Trixie sighed. Is Miss Trask still determined to go home on Wednesday?
Honey nodded. She's pretty nervous about it all and feels that when the gang discovers people are being careful of where they park their trailers, they'll try some other way of getting them. Like hijacking.
Hijacking? Trixie's blue eyes grew round. You mean hold up the drivers with guns and force them into the woods and tie them up while they steal the equipment?
Miss Trask didn't come right out and say that,Honey admitted. But that's what I think will happen.She shuddered. I hope the troopers catch that gang before we start back, and I tell you I'm not going to investigate any abandoned barns.
Trixie giggled. We probably won't have a chance to unless there's one on the Wilson Ranch.
It had stopped raining during dinner and now the moon was shining palely through a veil of clouds. Let's sit out on the step for a while before we go to bed,Trixie said. I don't feel a bit sleepy now.
Miss Trask had stayed behind at the cafeteria to talk with some friends she had made while the girls were out riding that morning. I'd like to go for a swim, Honey said as they strolled past the pool. But I guess it's too late for that.
They covered the wet step of the Swan with their raincoats and sat down to wait for Miss Trask. Suddenly Trixie grabbed Honey's arm.
Quick,she whispered. Look at that man in the Autoville uniform on the other side of the pool.
Honey stared across the park. What about him? He's just one of the attendants.
I know,Trixie said, but just a minute ago he took off his cap to shake the water out of it, and I wish you could have seen his hair. It's as bushy as a fox's tail!
Honey blinked. Do you think he's the man whom you heard talking to Jeff before dinner?
That one wasn't in uniform,Trixie said, but, of course, he wouldn't be when he was off duty.
Honey stood up, shivering. Let's go inside,she begged. He might have seen you on the veranda when you were spying on him.
Trixie frowned. I wish he'd turn around so we could see his face.
Well, I don't,Honey said, opening the Swan door. I don't want to have anything to do with those trailer thieves.
Trixie reluctantly followed her inside. Somehow,she said slowly, I feel we aren't going to find either Jim or Joeanne until that mystery is solved.
Chapter 7
Wilson Ranch
The next morning was hot and sunny after the rain, so hot that Trixie felt cross and tired when she and Honey had finished cleaning the interior of the Swan. They swept and dusted and mopped for what seemed like hours and it was almost ten o'clock when Miss
Trask said the job was done to her satisfaction.
Let's never take the dogs with us again,Honey said. They're always running away and they brought in most of the mud and burrs that were stuck to everything.
They are awful nuisances,Trixie agreed. May we leave them with you, Miss Trask?
Miss Trask nodded. Why don't you take along bathing suits? You may be invited for a swim at the ranch. I understand there is a lovely natural pool, an old quarry, at that boys' camp. The water should be fresh and cold after the rain yesterday.
Great,Trixie said. The way I feel now I'd like to stay in the water all day long.
Me too.Honey rolled their suits into a tight ball and strapped them together with a belt she could hook to her saddle. Shall we take lunch too?
Oh, let's not,Trixie groaned. I ate so many pancakes for breakfast I don't ever want to see food again.It's only an hour's ride to Wilson Ranch,Miss
Trask told them. You should be back before one. When
I take the dogs for a walk, I'll stop at one of the truck farms near here and buy greens for a salad. That, with canned ham broiled with slices of pineapple, and buttered rolls will make a delicious and easy-to-fix dinner.
Yummy-yum,Trixie cried, completely forgetting that she had just said she never wanted to eat again. Let's go
In a few minutes they were riding Prince and Peanuts through a wooded path that led in the opposite direction from the one they had taken to Pine Hollow Camp.
After a while Honey said musingly, What did you mean, Trixie, when you said last night that we weren't going to find Jim until the trailer-theft mystery was solved?
Trixie shrugged. I don't know exactly why, but somehow I have a feeling that Jim isn't at any of those boys' camps, that he's hiding out in the woods. And Joeanne is probably lost in the woods around here and the trailer thieves are hiding in the woods too, and so I keep thinking if we find one of them we'll find all of them.
