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The Mystery of Rip Van Winkle’s Ghost
“Oh, Jim, do you
think your cousin will be here soon!” Trixie asked impatiently, excitement
practically oozing from her pores. “She’ll be here any
minute, Trix,” Jim answered, a lopsided grin on his
handsome face. He wasn’t sure who was more thrilled about this meeting:
Trixie or him. Recently, he had discovered that he had another cousin on the
Frayne side of the family. His only other living blood relative lived in “Is she still coming
with her friends?” Brian questioned curiously. Jim nodded. “Yes,
she and her friends were taking a trip to Sleepy Hollow and decided to stop
here on their way.” “Why are they going
there?” A perplexed expression clouded Diana Lynch’s
pretty face. “I’m not really
sure,” Jim replied with a shrug. “She and her friends do a lot of traveling.
That’s all I know.” “Hope your cousin is
good-looking,” Dan commented with a devastating grin. He was quite the
ladies’ man. Being the only officially unattached Bob-White male, he enjoyed
making the rounds with Sleepyside’s eligible young
ladies and regaling them with the BWGs’ many adventures.
“Methinks Don Juan
has disregarded the captivating damsel with whom he has been spending an
exorbitant amount of time,” Mart chided in a teasing tone. Dan scratched his
chin in confusion. “Who…oh, Amy Morrisey!” he
remembered with a snap of his fingers. “I had to break up with the lovely
Amy. She was getting a bit too clingy.” “Someday you’re
going to meet your match, Dan Mangan,” Honey warned, giggling. “And I hope
when you do, all the hearts you’ve broken will be there to see it.” Dan assumed an
angelic expression. “Me? A heartbreaker? Can I help it if there are just too
many chicks and too little time? Is it my fault that all the pretty girls
in Sleepyside find the bad boy look so appealing?” Di laughed as she
flipped her ebony hair off her slender shoulders. “It’s a good thing Dan has
to stay home chopping wood all the time, or he’d be breaking hearts all over
the “That’s the law of
supply and demand, ladies,” Dan retorted with a grin. “Hey, I’m the only guy
in the club not already latched o…” “Is that a car I
hear?” Jim interrupted. Trixie clutched
Jim’s arm as she hopped up and down, barely able to restrain herself. “Your
cousin’s almost here, Jim! Oh, I’m so excited!” Jim glanced fondly
at the sandy blonde, his gaze soon growing contemplative. “Can you please do
me a favor, Trix?” he asked seriously. Trixie stared in his
bright green eyes, mesmerized by their brilliance. “Anything, Jim,” she
gulped anxiously. “Just this once,
could you please try to not find a
mystery? I’d hate to spoil my cousin’s trip.” After patting Trixie’s arm
consolingly with his freckled hand, he added in a gentle tone, “After all,
not everyone solves mysteries like you. Daphne may not understand your
sleuthing obsession.” Trixie swallowed and
nodded her head. It would be a struggle, but she would do anything to please her supple,
redheaded friend. “I’ll try, Jim. But you know how mysteries just seem to
fall in my lap.” Jim smiled and tugged
on his favorite curl. “I know, Shamus.” Honey squealed in
delight as a van pulled into the Manor House driveway. “They’re here, Jim!
They’re here!” The big green van
parked, and four teenagers, as well as a large dog, got out and sauntered
towards the Bob-Whites. “James Frayne?” an
attractive girl with auburn hair asked as she looked around. “That’s me,” Jim
answered with a friendly grin. “Are you Daphne Blake?” The pretty redhead smiled
and nodded. “Glad to meet you, Jim. These are my friends, Fred Jones, Velma Dinkley, and Shaggy Rogers. Oh, and this is our dog,
Scooby Doo.” “Good to meet you
all,” Jim replied, shaking each of their hands. “This is my sister, Honey
Wheeler, and our friends Trixie, Mart, and Brian Belden, Diana Lynch, and Dan
Mangan.” “Rad
to reet you, Rim!” the dog greeted in a jolly tone. Each of the
Bob-Whites’ mouths gaped in surprise. “D-did your dog
j-just talk?” Honey stammered weakly. “Like, man, Scoob talks all the time,” the gangly fellow told them,
as if a talking dog was as common as rain falling from the sky. “It’s like, getting him to be quiet that’s the miracle.” “How mysterious!”
