The secret of the Mansion

didn’t catch him until he was just a few yards from Glen Road. Anyway," he finished, "Strawberry showed me the way back."
    "Honey twisted her ankle when she fell," Trixie told Jim. "I’ll ride Strawberry back."
    "Oh, no, you won’t." Honey slid out of the saddle, wincing as her ankle touched the ground. "Remember our promise to Regan."
    "I forgot," Trixie admitted as Jim helped Honey mount Strawberry. "Oh, quick, Jim; somebody’s coming."
    But it was too late for Jim to hide, and in a minute Mr. Lytell appeared on a narrow path off the main trail.
    "So we meet again," he said, staring curiously at Jim. "That’s a beautiful horse. I think I saw your father riding him early Friday morning."
    A dull red crept up Jim’s cheeks to his ears, and Trixie could guess how he hated acting a lie.
    Honey said with quick tact, "Dad was out on Jupiter Friday, Mr. Lytell. He went to Canada Saturday night. Mother can’t stand this heat, you know."
    "I can’t stand it myself." Mr. Lytell began polishing his glasses. "The perspiration fogs up my specs so I can’t see." He peered nearsightedly at Jim. "You don’t look much like your sister, do you?"
    "We don’t look at all alike," Honey said truthfully, and Trixie felt nervous laughter bubbling up inside her. Jim’s face was almost as red as his hair as he silently swung up on Jupiter. "We’d better start for home," he mumbled uncomfortably.
    "Yes, indeed." Mr. Lytell nudged Belle into a walk. "It’s time for me to go to the train for the city papers. I’m taking the shortcut to the store, but you youngsters had better stick to the trail."
    They watched him move slowly through the trees, and Trixie sighed with relief. "Whew! He’s so nosy. Honey, you were wonderful to let him go on thinking Jim was your brother."
    Jim’s jaw was set. "And this is just the beginning," he thought out loud, his green eyes dark with misery. "It’ll be one he after another, I guess, if I don’t want to get caught." He slumped in the saddle. "I don’t think I can stand it."
    Trixie felt a quick pang of sympathy. She hated to lie herself and remembered how miserable she always felt whenever she evaded the truth. "You didn’t really lie, Jim," she tried to comfort him. "And neither did Honey. That nosy old man had no business prying in your business, anyway."
    Jim straightened. "Well, I’m not going to lie when I apply for a job as a junior counselor. I couldn’t live with myself if I did."
    "But," Honey objected, "they won’t hire you if they find out you ran away from home, will they?"
    "That remains to be seen." Jim shrugged. "I’m strong, and I’m good with animals. They’ll give me a job on a cattle boat without asking any questions. I’d like to see Europe, anyway."
    They rode back to the Mansion in a depressed silence.
    "Thanks a lot," Jim said as he handed Jupiter’s reins to Honey. "If I shouldn’t see you again, I want you to know how much I appreciate all you two did for me."
    "Now, Jim." Honey’s huge hazel eyes clouded with tears. "Promise you won’t go away without first letting us know."
    "I can’t promise you anything," he said almost brusquely and vaulted in through the window.
    Regan was waiting for the girls at the stable. "You’ve been gone a lot longer than you thought you would," he said, trying to hide his anxiety. "Have any trouble?"
    Honey told him about her fall, and Regan carefully examined her ankle. "I’ll strap that up for you* so it won’t bother you at all." He glanced out of one eye at Trixie. "You look all in," he told her. "I’ll give Lady her rubdown. Run along home, now."
    "Thanks," Trixie murmured and went wearily down the road.
    Trixie was so tired she didn’t see how she was going to make herself feed the chickens, but somehow she managed to throw out the grain and gather the eggs. As she came out of the coop, she saw her father putting his car away in the garage. "Any news of Mr. Frayne, Dad?" she called out.
    Mr. Belden closed the doors to the garage before replying. "Yes," he said soberly. "I’m afraid so. He died this afternoon."
     

Unwelcome Guests • 16
     
    OH, DAD." Trixie looked up at the Mansion, thinking, Poor Jim! He's alone in the world now. Even if Mr. Frayne was a mean old miser, at least he was somebody Jim felt he belonged to. Aloud she asked her father, "Did he say anything before he died? About a will, I mean."
    "No." Mr. Belden looked grave. "He never regained consciousness. Were still trying to locate some