The Secret of the Unseen Treasure

closer. It was a tom paper bag, and it was filled with brown envelopes. Sliding both hands under it, Trixie felt a large stone that had been used to weight the bag and make it sink. She planted her feet in the slimy bottom and stood up, gently lifting her discovery clear of the water.
    “I found it!” she cried.
    Wading shoreward, Trixie stepped on a rock and tottered. Jim grasped her arm to support her. At the water’s edge, Trixie placed the sodden, tom bag on the grassy bank.
    “Those must be the stolen Social Security checks!” Brian declared.
    Trixie nodded. “I don’t remember how many names I read in the paper, but I’ll bet all of their checks are right here.”
    Jim was spreading the envelopes on the grass. “They’re all Glen Road addresses,” he said.
    “How did they get in the lake?” Di asked in a puzzled tone.
    “I’ll bet they were thrown in,” Trixie said. “With this stone to make the bag sink. When I stepped on the bag and broke it, one of the envelopes floated to the surface.”
    “But why would anyone want to throw them in the lake?” Di wondered. “It couldn’t have been to hide them.”
    Brian shook his head. “It doesn’t make sense. Why would anyone steal checks and then throw them away?”
    “Incriminating evidence,” Mart suggested. “Maybe the thief thought he was going to be caught, so he disposed of the checks.”
    “That makes sense,” Trixie said. Maybe Mrs. Elliot had seen the thief and scared him. The arson attempt was to keep her quiet. Then Trixie remembered what her mother had said: Mrs. Elliot wouldn’t keep quiet about anything illegal. “On the other hand, maybe it doesn’t make sense,” Trixie said slowly.
    Jim gathered the envelopes. “We’d better notify Sergeant Molinson. Maybe he can come up with an answer.”
    “If Trixie hasn’t already got it,” Mart said. “Not yet,” Trixie admitted. “Not yet...

Mr. Hartman’s Secret • 4

    WHEN SERGEANT MOLINSON ARRIVED, he frowned at the envelopes drying out in the sun on the boathouse dock.
    “You shouldn’t have moved them from where you found them,” he grumbled. “Too late now. Show me where, and let’s hope you didn’t destroy any other evidence that might have been in the area.”
    Trixie smiled impishly. “Jim, you’re closest to the sergeant’s size. Have you got an extra pair of swimming trunks to lend him?” Molinson scowled at her.
    Trixie broadened her smile. “We found them at the bottom of the lake. They were in a bag, weighted with that stone.”
    “Oh!” Molinson grunted.
    Jim grinned. “You can change in the boathouse, Sergeant. I’ll dig out a pair of trunks.”
    “That won’t be necessary,” Molinson said. Trixie thought that this would be a good opportunity for her to confirm her suspicions, while Molinson was off guard. “Someone along Glen Road must have seen the checks being stolen,” she said. “That’s probably why they were tossed in the lake, to get rid of incriminating evidence. When we find out who—”
    “Nobody saw anything,” Molinson said curtly, cutting her off. “My officers questioned everyone along Glen Road after the checks were reported stolen. And what do you mean by ‘ we ‘ young lady?”
    Trixie gulped. “There must be some reason why the checks were thrown away instead of being cashed,” she said.
    “Of course,” Molinson said noncommittally. Trixie waited, but he didn’t continue. He carefully gathered the envelopes. “Suppose you show me exactly where you found these.”
    “Out there, sir.” Jim pointed toward the opposite side of the lake. “I’ll row you out.” Molinson eyed the rowboat and shook his head. “I’ll drive around. One of you come with me.” He nodded at Jim.
    “Better take Trixie,” Jim suggested. “She was the one who found them. She can show you where they were, and maybe you can get some idea about where they were thrown in.” Molinson hesitated.
    Brian spoke up. “I’ll drive Trixie around in the club car.”
    “Okay,” Molinson said.
    As they walked up to the garage, Trixie muttered to Brian, “What’s the big idea? I wanted to see if he’d tell me any more about how his investigation’s coming.”
    “I know,” Brian admitted.
    “Then why?”
    Brian stopped and faced Trixie. “Because there’s a police rule against a male officer transporting a woman in a police car without having a policewoman as an escort.”
    Trixie protested. “But that doesn’t apply