The Mystery on Cobbett's Island

would make a wonderful theme.”
    “If any of us wrote about our search for the missing money, no one would believe us,” Mart said. “They’d think we dreamed the whole thing.”
    As they drove slowly along the beautiful main street of Easthampton, with its canopy of ancient elm trees, they were all on the lookout for Locust Lane. “There it is, off to the left,” cried Trixie, pointing to a narrow, winding street. “Step on it, Pete. Fm dying to get back and see if that’s the right place.”
    “Patience, Trix, old girl. I’m going as fast as the city fathers will allow,” Peter replied cheerfully. “You don’t want me to get a ticket, do you?”
    When they arrived at the nursery and Peter was conferring about his mother’s order, Trixie and the others wandered around outside the main building, where the owner had laid out a typical Japanese garden. They noticed charming little odd-shaped pools, edged with unusual plants and crossed by miniature arched bridges or a series of artistically shaped stepping-stones. Water flowed from pool to pool over half-concealed waterfalls. As they followed the winding paths, they came upon stone ornaments, some in the shapes of birds or animals. Lanterns and benches along the way seemed to invite them to stop and rest. A weeping flowering crab tree was in full bloom, its graceful boughs dipping into the water.
    “Oh, I feel as though I were really in Japan!” Honey exclaimed as she stopped in front of one of the statues. “Wouldn’t it be fun to have a garden like this at home? Down near the weeping willow by the lake would be a perfect place for one. I think I'll read up on Japanese gardens and ask Mother to let me plan one.”
    Peter came out with the proprietor just in time to hear Honey’s enthusiastic proposal.
    “I agree they are fascinating, but let me warn you: Don’t choose it as a do-it-yourself project unless you have endless patience,” the man said. “Many of these little trees and plants are very old. They have been pruned and shaped for years to give just the effect the gardener wants.”
    “That wouldn’t be a hobby for me, then,” Trixie broke in. “Patience isn’t my strongest virtue.”
    “Oh, I don’t know,” Jim remarked. “You sure have stick-to-itiveness, and that’s just patience plus positive action, isn’t it?”
    “That sure sounds impressive, Jim, but I’m afraid it’s just stubborn old bullheadedness,” Trixie replied. “Once I get on the trail of something mysterious, I just can’t bear to give up.”
    When the plants had been loaded into the station wagon, Honey told the nursery owner how much they had enjoyed the few minutes spent in his beautiful garden.
    “If you have a moment before you go, let me point out something you may have missed,” he said, leading them to a spot nearby. “The tendency seems to be for visitors in an oriental garden to look down instead of up, but just glance into the top of that big maple tree at the edge of the garden. Do you see anything special?”
    “Why, yes,” Trixie cried. “I see the outline of a w oman, a little Japanese woman in a kimono, right where that big branch comes out of the main trunk.”
    “I see it, too,” Honey exclaimed, “and it looks as though her hands were folded into the sleeves of her dress!”
    “And her head is bowed as though she were thinking,” added Diana.
    “That’s right,” the nurseryman answered, pleased at their perceptiveness. “Do you boys see the little goddess?” he asked, turning to them.
    After they, too, had identified the lifelike branch, he told them that the Oriental loves to discover, in trees or rocks, forms that resemble people, animals, or birds. “I was lucky enough to spot that little lady. Her silhouette shows up only from this particular vantage point. So, as my Japanese friends would do, I set up this little shrine in her honor. We call her the Lady of the Tree tops.”
    “She’s charming, and so is her shrine,” Honey said as they admired the delicate miniature pagoda. “Thanks so much for letting us see her.”
    “And hereafter we’ll remember to look up as well as down when we visit a Japanese garden,” Trixie added.
    “Well, it’s something for you young people to think about,” the nurseryman said as they walked back to the car. “No matter where you are, don’t forget to look up.

Jelly Doughnuts ● 15

    IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG to get back to Easthampton and Locust Lane. As Peter drove around