The Secret at the Seashore

by Laura Lee Hope

  “Oh, I’m so sorry!” Flossie exclaimed, putting her arm around Cindy and hugging her.

  “Maybe he’ll be found,” Nan said. The others expressed their sympathy too, and hoped for good news about the missing man.

  “Thank you,” said Mrs. Weller, whose eyes were filling with tears. Then she quickly changed the subject. “Have you been to Fairyland?”

  “No,” Flossie answered. “Fairyland? Where is that?”

  Cindy said, “It’s here in the park. I won’t tell you any more about it ‘cause it’s a secret, but ask your mommy to take you!” The little girl’s brown eyes sparkled, and she was smiling now.

  Mrs. Bobbsey paid for the sandals and a beach bag she had bought, and the group started away.

  “Good-by, Cindy,” Flossie called. “I hope I’ll see you again.”

  “I do, too,” the little girl said.

  Nan continued to talk about the missing pilot. “Oh, I hope he’ll get home some day!” she said worriedly.

  “We all do, dear,” her mother replied, patting her daughter’s shoulder affectionately.

  “May we go to Fairyland?” Flossie asked.

  “We really should,” Dorothy spoke up. “I’ve been there, and it’s loads of fun!”

  “We’ll go after lunch,” the twins’ mother promised.

  “I want a million hot dogs and a bucket of ice cream!” Freddie announced.

  Flossie giggled. “I want two million hot dogs and two buckets of strawberry ice cream!”

  When they had taken their places in a small lunchroom, Freddie settled for two frankfurters and Flossie was content with one.

  “What happened to that bucket of ice cream you were going to eat?” Bert asked teasingly when Freddie could finish only half his dessert.

  Freddie grinned and said, “I’d be too stuffed to have fun in Fairyland!”

  As the twins and their relatives walked out of the restaurant they met Officer Weaver coming in. He looked hot and tired.

  “Did you find the thief?” Bert asked.

  The policeman shook his head. “No,” he replied. “We’ve gone over every inch of this park. I’m beginning to think Garry never came in here!”

  When Freddie said that he had seen the thief hiding in the Underground City, the officer looked doubtful. “A couple of our men went all through that place,” he said. “I don’t think he could be there.”

  The children promised to be on the lookout for Garry and started off toward Fairyland. In the distance they could see a building which looked like a miniature castle. Flags flew from the turrets, and the sound of tinkling music could be heard.

  “Ooh, isn’t this ‘citing?” Flossie exclaimed as they drew nearer.

  In front of the castle was a small area of green grass with a white iron bench. Dorothy pointed to it.

  “I’ve been in the castle and know the secret,” she explained. “I’ll sit here with Mother and Aunt Mary until you twins come out.”

  The four Bobbseys walked up to the little front door of the fairy castle. It was closed. But fastened to the wooden frame was a sign lettered in gold. It said:This is the fairy’s house. She invites all children to enter. If you catch the fairy, she will grant your wish.

  The four Bobbseya walked up to the fairy castle

  “I hope we can catch her,” Flossie exclaimed.

  Nan pushed open the door. As she did, a bell tinkled. The twins walked into a little hall, with a stairway at one side. On the other side a wide doorway opened into another room.

  “Let’s go in there,” Bert said.

  The four children, entered the room. It was furnished with little gold tables and chairs. There in front of the fireplace stood a beautiful fairy!

  She had long yellow curls and twinkling blue eyes. Her full-skirted dress was made of a shiny, silvery material. Fastened to her shoulders were little net wings. In her hand she held a silver wand with a sparkling star at the top.

  “Oh, she’s bee-yoo-ti-full” Flossie breathed.

  “I’ll catch her!” Freddie called out and ran toward the fireplace.

  Seeing this, the fairy raised her wand and a curtain swept across the room in front of her. Freddie dashed up and pulled the curtain to one side.

  The fairy had disappeared!

  CHAPTER V

  A FUNNY CLUE

  WHEN Flossie saw that the fairy was no longer behind the curtain she turned to Freddie. “You scared her away!” she cried, tears of disappointment coming to her eyes.

