Read Online The Mystery of the Velvet Gown by Julie Campbell - Free Book Online

not in safe-deposit boxes!” Honey said. “In the summer, my mother has hers stored in a furrier’s vault.”
    “Well, scratch that explanation,” Trixie sighed. “Jane Morgan worries me, too. I wonder if we should tell Di about this. That’s the second time Jane’s said something threatening about Di playing Juliet. Maybe Jane plans to kidnap Di on the night of the performance!”
    Trixie said, her eyes widening.
    “Oh, Trixie, Jane wouldn’t go that far!” Honey rolled her eyes.
    “I don’t know about that,” Trixie began, but she was interrupted by Mrs. Belden’s call for dinner.
    “Uh-oh,” Trixie groaned. “I’ll probably get a talking-to about chores, plus some ribbing from Mart, who probably ended up setting the table for me.”
    Just as Trixie had predicted, Mart gave her a hard time once they were all seated at the dining room table.
    “Did you solve all the world’s problems while I did your work, Trixie?” Mart asked.
    “Almost,” Trixie answered. “We’ve got just one problem left: what to do about older brothers.”
    “Now, now,” Peter Belden interjected. “Let’s try to have a peaceful dinner—and, I hope, a calmer evening than the last one Honey spent with us.”
    “That reminds me, Peter,” Helen Belden said. “Reddy can come home tomorrow. I thought Brian could drive everyone to school, and then they can pick Reddy up on their way home. I’ve got a lot of work to do tomorrow, and I won’t have time to drive into town.”
    “That’s fine with me,” Brian said. “I know someone here who will sure be glad to welcome Reddy home,” he added, ruffling Bobby’s hair.
    “I’ve got everything all set,” Bobby said. “I’m going to sign Reddy’s cast.”
    “You’re going to do what?” Mr. Belden asked.
    “When Jimmy Baker broked his arm,” Bobby explained patiently, “everyone in my class got to sign his cast. I remember how to do it, so I’m going to sign Reddy’s.”
    “Well, we’ll see,” Mr. Belden said, chuckling. “You know, Bobby, you’re going to have to let Reddy rest a lot.”
    “I know. I checked out some libarry books this week, so I can read him lots and lots of stories. Trixie can help me with the words. Right, Trixie?”
    “Sure, half-pint,” Trixie answered, smiling down at her little brother. “Let’s start with how to pronounce ‘library.’ ”
    They were just finishing dessert when the telephone rang. “I’ll get it,” Trixie said, jumping up.
    “It never fails,” Mart groaned. “Right on cue—just when it’s time to do dishes!”
    “I’ll help tonight,” Honey said. “Thank you very much for the delicious dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Belden.”
    Trixie was gone only a few minutes before coming back to the table.
    “Shortest conversation you’ve ever had, Trix. What was it, a wrong number?” Mart teased.
    “Nope,” Trixie answered. “Wrong envelope. It was Miss Darcy. She was so embarrassed about giving me the wrong envelope. I told her I would return it tomorrow morning and pick up the right one. That was all.” Trixie shrugged, but she gave Honey a knowing look.
    Mr. and Mrs. Belden went into the living room to read the evening paper. Honey, Trixie, Brian, and Mart cleared the table and started the dishes.
    Bobby wanted to “help,” but Mart quickly diverted him by suggesting that he make a welcome-home sign for Reddy. Soon Bobby was stationed at the dining room table, eagerly at work with paper and crayons.
    “Okay, Trixie, what’s going on?” Mart and Brian demanded in unison.
    “Whatever could you mean, dear brothers?” Trixie asked innocently, suddenly very interested in an imaginary spot on a plate she was drying.
    “Neither of us is deaf, dumb, or blind,” Brian said, “and we know how you work.“
    “Unfortunately,” Mart added.
    “So what’s up?” Brian pursued. “I suppose you found Eileen Darcy’s father bound and gagged in some hotel room in White Plains, or something equally