“This concerns Charles,” Mr. Belden began, directing his attention to the silent young man at the end of the table. “Brian told me about your problem with tuition for school. So this morning, after I’d heard about the amazing feat you’d all accomplished, I decided to look into it. As an officer of the bank, I thought there was something I might do to help.” There was a long silence at the table. Everyone’s attention was on Mr. Belden.
“I’ve cleared it with our loan department, and everything is all set,” Mr. Belden went on. “If you’ll stop by the bank tomorrow, I’ll have all the papers ready for you to sign. We at the First National Bank would be delighted if you would give us the opportunity to help you finish your education—in comfort.”
“You mean—you mean you’ll give me a loan?” Charles said slowly. “Why, I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how to thank you, Mr. Belden. This is more than I ever expected.”
Charles leapt up, and quickly walked over to Mr. Belden. Grasping the older man’s hand, he shook it gratefully.
Unable to contain herself any longer, Trixie started to whoop. “Yippee!” she yelled. Her joy was so infectious that Bobby joined in, and they were soon followed by everyone else, including Reddy.
“This is definitely something to celebrate,” Mart said, swallowing a mouthful of salad. “I’ll have another hamburger in your honor, Charles!”
You see,” Honey said happily, “everything worked out, just like Di said it would.”
“I guess you’re right,” Charles agreed. “I came here looking for treasure, and I found the Bob-Whites, instead. Now that’s a treasure!”
“And we’ll keep on looking for the gold, if you like,” Honey added. “If we find it, we’ll give it all to you.”
Trixie’s eyes brightened. “We still have the map.”
“That’s nice of you,” Charles said, “but maybe you should give it to UNICEF. I’m sure those children need the help a lot more than I do.”
“You know what,” Trixie said with a slightly pained expression, “I suddenly realized what this all means.”
“Oh, no,” said Mart. “Not another mystery!”
“No, silly,” Trixie said with a smile. “It means that now we have to go back to being full-time candy stripers.”
“And I’m supposed to believe that means no more mysteries?” Mart asked with a sidelong glance at his sister.
“Don’t bet on it,” Brian interrupted with a laugh. He tousled Trixie’s blonde curls. “Where there’s Trixie, there’s bound to be a mystery!”
The Indian Burial Ground Mystery Page 11