Honey laughed. That doesn't make much sense. The woods stretch for miles and miles on each side of the main highway. It would be like trying to find a whole book of needles in one huge haystack.
I know it.Trixie grinned, and then she sobered. Say, Honey,she cried, pointing. Look down there in that hollow. If that isn't an old orchard I never saw one.
Honey reined in Peanuts. Are those gnarled and tired-looking things apple trees?
That's right,Trixie told her. We have lots of them like that at home. Dad is always going to chop them down for firewood but they are so beautiful when they blossom in the spring Mother won't let him.She leaned across her saddle to whisper, Do you suppose it's the same orchard Jeff and his bushy-haired friend were talking about?
Honey shuddered. If it is, let's not go near the place. I'm scared of those men, Trixie, and they already suspect us of spying on them.
Trixie ignored her. When we get to the top of this hill, let's look down and see if we can see an old barn. There must be a truck farm around there but the woods shut out our view.
But the trail to Wilson Ranch led downhill instead of up, and Trixie was so busy slapping at the deer flies swarming around Prince's neck that she forgot to look for signs of a farm. The flies left them at the edge of the woods and they cantered across a wide field to pick up the trail again on the other side. They stopped for a cool drink at a spring and bathed their hot arms and faces.
Whew! Trixie gasped, as the horses drank thirstily. This is awful. How much farther do we have to go?
Honey consulted the map. Why, we're almost there. As a matter of fact, we are there. This patch of woods belongs to the camp. We should be able to see the cabins in a few minutes.
But before they saw the camp they heard unmistakable sounds of boys in swimming-splashing, yelling, the blowing of a whistle, and then they rounded a bend in the path and found themselves a few yards from the quarry.
One tall, blond boy was poised on the diving board, and Honey cried, Why, that's my cousin, Ben Riker. I haven't seen him in ages, but I'd know him anywhere. Nobody else is such a clown.
Ben, pretending that he had lost his nerve, was backing away from the edge of the board. All of a sudden he lost his balance and fell over the side with a loud splash. Grinning and spluttering, he emerged and promptly caught sight of the girls and their horses.
Honey Wheeler!he shouted, scrambling up the bank. Where did you come from and what are you doing here?
Honey introduced him to Trixie and explained about the trailer trip. We're looking for a redheaded boy named Jim,she said. Would you know if he tried to get a job at Wilson Ranch?
No,Ben said, but Mr. Ditmar would. He's the tall guy over there blowing the whistle. He owns the joint and is a swell person. Come on, we'll ask him about your friend.
Mr. Ditmar nodded pleasantly when Honey asked him about Jim. Why, yes,he said, a husky young redhead applied for a job here yesterday in all that rain. I liked the boy's looks and we could use another junior athletic instructor here for the nursery group, but I couldn't hire anyone without references. A letter from his principal or the minister of his church would do. I told him to have his parents get in touch with me r
ight away.
Honey looked at Trixie. Oh, gosh,she said under her breath. That's too bad.
What do you mean, too bad?Ben demanded. He couldn't get a job at a better camp.
I think I know what she means,Mr. Ditmar said easily. I got the impression from the way the boy evaded my questions that he was a runaway. Was I right?
Trixie hesitated a moment, then, deciding that Mr. Ditmar would prove to be a friend, she blurted, Yes. Jim ran away from his cruel stepfather and we've got to find him before he runs away for good. He's recently inherited half a million dollars but he doesn't know it.
Together the two girls told the whole story, and when they had finished Mr. Ditmar said sympathetically, I'm sorry now I didn't hire him right on the spot although, of course, I couldn't without knowing more of his background.
Say, Ben put in, you girls look as though you were about to have a sunstroke. Would it be all right for them to take a quick swim, Mr. Ditmar?
Certainly,Mr. Ditmar said, and added, We're getting ready for the senior races. Maybe you'd like to stay and watch and have lunch with us afterward. The boys are brewing a hunter's stew back at the ranch house and I'm sure they'd like to try it out on you girls.