  “I was only trying to catch her!” Freddie defended himself.

  “Maybe she went up the chimney,” Nan suggested.

  Bert walked over and peered up the opening. “I don’t see her, and besides there aren’t any steps here.”

  “I guess fairies don’t need steps,” Flossie said sadly. “They can just make themselves invisible!”

  “Let’s look around the house,” Nan urged. “She must be here some place.”

  The children wandered through the first floor. Next to the room with the fireplace was a little dining room. The table was set with pink and white dishes, and there was a bouquet of tiny roses and forget-me-nots in the center.

  “How cute!” Flossie cried. She exclaimed again when she saw the kitchen. The range, refrigerator, and cupboards were built in miniature size. There were even a little clothes washer and dryer.

  “Maybe the fairy’s in the washing machine!” Freddie suggested with a grin.

  But when Flossie opened it, she saw that it was empty. Next, they explored the second floor. Here were two little bedrooms, completely furnished with frilly white curtains at the windows and gay flowered coverlets on the beds.

  The twins looked all around, under the beds and in the closets, but there was no sign of the golden-haired fairy! Sadly the children left the fairy’s castle.

  “Did you catch her?” Dorothy asked when her cousins came out.

  They shook their heads.

  “Maybe you will the next time,” Dorothy said with a smile. “I had to come twice before I learned the secret.”

  “Oh, may we come again and try to catch the fairy?” Flossie looked pleadingly at her mother.

  Mrs. Bobbsey smiled. “I’m sure we can find time,” she said.

  As they passed Mrs. Weller’s booth Cindy ran out to meet them. She was sorry to learn that the fairy had vanished before Freddie could catch her.

  “We haven’t found Albert Garry either,” Bert said, sighing.

  “Who’s he?” Cindy asked curiously.

  Bert explained that the police had been looking for a thief who they thought was hiding in the park. “He’s short and has light hair which sticks up on top,” Bert concluded.

  “I saw a man who looked like that,” Cindy remarked.

  “You did?” the twins chorused. “When?”

  “This morning. He was running over there.” Cindy pointed to the Underground City. “I thought he was funny because he was carrying a big paper shopping bag. It was white with blue stars on it! He went right past me.”

  “Boy!” Freddie exclaimed in excitement. “Maybe the money was in the paper bag!”

  “It’s a clue anyhow!” Bert agreed. “Let’s tell Officer Weaver.”

  “There he is now,” Nan started to run toward the policeman, who had stopped to get a drink at a bubble fountain.

  When Nan had told her story the officer came over and questioned Cindy closely. Then he blew his whistle. Three policemen ran up from their stations in different parts of the park.

  “If Garry was ever in there, he’s probably gone by now,” Weaver admitted, “but we can’t afford to pass up any lead.”

  The police officers went to the ticket booth of the Underground City. After a short conversation a man came out and hung a “Closed” sign on the window.

  Bert walked over to see what was happening. “Are you going to search the City again?” he asked Officer Weaver.

  The policeman nodded. “Yes. We’ll close the place to customers
and turn on all the lights inside. That way, we ought not to miss anything.”

  “May I go with you?” Bert asked hopefully.

  After a moment’s thought, the policeman agreed. “I don’t see why you shouldn’t come if you want to,” he said. “But keep behind me. I don’t want you getting hurt.”

  Bert ran back to report to his mother. “All right,” she said. “But be careful. Aunt Emily and I will wait for you near Mrs. Weller’s booth.”

  The Underground City looked very different to Bert with all the lights on. He discovered that there were walks behind the scenery which faced the boats.

  “These are service walks,” Officer Weaver explained. “The attendants can take care of the exhibits without stepping into the water.”

  The four policemen walked through the Underground City, looking carefully for any sign of the thief. But they had no success.

  “Well, I guess he isn’t here,” Officer Weaver said finally.

  He stopped back at the ticket office. A man removed the “Closed” sign, and soon the boats were filling with passengers again.

  While Bert had been in the Underground City with the police, the girls and Freddie had been walking around the park.

  “Maybe we can find another clue to the puzzle about the robber,” Freddie said hopefully.

