The Secret of the Unseen Treasure

getting much more for her flowers than what she’s reported.” Trixie frowned. A familiar light was starting to show in her eyes. “As far as I know, shes been selling her flowers to only one shop.” Mart nodded. “Manton’s, in White Plains. Finlay’s place.”
    “I’m sure Ethel wouldn’t file false reports with Social Security,” Mrs. Belden said. “It must be a mistake. I’m sure that their office will realize that.”
    “Not if Finlay is still up to something,” Trixie declared. “And I’m sure he is.”
    “Is he still in the picture?” Peter Belden asked. “What about Max? He confessed to everything this morning.”
    “That’s impossible!” Trixie gasped. “He couldn’t confess to everything. I know that Finlay—”
    “Max didn’t incriminate anyone but himself,” Peter Belden interrupted. “One of Molinson’s deputies told me this morning. Max took the blame for everything that’s happened at Mrs. Elliot’s place.”
    “How could he?” Trixie demanded. “We saw Max in the cornfield while somebody else tried to bum Mrs. Elliot’s shed. Max couldn’t take the blame for that without involving someone else.”
    “I remember you telling me about that,” agreed her father. “I mentioned it to the deputy. He said Max claimed you were excited and imagined you saw another man trying to set the fire.”
    “That’s not so!” Trixie said.
    Mart shook his head. “Will Max go to jail?”
    “Not unless his stepmother presses charges,” Peter Belden said. “But she doesn’t even know he confessed. And I don’t think Molinson is going to tell her.”
    “What about the marijuana?” Trixie asked. “It’s up to Molinson to press charges on that,” her father said. “But he can’t prove that Max planted it. And it was destroyed, anyway. Max said he burned it because he was afraid it would be discovered before he could harvest it.”
    “I don’t believe one word of Max’s confession,” Trixie said vehemently, her eyes flashing. Mrs. Belden looked alarmed. “Trixie....”
    “Mart,” Trixie ordered, “find Brian. We’ll need him to drive. If you can’t find him, then phone Jim to stand by.”
    “Trixie!” Mrs. Belden repeated. “Where do you think you’re going? There’s nothing you can do about any of this. Mrs. Elliot has some sort of mix-up with the government. And Max has confessed to the other crimes. It’s all over, as far as you’re concerned.”
    “Unless we do something,” Trixie said, “it’ll be all over for Mrs. Elliot. She won’t have anything!”
    “Trixie,” her father spoke seriously. “You have gone as far as you can go on this one. Drop it.”
    “I can’t,” Trixie moaned. “I don’t believe Max’s confession, and I’m sure you don’t, either. And I think I know why he did it.”
    “Why?” her father asked.
    “It must have something to do with his father,” Trixie said.
    “What?” Peter Belden prompted.
    “I don’t know,” Trixie admitted.
    Her parents exchanged glances.
    “But I know someone who does,” Trixie went on. “Mr. Hartman. I’m sure he knows something about Max’s father that could clear this all up.”
    Her mother looked skeptical. “Sam Elliot has been dead for five years,” she said.
    “But Mr. Hartman knows something about him... something that he wouldn’t tell us before. Maybe he’ll tell us now, to help Mrs. Elliot. Please,” Trixie pleaded, “let me go talk to him. He and Mrs. Hartman are Mrs. Elliot’s best friends. I know they can help.”
    Mrs. Belden sighed. “I suppose you’re too excited for lunch now, anyway.”
    Trixie hugged her. “Oh, thank you, Moms!” Peter Belden raised his eyebrows. “I didn’t hear her actually say that you could go to the Hartmans’.”
    Trixie flushed.
    “But go ahead,” her father said indulgently. “Don’t make pests of yourselves, though.”

    Brian drove Trixie and Mart to the Hartmans’ in his jalopy. “Runs like a dream since Tom tuned it up,” he said.
    “Too bad this case isn’t running as smoothly,” Mart mumbled.
    The Hartmans were in their backyard when the young people arrived. Mr. Hartman was digging in the garden while his wife supervised. After friendly greetings, Mrs. Hartman began pointing out unusual plants in her herb garden. While Brian and Mart listened, Trixie motioned Mr. Hartman aside.
    “Well, Trixie,” he said, wiping his hands on a handkerchief, “what’s on your mind?”
    “I’m worried about Mrs.