Trixie exclaimed, her china blue eyes round with wonder. Brian began diligently
examining the Great Dane. “How is this
medically possible?” “We have found no
conclusive scientific explanation for our conversing canine,” the short girl
told them sagely, as she pushed her dark eyeglasses further up on her freckled
pug nose. Trixie giggled and
poked her almost-twin in the ribs with her elbow. “Finally, someone you can
talk to, Mart,” she whispered, grinning. Mart scowled at his
younger sister. “What will the longevity of this sojourn be?” “I’m not sure,” the
tall blond teenaged boy answered. “We’re going to a mystery convention and
wanted to stop in and meet Daph’s cousin.” “A mystery
convention!” Trixie repeated excitedly. “Do you solve mysteries, too?” Fred nodded,
sniffing arrogantly. “We’ve been responsible for solving several crimes all
over the “Trixie and Honey
are our resident detectives,” Jim
stated, not bothering to hide his obvious pride. Trixie blushed to the roots
of her sandy hair. “They’ve even worked on cases in “Well, we’re hoping
to solve the mystery of the headless horseman during our visit,” Fred added.
“I’m sure we can take care of that while we’re in the area.” “Headless
Horseman?!” Shaggy cried, clinging to his dog. “Readress Rorseman?!” Scooby echoed, his large body trembling in
fear. Shaggy’s embrace failed to make the dog feel
more secure, so he jumped in his master’s scrawny arms. “Trixie and Honey already took care
of that,” Jim boasted, casting an appreciative glance in the duo’s direction.
“That was just after they found out who was pretending to be a sasquatch, and right before they solved the ghostly
galleon case.” He glanced fondly over at Trixie, who was once again wearing
her All-American face. “Jinkies!”
Velma cried. “We solved the case of Big Foot as well!” “It’s always a man in a disguise,”
Fred added, a bit disappointed. “A bit of ingenuity and hard work unmasks the
villains every time. We’ve also solved the case of a set of armor missing
from a museum, and…” “Trixie solved the case of the
whispering witch and the “Jim, could you direct us to a hotel
so we can get settled in?” Daphne asked sweetly, sensing the tension between
Jim and Fred. “Oh, there’s no need for you to stay
in a hotel!” Honey exclaimed. “We have plenty of room here at Manor House.
You can stay with us! We’d love to have you.” “Any g-ghosts here?” Shaggy asked
nervously. Trixie giggled. “Not a one. This house
is pretty much ghost-proof.” “I don’t know…” Fred began. “It would be nice to stay with my cousin, Freddie,” Daphne said,
batting her long eyelashes and gently rubbing her fingertips along his arm. “Right!” Fred agreed, quickly
changing his tune. “I’m glad I thought of it, Daph.” “You all will enjoy staying here,”
Brian told them. “The Wheelers have a beautiful home, and their cook is
wonderful.” “Food?!” Shaggy repeated, forgetting
his former fears. Scooby suddenly disappeared then reappeared
with a bib around his neck and eating utensils clasped in his paws. “Zoinks!
Why didn’t you mention food sooner? I’m there, man!” Shaggy cried, patting
his growling stomach. Velma laughed. “Well, I guess it’s all set. We’ll stay here with you, Jim.” They quickly
got their bags out of their vehicle, which was named the Mystery Machine. “Gleeps! I
love your van!” Trixie exclaimed, admiring the
psychedelic words painted on the back and along the sides. “Do you want me to stencil that on
the Bob-Whites’ station wagon?” Jim teased, leading his cousin and her
friends into the Manor House. Fred quickly caught up and took up the lead
with Jim. Dan gallantly retrieved Daphne’s
large purple suitcase and matching carryon. “Need some help?” he offered,
flashing her his most dashing grin. Daphne batted
her eyelashes. “Uh, gee, Dan, do you think you could
give me a hand, too?” Velma questioned in a sultry voice. Dan began to grimace, but quickly
remembered his Bob-White manners and smiled instead. “Sure, Velma. Always
willing to help a damsel in distress.” Velma tittered and rubbed Dan’s muscular
bicep. “Jinkies, Dan, you sure are strong!” Dan’s blush rivaled even Trixie’s.