  But they saw nothing unusual. The rides were busy and the grounds full of strollers. Suddenly Nan stopped and pointed to a bench a short distance away. There, at one end, was a big paper shopping bag. It was white with blue stars on it!

  “Ooh!” Flossie exclaimed. “Do you s‘pose that’s the money?”

  “It must be!” Dorothy cried. She ran to the bench. Just as she was about to pick up the bag, the stout woman whom the girls had seen on the roller coaster waddled over from the drinking fountain.

  “Would you like one of my sausages, little girl?” she asked with a big smile. “They’re very tasty.“ She opened the shopping bag and pulled out a long string of frankfurters!

  “Would you like one of my sausages, little girl?” she asked

  Dorothy blushed in confusion. “N-no, thank you,” she stammered and hurried back to the other children.

  “Why didn’t you take a sausage?” Nan asked teasingly. Flossie and Freddie were too overcome with the giggles to say anything!

  When Freddie and the girls returned to Mrs. Weller’s booth they found Mrs. Bobbsey and Mrs. Minturn talking to Cindy and her mother. In a few minutes Bert joined them.

  “Did the police find Albert Garry?” Nan asked eagerly.

  Bert shook his head. “Not a sign of him,” he replied glumly.

  “Well, anyway, we’ve had a very exciting day at Lakeside,” Aunt Emily remarked. “But it’s time to leave now.”

  “I hope you’ll come back again,” Cindy said shyly.

  “Yes, we’re going to Fairyland,” Flossie told her, “to try to catch the fairy.”

  “Why don’t you all come Sunday?” Mrs. Weller suggested. “The Water Carnival will be held then. I think you’d enjoy it.”

  “I hadn’t heard about that,” Aunt Emily said. “What is it?”

  Mrs. Weller explained that this year a carnival was to be held on the park lagoon. Children who lived along the shore would compete. “They’ll decorate their boats and wear costumes, then parade through the lagoon past the judges. Prizes will be given for the most beautiful and the most original entries.”

  “Please, let’s come and see it!” Flossie said.

  “I have an ideal” Nan spoke up. “Let’s enter the contest!”

  CHAPTER VI

  AN UNUSUAL FISH

  AT NAN’S suggestion, the other children looked at one another in delight.

  “Yes, let’s be in the parade!” Freddie urged.

  “That’s a great idea!” Bert said.

  “That would be fun!” Flossie and Dorothy said together.

  They began to chatter excitedly about the Water Carnival. “Let’s ask Hal Bingham to go in with us,” Bert proposed. “Then we’ll have an even number.”

  “Fine!” Dorothy agreed. “Hal’s a good sport.”

  As soon as they reached Ocean Cliff the children ran over to the Bingham house. Hal was on the front porch reading.

  “Hi!” he said when the Bobbseys and Dorothy came up the steps. “Guess what I got today?”

  “What?”

  “A canoe! That’s why my dad took me to the city—to buy it. He says I’m old enough now to have a canoe of my own. It’ll be here in a couple of days.”

  “That’s great, Hal!” Bert said. With a grin, he added, “How about a ride in it sometime?”

  “You bet! It’s aluminum and will hold six people!”

  “We came to ask you if you’d like to enter the Water Carnival at Lakeside with us,” Nan said. She repeated what Mrs. Weller had told them about the event.

  “That sounds good!” Hal said. “We can use my new canoe for one of our boats!”

  “Okay. We’ll see you tomorrow,” Dorothy said. “Mother is expecting us home now for supper.”

  The conversation at the table was lively as the children related the day’s adventures to Mr. Bobbsey and Uncle William.

  The next morning, Bert was still thinking about Albert Garry. He telephoned Officer Weaver at police headquarters.

  “I guess Garry wasn’t at Lakeside after all,” the officer told him. “The police in a town fifty miles up the coast are holding a man they’re sure is the thief.”

  “I’m glad he was caught,” Bert said. He was disappointed, however, that he and the other twins had had no hand in the capture.

  “A couple of our men and one of the officials from the airline have gone up there to identify him,” Weaver went on. “Looks like the case is closed.”

