The Mystery of the Midnight Marauder

head. “No, Jim. That’s something else I had to tell you. Your parents just phoned to say that they’ve got car problems. They’re stuck somewhere in New England, and Tom’s stuck there with them. They won’t be home now until Monday—or maybe later than that.”
    Honey sighed, and Trixie knew she was wishing that her parents didn’t have to be away from home so often.
    She also knew that Tom Delanoy, the Wheelers’ chauffeur, would be disappointed by the delay. He probably wanted to hurry home to his pretty wife, Celia, who was one of the Wheelers’ maids.
    I guess we all want something we haven't got, Trixie thought. Honey would like her parents to be home more often. Tom wants to get home to Celia. And I want to find Reddy. Oh, why can't things work out right?
    Regan must have sensed her impatience, for all at once, he gave in, as the Bob-Whites thought he would. “Obviously, you have to find the dogs,” he said in explanation, “and just as obviously, you’ll have a much better chance on horseback. But be sure, Jim—”
    Jim grinned. “I know. Brush the horses and make them comfortable as soon as we get back and before we do anything for ourselves.”
    “And see that the tack is hung the way it should be,” Honey murmured.
    “Stirrups on leathers,” Brian said.
    “Girth thrown over the saddle,” Mart added, “and the bridle on the hook right under the saddle peg. See, Regan? We know. You can trust us.” Trixie looked at him sharply and thought she could detect the deep sense of relief that her almost-twin was feeling. Although his troubles weren’t yet over, it was as if his mind was easier, now that he’d shared his problems with his friends.
    And his friends would help, once they had solved this other problem. Trixie knew that, without any doubt whatsoever.
    Even while the Bob-Whites were hurrying to saddle the horses, Trixie was wondering where on earth they should begin to look for the two dogs.
    Dan, who had been working just as hard as the rest to help ready the animals, suddenly confessed ruefully that he couldn’t join them in the search. He worked for Mr. Maypenny, the Wheelers’ gamekeeper, who had already given Dan the whole morning off for personal business.
    “But now I’ve got to get back,” Dan said as he helped his friends mount their horses. “Let me know when you find the dogs, though.”
    “I’m glad you said when and not if,” Trixie couldn’t resist saying.
    “Hey, listen, don’t worry so, Trix,” Dan answered, looking up at her as she sat astride Susie, the little black mare. “You’ll find Reddy, and Patch will be with him, you’ll see. As for that other matter”—he looked up at Mart who was seated, as usual, on his favorite mount, Strawberry—“you can count on me to do anything I can to help.” With a wave of his hand, he was gone.
    Regan watched them as far as the stable yard, where Di was already waiting for them.
    “Now, have you mapped out where you’re going to begin looking?” Regan asked, still worried. “Those woods around here are thick, as you know, and it’s useless scattering off in all directions unless you know where you’re going.”
    Trixie wasn’t quite sure where they were going, either, but she wasn’t about to tell Regan so. Nothing must hold them up any longer.
    “I know where I looked this morning,” she answered quickly, “so now we’re going to search where I didn’t look. Come on, everyone! Are we ready?”
    With a clattering of hooves, they were soon out of the yard and, in another instant, were cantering easily across the wet meadow.
    Jim, who was mounted on Jupiter, the big black gelding, led the way. Starlight, the chestnut gelding, with Brian on his back, trotted easily just behind. Mart on Strawberry, Di on Sunny, Trixie on Susie, and Honey, who today was riding Lady, brought up the rear.
    Around them, the air smelled fresh and clean from the recent rainstorm, though Trixie didn’t even notice. She was deep in thought.
    “Remember that time when we went looking for Di’s missing butler?” Trixie suddenly called to Jim as they neared Glen Road.
    Jim reined in his horse. “You mean the time you found the headless horseman as well?” he asked, grinning.
    Trixie frowned. “Why don’t we start looking around that path we’ve named Harrison’s Trail?” she suggested.
    “Why?” Brian demanded.
    Trixie shrugged helplessly. “It seems like as good a place as any to start. Besides, I’ve got