The Mystery of the Velvet Gown

once on Glen Road, they couldn’t distinguish his tire tracks among the slushy collection of hundreds of others.
    Trixie was subdued as they finished their ride and slowly started back to the Wheeler estate.
    Sensing her friend’s mood, Honey drew Trixie aside as they were cleaning tack in the stable. “Don’t worry, Trixie,” she whispered. “We’ll find out more tomorrow—I’m sure of it!”
    Trixie grinned. “We sure will—or my name isn’t Trixie Belden!”
    The rest of the day was uneventful, and it seemed to drag on endlessly for Trixie. She had chores to do and homework to finish, and she helped to prepare Sunday dinner, but she couldn’t wait for Monday morning to come. I never thought I’d be excited about going to school. She smiled to herself. But I’ve got to see those costumes again !
    Monday morning finally came, and Trixie was the first one up. “My goodness!” her mother exclaimed when she saw her dressed and ready for school. “Did you get up before the sun this morning?”
    “Almost,” Trixie laughed. “I woke up early and couldn’t get back to sleep.”
    Trixie had almost finished her breakfast by the time the rest of the family sat down at the table. Brian and Mart grumbled as their sister hurried them through their meal, into their coats, and out to the bus stop. As they waited, Trixie anxiously shifted her books from one arm to the other. “Of all mornings for that bus to be late!” she wailed.
    “Patience, Beatrix,” Mart said, glancing at his watch. “The bus isn’t late; we’re early. You’ll get to school on time.”
    “Obviously it’s not school she’s worried about,” Brian said. “What is it, Trix—some quick sleuthing before the first bell?”
    “I’ve got a plan that I’m dying to put into action,” she answered mysteriously.
    “Are you going to let us in on it, or do you plan to wait until the last minute to call for our expert assistance?” Mart probed.
    “You’ll have to wait,” Trixie .sniffed as the bus finally arrived and they boarded.
    But there was no time to set the wheels of her plan in motion, because the bus arrived at school just in time for her first class.
    “How come,” Trixie wailed as she and Honey hurried to their lockers, “when I actually plan something, get up early, and for once in my life am completely organized, something happens to ruin the whole thing?”
    Trixie slid into her seat as the general school announcements were being made over the PA system. At the end, there was a special announcement from the principal.
    “Students,” he began in a very stern voice, “as those of you who are involved with the freshman class play know, several Shakespearean costumes were very graciously lent to us by a friend of Miss Darcy’s. One of those costumes, a velvet gown, has disappeared. Any student who has any information concerning the whereabouts of this costume, please come forward at once and report either to Miss Darcy or to me. The costume was last seen by Miss Darcy on Friday evening after school.”
    Trixie gasped and sat bolt upright in her seat. Now what? she wondered. Can it be Peter Ashbury again? Oh, I can’t wait until rehearsal ! But she didn’t have to wait that long. Half an hour after the first announcement, the PA system clicked on again.
    “Trixie Belden and Diana Lynch,” a voice commanded, “please report to Miss Darcy’s office immediately.” Trixie stood up at once, and her science teacher, Mr Morrison, nodded. She left the classroom, and as she hurried toward the drama club office, she met Di in the hallway.
    “Do you think it has something to do with the missing costume?” Di whispered nervously.
    “I certainly hope so!” Trixie answered.
    “My goodness, why?” Di asked, her face clouding with concern and confusion.
    “Oh, Di,” Trixie said quickly, seeing the perplexed look on her friend’s pretty face. “I’m sorry. We’ve really kept you in the dark about this whole thing. You’ve been so busy with the play. Don’t worry,” she reassured her as they neared Miss Darcy’s office. “Leave this to me, and I’ll explain everything later.”
    Eileen Darcy was waiting for them. She had the haggard, dark-eyed look of someone who had not slept well for several days.
    “Now, girls,” she began calmly, “this is a very serious matter indeed, and I expect that you will be honest with me. We have reason to believe that you had something to do with the disappearance of the