The Mystery of the Midnight Marauder

could be.
    “The only one we know for sure isn’t the Midnight Marauder,” Trixie continued, frowning, “is Mart. And only we Bob-Whites are certain of that. This is why, Honey, we’ve got to be there tonight.”
    Honey looked startled. “Be where?“
    “Crimper’s,” Trixie replied and then began walking along the driveway. “We’ve got to think of some way to get in there. It’s Sunday, so the department store closes early tonight, at six.”
    Honey, wheeling her bike beside her friend, was already shaking her head. “I don’t see how we’re going to arrange that, Trix. Tomorrow’s a school day, so we’ll be expected to turn in early.”
    “I’ll find a way,” Trixie muttered. “I’ve just got to.”
    She frowned as she approached Crabapple Farm. Her father’s car, which she had expected to see parked in the driveway, wasn’t there. Neither was there any sign that her mother was home. The house was obviously still deserted—except for Reddy.
    Suddenly he came bounding around the side of the house toward the two girls. Then, when he saw them, he skidded to a halt and growled softly, deep in his throat.
    Trixie looked at him in astonishment. “Reddy! What’s the matter, boy?” She snapped her fingers. “Come! I mean—go!”
    Reddy came at once, though slowly, as if he were reluctant to obey. Soon he was sitting at Trixie’s feet and looking at her expectantly, as if he were demanding some sort of reward. When none was forthcoming, he merely appeared bored and soon strolled back toward the house.
    Honey laughed. “I wonder what that was all about. It looked as if he was expecting someone else and was disappointed that it was only us.”
    In another moment, both girls had forgotten the incident as Trixie let them into the kitchen through the back door.
    “I don’t understand it, Honey,” she exclaimed, looking around the familiar room. “Dad, Moms, and Bobby should have been home long ago. What could have happened to them?”
    It wasn’t long before her question was answered. The telephone rang just as Trixie was about to hurry upstairs to change out of her muddy clothes.
    “Trixie?” her mother’s voice said on the other end of the line. “Where have you been? Where are Brian and Mart? I’ve been calling home every ten minutes for the last hour.”
    Quickly, Trixie explained that she had been at Manor House with Honey. “And the boys are around here somewhere,” she added vaguely, not wanting to worry her mother with the details of where they really were—and what they were doing there.
    Mrs. Belden hesitated and then said slowly, “The silliest thing has happened, Trixie. We were all ready to come home, when I slipped as I was getting into the car.”
    “Oh, Moms!” Trixie cried, her heart skipping a beat. “Are you all right? Did you hurt yourself?”
    “I seem to have wrenched my back,” her mother answered. “But it’s all right. The doctor says it’s not serious—except he says I should stay relaxed and quiet until tomorrow. Do you think you children can manage till then? Dad’s here, and he wants to talk to you. Bobby, too.”
    Five minutes later, Trixie turned away from the telephone. Although she still felt concerned about her mother, Mr. Belden had assured her several times that the injury was not anything to be upset about.
    “And we’ll be home tomorrow, without fail,” Peter Belden had said. “Tell Brian I’m relying on him to keep an eye on things for me. I’ve already called the bank and told them I won’t be in until late tomorrow. As for Bobby, he’ll have to miss a morning at school, that’s all. It can’t be helped. Now, are you sure you kids are going to be okay?”
    Trixie had assured him that they would be. She had talked to Bobby, who sounded rather pleased at the thought of having a morning off from school.
    “It’s like a ’cation, Trix,” his high voice piped into her ear. “Don’t you wish you were having a ’cation, too?”
    He’d sounded delighted when she assured him that she did wish she was having a vacation, though, as she told Honey as soon as the phone conversation was over, a vacation was the last thing on her mind right now.
    “This is going to make a difference in our plans,” Trixie said. “I wish Moms hadn’t hurt her back, and I do wish they were home. But, Honey, don’t you see?” Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “Now we’ll be able to go to Crimper’s tonight.”
    Honey frowned. “I don’t