“Uh…thanks. Comes from chopping all that wood.” He picked up the pace and
raced into Manor House. Behind him, Mart, Di, and Brian were stifling
giggles. When Shaggy and Scooby grabbed their
bags and caught up with the rest of the gang, Mart sniffed the air. “What is that palatable aroma?” Mart
asked as he inhaled the air around Shaggy’s
luggage, the delicious smells making his belly rumble. “Like, I just packed some groovy
snacks to tide me over till lunchtime,” Shaggy explained. “I’m, like,
starved, man!” At lunch… The
Bob-Whites and Mystery Inc. sat at the Wheelers’ large dining room table. “Did you get
settled?” Jim politely asked his guests. “Oh yes, Jim. The rooms
are lovely,” Daphne assured him from her seat beside Fred. Dan hurriedly
grabbed the open seat to her left. He cringed as he noticed that Velma had
sat down in the other seat beside him. Miss Trask walked
briskly into the dining room, claiming the seat she assumed in Matthew
Wheeler’s absence. “This is our
governess, Miss Trask,” Jim informed them. “She helps run the Manor House for
Dad.” Miss Trask smiled
and glanced around the room. “Glad to meet you.” She was a bit taken aback at
the sight of Scooby sitting on the other end of the table. “Is that a d-dog?” “Rog?
Roos a rog?” Scooby asked, acting insulted. “Like, Scooby’s more
than a dog, ma’am,” Shaggy explained solicitously. “He’s, like, my best
friend, practically part of the family.” Scooby instantly disappeared, and
then reappeared, dressed up as Shaggy’s grandmother,
complete with a pearl necklace, shawl, and short gray wig. He coyly giggled,
as best as a Great Dane can giggle of course, discreetly covering his large
nose with an old-fashioned handkerchief. “Oh, Miss Trask,
please say Scooby can stay!” Honey begged. Trixie giggled from
her seat between Jim and Honey. “He probably has better table manners than
Bobby.” “I assure you that
Scooby will behave himself,” Velma insisted. Miss Trask merely
shrugged her shoulders. “Any guest of Jim’s is welcome,” she relented with a
prim yawn. “Are you tired, Miss
Trask?” Brian inquired, a doctor-like concern
evident in his dark brown eyes. “I apologize for my
rudeness, but I can’t quit yawning,” Miss Trask apologized. “I’ve been having
trouble sleeping the past several nights.” Celia, the young,
pretty maid, appeared with large plates of food. She looked hesitantly at
Scooby, but after the Great Dane gave her a goofy giggle, she shrugged her
shoulders and set down large platters of ham, scalloped potatoes, and baby carrots. “What’s wrong, Miss
Trask?” Trixie speared a big slab of baked ham with the silver serving fork
and placed it on her plate. “Why have you been having trouble sleeping?” Miss Trask clamped
her thin lips together firmly as she shook her head in response. “Now, now. I
don’t want to bother you young people with my problems. This should be a
celebration. After all, it isn’t every day that Jim discovers new relatives.
You children have fun with your new friends. I’m sure I’m only imagining
things.” Struggling to stifle
her curiosity, Trixie was practically twitching with excitement. Her fingers
were trembling so badly that she almost spilled her glass of lemonade.
“Imagining what?” she asked, her large blue eyes as big as saucers. Promise
or no promise, her mystery antenna was perked up. “Nothing,” Miss
Trask insisted. “You’ll think I’m foolish.” “You’re the most
sensible person we know, Miss Trask!” Honey assured her earnestly. “Please
tell us.” The kindly governess
sighed and put down her fork. “I don’t want to alarm our guests, girls. Maybe
I’ll talk to you later.” “Don’t worry about
alarming us, Miss Trask,” Fred protested. “We solve mysteries, too.” “Is that so?” Miss
Trask exclaimed. “What a coincidence! In that case, I suppose I can tell you what’s wrong. The past
several nights, I’ve seen a mysterious form floating around my window. I’m
not sure if I’ve been dreaming or imagining things, or if something really is there. It’s quite disturbing.” “Jinkies!”
