The Mystery of the Missing Heiress

been able to find out what or who hit Janie and left her unconscious.”
    “These things aren’t accomplished in a day, Trixie. We have to have time.”
    “And nobody has the slightest notion what her name is, where she came from, or who her family is,” Trixie went on. “It’s awfully hard on Janie not to know.” Trixie’s voice saddened, remembering Janie’s bewilderment.
    “That, too, takes time, Trixie.”
    “In the meantime, some terrible thing is going to happen to her. I know someone is trying to harm her. They’ve tried twice—once when they left her unconscious on Glen Road, when she lost her memory, and yesterday, when she fell. Who knows? Maybe the next time they’ll succeed. Isn’t there something someone can do?”
    “Trixie, we don’t just sit here and twiddle our thumbs.”
    “I m sorry.“
    “Sit down here, now, all of you. Tell me exactly what happened yesterday. Begin at the first, when you missed Janie. Tell me in detail. You start, Trixie.”
    Trixie started. When she came to the place where she went over the cliff, Jim took over.
    The sergeant listened intently. He asked questions at intervals, then sat back and listened again, glancing from time to time at Trixie.
    “Then we pulled Trixie back, as slowly as we possibly could. We were scared to death that edge would give way with her. But it didn’t!” Jim finished triumphantly.
    Sergeant Molinson said sternly, “Trixie, I’m wasting my breath, but I’m strongly advising you to be careful, to leave perilous adventures such as yesterday’s to people whose job it is to do them.”
    “I was right there,” Trixie said. “It had to be done then.”
    Sergeant Molinson threw up his hands. “I give up. At least three people have been to see the mayor today about a medal for bravery for you, Trixie.” Trixie gasped.
    “She deserves it,” the sergeant told the other Bob-Whites. “I'll have to admit she gets in my hair; nevertheless, I could name some of my men who could use a little of Detective Belden s perseverance and inquisitive turn of mind. Remember this, Trixie,” he continued, “we re doing everything in our power to investigate every facet of Janie’s case. It’s a matter of the greatest concern to my department.”
    “I know it is,” Trixie said. “Thank you, Sergeant Molinson.”

Spider Kicks Up a Clue • 15

    JEEPERS!” Trixie said as they left the sergeant’s office. “Did you hear what he called me? ‘Detective Belden.’ This must be his “be kind to people day.’ It’s the first time I’ve ever left his office without being shushed out. Oh-oh... here it comes now.” Sergeant Molinson opened his door and called down the hall. “Jim!”
    “Yes, sir?”
    “Will you, to save us all from going crazy, see if you can keep that cousin of yours from haunting this courthouse? She’s here when we open in the morning and here when we close. She’s driving the recorder of deeds nuts.”
    “Yes, sir, I’ll try... I mean... well, we’ll try.”
    “I see what you mean.”
    “His 'kind to people day’ didn’t last long, did it, Trix?” Jim asked. “How can Juliana haunt the courthouse, when she’s busy every day sewing on those dolls?”
    “She probably does ask every morning,” Trixie answered. “They’ve told her they’ll let her know as soon as the papers arrive. Why do you suppose she’s in such a frantic rush?”
    Mart shrugged his shoulders. “Search me! It could be she doesn’t like this little hick town’ of Sleepyside.”
    “Could be.” Brian agreed. “What now?”
    “How about hamburgers down at Wimpy’s?” Jim suggested.
    “That’s an idea!” Mart seconded. “It seems as though we never have time for Wimpy’s anymore— not since school closed, anyway. Remember the old days, when we’d run into Spider Webster?”
    “Oh, yes!” Trixie cried. “I wish Spider were on the police force here now. I suppose he did want to take a job with more money, and that’s why he went to White Plains. We never see him anymore.”
    “Speak of the devil!” Mart cried. “Do you see who’s right inside that window? Spider! Hi!” he called, waving.
    Eagerly the Bob-Whites crowded through the door. Spider, grinning from ear to ear, shook hands with each one as they came through. “Say, this is great!” he said. “It’s like old times. Every time I used to have a lunch break, I’d run into one or more of you kids here. Let’s line up at the counter again, huh?”
    “Our