The Mystery of the Missing Heiress

by Campbell, Julie

  “Find out how much money we have between us,” Honey said. “If there’s enough, we can telephone to Lakeside.”

  “See how smart you are? And you’re always saying I’m the brains of our agency. Oh, Honey, my fingers are all thumbs.”

  Trixie spilled the contents of her coin purse on the steps between them. “You count it. We’ll have to call person-to-person. That’ll mean more money.”

  “We have a lot.” Honey laughed. “There’s almost two dollars in my purse and... heavens!... nearly four dollars in yours!”

  “Part of that belongs to Moms. I was supposed to pay the laundryman this morning, and he didn’t come. Moms would never mind, I know, if we had to use it. Let’s find a telephone booth—one outside the library. She’d just start shushing us again.”

  “There’s one across the street at the filling station.” Honey put all the money together in Trixie’s purse. “We can try it.”

  They hurried across, leaving their bikes in the library rack.

  “You do the calling, Trixie,” Honey insisted. “You’ll know what to say.”

  “I’m shaking so I can’t even dial the operator. Here, hold this purse and take out the coins so I can drop them in when I get the connection... if I do. Oh, jeepers, Honey, just think—”

  The operator asked for the deposit, heard the correct amount being inserted, then said, “I have your party on the line. Go ahead, please.”

  “Oh, Mrs. Meredith! I’m Trixie Belden, and I live in Sleepyside, New York. You don’t know me, but that’s who I am, and my friend Honey Wheeler is standing right here beside me. Oh, dear... that doesn’t mean anything to you, but I hope 1 know your sister!”

  “Oh, heavens!” the voice answered. ‘‘You think you know Barbara? Wait a minute till I get a chair. I feel faint. Is Barbara all right?”

  “Oh, I do hope so. You see, it was this way....” Trixie told her of Janie’s accident and described her. “She did have long, blond hair before they had to cut it very short because of the bump on her head.”

  “Oh, dear! Please, go on.”

  “She wasn’t seriously hurt. I think it was an accident. Nobody seems to know. Her head is all right now... well, no, it isn’t…”

  “What do you mean? You sound incoherent.”

  “I’m sorry. What I’m trying to say is that your sister—I hope she is your sister; we call her Janie— she’s completely well, except that she has lost her memory. The doctors don’t think it’s serious. She is well, physically, Mrs. Meredith.”

  “You mean she’s not well mentally? Oh, dear!”

  “No, Mrs. Meredith... please... she is all right. The doctor doesn’t think her loss of memory is serious. She was released from the hospital and is staying at our home, Crabapple Farm, just outside of Sleepyside, New York. I’ll give you our telephone number, but please give me a chance to get back there before you call her. My friend and I just found a copy of your Lakeside newspaper in our library. We saw the interview you gave the reporter, and that’s why we called. Please call this number—” Trixie recited her home phone number— “in about half an hour, will you?”

  “Your three minutes are up... please deposit—” The receiver at the other end of the line clicked. “She hung up,” Trixie said, dejected. “I guess I did sound kind of wild. She must have thought I was crazy. We’d better get home as quickly as we can, Honey, before she telephones our house. Moms won’t have the slightest idea what it’s all about.” The girls fairly ran up the hill from the library, pushing their bikes ahead. Then, on level ground, they pedaled as fast as their feet would fly down Glen Road and into the driveway at Crabapple Farm. They dropped their bikes and ran into the house.

  “Did she call?” Trixie cried. “Did she talk to Janie?”

  “Trixie! Calm down!” her mother ordered. “Did who call whom?”

  “Did Mrs. Meredith call her sister Janie... I mean Barbara?”

  “Janie’s not Barbara,” Bobby said.

  “She is! She is! I know she is. I’m practically certain she is,” Trixie insisted, stumbling over the words in her excitement.

  “Now, Trixie, take it easy. Honey, you’re just as excited. Whatever could have happened? Take your time and tell me what this is all about—slowly, please,” her mother said.

  “I... have to... tell... Janie, too,” Trixie gasped. “Where is she?”

  “I’m here, Trixie. What happened?”

  “I’ve just talked on the telephone to your sister, Janie—I mean, you are really Barbara.”

  She looked expectantly at Janie, who only seemed confused.