Velma blurted. “How…” “Mysterious!” Trixie
chimed in with her. “What does the form look like?” Miss Trask
thoughtfully chewed her food and then took a sip of her water. “It’s the
strangest thing. I’ve been seeing a white figure in an old-fashioned nightgown
and nightcap. I think it’s a man, although it has long gray hair.” Di shivered. “Sounds
like someone right out of the Rip Van Winkle story.” “This is the area where that story took place.” Trixie thoughtfully
worried her lower lip. “Maybe it’s Rip Van Winkle’s ghost!” she cried
suddenly. “G-g-ghost!” Shaggy
and Scooby disappeared under the dining room table, their teeth chattering so
loudly that the table vibrated. “Knock it off, you
guys,” Fred chided sternly. “It was probably the wind or an animal outside
her window.” “It couldn’t have
been an animal,” Dan corrected. “Miss Trask’s room is on the second floor of
the mansion. How could a large animal pass by her window up there?” “What does this
apparition do during your postmeridian repose?” Mart inquired, getting his
third helping of ham and potatoes. “I’m not sure
exactly,” Miss Trask replied. “I see it in the middle of the night. It
appears to be staring at me.” “Does it do anything
else?” Trixie asked, her china blue eyes very wide. Miss Trask shook her
head. “No, it just looks at me. It’s rather unnerving.” “Jinkies!”
Velma cried. “Gleeps!”
Trixie exclaimed. Secretly, she wondered what kind of word “junkies” was. Sounds like a breakfast cereal, Trixie
thought. What kind of word is “gleeps”? Velma
wondered, with a sniff of self-importance. “Jinkies” sounds so much more intelligent... Shaggy and Scooby
suddenly reappeared, dressed in Hawaiian shirts and sunglasses. Shaggy had
his suitcase, and Scooby was holding a camera in his paws. “Like, I’m outta
here, man!” Shaggy insisted. “I’m not sticking around for some creepy ghost!” Daphne laughed.
“Where’re you headed, guys?” “Ra-ri-ee,” Scooby answered, doing the hula. “ “Sorry guys, but
you’re not going anywhere,” Fred corrected. “We’re going to solve
this mystery!” Jim gritted his
teeth. “That’s nice of you to offer your help, Fred, but the Bob-Whites can
take care of this by ourselves.” “Am I hallucinating
or is there a superfluity of testosterone in this dwelling?” Mart whispered
to Di. The violet-eyed girl merely giggled and shushed him. “Don’t worry, Miss
Trask,” Trixie assured her. “The Bob-Whites will figure this out.” “And we’ll help too,
won’t we gang?” Daphne put in. “You bet!” agreed
Velma. “We’ll all look for clues after lunch. You can come with me, Danny Boy.” Dan attempted a
weak smile, and then gulped down his water. It was tough being so desirable. After lunch… Honey and Trixie
went to Honey’s room to freshen up. “So what do you think about Daphne and
her friends?” Trixie asked after she had raked her fingers through her unruly
sandy locks. Her freshening up completed, she lay on Honey’s bed and hung
upside-down over the edge. “Daphne seems very
nice,” Honey replied, running the hairbrush through her silky honey-colored
hair. “And so do her friends. Aren’t Shaggy and Scooby funny?” Trixie raised her
head and sniffed indignantly. “I don’t see what’s so great about Scooby Doo. Why, Reddy’s just as smart as he is!” Honey giggled. “I’ve
never heard Reddy talk, though.” “I suppose,” Trixie
reluctantly conceded. “Velma’s nice, and she seems very smart when it comes
to solving mysteries. And Daphne’s just as sweet as she is pretty.” “Dan thinks so, as
well,” Honey tittered. “I think he may need to borrow Scooby’s bib to sop up
his drool.” Trixie laughed until
she fell off the bed. “Have you noticed how Velma looks at Dan? She reminds
me of Mart eyeing one of Wimpy’s deluxe burgers.” “I don’t think Fred’s
very happy that Dan likes Daphne. It’s so obvious that Fred and Daphne are a couple,” Honey commented as she touched up her makeup. “What do you think
of Fred?” Trixie asked, climbing back up on Honey’s bed. “He’s very handsome!”
