The Indian Burial Ground Mystery (11 page)

“Maybe we should go back to the clubhouse and talk it over with the
boys,” Honey said helpfully. “They could help us work something out.”

“We’ll go back to the clubhouse,” said Trixie, “but I don’t need any
help figuring out the plan. I just need help putting it into action.”

“What’s the plan?” asked Charles.

“Let’s go,” Trixie said, picking up her flashlight. “I’ll tell you on
the way.”

“Now
am I cleared of guilt?” Charles asked again as they
headed out of the woods.

“Let me put it this way,” Trixie said with a laugh. “You’re no longer my
number-one suspect.”

“That’s a relief,” Charles said. “You certainly know how to build a
wicked case against someone—even if he’s innocent!”

“What a thing to say!” Trixie said, bristling. “I didn’t mean that the
way it sounds,” Charles said reassuringly. “But I can just imagine what kind of
case you’d build against a person who was guilty!”

That evening
after dinner, the
Bob-Whites met at their clubhouse. Brian had been leery of coming until he
heard that Charles Miller would be there, too. Trixie had asked Charles to come
and help her convince the others. He’d managed to get the night off.

Trixie quickly explained her plan to the group.

“What makes you think it’s going to work?” Brian asked. “It could take
days.”

“Knowing Conroy and Kemp,” Charles said, “I think the plan has a good
chance of being successful. Besides, what have we got to lose?” Trixie was
pleased to see a look of amazement cross Brian’s face. He was obviously
surprised to see how chummy his sister and Charles had become.

“I suppose you’re right,” Brian said with a shrug. “Why not give it a
try?”

The next morning, Trixie’s plan to catch the thieves went into effect.

Trixie met Honey at the foot of the driveway to the Manor House, and
then they rode their bicycles into Sleepyside. Trixie was so excited, she could
hardly breathe. When they arrived at the hospital, they immediately went to see
Professor Conroy. After fluffing up his pillows and straightening his blanket,
they were ready to begin. Honey pulled up a chair and sat down. Trixie stood
behind her.

“I have something to tell you, Professor Conroy,” Honey said. “I’m going
to have to leave the dig.”

“That is most unfortunate,” Professor Conroy said. He seemed distracted,
and uninterested in Honey’s news. “Well, it’s been very nice having you, my
dear.”

“I hope my leaving won’t be an inconvenience, but it can’t be helped,”
Honey went on. “My parents are staying in
Europe
longer than they’d planned, and Miss Trask and I are joining them there. We’re closing
down the house for the rest of the summer. I’m sorry. I know you need all the
help you can get, especially now that you’re sick.”

The professor lifted his head from the pillow, and Trixie saw a look of
intense interest cross his face. But he quickly softened his expression.

“It’s no problem,” he confided in a gloomy tone. “We might have to cut
the dig short, anyway. This injury is affecting my ability to supervise.
However, it certainly has nothing to do with you. Please don’t worry about it.”

“Oh, I’m so glad you don’t mind,” Honey said, pretending to be relieved.
“I was upset about backing out on such short notice.”

“Short notice?” asked Professor Conroy. “When are you leaving, my dear?”

“Miss Trask is packing now, and we’re leaving on a 6 o’clock flight
tonight. I know it’s awful for you, but—”

“Don’t think a thing about it, Miss Wheeler,” the professor said with
kind concern. “I hope you’ll have a happy summer.”

“Oh, thank you,” Honey said warmly. “I’m sure I’ll have a very happy
time, and I hope you get better soon.”

“Why, thank you,” the man said. Then he sank back on his pillows weakly,
casting his eyes to the ceiling. “I hope so, too. Now, though it’s been lovely
talking with you, I need to rest.”

“I’m so sorry, Professor Conroy,” Trixie said, hoping she sounded
contrite. “Of course, we’ve tired you out.”

“Not to worry, girls. I’ll just take a short nap now, and I’m sure I’ll
feel more chipper.” Professor Conroy closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
Trixie and Honey tiptoed out of the room. They quietly closed the door behind
them, and then ran for the stairwell where no one could hear them.

“Oh, brother,” Trixie gasped. “Did you hear that? He fell for it—hook,
line, and sinker!” Honey could barely control her laughter. “We’ll see if he
did, won’t we?”

