The Secret of the Unseen Treasure

describe Al Finlay—just in case we should happen to see him.”
    “Well?” Trixie prompted.
    “It was him. The man in the flower shop,” Honey confirmed.
    “I thought so,” Trixie said.
    Jim spoke up from behind. “I got the impression that you were holding back something yesterday,” he said. “What’s up?”
    “They think they’ve found the man who’s been making problems for Mrs. Elliot,” Mart said. “And I think maybe they’re on the right track.”
    Trixie gaped at the unexpected support from her brother. She told the others about Al Finlay, and then described what had happened at the flower shop. “I tried the name Finlay on him, but he didn’t show any reaction,” she said.
    “Not right then,” Honey joined in. “But right after that, he told Ann to take a break. I don’t know what he would have done to us if Mart hadn’t come in.”
    Jim shook his head. “I don’t like this. It’s too dangerous. If that man really is Al Finlay, then he must have a police record. I say we call Sergeant Molinson.”
    Trixie moaned. “He’ll just say we don’t have any proof.”
    “You don’t,” Brian pointed out.
    “Well, then, what can Sergeant Molinson do?” Trixie retorted. “He can’t just arrest Finlay for no reason.”
    “Maybe the police already want him for some other crime,” Mart suggested.
    “But if they arrest him for some other crime,” Honey said, “then he won’t be punished for what he’s tried to do to Mrs. Elliot.”
    “And we’ll never know why he tried to do it,” Trixie added.
    Brian nodded. “I suppose you have a plan. Right, Trixie?”
    “Yes, I do,” Trixie said. “Honey and I are going to have a slumber party.”
    The other Bob-Whites—including Honey-looked at one another in surprised silence.“A slumber party?” Brian repeated.
    Trixie nodded. “Monday night. Honey is going to invite Di and me to spend the night at her place. And you, Brian, are going to invite Jim to spend the night at our house.”
    “And what are we going to do in our soporific state?” Mart asked sarcastically. “Dream of capturing Al Finlay?”
    “We’re not going to sleep at all, if that’s what you mean,” Trixie said. “At midnight, we’re all going to meet right here at the clubhouse.”
    “You mean sneak out of the houses?” Di asked nervously.
    “We’ll have to,” Trixie said in a serious tone. “It’s the only way we will be able to stand guard at Mrs. Elliot’s.”
    “I don’t get it,” Jim said.
    “The last time Mrs. Elliot had a big order of flowers to sell,” Trixie explained, “they were trampled down on the night before she was to pick them.”
    “The snapdragons,” Honey said.
    “That’s right,” Trixie said. “Now she has a big order for carnations. She’s going to pick and deliver them on Tuesday morning. So, on Monday night, were going to stand guard over the carnations.”
    “That sure won’t be a bed of roses,” Mart quipped.
    “No, it won’t,” Brian agreed. “If we get caught sneaking out of the house at night, we may be grounded for the whole summer.”
    “Well, somebody has got to guard those flowers,” Trixie said stubbornly. “I’ll do it myself if I have to.”
    “Hold on,” Jim cautioned. “If we do anything, well do it together. That’s what the Bob-Whites are all about. Let’s just make sure we know what we may be getting into.”
    “Besides Max,” Trixie said, “we’re the only ones who know that Mrs. Elliot has that flower order.”
    “You don’t suspect Max, do you?” Di asked. Trixie shook her head. “Not directly. I think maybe he knows something about what’s been happening, but he won’t say. The only other person who knows about the flower order is Finlay, alias Manton. If he’s the one who’s trying to ruin Mrs. Elliot’s flower business, then he may try something on Monday night.”
    Di looked worried. “Couldn’t we just tell Sergeant Molinson to put a stakeoff—”
    “You mean a stakeout,” Mart corrected.
    “A stakeout,” Di went on, “at Mrs. Elliot’s on Monday night?”
    Jim shook his head. “He’d want some kind of proof that something was going to happen to the flowers.”
    “We’d have to reveal our whole plan,” Trixie added, “and Molinson would tell our parents, and they would tell us that we were jumping to conclusions, and—”
    “And nobody would guard the flowers,” Di concluded.
    Mart shrugged. “Why all the syllogistics? Trixies already