Honey gushed. “That ascot’s so dreamy!” “I don’t think he
and Jim are getting along very well,” Trixie observed, winding one of her
sandy curls around her index finger. “I think Jim thinks they think… well,
that Mystery Inc. is… oh gosh, I don’t know what I’m trying to say!” Honey giggled. “I
know what you mean, Trixie. Fred is a little
take-overy. But I’m sure Jim will act like a
perfect gentleman while they’re here.” After another quick glance in the
mirror, the girls trotted downstairs. The pair found Mart talking with
Shaggy and Scooby about Wimpy’s specials. Brian, Jim, and Velma were
discussing the merits of going to an in-state university versus an
out-of-state one. Fred and Dan were jockeying for position near Daphne, but
she was in a deep conversation with Diana. “Do you think this outfit is all
right for finding clues?” Daphne asked Di. “Or do you think it’s too dressy?” “Oh, no, it’s perfect!” Di gushed,
admiring Daphne’s stylish purple attire. “Those shoes, though a bit
dangerous, are to die for! I think always looking your best is worth the risk
of falling down and breaking your neck.” Daphne giggled. “Fashion has a price,
you know.” Di nodded emphatically. “I agree
totally! I love your outfit. I just adore that shade of purple! Where did you
find it?” Trixie interrupted the girls with a
grin. “Are we ready to find some clues?” “Let’s head out, gang,” Fred
answered, taking charge once more. “I think we can build a simple trap using
clothes hangers, soap suds, and a weed-eater.” Jim rolled his eyes in obvious
exasperation. “That’s not our style, Fred. Let me tell you how it works.
Trixie and Honey search for clues. We give them a hard time about being too
suspicious. Brian and I throw in a safety lecture or two, and Mart teases
Trixie relentlessly using words he can’t even spell. Trixie usually figures
it all out after someone, usually Trixie and/or Honey, gets kidnapped. They’re rescued in the nick of time, and we
get some type of reward for solving the mystery, which we donate to charity.” “Well, we’ve always found the ‘find
clues, set a trap using Shaggy and Scooby as bait, and unmask the bad guy’
method to work,” Fred argued, straightening his red ascot. Brian stood between Jim and Fred. “No
matter what we decide to do to catch Rip Van Winkle’s ghost, I think that we
all agree that we need to find some clues first. I suggest we split up.” “Good idea, Brian,” Jim agreed.
“There are twelve of us, so I think we should split up in four even groups of
three. One group can take the south; one can take the north, and so on.” “I
think we should split up in four even groups of three,” Fred announced
superiorly, as if he had not heard a single word Jim said. “That way, all
four directions can be covered.” Trixie stifled a giggle as Jim’s ears
turned a bright red and his green eyes blazed. “Sounds good, Fred,” she said
with a wink to Jim. “Now, who’s going with whom?” “Trixie and I will take the north
side of the house,” Jim stated firmly. “Who wants to come with us?” “I will,” volunteered Daphne. “But Daph,”
Fred whispered, waggling his blond eyebrows. “We always go off alone to find clues.” “Oh, right. I’d better stick with
Fred. Di, will you come with us?” Diana squealed in delight and hooked
her arm through Daphne’s elbow. “We’ll cover the south side,” Fred
informed them. “I’ll go with Jim and Trixie,” Brian
replied. I’d better keep an eye on my
baby sister and my best friend, he thought, noticing the fond glances Jim
was casting in Trixie’s direction. “I can cover the east,” Dan offered. “I’ll go with Dan,” Velma quickly
piped. She hustled to Dan’s side and stared up at him adoringly. Honey giggled. “I’ll come with you,
in case you need a chaperone.” If looks could kill, Honey Wheeler
would have keeled over at the one that Dan hurled at her. “That leaves me to cover the west
side with Shaggy and Scooby,” Mart replied. “Let’s meet back here in an
hour.” “And remember, if you have any
trouble, use the Bob-White whistle,” Jim reminded them, as he, Trixie, and
Brian headed to the north. “Fred, Mystery Inc. needs a secret
whistle,” Daphne urged as she, Fred and Diana walked to the south side of the
estate. “Come on, guys,” Mart called to
Shaggy and Scooby. “Let’s try and find some clues.” Suddenly, Shaggy and Scooby appeared
on crutches, each with one leg in a cast.
“Like, man, I wish I could, but I have a broken leg!” Shaggy moaned,
pointing to his seemingly afflicted limb. Scooby began nodding his head and
pointing to one of his own feet. “Roken reg! Roken reg!” “Don’t worry, Mart. I’ll take care of
this,” Velma informed him, digging into her pocket. She pulled out several
small brown objects. “Would you do it for a Scooby snack?” Shaggy and Scooby shook their heads.
