The Mystery of the Millionaire

one thing, she didn’t like being involved in another secret. It was hard enough not to be able to tell anyone about Mr. Lytell’s back room full of money. It would be even harder to keep her parents from finding out that she knew about Mart’s project, especially when she’d shown so much curiosity about it over the past few days. But getting Mr. Lytell to lend Laura Ramsey the money, with her car as collateral, had been Trixie’s idea. Then she had barged into Mart’s room. That, as far as she was concerned, made keeping their secrets her responsibility.
    Sometimes I wish I weren't so honest , Trixie thought. Or so curious!

The Green Car Returns ● 8

    AS SHE STOOD in the upstairs hallway, lost in thought, Trixie was only dimly aware of the ringing of the telephone downstairs. She was jolted back to the present by Brian’s voice calling, “Trixie! Telephone for you. It’s Honey.” Trixie raced down the stairs and picked up the phone. “Hi, Honey,” she said. “Any news?”
    “There’s nothing new on the Ramsey case, if that’s what you mean,” Honey told her. “I just called to tell you that Jim is going to drive Laura into town this afternoon, to pick up a few things she’s been needing. I’m going to ride along, just because it’s been ages and ages since I’ve been to town. I thought I’d ask if you want to come, too.”
    “I’ll check with Moms,” Trixie told her, “but I’m sure it’ll be okay. Gleeps—I think it’s been at least two weeks since I was in Sleepyside! I’d better ride along today. Otherwise, I won’t remember my way around town at all when school starts next month. I’ll have to have someone with me at all times, or have Moms pin a note to my coat when I leave every morning!”
    Through the telephone wire, Honey’s laughter rang out merrily. “I don’t think it would be quite that bad, Trixie, even though your sense of direction isn’t much better than mine is. I’m glad you’re going to ride along, though. We’ll pick you up about one-thirty.”
    “I’ll be ready,” Trixie promised. She hung up the receiver, shaking her head in amazement at how long it had been since she’d been to town. Crabapple Farm was only about two miles from Sleepyside, and her father drove into town every day to his job at the bank. Brian and Mart made the trip to town offener, too, to go to the library or to run errands for their mother. For Trixie, however, the sidewalks and shops of Sleepyside couldn’t begin to offer the excitement of the Wheeler stables, the lake and the boathouse, or the Bob-White clubhouse, which was tucked away in a secluded grove of trees on the Wheeler estate.
    I wonder if Honey and I will have to move to a big city when we set up the Belden-Wheeler Detective Agency, Trixie mused. I know we’ll have to live in a bigger town while we’re in college, anyway. She wrinkled her nose at the thought. I’d rather stay right here, but I guess becoming a full-fledged detective is more important. She allowed herself a small groan at the necessity of giving up one thing for another, then went off to tell her mother she’d be going to town later that day.

    When the station wagon pulled into the drive that afternoon, Trixie was ready, as promised, armed with a short list of errands to run for her mother and a swatch of fabric to match to a spool of thread.
    She ran to the car, the shoulder purse she hadn’t carried since June bumping uncomfortably against her hip. Uncomfortably, too, she noticed that Laura Ramsey was once again in the front seat with Jim, while Honey was sitting in the back.
    “Moms made up quite a list for me,” Trixie told Honey after she was settled and the car had begun its progress toward town. “I hope all the stores are still where I remember them.”
    “I don’t think Sleepyside will have changed too much in two weeks,” Honey told her with a straight face. “In fact, I don’t think it’s changed all that much in the past fifty years!”
    “Well, if we get separated, you’d better send Sergeant Molinson out looking for me,” Trixie said. “Although I’m not sure he’d look very hard. He might figure his troubles would all be over if Trixie Belden would just get lost!”
    Honey’s serious pose broke down, and she began to laugh. “On the other hand,” she gasped, “he might feel better if he could just once solve a problem for you, instead of the other way around.”
    Trixie joined in Honey’s laughter, feeling