The Mystery of the Phantom Grashopper

bounding back with the stick in his mouth. He dropped it at Trixie’s feet.
    “Good boy, Reddy!” Bobby said, patting the dog vigorously.
    Brian shook his head. “That wasn’t right, Bobby,” he said. “Reddy should have brought the stick back to you.”
    Bobby shrugged. “Why? I don’t want it.”
    This brought more laughter.
    Looking at Honey and Jim, Bobby brightened. “Oh, Honey and Jim, are you going to stay for dinner?”
    Brian poked Bobby in the ribs, making him squeal with delight. “You bet they are,” he said.
    Jim and Honey followed the Belden young people into the kitchen. “We couldn’t help it, Mrs. Belden,” Jim said in mock apology. “Trixie and the boys forced us to come for dinner.”
    “Good! We like company,” Mrs. Belden said. She was very fond of Honey and Jim and treated them as if they were her own children. “As long as you’re here,” she suggested, “why not spend the night?”
    “That’s super, Moms!” Trixie exclaimed. “Honey and I both have dental appointments in the morning. We’ll go together.”
    “And we’ll do some work on my Car,” Brian, already making plans, said to Jim.
    Bobby clapped his hands. “Stay! Stay!” he shouted. Honey laughed. “We thought you’d never ask,” she said. “Of course we’ll stay.”
    “Terrific,” Trixie said. “Now tell us what we can do to help, Moms.”
    “Well,” Mrs. Belden said, “the boys can bring in some firewood. We’ll pop com after dinner.”
    “Oh, boy!” Bobby whooped, heading for the living room. “I’ll go fix the pillows on the floor right now.”
    “And, Trixie,” Mrs. Belden continued, “we’re all out of hot mustard. Would you and Honey go down to Mr. Lytell’s for a jar?”
    “That’s a long walk, Moms,” Brian said quickly. “Jim can drive them down in my car, if he can get it started. Mart and I will bring in the wood.”
    “Thanks, Brian!” Trixie and Honey chorused.
    A few minutes later, Jim, Honey, and Trixie were rattling down Glen Road in Brian’s old jalopy. “It’s not a limousine,” Trixie said, “but it’s better than walking!”
    At Mr. Lytell’s small country store, they parked in front and hurried inside. They were the only customers there, and Mr. Lytell was getting ready to close for the day.
    “A jar of hot mustard, please,” Trixie ordered.
    Mr. Lytell placed the mustard on the counter and waited for Trixie to fish coins from her pocket. “Having a big dinner party?” he asked, eyeing Honey and Jim.
    “No, just the family,” Trixie answered the inquisitive storekeeper. Honey and Jim exchanged amused glances.
    “I see that young fella with the yella truck is back in town,” Mr. Lytell said as he counted out the change. “I saw you and Honey riding with him the other day.”
    “I think you’re mistaken, sir,” Honey said politely. “Sammy is new in Sleepyside.”
    “Can’t tell me that!” Mr. Lytell snapped. “That yella truck was up and down here all summer long, drag racing on the old Louis Road. And that young fella and his roughneck friends were in this place lots of times.”
    Trixie looked at Honey and Jim and shrugged. “If you say so, Mr. Lytell,” she said. She picked up the jar of mustard and opened the door. “Good night, Mr. Lytell. Thanks.”
    “Do you think it really was Sammy?” Honey asked when they were back in the jalopy.
    “I doubt it,” Jim said. “Mr. Lytell might have seen that old truck, though. Sammy may have bought it from someone around here.”
    As Jim started to back out onto the road, Honey warned, “Hold it, Jim; there’s a car coming.”
    “It’s coming pretty fast, too,” Trixie added. “It looks like a big station wagon.”
    Jim looked over his shoulder to watch the approaching car. As the big wagon passed the lighted storefront, the young people had a glimpse of the driver and passenger.
    “I think that’s Miss Lawler and Sammy!” Honey exclaimed.
    “And Miss Lawler was driving,” Trixie observed. “She said she couldn’t drivel”
    “Miss Lawler looked like she was scared,” Honey pointed out.
    Jim turned onto the road. “Sammy’s probably teaching her to drive,” he said. “Glen Road is good for beginners—you don’t meet many other cars here. Everybody’s a little scared when they first start driving. You and Trixie’ll find that out.”
    They were almost home when another car came down Glen Road toward them. “Gleeps,” Trixie said. “Glen Road is turning into a