The Pet Show Mystery

man disappeared from the screen, and the television news reporter came on. “Those were the words today of Paul Gale, the noted anti-hunger crusader,” she said. “Gale, whose World Anti-Hunger Foundation raises money to buy supplies that are flown directly to Burma, Thailand, and other Third-World countries, will be in Sleepyside for the next several weeks to assist in the opening of a foundation office here. Gale said he chose our community because its relative prosperity should permit large donations to those less fortunate.”
    The reporter’s face was replaced by Paul Gale’s. He looked serious—and very angry. “People who have the most must share the most. Why, here in Sleepyside people have so much that they’re literally throwing their money to the birds. This, while children are dying. Something must be done!”
    The camera stayed on Paul Gale’s face while the reporter said, “Those interested in making contributions may mail them to the World Anti-Hunger Foundation, Seventy-five South Tenth Street.”
    The news program moved on to other events, but Trixie didn’t hear them. “That was our pet show he was talking about when he said people are throwing money to the birds!” Briefly, she told her brothers about her encounter with Paul Gale at the sign-up table. “He’s going to wreck the whole pet show if he keeps talking like that,” she concluded worriedly.
    “I doubt it,” Brian told her. “His worthy cause doesn’t make ours any less worthy. People will understand that.”
    “Maybe you’re right,” Trixie conceded. “It’s just that things have been going so well. I’dhate to see us run into problems now.”



5 * Honey Uncovers a Rumor

    THE FOLLOWING WEEK, Trixie realized that the pet show was having serious problems.
    At school Monday, the flow of entrants at the sign-up table slowed to a trickle. “That’s okay,” Trixie said as she and Brian packed away the meager stack of dollar bills they’d taken in. “We have enough pets now. Even if no one else signs up this week, the show will be a success.”
    But on Tuesday, things got worse — entrants began withdrawing from the contest. The first withdrawal was by a girl with a pet parakeet. “They’re very prone to respiratory infections,” she said. “They’re tropical birds, originally, you know. So my mom says it wouldn’t be a good idea to take Peewee out in the cold.” The excuse sounded logical, and Trixie obligingly found Peewee’s entry blank, tore it in two, and gave the girl her money back.
    Almost immediately, another student came up to the table. “I’ll be visiting my grandmother that day,” he said. “So I can’t bring my cat. Could I withdraw from the show?”
    Trixie realized that she’d set a dangerous precedent with Peewee; there was no choice but to return the money.
    Three more students withdrew by the end of the day, all with increasingly lame-sounding excuses.
    “I don’t understand it,” Trixie said to Honey. “Do you think that TV interview with Paul Gale is what started this?”
    Honey, looking disappointed, tried to be cheerful. “I doubt it. Someone would have mentioned his name. I think there was such a rush of enthusiasm, people didn’t stop to think before they entered. Now that they’ve had a chance to think it over and tell their parents about it, there are bound to be a few snags.”
    There were indeed four more “snags” the following day, reducing the total number of entrants to less than seventy.
    By now, even Honey was finding it difficult to stay calm about the withdrawals. “This isn’t a normal drop-out rate,” she said. “Something’s going on, and I’m going to find out what it is.”
    “How are you going to do that?” Trixie asked.
    Honey’s jaw set in a stubborn look that was rare for her. “I’ll think of a way,” she replied.
    A few moments later a girl from Honey’s homeroom withdrew her dog. This girl, too, had suddenly found out about a visit to her grandparents on the day of the show.
    Honey managed to smile as she returned the money. Calmly, she watched the girl walk away from the sign-up table. Then she stood up and said, “You wait here, Trixie. I’m going to talk to Heather.”
    Honey followed the girl. Trixie saw Heather turn and pause as Honey quietly called her name. The two girls talked for several minutes.
    Finally, Heather went off down the hall. Honey walked back toward the sign-up table. A tight knot formed in Trixie’s