The Mystery on the Mississippi

couldn’t find a likelier place, Trix.”
    “It’s the lightning and thunder and rain that make it look so scary,” Trixie declared. “I don’t remember anything on the map of the river that would make us think Lontard uses this place.”
    “Nope. Me, either,” Dan said. “Let’s see what we can remember about those sketches. There was that fence at Tom Sawyer’s home, and there was Jackson’s Island. That figures, especially after we saw that paper Lem Watkins found. I wish we had it to show to Mr. Wheeler.”
    “Then there was the picture of pyramids,” Honey remembered. “That was Cairo, I guess.”
    “I don’t know why they’d have Cairo on the map. It was made—the map, I mean—long before Lontard was mixed up with us Bob-Whites,” Brian said.
    “Well, there was a picture of a fez, too,” Trixie said. “I have it! It meant Thebes—fez and pyramids. Remember how Bob tried to take the Comet into shore at Thebes?”
    “Golly, yes,” Brian said. “The fishermen scared him out! I’m beginning to think there really is something to that crazy map.”
    “I’ve always been sure of it,” Trixie said smugly. “Remember the old man with the beard? Bushy beard? You know, like one of the prophets in the Bible?” Dan recalled. “We haven’t seen anything like that yet.”
    “No, we haven’t, but there were sketches at intervals on the river, from Hannibal to New Orleans,” Trixie said slowly. “Those sketches were one reason I wanted to follow a road near the river. We might possibly run into the old man. Maybe he’s a hermit and lives in this old house.”
    “If he does, he’s going to live there in peace, as far as I’m concerned,” Mart said determinedly. “The rain’s slackening a little. Let’s get going, Jim. I want to see that exhibit.”
    “Jeepers, Mart, that’s probably rained out. I think it’s much more important to keep hunting for Lontard’s caches,” Trixie said.
    “There’s a chance it wasn’t rained out,” Mart insisted. “The sky’s all light down south of us. It’s black as night here. Say, come to think of it, it is night.
    We couldn’t see a clue if it walked up and slapped us on the back. I want to see that exhibit. I think we’d better pull out. Jim, are those headlights coming up the road?”
    “Looks like it. They’ve just turned off the county road and are coming this way. I’d better scram.”
    “Oh, don’t do that!” Trixie begged. “We’re just on the brink of finding something out. I’m sure of it. This old scary house—”
    “That’s good reason for us to get out of here,” Brian said with authority. “Pull out fast, Jim.”
    “It’s too late now. Maybe I can back out. I can pull around to the rear of the house and hide the car, maybe, back in that grove. Hold on, everybody!” Jim backed skillfully, turned the car around, and headed for the grove. He was fortunate to find cover without any trouble, for he couldn’t use his lights. Then they all sat, without a word, watching.
    The car sped up the drive and stopped under the porte cochère. Three forms got out quickly and climbed the few steps to the carriage entrance.
    The Bob-Whites strained their eyes to catch a glimpse of the three persons, but in vain. They disappeared into the house so quickly that they were just a blur of murky shapes.
    Flickering lights appeared as the visitors went up to the second floor, then the third. There, a single bulb, just visible through an uncurtained window, showed a barnlike, apparently vacant room.
    “I’d say this is our time to get out,” Mart said, “when they’re all inside the house.”
    “Just what I was thinking,” Brian agreed.
    “And me.” Jim turned the ignition key.
    “Oh, Jim, don’t go away now, please,” Trixie begged. “I just know we’re on Lontard’s trail.”
    “And I know we’re going to get a dose of shot in our backs if we don’t get off private property,” Mart said. “Trixie, you sure do go in for wild guesses. This is someone’s home, and we’re trespassing. The quicker we get out of here the better, if we want to save our hides. Right, Jim?”
    “Right!” Jim stepped hard on the gas.
    Trixie was crushed. As the car sped down the driveway and out toward the road, she looked back longingly. Suddenly the house was ablaze with light. Doors were thrown open, shadowy shapes ran out to the waiting automobile, and soon the big car’s motor roared.
    “Hurry!” Mart urged. “Give her more