The girls continued their rounds. The morning went slowly, but 1 o’clock
finally came. With a burst of enthusiasm, they rode home as quickly as they
could. Trixie ran into her house and found her mother in the kitchen.

“Moms,” she said, “Di and I are going to stay over at Honey’s tonight.
Is that all right with you?”

“Of course, dear,” Mrs. Belden answered. “Why, we’ll be practically
alone tonight. Mart and Brian just told me they’re going to visit Jim at summer
camp tonight. There’s supposed to be a powwow.”

“You still have Bobby to keep you company,” Trixie said with a laugh.

“Thank goodness for that. I don’t know if we’d be able to stand too much
silence after all these years of a home filled with noisy children.”

Trixie threw her arms around her mother and gave her a big kiss. Then
she bolted upstairs and collected her nightgown and toothbrush.

“
Where’ya
going, Trixie?” Bobby called to her
as she started down the stairs.

“To Honey’s,” Trixie called back. “See you tomorrow.”

“You want to help me with my garden tomorrow?” Bobby shouted to Trixie.
“You said you would.”

Trixie stopped for a minute, somewhat ashamed. It was true that she’d
promised Bobby she’d help him. But so many things had happened that she’d
completely forgotten.

“Maybe not tomorrow, Bobby,” said Trixie, “but definitely the day after.
Okay?”

“Okay,” Bobby answered, a big smile brightening his face. “Day after
tomorrow— and don’t forget!”

“I won’t,” Trixie said. “I promise.”

Trixie dashed down the stairs and out the front door. Honey was waiting
for her outside.

“Next stop, the dig,” Trixie said gleefully. The two girls headed across
Glen Road
on their bicycles. Trixie was whistling merrily as they rode.

Fortunately, they arrived at the dig during a lunch break. Trixie was
glad. Now everyone would hear what Honey had to say. Harry Kemp was there, too.
So much the better,
Trixie thought.

Honey mournfully said good-bye to all the graduate students, explaining
that she and Miss Trask were joining her parents in
Europe
.

No one seems very upset,
Trixie
thought.
I guess they never got a chance to know us, so they probably
won’t miss us.
But Harry Kemp smiled broadly—much more broadly than the
occasion warranted—and he wished Honey a pleasant summer.

“Another fish,” Trixie chortled happily as they made their way back to
the Manor House. “Hook, line, and sinker!”

“We still have the hardest fish to hook,” Honey said. “In the eyes of
Miss Trask and Regan, this may be a crazy plan.”

“Oh, they’re bound to go for it. It won’t be difficult for them, will
it?”

“No-o-o,” Honey said cautiously, “but I still don’t know. By the way,
where are Di and the boys?”

“Waiting for us at the clubhouse, of course,” Trixie replied breezily.
“Just where they’re supposed to be. We’re all going to lay this trap together.
Ooooh
, I can hardly wait for tonight!”

The girls’ first stop was Regan’s apartment. Honey told him all about
Professor Conroy. Then Trixie told him the plan. “All you have to do is shut
your lights off early and stay by the phone,” she said convincingly.

Bill Regan looked at the eager girl with a puzzled expression on his
face. “You know, Trixie, sometimes you do the strangest things.”

“But it isn’t strange, Regan. It’s going to work.”

“Knowing you, I’m sure it is,” Regan replied with a rueful smile. “I
don’t know how you talk me into these things, though.”

Trixie smiled. “Thanks, Regan. You’ll see. This plan is foolproof.”

Trixie and Honey clambered down the stairs that led from Regan’s
apartment, and headed to the main house.

“Now for Miss Trask,” Trixie said excitedly. “I hope she’ll do it.”

“If she doesn’t,” Honey said, “the plan won’t work.”

“I know,” Trixie said uneasily. “You’ll have to help me convince her.
Miss Trask isn’t the kind of person who plays games.”

“You have to admit, this is hardly a game.”

“I know. That’s the problem. I’m sure she’d rather call the police and
let them catch the burglars.”

“Maybe that’s why she hasn’t caught as many burglars as you have,” Honey
laughed.

The two girls went up the front steps and into the house. Miss Trask was
just coming out of the library.

As always, she listened carefully and with interest to what Trixie and
Honey proposed. But she didn’t like the idea.

“It seems awfully silly,” she said, cocking her head to one side. “And
you say that Regan has agreed to this?”

