’m sure he’s around here somewhere. Wait a sec, I’ll find Harrison and ask him. He was the one who saw the two dogs earlier, anyway.” * In another few moments, Di was back, and Trixie stiffened with alarm when she saw the expression on her friend’s face.
    “Oh, Trixie,” Di wailed, “I don’t know how you’re ever going to forgive me. Reddy and Patch aren’t here, after all! Harrison saw them first thing this morning—at least, he saw