“Rour! Rour!” Scooby
begged desperately. “All right, guys. Here are four Scooby snacks a piece.” She
tossed them into the air, and Shaggy and Scooby skillfully caught them in
their mouths. The casts and crutches instantly disappeared, and they were
good to go. “Like, let’s get this spook show on
the road, man,” Shaggy said. “I’m gonna waste away
if I don’t get another snack soon.” “A man after my own heart!” Mart
exclaimed. “We’ll find that leftover chocolate cake after we find some clues.
Hey, are those Scooby snacks any good?” They wandered off to the west side of
the house as Shaggy attempted to accurately describe the unique taste of
Scooby snacks. Dan shrugged his broad shoulders. “I
guess we’d better get going, too,” he said, turning toward the east side of
the Manor House estate. Velma clipped along at his heels, but Honey stayed
farther back and made kissy-faces each time Dan
looked back at her. On the south side of Manor House… “See anything,
girls?” Fred asked. He, Daphne, and Di searched all over the ground for
clues. “The only thing I’ve
discovered is that these shoes are creating thousands of blisters on my
feet,” Daphne complained. “I got a grass stain
on my brand new designer jeans,” Di complained. “I’m bored and ready to back
inside.” “Do you not like
solving mysteries, Di?” Daphne inquired, flipping back her fiery hair and then
straightening her dark orchid headband. Di shook her head a
bit sadly, her violet eyes losing their usual sparkle. “That’s really more
Trixie and Honey’s thing. I’m afraid all I do is get
in the way.” “I know how you feel,”
Daphne agreed, squeezing Diana’s arm in a consoling manner. “Velma’s the
smart one. Fred’s the leader. Shaggy and Scooby are the bait. All I do is look pretty.” Fred came over to
Daphne and put his arm around her tiny waist. “That’s not true, Daph. You have a knack for getting kidnapped and falling
into holes.” Daphne stomped her
high heeled foot. “You’re so corny, Fred Jones! See if I look for any more
clues with you again!” Suddenly, her high heel got stuck in
a hole. While bending over to get it loose, she saw a piece of paper flying
about in the breeze. “I found something!” she cried gleefully. When she was
out of the hole, she retrieved the paper once it landed on the lawn. Fred and Di quickly bounded to her
side. “What did you find, Daph?” Fred questioned,
peeking over her shoulder. “I’m not sure. It looks like a piece
of notebook paper.” She held it close to her face. “It has writing on it.” “What does it say?” Di asked
breathlessly. Daphne squinted as she peered at the
writing. “I don’t know. I think it’s written in another language.” Fred snatched it out of her hands.
“Let me take a look at that.” He carefully studied the writing.
“It appears to be written in another language.” Daphne rolled her eyes, and Di
giggled. Meanwhile, on the west side of the Manor House… “Like, man, where’s
all the clues?” Shaggy asked, looking all over the ground. “Smell anything,
old pal?” Scooby lifted his
nose from off the ground and shook his head. “Ruh-uh,
ruh-uh!” Mart looked all around
the west side around Manor House. “There has
to be something here someplace,” he muttered. “Like, man, look
what I’ve found!” Shaggy exclaimed happily. “I’ve hit the proverbial sugar
jackpot!” He triumphantly held up a large, heart-shaped box of chocolates. He
licked his lips, drool cascading down his whiskered chin. Both Mart and Scooby
raced to Shaggy’s side. Shaggy hurriedly opened the
lid, and the three gazed longingly at the decadent chocolates nestled in the
box. By now, large trails of drool were running down each of their chins. “I wonder where it
came from,” Mart pondered out loud. “Do you think, like,
maybe we should taste it?” Shaggy suggested hopefully. “You know, make sure
it’s safe and all.” Scooby vigorously
nodded his head. “Raste rest! Raste
rest!” Mart scratched his
head as he mulled the idea. “I don’t know. What if it’s a clue?” “Aw, come on, Mart!”
Shaggy persuaded, sticking the yummy smelling candy under Mart’s nose. “Just
a little bit? After all, we have the box as evidence…” “Well…” Meanwhile, on the east side of the Manor House… “Jinkies! This sure is a big house!” Velma exclaimed,
taking her eyeglasses off and cleaning them on her sweater. Honey nodded. “Yes,
it is. There are simply too many servants for Mother to manage by herself.
She travels with Daddy often, and has a lot of dinners to organize. That’s
why it’s so nice to have Miss Trask around. If something were to happen to
her…” Honey’s voice broke
at the thought of Miss Trask leaving. Miss Trask was more than a governess to
Honey. The older, sensible woman was a mother figure, as well. “Are any of the
other servants jealous of Miss Trask?” Velma inquired, thoughtfully rubbing
her freckled cheek. “Maybe someone’s trying to frighten her so she’ll leave.