  “My sister? I don’t understand.”

  “Your sister Beth—Beth Meredith— Oh, Janie, doesn’t the name Barbara, Barbara Crane, mean a thing to you? Or your sister’s name, Beth, Beth Meredith?”

  Janie shook her head slowly and dropped into a chair. “Should it mean something, Trixie? Am I Barbara?”

  “I think you are. Honey and I both think you are, don’t we, Honey?”

  “We do, Janie. We think you are Barbara and your home is in Lakeside, Illinois. Oh, Janie... think! Lakeside... Lakeside...

  Janie shook her head sadly, tears welling up in her eyes. “I don’t understand anything you’re trying to tell me.”

  “Of course she doesn’t, girls. Look, you even have Bobby whimpering. Say what you have to say, slowly and coherently.” Mrs. Belden took Janie’s hand, “Begin at the beginning, Trixie.”

  So Trixie explained in detail to Janie just what had happened at the library and how sure she and Honey were that they had uncovered the secret of Janie’s real name.

  She had hardly finished when the telephone bell shrilled.

  “That will be Mrs. Meredith, Moms—Janie’s sister-calling her. You’d better answer it,” Trixie begged. “She thinks I’m off my rocker.”

  “She’s sitting right here,” Mrs. Belden said after she had talked to Mrs. Meredith and the woman had quieted down. “I’ll let her talk to you now.” Janie talked. But she didn’t remember—not one single thing.

  “I never heard that voice before in all my life,” she said tearfully as she replaced the receiver. “She seemed certain I am her sister. I did like her voice. But I... don’t... remember. She said she would talk to her husband when he came home and they would call me again later. I don’t remember him either.”

  “Don’t worry about it, Janie,” Honey said, and she put her arms around her. “My dad will be home tonight,” Honey went on. “He has his own plane. I know he’ll fly you to Lakeside, and when you actually see your sister Beth, you’ll remember. Don’t you think that’s a good idea, Mrs. Belden?”

  “It will be perfect, if your father will have time to do it. Bobby, will you please take Reddy outside and stop pulling at my arm? I can’t talk to more than one person at a time.”

  “I only wanted to ask if I can... may... go on the plane with Janie and Honey.”

  “I might have known. It’s a wonder you don’t want Reddy to go, too. I’m pretty sure there won’t be room for you, Bobby. We aren’t even sure Mr. Wheeler will be able to make the trip.”

  “I am,” Honey said. “I’m sure Dad will take the time to fly Janie to Lakeside.” Honey’s voice was confident. “I think Bobby may go, too—but not Reddy,” she added quickly.

  “He’s outside, and he didn’t hear you say I c’d go, so that’s all right,” Bobby shouted. “I’m going home with you, Janie. I’m going home with you!”

  “That’s... good... Bobby. I hope it will be... home!” Janie jumped up, tears streaming down her face, and ran to her room.

  “What’s the matter with Janie, Moms?” Bobby asked.

  “She’s upset. She’s nervous. Bobby, there are times when you are decidedly de trop!”

  “What does that mean?” Bobby asked Trixie as she and Honey and her mother followed Janie.

  “I don’t know, but I think it means get lost,” Trixie said, giving Bobby an affectionate pat and a little shove toward the do
or.

  “Of course, the whole thing has been a deep shock to Janie,” Mrs. Belden told Trixie later. They were back in the kitchen. “She’s gone for a walk. She loves the woods. Now don’t ask me again if I warned her not to go beyond the signs near the edge of the cliff. I always warn her about that. Anyway, she probably won’t go that far.

  “I’m proud of you, Trixie, proud of you and Honey. What a coincidence that you saw that column in the newspaper. I think I’d better talk to Dr. Gregory and tell him what has happened. He may want me to give Janie some instructions about her medication. Perhaps I’d better call him right now. Then when she comes back from her walk, she can rest before dinner.”

  It was a different Janie who came to the dinner table. She seemed more at peace somehow.

  “I hope I’m found,” she said as Brian held her chair. “My sister’s husband”—her voice weakened and then gathered strength—called and said they would arrive here in Sleepyside sometime tomorrow evening.”

  “But Honey’s father is going to take you home in the morning, and I’m going, too,” Bobby said quickly. “Or aren’t I, Moms?” he added plaintively.