Honey giggled. It sounds like fun but I hope Ben didn't have anything to do with the stew. If he did I'll bet it's full of red pepper.
I'll have you know,Ben said airily, that I'm a better cook than you'll ever be.
Maybe so,Honey said warily, but I can't help remembering that hunt breakfast at Grandmother's when you filled all the sugar bowls with salt. Were you ever unpopular!
Kid stuff.Ben grinned. I was knee-high to a grasshopper then,he told Trixie, but Honey has never forgiven me 'cause her governess made her eat every bit of that salty, salty oatmeal.
It was a mean trick,Honey insisted, and I didn't dare tell on him because he said he'd put toads in my bed if I did.
One of Ben's chums who had been standing nearby said with a chuckle, Riker's a dangerous character, all right, but last night we paid him back for all the stunts he's pulled since camp opened. Didn't we, Ben, old boy?
Ben clasped his forehead in mock despair. I'll say You did. I still can't get the knots out of my sheets, and You, a pal of mine, Sid!He turned to Honey. Sid and I'll stable your horses while you girls change at the ranch house. Here comes Mrs. Ditmar now. She'll take care of YOU.
A plump, motherly-looking woman led Honey and Trixie past the stable and the corral to the main house. I'm glad you brought your bathing suits,she said. You can change in my room. The telephone is out in the hall if you want to call for permission to stay to lunch.
Honey telephoned the Autoville cafeteria and left a message for Miss Trask with the manager. Then both girls hurried to the quarry. They had time for a quick dip before the swimming race started, and feeling cool and refreshed, perched on a large rock in the shade to watch.
All of the boys were excellent swimmers, but Ben, in spite of his clowning, won with apparently no effort at all. Nothing to it, he grinned as he joined the girls on the rock. Before you stands the world's greatest swimmer. I shouldn't have entered an amateur race. It was
like taking candy from a baby. As you no doubt noted, Sid here, was outclassed from the beginning.
Sid had been such a close second that everyone laughed, and Ben pretended to sulk. Sid hoisted himself up on the rock beside Trixie. I'll bet you could beat boastful Ben with your arm in a sling,he said.
Trixie shook her head. I couldn't, but Honey could. She's marvelous.
Honey flushed. I'm not at all.
Ben scrambled to his feet. Dare you to challenge me. Double dare you.He pulled his cousin down to the starting point on the edge of the quarry.
Ready, on your mark, get set, go!Sid shouted and they were off.
Trixie had not really been sure that Honey could beat Ben, but she did, by a whole yard, and the quarry resounded with the boys' loud cheers. Red-faced and embarrassed, Honey let Ben help her out of the water and before she could get her balance, he pushed her in again. That was a signal for everybody to drag Ben into the quarry and duck him over and over again. At last it was over and Ben, spluttering good-naturedly, held up Honey's arm and gasped, The winnah!
The dinner bell rang, and they raced away to change into dry clothes. Honey and Trixie sat on each side of Mr. Ditmar at the long table in the ranch house and had several helpings of the hunter's stew.
Maybe you proved girls are the best swimmers,Ben teased, but it looks as though boys are the best cooks.
I won't-argue that point,Trixie admitted with a laugh as she passed her plate for more of the savory meat and vegetables. But I would like to know how you did it. Most stews are awful.
First you take an onion,Ben said, his eyes twinkling, and after that you weep and weep.
Not if you peel it under water.Mrs. Ditmar smiled. But Ben will never learn.
By the way,Mr. Ditmar said to Trixie, you're not the only people who've stopped at the ranch today asking for missing persons. A man came to the back door early this morning wanting to know if we'd seen his little girl.
Trixie stared across the table at Honey. Was he driving a red trailer?she asked.
Mr. Ditmar looked surprised. Why, no,he said. He was on foot and went off through the woods walking north. I took it for granted that he was a farmer.