  When Bert told the other children what he had learned, Nan remarked, “That mystery was certainly solved quickly!”

  “I wish Daddy Pete’s mystery would be solved; too,” sighed Flossie.

  Just then Uncle William came into the room. “How would you twins like to learn some surf casting?” he asked. “Your father and I are going down to the beach to do a little fishing.”

  Bert and Freddie were eager to go, and the girls said they would watch. Dorothy had often cast, with her father. All went to put on swim suits and shorts. When they arrived on the beach Uncle William was already there. The children watched as he deftly swung his pole around and sent his line whizzing out into deep water.

  “Say, he’s good!” Bert exclaimed admiringly.

  “He sure is,” Dorothy agreed proudly. “It’s a lot harder to do than it looks!”

  “Come on, Bert and Freddie!” called Uncle William. “I’ll give you a lesson.”

  Bert tried first. Uncle William showed him how to hold the pole. He stood behind Bert, guided his arms around and told him when to cast. The line spun through the air but fell far short of Uncle William’s mark.

  “That’s not bad for the first attempt!” Mr. Minturn said encouragingly. “Try again.”

  Bert grasped the long pole firmly with both hands and swung it back. This time when the line shot out it went farther. He pulled it in and tried once more. Finally the end of the line caught onto something.

  “I think I have a bite!” Bert cried.

  “Reel it in!” Uncle William advised. “Let’s see what you’ve caught.”

  Steadily, Bert wound in the reel. Something dark broke the water.

  “It’s a black fish!” Flossie screamed, jumping up and down in excitement.

  Nan ran down to the edge of the water to get a better look. Then she began to giggle. “You’ve snagged a piece of driftwood, Bert!” she called.

  They all laughed at Bert’s “fish.” He grinned and handed the pole to Freddie. “It’s your turn now,” he said.

  Uncle William showed Freddie how to hold the pole. With a determined look on his face the little boy swung it back and then snapped the pole forward.

  “Oh, I have a bite!” he cried
. “The first time!”

  “My hair! I’m caught!” Flossie screamed

  At that moment Flossie screamed. “My hair! I’m caught!”

  Nan and Dorothy ran to her side. The fish-hook was snagged in Flossie’s blond curls!

  “Stand still, honey,” Nan advised. “We’ll get this untangled.”

  “I caught a curly fish,” Freddie chuckled.

  “I’m no fish, Freddie Bobbsey,” Flossie said indignantly.

  “I guess we’ll have to wait a few years to teach you how to cast, Freddie,” Uncle William said with a smile. Then he turned to Mr. Bobbsey, who had just come down to the beach. “Let’s walk up the shore a little farther and fish from there,” he proposed.

  After the two men had gone, Dorothy made a suggestion. “You haven’t had a ride behind Doodle and Dandy. I’ll harness them to the cart and we can all ride to Rocky Point and look for clams.”

  Dorothy ran up to the house. While she was gone, Hal wandered over and decided to go along. He and Bert went up to the barn to help Dorothy harness the burros. The cart was a basket affair with seats along the sides.

  In a few minutes the burros trotted smartly down a little road which led onto the hard sand. “All aboard!” called Dorothy. “There’s room for everyone if we squeeze in.”

  Dorothy asked Bert to drive, and the boy felt very proud as he urged the burros into a trot As the children rode along they told Hal about their adventures at Lakeside Amusement Park the day before.

  “Say,” he said admiringly, “you kids really ran into some excitement!”

  After about a half hour’s drive along the sand, Dorothy pointed straight ahead. “There’s Rocky Point,” she said.

  The children could see a long ledge of rocks running out into the water. “The rocks are rather slippery to play on,” Dorothy told them, “but the sand near them is a good place to find clams.”

  When they reached a wide stretch of sand, Bert halted Doodle and Dandy. The others piled out of the cart while he tied the burros to a tree which leaned out over the beach.

  “Anybody hungry?” Dorothy inquired.

  There was a chorus of groans from the others. “Oh, why didn’t we bring something to eat?” Hal asked.