  “I told him that,” Janie said, “but I had to tell him that I wouldn’t be certain till Honey’s father gets home.”

  “He’ll go, all right,” Trixie said. “He always does what Honey and Jim ask him to do... if he can.”

  “That’s still ‘iffy,’ ” Mart said. “And, Trixie, stop thinking for Mr. Wheeler!”

  “Hmph!” said Trixie. “At least I—”

  “Trixie!Mart!” Mr. Belden said sternly.

  “This is a time when we should all be happy with Janie,” Mrs. Belden said, “and grateful.”

  She bowed her head while her husband asked the blessing.

  Jim and Honey rode Jupiter and Lady down to the farm after dinner. They brought the news that Mr. Wheeler would, indeed, be glad to take Janie and Honey and Trixie, and Bobby, to Lakeside; it would only take part of the day.

  “We’ll leave at eleven and get to the airport in Illinois around two o’clock,” Honey said. “Mother called the Merediths to tell them.”

  “We’ll be ready,” Trixie said. “Oh, Honey, I’m so sure—so very sure.”

  When Trixie went to bed and the house quieted down, she couldn’t sleep. There were so many things to think about, all of them seemingly unrelated, starting with the ride the Bob-Whites took through the woods, their talk with the men working at the marsh, and the furtive actions of the man they saw there; then the letter in answer to Trixie’s letter to The Hague, the strange trip to the Bronx, what happened to their car there, and that smelly pipe—Trixie shivered as the odor came back to her. Then there was Janie’s accident on Glen Road and her loss of memory; and Juliana’s contradictory behavior, one time pleasant and attractive, and another time so strange and aloof—even cross.

  “Instead of one mystery, Honey and I have several to solve,” Trixie thought.

  Time passed. Still Trixie tossed from side to side.

  “I’ll go down and get some milk,” she said to herself and slipped into her robe and slippers.

  In the kitchen a faint light burned. Janie was sitting there, her head resting on her arm.

  “I didn’t hear you,” she told Trixie, startled. “I just couldn’t sleep. I tried and tried and tried. So many things were rushing through my mind.

  Mostly when I can't sleep it’s because I’m frightened, not knowing who I am and trying to grope my way back.”

  Trixie put some milk into a pan to warm, then sat down next to Janie. Tm so sorry.”

  “Don’t be. This time I can’t sleep because I’m so excited and happy. Just think, Trixie, I know now that I have a sister, and I’m going to see her tomorrow.”

  Trixie filled their glasses with hot milk.

  “This ought to help us both go to sleep. I couldn’t even close my eyes, for the same reason. I kept thinking how I’d feel if I were you.”

  Reddy, always alert to any sound, padded downstairs. He found a place on the floor between the two girls.

  Janie smiled at the puzzlement in his brown eyes, which turned first to her and then to Trixie. She reached down to stroke his head lovingly.

  “I feel as if I must have a dog of my own, somewhere,” she said drowsily.

  The clock on the shelf ticked contentedly. Outside, an owl hooted, and in the distance a dog barked. Reddy pricked up his ears.

  Trixie opened the kitchen door and let him out. Then she said to Janie, “You’ll find out about your own dog tomorrow—and probably a lot of other things.”

  Flight to Disappointment • 10

  IN THE MORNING the big cozy kitchen buzzed with activity. Everyone seemed to be talking at once. Awkward, clumsy Reddy ran wildly up and down the stairs, trying to find out what the excitement was all about.

  Much to her surprise but decidedly to her liking, Trixie found herself something of a heroine in her brothers’ eyes. They thought she was pretty smart to go through the newspaper files in the library and said so. Even Mart, who usually added a few thistles to any bouquet he handed Trixie, jumped to her bidding and helped her set the table.

  Janie, a yellow apron tied over the blue linen dress she would wear on the plane, helped Mrs. Belden turn the steaming pancakes.

  Mr. Belden had gone to his work at the bank. There was an extra spring to his step as he told his family good-bye for the day and went out to his car. the short time Janie had been with them, he, too, had grown fond of her. Now, though he hated to have her leave, he was happy in the knowledge that she would soon be with her own family.

  Now she'll be “Barbara,” Trixie thought, looking at the other girl, where she stood at the stove. She’ll always be “Janie” to me.