Trixie laid down her fork. Did he describe the girl? she asked, trying not to sound excited. Did he say her name was Joeanne?
No, he didn't.Mr. Ditmar shook his head. He simply said she had black pigtails and was about eleven years old. I offered to send a group of boys through the woods to help search for her, but he rather rudely refused the offer and strode away hastily.He gave Trixie a sharp glance. What made you think he would be in a red trailer? Do you suspect the man had anything 98 to do with the recent theft that has been announced on the radio so many times?
Before Trixie could think of a word to say, Honey interrupted with, Did the man have long, shaggy hair?Mr. Ditmar laughed. There's some mystery about all this, but you two are certainly on the wrong track. The man, and I think he must have been a neighbor farmer, had a closely cropped head-it was practically a crew haircut.
Then I guess we're talking about two different people,Trixie said with relief. We saw a shaggy-haired man driving a red trailer on our way up the river last week.
Honey quickly changed the subject. You must come over and see our trailer before we go back,she said to Ben. I'd like to ask you all to lunch but it's not quite big enough for that.
I should hope not,Ben said as they left the dining hall. It would have to be a young village on wheels to hold all of us.
Sid and Ben went off to saddle Prince and Peanuts while the girls said good-by and thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Ditmar. Then they rode off through the woods in what they thought was the right direction.
The minute they were alone Trixie said, Didn't you nearly die of excitement when Mr. Ditmar said a man had been asking about an eleven-year-old girl with pigtails?
Honey nodded. And I almost died of disappointment when he said the farmer had a crew cut.
Well, I didn't,Trixie said. I think Joeanne's father has simply had a haircut, that's all.
Honey, who had been leading the way, looked over her shoulder at Trixie. I never thought about that,she admitted. Then maybe the red trailer family is somewhere near here.
That's right,Trixie said. They've probably abandoned the Robin and are living in the woods.
Oh, golly,Honey giggled. You've got so many people hiding in the woods now it's a wonder we don't stumble over them.
Trixie grinned. Maybe we'll do just that before we're through, but right now I wish we'd stumble across a trail that looks familiar. We should have come out on the
field we galloped through on our way over to the ranch long ago.
That's true,Honey said, frowning. I never saw that brook before, did you?
Never,Trixie said. Does it show on the map?The horses had stopped of their own accord and were drinking thirstily. Honey produced the map from her pocket and handed it to Trixie.
You figure this one out,she said with a laugh. I got us to the ranch, now you get us back!
Trixie stared at the map for a whole minute before she realized that she was holding it upside down. Even when she had righted it she was as baffled as ever. I simply can't follow maps,she said ruefully. Maybe we'd better go back to the ranch and start all over again.
All right,Honey agreed, gathering up her reins. But Ben will tease us for losing our way so quickly.They rode along in silence for a while and then
Trixie said, Oh, for heaven's sake, Honey, here's the brook again. Now we are good and lost. I don't even know how to get to the ranch from here, do you?
No,Honey said. But let's keep going anyway. Miss Trask said all the trails come out on a main highway sooner or later. This path looks as though it was used more than the other ones. It's bound to lead somewhere.
Suits me,Trixie said. I'd just as soon not go back through the woods. The deer flies are simply terrible.The path grew wider and wider and finally they realized they were on a back country road.
We're probably trespassing,Honey said. I can hear a dog barking just ahead of us. I hope he doesn't rush out and bite us.
Why, we're on somebody's farm,Trixie said with a gasp of surprise. See the cows in the pasture over there? And look, Honey. just beyond the pasture is that old orchard we saw from the top of the hill.
And then the sound of the barking dog came nearer. In a moment they saw a large collie racing through the fields toward them. Before the girls could gather their wits, Peanuts, terrified at the sight of the angry dog, bolted and set off up the road at a run. Trixie took up the slack in her reins too late. Prince was already galloping madly after Honey's big chestnut gelding.
Trixie Belden 02 - The Red Trailer Mystery (The Red Caravan Mystery) Page 6
