The Pet Show Mystery

setter was lovable and energetic, but the energy was generally used to get into mischief rather than for any more practical purpose.
    “We could also post a notice at Dr. Chang’s office,’ Dan said. “He’s an excellent veterinarian. Every animal lover in town winds up going to see him sooner or later.”
    “Dr. Chang might even let us tuck in a letter with the bills he sends out,” Di said.
    “Those are good ideas,” Trixie said. “But we still need more.”
    “I agree,” Honey said. “We need an event. If it’s exciting enough, it will really get people involved in saving the birds.”
    “That’s exactly what I was trying to say,” Trixie told Honey. Turning to the other Bob-Whites, she said, “We need something that will appeal to animal lovers everywhere. But what?”
    Before anyone could answer, Patch nudged open the door of the den and padded across the room to his owner. Unlike Reddy, Patch was well trained. At a word from Jim, the dog sat down quietly, panting softly as Jim scratched him behind the ear.
    “Patch must be responding to your appeal to animal lovers everywhere,” Jim said. “There’s certainly nobody who loves game birds more than he does. You’d help if you could, wouldn’t you, Patch?”
    “He can!” Trixie shouted.
    Startled, everyone—Patch included— turned to look at Trixie. She had set down her mug of cider and jumped to her feet. The look that everyone knew so well—the look that said Trixie Belden had just been struck by a perfect idea—had set her face aglow.
    “That’s exactly it,” Trixie said in a slightly softer voice. “Patch can help us save the game birds. And so, believe it or not, can Reddy!”



3 * The Bob-Whites Begin

    TRIXIE’S WORDS seemed to fall into a well of silence. Her friends’ faces reflected a combination of surprise, anticipation, and total bewilderment. Trixie let the silence stretch on, enjoying the mystery she had created.
    Even Honey, who usually could read Trixie’s mind, was puzzled. “How can Patch and Reddy help us save the game birds?”
    Trixie decided she’d kept her friends in suspense long enough. “Why, by entering the pet show we’re going to have to raise money and get support for the game birds,” she said.
    “Think about it. The people who pay to enter the pet show, and the people who pay to attend, are bound to be animal lovers. So not only will they enjoy contributing to a good cause, they’ll also be the right people to educate about feeding the birds.”
    Almost immediately, Honey exclaimed, “Oh, Trixie, what a wonderful idea! It’s absolutely, positively brilliant!”
    “Can we actually do it?” Jim asked cautiously. “It’s a big project.”
    “Not any bigger than the antique show or the ice carnival we held a while ago, and those events were both successful,” Honey pointed out.
    “It does seem to me that the basic elements would be the same,” Mart said. “We’d need to set a date, find a place to hold the show, and get posters and fliers printed and circulated. And, of course, we’d need to enroll pets. But that wouldn’t be hard.”
    “See?” Trixie said. “Mart agrees with me. That means it has to be a perfect plan!”
    “You weren’t thinking of a formal, accredited pet show, were you? Because we don’t have the expertise to do something like that,” Brian said.
    “Heavens, no!” Trixie said. “This one will be purely for fun, with prizes for biggest pet and smallest pet and friendliest and most unusual. Definitely not formal and accredited.”
    “That’s just as well, since the Belden clan doesn’t own a formal and accredited pet, anyway,” Mart said dryly.
    “Are you going to enter Reddy as ‘most energetic’?” Honey teased.
    The other Bob-Whites laughed, but Jim remained serious. “If the Bob-Whites are sponsoring the show, we’d better stay out of the entries. It wouldn’t look right if we entered, let alone if we happened to win something.”
    “That’s fine with me,” Trixie agreed. “Reddy at home is pretty awful, but Reddy in public is unbearable.”
    “Okay,” Jim said, “let’s start planning.” He walked over to the desk and got a yellow legal pad and a pencil. “First, the place.”
    “How about the school gym?” Trixie suggested.
    Jim nodded and made note of the suggestion. “I’ll ask the principal tomorrow. I’m pretty sure he’ll say yes.”
    “How soon can we have the pet show?” Dan Mangan asked. “The critical