  “Don’t you think it would be a good idea if you telephoned Juliana and told her what has happened and where you’re going?” Mrs. Belden asked Trixie.

  Brian whistled. “Doesn’t she know?”

  “No, I forgot,” Trixie answered. “Jeepers, we should have told her. Maybe she’ll want to go to the airport with us. I think there’ll be room in the station wagon.”

  “There’s always room,” Mart said. “Gol, I’ll bet Janie’ll hate to leave our Bob-White bus.”

  “I’ll bet she will, too,” Janie herself said, “and Crabapple Farm and every one of the Beldens, but...

  “You want to go to your own family, I know,” Trixie said quickly. Then she dialed Mrs. Vanderpoel’s number.

  Juliana answered. Trixie told her the news about Janie and that Mr. Wheeler was going to fly her to Illinois.

  “Jim isn’t going on the plane, too, is he?” Juliana asked. The frantic note in her voice puzzled Trixie.

  “No. It’s only a small plane. Anyway, Regan s on the warpath about exercising the horses. He says they’ll never be ready for the show if they aren’t trained. Jim and Brian and Mart plan to jump them this afternoon.”

  “Heavens, the show isn’t until November, is it?” Everyone in the kitchen heard Juliana’s voice. It was so high and shrill that Trixie had to hold the receiver away from her ear. “Does Jim have to take Jupiter out today? I want him to help me send another letter to Holland.”

  “Another? When did you decide that? Why all the hurry? They’ll answer your letter soon.”

  “I don’t want to wait any longer for those slowpokes in Holland. Anyway, it’s my business.” Trixie’s reply showed the exasperation she felt. “You may have to wait for Jim to help you. One thing is sure. He and my brothers are going to take Jim’s mother and father and all of us to the airport, where Mr. Wheeler will take off. Tom, their chauffeur, is sick. Then, after that, he’ll have to ride the horses.”

  “He’ll just have to help me. That’s the most important thing!” Juliana shrilled.

  Mart held his ears and Reddy began to bark.

  “Then you ask him yourself and see what he can do.”

  Trixie hung up the receiver.

  “You didn’t sound very
polite,” her mother said.

  “Well, she makes me furious,” Trixie sputtered. “She never once asked anything about Janie’s family—not once!”

  Mrs. Belden filled the plates with steaming hot cakes, called to Bobby, then said quietly to Trixie, “I seem to remember a few times when you could think of only one problem at a time.”

  “If I ever get to be that selfish—oh, Moms,” Trixie answered, “she’s not a bit like Jim’s cousin should be!”

  “I think we re all high-strung this morning,” Mrs. Belden said and put her arm around Trixie. “Have you helped Bobby find clean clothes to wear on the plane?”

  “I have. He’s putting a lot of things in that flight bag Dad brought him. You’d think he was going around the world.”

  “He’s only been on a plane once before,” Mart said. “He keeps saying Mr. Wheeler’s plane is a jet fighter.”

  “It won’t hurt you to help Bobby pretend,” his mother answered. “More pancakes, anyone? Where did Janie go?”

  “To finish packing her things.”

  “She didn’t eat enough. There’ll be no food on the plane, you know.”

  “Trust Miss Trask to send some along,” Trixie said confidently. “Janie’s too excited to eat. I get butterflies in my stomach every time I think of flying.”

  “You?Butterflies in your stomach over anything?” Mart whooped.

  “Well, I do. Maybe I don’t show it. No wonder Janie is nervous. Relatives she can’t remember will be waiting at that airport in Illinois.”

  It was ten o’clock when Jim stopped the Bob-White station wagon in the driveway at Crabapple Farm. Patch, Jim’s springer, had raced after the station wagon and stood panting, waiting for the car door to open. When it did, both dogs jumped in, tails wagging, trying to lick everyone in sight.

  “Out!” Jim ordered. “Mrs. Belden, do you think you could keep Patch shut up somewhere till I come back?”

  Mrs. Belden had come out of the house, drying her hands on her apron. “Of course I can, Jim.” She turned to Honey’s father and mother. “You haven’t met Janie,” she said, presenting the tall, gentle girl. “She has wanted especially to meet you,” she told Mrs. Wheeler.