The Mystery of the Phantom Grashopper

see a young man, leaning against a battered old yellow pickup truck, grinning at them. He seemed to be about Brian’s age, tall and slender, with curly black hair and a friendly, likable smile.
    “Im looking for Miss Lawler,” he said. “She’s supposed to be at the Sleepyside High School. Am I in the right place?”
    “You sure are!” Trixie and Honey answered in one voice.
    “We were just with her,” Honey said.
    “She’s still in her classroom,” Trixie added. “We’ll show you the way.”
    “Thanks!” The young man followed them into the school building, walking with a loose, easy stride.
    Moments later, they were standing at the classroom door. “Someone to see you, Miss Lawler,” Trixie called.
    Miss Lawler was covering the display case. “Just a moment,” she said. Turning, she saw the young man. “Why, Sammy!” she cried. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”
    Grinning, the young man crossed the room. “Hi, Cis,” he said.
    Miss Lawler was obviously delighted. “I got your letter,” she said in a rush, “but—”
    Honey nudged Trixie and whispered, “Come on.” Quietly, she and Trixie stepped down the hallway toward the exit.
    Outside, Trixie laughed and said, “How about that? Miss Lawler really looked happy!”
    “His name is Sammy,” Honey mused. She was as excited as Trixie.
    “Sam, Sam, the Medicine Man,” Trixie chanted. “Gleeps! He’s just what the doctor ordered!”

The Mysterious Car • 4

    JIM AND THE OTHER BOB-WHITES had driven into town to pick up Trixie and Honey. Now they were all seated in their favorite booth at Wimpy’s, sipping colas and listening to Trixie describe the happy scene she and Honey had just witnessed. Her excitement was contagious.
    “It sounds wonderful,” Di said with a sigh.
    “Sure, it’s great,” Mart agreed. “And for once, Trixie has met somebody new and not said—”
    “There’s something strange about him!” the others chimed in, laughing.
    “Who is this Sammy, anyway?” Brian asked. “Well,” Trixie said matter-of-factly, “he called Miss Lawler Sis, so he must be her brother.”
    Di, who sat facing the door, leaned forward and whispered, “Shhh! They just came in here. They’re coming over this way.”
    Honey turned her head and smiled. “Hi, Miss Lawler,” she called.
    Trixie moved over on the bench, making space beside her. “Come sit with us,” she invited. “There’s room for two more.” >
    The teacher’s aide was pleased. “Why, thank you,” she said, stopping by the crowded booth, “but—”
    “Sure,” Sammy said. “Sit down, Cis.” Sammy slid into the booth beside Trixie. “Hi,” he said, nodding to the other Bob-Whites. “My name’s Sammy.”
    “I’m Trixie Belden, and this is Honey Wheeler. We sort of met you in front of school,” Trixie said. She introduced each of the others at the table. “We’re the Bob-Whites,” she told him.
    “That’s the name of their club, Sammy,” Miss Lawler explained. “They’re all good friends of mine.” Sammy shrugged. “Then they’re all good friends of mine, too,” he said.
    Sammy seemed to be an easy person to know. He had a great sense of humor and a droll way of telling stories—most of them about his own misadventures. In a few minutes, he had everyone at the table howling with laughter.
    “Sammy, if you’re going to be staying in Sleepyside, you’ll have to join the Drama Club at school,” Trixie said, weak from laughing.
    “School?” Sammy asked in a sarcastic tone. “Forget it. That’s almost as bad as being locked up. I’m nineteen, and I’m finished with school, that’s for sure.”
    “Sammy’s just taking some time off to travel a bit,” Miss Lawler said quickly. “Next year, he’ll be entering college.”
    “Maybe,” Sammy said. Then he smiled. “I’m glad Cis wrote and told me about Sleepyside,” he went on, changing the subject. “Finding little old towns like this is sort of a hobby with me. I like to keep on the move. I just got here today, but I already think Sleepyside is one of the neatest places I’ve hit yet.”
    The Bob-Whites nodded proudly. “We think Sleepyside is great,” Trixie said.
    “Are you going to be staying here awhile?” Mart queried.
    “I hope so,” Miss Lawler answered for Sammy.
    “Look,” Sammy said impatiently, “I told you I didn’t come here to sponge off you, Cis.”
    Miss Lawler bent her head and took a quick sip of her cola. The others remained