The Mystery of the Uninvited Ghost

asked.
    “If we knew that, there wouldn’t be any mystery,” Trixie said, stirred with inner excitement. That something unusual was going on, she had no doubt.
    After Jim had gone home, Trixie said, “That comic’s disappeared. But—if we can find that wheelchair, maybe it’ll lead to him.”
    “If he stole it,” Hallie added.
    Trixie snapped her fingers. “The hospital supply company! Remember? Hattie mentioned it.”
    “It’s almost closing time in an office,” Hallie said.
    At the telephone, Trixie handed the directory to Hallie. “Read the number for me. I haven’t time to waste dialing the wrong one.”
    Almost at once, a voice answered, “White Plains Hospital Supply. May I help you?”
    “I’m calling about the wheelchair that disappeared on Glen Road.” Trixie crossed her fingers.
    “Miss Parker will speak to you. One moment.” When Miss Parker answered, Trixie repeated her words. “Oh, yes,” said Miss Parker. “There was a mistake about the delivery address. I’m sorry. Is there some change about your present order to deliver the chair to Glen Road Inn?”
    Trixie gulped. She stammered, “I—I—”
    Miss Parker misinterpreted Trixie’s hesitation. “Room two-fourteen. Right?”
    Feeling somewhat dishonest, but glad to have the information, Trixie said, “Right. Thank you.”
    “I’m sorry you’ve been inconvenienced. You’ll have the chair by eight tonight, as ordered. I have confirmation from Teed Moving Service. They now have the chair.”
    The instant Trixie replaced the phone, Hallie demanded, “Tell me!” When Trixie had reported all of Miss Parker’s comments, Hallie said, “So that chair goes where it was supposed to go in the first place. Big deal. What can that prove?”
    “I won’t know unless I go to the inn to see who gets the chair!”
    “So it’s a little old lady in tennis shoes. Then what?”
    “Then we look around to see if that man we saw pushing the wheelchair shows up,” Trixie said obstinately, her stubborn streak showing.
    Admiration shone in Hallie’s berry-black eyes. “You don’t give up, do you?”
    “No. Not when someone spills a puzzle and loses a piece.”
    Trixie picked up the phone again and dialed the Wheelers’ number. She reached Honey in her room, dressing for dinner. “Honey, please, will you bike with me tonight?”
    “Isn’t it pretty warm? Wouldn’t you rather swim?”
    “We can do both,” Trixie pleaded. “It’s important, Honey. You won’t have to ride back up the hill to your house. Brian will be glad—”
    Brian came through the hallway. “What will I be so glad to do?”
    “Drive us to the lake for a swim,” Trixie told him. When he nodded his assent, she continued talking to Honey. “Brian says yes. I’ll see you. Is seven-thirty at the mailbox okay?”
    Hallie was playing jacks with Bobby when Trixie went to meet Honey. She didn’t indicate that she felt left out, and Trixie didn’t invite her to go along. It would be good to spend some time alone with Honey. Not even Di was included in everything that Trixie and Honey did.
    As the two girls rode slowly down Glen Road, Trixie reported her call to the hospital supply company. Jim had already told Honey about having checked the mailboxes. Like Hallie, Honey thought the delivery of the wheelchair to Glen Road Inn should end the matter. “Now we can get on with the wedding preparations,” Honey coaxed.
    “Maybe not,” Trixie said stubbornly. “Did Di get an invitation? She’s never mentioned it again.”
    “Yes, she did. Miss Trask made a special trip up to the Lynch house and delivered it in person.” Honey wobbled to a stop and asked Trixie, “What’s that room number at the inn?”
    “Two-fourteen.”
    “Well, no wonder there was a delivery mix-up. That’s the mailbox number at the Frayne property.”
    “I didn’t think of that,” Trixie said. “Two-fourteen Glen Road. Room two-fourteen, Glen Road Inn. Even a good secretary could make that mistake.”
    Glen Road Inn was a large brick house, very old and of Dutch design. It had been one of the original manor houses of the area. Once frequented by the wealthy, it was now mainly a tourist stopover. Most of the rooms overlooked gardens.
    The girls stopped at the desk for directions to room 214. The desk clerk was working a crossword puzzle. He pointed the way to the room, then went back to his puzzle.
    As she followed Trixie down the hall, Honey whispered, “What are we going to say?