The Mystery on the Mississippi

investigator.”
    Apparently the authorities were checking on Mr. Wheeler’s report of the day’s happenings, because they asked Trixie to tell them, in detail, everything that had occurred from the time they arrived in Hannibal. She told them about the teeth that turned out to be the fence Tom Sawyer once whitewashed. She reported their visit to Jackson’s Island. She couldn’t tell them of Lem’s account of the men he and Soapy saw in the night, but she did say she thought Jackson’s Island was a very important link in the chain. Then she told what happened on the way home, stopping frequently to give Honey a chance to add to the story or to corroborate something she said.
    After Trixie finished talking, she said to Honey, “I honestly think they’re beginning to think we’re right, Honey, and that this is an important case.
    “That agent asked me about every little thing. I was afraid he’d question me more about the island, but he didn’t. I know Mart wasn’t much impressed with the old house part of it....”
    “He was when the Mercedes passed us.”
    “That’s right. He was. The investigator seemed to think it has real bearing on the case. I guess it’s a good thing I’m not going to that exhibit, after all, much as I’d like to go.”
    “Why?”
    “Because the agent said he may have to communicate with us further, after he’s talked to the rest of the men. He asked me if I’d be available later on.” Outside the girls’ room, the Bob-White whistle shrilled.
    “That’s Jim,” Honey said. “They probably want us to hurry to the restaurant. Are you ready?”
    At the counter, Trixie admitted, “I’m famished, and I didn’t realize it. I thought I’d never be hungry again, after all that fried fish and bacon and eggs on Jackson’s Island. Did you ever taste such fish in all your life?”
    “We get some pretty good fish in the creek in our woods back home,” Jim said, “but they don’t taste like the fish Lem caught.”
    “There aren’t any catfish in our creek,” Mart lamented. “At least, I never saw one there. Did you get Lem’s address so we could write to him?”
    “I did,” Trixie said. “It’s a good thing I did, too, because when I talked to the authorities, they said they wanted it.”
    “When you did what?” Brian shouted.
    “You haven’t given me a chance to tell you that the federal agent called me about what happened today. You thought it wasn’t important, Mart.”
    “I never said any such thing, especially after the Mercedes. Boy! Tell us what the agent said, Trix.” So Trixie brought them up to date. As she ended her story, she was conscious of Honey’s nudging. “What’s up?” she asked curiously.
    “Look who just took a seat over there in the corner,” Honey whispered. “Pass the word along to the boys. It’s Mr. and Mrs. Aguilera, isn’t it?”
    At that minute, Mrs. Aguilera caught sight of the Bob-Whites seated along the counter. She got up, and her husband followed.
    “Honey! Trixie!” she cried, hugging them both. “We’re so glad to see you! We got here this afternoon and tried to call your room a while ago, but there was no answer. We thought you were probably off sight-seeing. Aren’t you surprised to see us here?” Trixie, quickly recovered from the first shock of surprise, answered, “Well, Fm surprised certainly.
    I guess the others are, too. Did anything happen to the Catfish Princess ?” Her voice was anxious.
    Mrs. Aguilera laughed. “Oh, no. Something happened to us. When we stopped at Memphis, there was a letter there waiting for us—”
    “How did you get here?” Trixie broke in.
    “I’m coming to that, Trixie,” Mrs. Aguilera said indulgently. “You see, my husband and I are writing a book about rivers— But then, I told you that a long time ago on the towboat, didn’t I?”
    “Get to the point, Elena!” her husband said impatiently.
    “Yes, I’ll do that. Give me a minute. The letter at Memphis was from our publisher. He said we must bring the work up to date immediately, then return East for another assignment. I guess he thought we were having too good a time traveling up and down the Mississippi. He should have had to cook for all those people!”
    “Then how do you happen to be here at this motel?” Trixie wanted to know.
    “You don’t sound very pleased, Trixie,” Mrs. Aguilera said, irritated.
    “Oh, I am... I think... well, I think it’s swell.”
    “I think it’s wonderful,”