“He sure did,” Honey said emphatically. “All you have to do is spend the
evening in Regan’s apartment, and keep a lookout from his window,” Trixie said.

“But how can you be sure the burglars are going to come back at all?”
Miss Trask asked. “And why tonight?”

“Let’s just say it’s one of my hunches,” Trixie replied confidently.

“Humph,” Miss Trask grumbled. “It sounds as if I’m going to spend the
evening sitting around in the dark, and all because I know how much you two
enjoy playing cops and robbers.”

“It won’t be so bad,” Honey said. “You can always talk to Regan.”

Shaking her head, Miss Trask finally agreed. “I don’t know how those two
do it…” she muttered as she went back into the library.

Convincing Bill Regan and Miss Trask to go along with the plan was only
the beginning. Next came Celia
Delanoy
, the Wheelers’
cook.

Trixie asked Celia to make the Bob-Whites a picnic supper which they
would eat at the clubhouse. Celia readily agreed. The night promised to be hot
and muggy, and she welcomed the opportunity to prepare a cold supper and get
out of the kitchen early.

Now the plan was really taking shape. By dusk, Celia and her husband,
Tom, would be safely tucked away in their trailer. The Manor House would be
darkened as early as possible.

Later, Miss Trask joined the Bob-Whites for supper at the clubhouse.
When it was almost dark, they went to the Manor House and took up their
positions. Miss Trask and Regan went to Regan’s apartment. Honey, Trixie, and
Di hid behind a clump of magnolia bushes just outside the French windows.

Brian, Mart, Dan, and Charles shut off all the lights in the house, and
then hid. Brian and Charles stood on either side of the front door. Mart stood
behind the huge double doors that led from the foyer to the living room. Dan
hid behind the door to the library.

Then they waited. It felt like hours to Trixie. After all the planning
and excitement of the day, she could hardly keep still.

Just as Trixie was about to give in to an attack of the fidgets, she
heard the sound of tires crunching on gravel. She watched as a car slowly came
up the driveway. As it rounded the curve, the headlights were shut off. Then
the car continued slowly in the darkness.

Instead of pulling up to the front door, it continued across the lawn
and parked in front of the veranda—only a few feet from where Trixie, Honey,
and Di were hiding. The car doors opened slowly, and two men stealthily crossed
the veranda and opened the French windows.

Trixie immediately gave the Bob-White whistle, long and low:
bob,
bob-white.
She hoped that Regan would hear it. Suddenly the girls heard
a yell and a growl from inside the house.

Bolting out from under the bush, the three girls ran for the French
windows. Trixie gave the whistle again, this time loud and shrill:
bob,
bob-white.

Honey turned on the lights as they rushed into the house. The sight that
greeted the girls was enough to make them burst out laughing. Brian and Mart
were sitting on Professor Conroy’s back, twisting his arms behind him. Dan and
Charles were holding a large, blue-satin upholstered chair across Harry Kemp’s
chest, pinning him to the floor. Charles’s knee was pressed into Harry’s
stomach. Both men had angry, red faces.

Moments later, Regan burst in holding a heavy wrench in his hand. Miss
Trask was right behind him.

“Did you call the police?” Trixie asked.

“Yup,” Regan said, brandishing the wrench in Professor Conroy’s face. “I
called them when I saw the car’s headlights go off as it came up the driveway.
Only an unwelcome visitor would pull a stunt like that.”

It didn’t take long before the scream of sirens was heard as a police
car roared up the long driveway. Trixie gave a sigh of relief. She suddenly
realized how dangerous her plan had been. The two angry men pinned to the floor
might have been carrying guns! They might even have hurt one of the Bob-Whites
in the scuffle! She was glad to see Sergeant
Molinson
come into the room.

He took one look around at everyone, then put his gun back into its
holster. “Looks like you didn’t need us,” he grumbled when he saw how
effectively they had subdued the two men. “I presume these are the suspects?”

“You presume right,” Charles Miller said happily. Then Regan, Charles,
and Trixie all started talking at once.

“Wait a minute, wait a minute,” Sergeant
Molinson
finally said, throwing up his hands. “One at a time, and down at the station
house. We need to take these two in for booking.” He shot a grim look at
Trixie. Then he snapped handcuffs on Professor Conroy and Harry Kemp.