The Mystery of the Midnight Marauder

worrying him a lot. He’s been so moody lately. And, Brian, he hasn’t even teased me!”
    Brian grinned and steered the jalopy expertly into the Beldens’ driveway. “If it’s teasing you’re missing—” he began.
    Suddenly Trixie was clutching at his arm again. “They’re here!” she cried, pointing at the shiny station wagon parked outside their front door. “The Bob-Whites are here! Quick! Let’s hurry!“
    “For crying out loud!” Brian exclaimed, slamming on the brakes. “Quit grabbing the driver!” But his sister was already out of her seat and racing to join their friends, who were smiling and waving at them through the big car’s windows.
    Usually the mere sight of the station wagon was enough to make Trixie glow with pride. This was because she owned exactly a one-seventh share of it. When Mr. Wheeler had bought himself a new car, he had given the station wagon to Trixie and her friends. Now, on one door panel, neat red letters spelled out bob-whites OF THE glen. The Bob-Whites were almost as proud of their car as they were of their club.
    This morning, however, Trixie spared it barely a glance as she smiled back at its four occupants.
    The car’s driver, Jim Frayne, stuck his red head out of the open window. “Hey, where were you?” he asked, grinning up at her. “We thought you’d got lost. We’ve been waiting here for hours.” Honey Wheeler, seated beside him, laughed and tossed back her long golden hair. “Don’t listen to him, Trix,” she said, her wide hazel eyes twinkling. “We’ve only just got here, and Jim only honked twice. Are you all set to go?”
    Seated behind them, Di and Dan leaned forward eagerly.
    “Yes, hurry up, Trixie,” Di urged. “We’ve got a surprise for you, and we can’t wait for you to see it.”
    “Not only that,” Dan Mangan added, grinning. “We had to drive miles this morning to get it.“
    “And we didn’t even open it,” Jim said, “so the honors are all yours, Trix.”
    Trixie stared at them, puzzled. They had all been talking so fast that she hadn’t had a chance to ask any of them if they’d seen the missing dog. Besides, she hadn’t the slightest clue to what they were all talking about.
    She could tell, though, that they were feeling pleased with themselves about something. They were gazing at her expectantly, as if they were waiting for her to break suddenly into a song of joy.
    “The only surprise Trixie needs right now,” Brian announced, joining her at the side of the car, “is for someone to find Reddy. He’s missing, and Miss Worry wart here thinks something’s happened to him.”
    Honey looked instantly concerned. “I’ll help you search, Trix,” she offered at once.
    Jim was frowning. “That’s strange,” he said deliberately. “I wasn’t able to find Patch this morning, either.”
    Di chuckled. “That’s because both dogs are over at my place.”
    Trixie could hardly believe her ears. She stared and couldn’t think of a thing to say.
    Di looked as if she knew that she had truly astonished and pleased her friend with her news. She chuckled again at the expression on Trixie’s face.
    Trixie found her voice at last. “Is that the surprise?” she asked, recovering from her amazement.
    “No,” Di said, shaking her head, and her long blue black hair swung gently as it framed her pretty face. “No, Trix, that’s not the surprise. We didn’t even know you were missing a dog.”
    “But I am—I mean, I was—I mean, oh, Di! Are you sure Reddy’s over at your place?” Trixie felt so relieved, her tongue wouldn’t work properly.
    Brian chuckled. “She’s trying to tell you she thought she’d nosed out another mystery,” he said. “Let’s see, we could have called it the secret of the Irish setter—”
    “—and Jim’s playful spaniel pup,” Honey finished, smiling at him.
    Trixie didn’t mind that they were teasing her. The hard knot of worry, which had seemed to lie like a rock in the pit of her stomach, disappeared as if by magic.
    “Do you feel better now?” Brian asked.
    Trixie’s eyes sparkled. “Oh, boy! Do I!”
    So Reddy wasn’t missing after all. He had just been playing with Jim’s puppy, Patch, at the Lynches’ big house, which stood on the highest hill beside the river. It was true that Trixie hadn’t searched the Lynch grounds. She hadn’t had enough time.
    She couldn’t help wondering what Mart was going to say when he heard the news. Probably he’d say, “I