The Mystery of the Uninvited Ghost

contradicted her. “Didn’t you ever make doll clothes, Trixie? You just split the sleeve, insert lace the length of the sleeve, and sew it back together.”
    “You don’t sew, Hallie Belden!” Trixie scoffed. “Oh, don’t I!” Hallie said. “Wait till I open my suitcase, and I’ll show you. I made every stitch I brought with me.”
    “That you didn’t bring with you!” Trixie corrected. Honey remembered the week’s previous arguments and pretended not to hear the irritation in Trixie’s voice. “We won’t have to worry about what’s easy and what’s hard. Miss Trask will call a fitter to help us.” Trixie sighed with relief. “I wouldn’t be caught dead in anything I made.”
    “Neither would anyone else,” Di giggled.
    “Ribbon sashes,” Honey planned, “with big flat bows, the ends of the ribbon touching the floor, and matching ribbons on our hats, and—”
    “—and daisies,” Di added.
    “White gloves,” Mrs. Vanderpoel said, “and white slippers. And even white stockings.”
    “Oh, yes,” Juliana agreed happily. “Let’s go tell Hans about our new plans.”
    Five excited girls went down the two flights of stairs to Mrs. Vanderpoel’s living room. Trixie ran ahead with the cry, “We found it!” and Juliana danced into the room, waving her hands.
    Trixie had grown used to the flash of Juliana’s engagement ring, and now she missed it. “Juliana, let me see your hand.”
    Juliana held out both her hands and cried in dismay, “My ring! It’s gone!”
    Her cry caught everyone’s attention immediately: “No!”
    “It can’t be!”
    “Maybe it’s snagged on your skirt.” Juliana stood in the middle of the room and allowed a careful search of her clothing. Hans thought she should undress in Mrs. Vanderpoel’s bedroom, in case the ring had slipped inside her clothes while trying on the gowns.
    “No,” Juliana said worriedly, “I didn’t tiy on the dresses. They were too large, all but one. Oh, Hans, what am I to do? Your lovely ring!” She cried, and Hans comforted her.
    Hans suggested an inspection of the floors and stairs. Mrs. Vanderpoel handed out flashlights and turned on every lamp from the front door to the attic. Inch by inch, Juliana’s route through the house was retraced, but the ring was not to be found.
    “It may have caught on the material of one of the dresses,” Mrs. Vanderpoel said.
    In the attic, the sober group sat in a circle. Each person took a tissue-wrapped package, made a thorough examination of the material inside, and handed it back to Mrs. Vanderpoel. “No ring,” Mart said, dismally echoing the verdict of the others.
    Although they knew there was little chance for success, they searched the porch, the walk, and finally the station wagon itself. Not a flash of gold or diamonds did anyone see. Juliana cried inconsolably, distressing Hans. “You 11 make yourself sick, Juliana. I’ll buy another ring—one that fits.”
    “But it wont be the same. This was your family’s heirloom ring!”
    “You’ll get it back,” Dan said earnestly.
    “How can you be so sure?” Trixie wondered.
    Mrs. Vanderpoel offered to serve cookies and milk, but not even Mart was interested in food. It was a silent group that left the yellow brick house. Juliana didn’t even remember to take the wedding dress and the daisy-wreathed hat.
    Back at Crabapple Farm, Trixie didn’t go to bed until her brothers came in from the bam. They’d helped Dan saddle Spartan for his ride back to Mr. Maypenny’s cottage. Trixie could hear Dan whistling in the dark, and the sound was so sad that it made her feel lonesome. The evening had begun with gaiety, but it had ended with gloom.
    Her blue mood lingered in her dreams. She was surprised that Honey could make a cheerful call early Friday morning. The Beldens were at breakfast, so Trixie took the call at her mother’s kitchen desk.
    “Miss Trask is all in a dither about wedding plans,” Honey said. “She’s already sent Jim to Mrs. Vanderpoel’s to pick up the dress and hat. She’s making lists of the materials needed for our outfits, and she wants to take our measurements. Di’s riding over in a little while. Can your mother spare you and Hallie?”
    Trixie obtained Mrs. Belden’s permission, but Hallie insisted, “I’m going to stay on the phone today till I convince Cap Belden that I need my clothesl Just because he doesn’t care if he ever sees his grubbies again, he thinks there’s no reason why I