The Marshland Mystery

about that, I guess.”
    Trixie nodded. “Would he ever miss telling me bad news?” she asked, with a grimace at Mart. “Thanks, Brian.”
    Then she hurried to join her mother.
    “Dear, would you take Gaye to your room and let her freshen up?”
    Trixie looked at Gaye and made herself smile. Gaye looked bored. “Come along, Gaye.” The little girl, with a tiny shrug of her shoulders, followed Trixie to the house.
    Trixie wasn’t aware for a minute or two that Bobby was tagging along, until he started up the stairs close on their heels.
    “Where do you think you’re going?” She smiled at Bobby while Gaye went on ahead. “Run back to Moms, and we’ll be with you soon.”
    “But I wanna give her a plesent,” he insisted, “because she’s so pretty.” He held a rather grimy small box tightly in one hand.
    “What is it?” Trixie asked suspiciously, knowing Bobby. The “plesent” might be anything from a collection of rocks to a garter snake. She reached for the box.
    “No, it’s for her.” Bobby held it away. “You mustn’t take it.”
    “Let me look at it, Bobby!” Trixie frowned.
    But Bobby, shaking his head vigorously, darted past her and up the stairs to the landing, where Gaye was waiting.
    “Here!” He thrust the box at Gaye. “It’s Oscar!”
    Trixie gasped. She knew who Oscar was. “Oh, no!” she exclaimed and started up the stairs again to stop Gaye from opening the box. “Don’t take it!”
    But Gaye held the box behind her and looked haughtily at Trixie. “He gave it to me! Didn’t you, boy?”
    Bobby nodded vigorously while he stared admiringly at Gaye and shyly thrust a thumb into his mouth.
    Gaye started to open the box, and Trixie got ready for a scream. She was surprised when Gaye, after cautiously peeking into the partially open box, closed it again and smiled at Bobby. “A darling little chameleon! And you’re giving it to me!”
    “Because you’re pretty,” Bobby said, continuing to admire her.
    “Well, thank you,” Gaye said in a very sweet voice that was a startling change from the one she had used in speaking to Trixie. “Now, be a good boy, and I’ll give you one of my latest photos.”
    Bobby took the thumb out of his mouth long enough to say, “Awright! I’ll wait for you!” Then he scooted downstairs, grinning happily.
    Trixie swallowed hard. After all the hours she put in taking care of him and reading him to sleep each night, a head of blond curls had won his heart! She went up the stairs to Gaye. “Come on, I’ll take you to my room,” she told Gaye abruptly as she passed her.
    “First, get rid of this horrible thing!” Gaye thrust the box and its contents at Trixie. “Aren’t small children a nuisance? They bore me.”
    Trixie took the box without answering. She felt a temptation to remind Gaye that, prodigy or not, she was only a small child herself—and pretty much of a monster, too!
    Then, as they entered Trixie’s neat little bedroom and Trixie saw Gaye look about her with scornful eyes, she had a horrible thought. Gaye was staying at Honey’s house. That could mean that Honey would be stuck with her tomorrow and they couldn’t take their trip to Martin’s Marsh. Neither she nor Di would have as much fun without Honey along, so the expedition would have to be postponed. And next Saturday would probably be the same.
    The world seemed suddenly very dark indeed to Trixie—and all on account of a golden-haired virtuosa of the violin.
     

The Expedition ● 4
     
    AFTER THE VISITORS had left for the Wheelers’, Trixie began to feel better. A quick call to Honey revealed that her mother saw no reason why Honey should stay home the next day to entertain the little girl. Gaye would have to practice most of the day, as she had to do before every concert, so Honey would be free.
    Di wasn’t so lucky. Her mother had planned a day of shopping in White Plains with her, and Di had to go. She wailed about it over the phone to Trixie.
    Trixie hesitated. They’d have more fun if they all went next Saturday. But suppose Honey were busy then, or she was. She decided she’d have to take that chance. “Okay, Di. We’ll put it off—”
    Di interrupted, “Hold on a minute.” There was a murmur of voices from Di’s end of the line as Trixie held on. Then Di came back on the phone. “There’s no use in your upsetting your plans, Trix. Mom says next week we’re taking both pairs of twins to Grandma’s for
    a visit. So you and Honey go