Then they could have her job.” Honey chewed her
lower lip as she reflected upon Velma’s words. “I don’t think anyone’s after
her position, but you never know. I suppose it does pay well.” “She has fired several cooks,” Dan
mentioned. “Like Trixie says: Miss Trask hires them and fires them! Maybe one
of the people she’s fired wants revenge.” Honey nodded slowly.
“There was that maid named Helen
that Miss Trask let go shortly after we arrived in Sleepyside. I think she
was gone before you moved here, Dan.” Velma took a pen and
small notebook out of her pocket and jotted down some notes. “Could anyone
else in Sleepyside be out to get Miss Trask?” Honey shook her
head. “Everybody loves Miss Trask! She’s a friend to everyone. Why, she was
the first real friend I ever had! Miss Trask was there for me even before I
met Trixie.” She wiped a tear from her hazel eyes. “I just couldn’t bear it
if Miss Trask left! We have to
solve this mystery before she is frightened away.” Dan sympathetically
patted Honey’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Honey. Miss Trask’s a tough old gal.
She loves you as much as you love her. It’ll take more than some old dude in
a nightgown to scare her away.” “If you want to help
Miss Trask, help me find some
clues,” Velma remarked bossily, studying the ground. Several minutes
later, Honey squealed in delight. “I found something!” She removed a
handkerchief from her pocket and carefully picked up a pen that was lying in
the grass. Dan and Velma hurried to her side. “Great work, Honey!”
Dan congratulated. “Are those letters
engraved on it?” Velma asked. Honey peered closely
at the pen. “Yes! I see an H. J. L. on it! I wonder what those
initials stand for.” Velma scratched her
chin thoughtfully. “You mentioned a maid named Helen. That name begins with an
‘h’. What was Helen’s last name?” Honey shrugged. “I
don’t remember. We went through so many servants when we first moved here
that I didn’t learn many of their full names. Why, we started calling our
cooks ‘Cook’ because we’d go through so many.” “Maybe Jim knows,”
Dan suggested with a grin. “After all, Jim knows everything. Just ask
Trixie.” On the north side of the Manor House… Trixie, Jim,
and Brian searched the north side of the Manor House lawn. Trixie looked up
and studied the mansion. “Jim, is Miss Trask’s window on this side of the
house?” Jim grinned in that charming,
lopsided manner of his. “As a matter of fact, it is. That’s why I claimed the
north direction. I knew my Shamus would want to investigate around the
window.” Trixie blushed and
walked beneath Miss Trask’s second-story window. She stood beside a large red
maple tree and looked up. “I’ve got it!” she cried, snapping her fingers. She
grasped one of the low branches and climbed on it. “This is no time to
climb trees, Trixie,” Brian admonished sternly. Trixie ignored him
and made her way higher into the tree. “A-ha!” she yelled in triumph, holding
up something in her fingers. She released the object she found with a saucy
grin. A piece of fabric fluttered down and landed on her oldest brother’s
head. “What’s this?” Brian
asked, carefully studying the material. Jim came and peered over his
shoulder. “I’m guessing that piece
of material was torn from the ghost’s nightshirt,” Trixie answered. “The
fabric looks old and worn.” Jim nodded. “It does
look like the kind of material an old-fashioned nightshirt would be made out
of.” Brian shook his dark
head. “That’s crazy, Trix. How do you know it came from the ghost? A bird
could’ve taken it up there to use in its nest. And besides, why would a ghost
climb a tree?” “To do this,” Trixie
retorted. She used the branches of the maple to help her climb higher. When
she was near the top, she expertly scaled a particularly thick branch. At its
end, she gingerly jumped and landed on the balcony outside of Miss Trask’s
window. “Ta-da!” she proclaimed, with her arms raised. “Good job, Shamus!”
Jim applauded. He and Brian quickly climbed the tree and joined Trixie on the
balcony. “I never noticed how
easy it’d be to get on this balcony,” Brian commented. “That would explain
how the ghost appeared outside Miss Trask’s window.” “Now what do we do?”
Jim asked, rubbing a freckled hand through his thick russet hair. “We wait for the
ghost to appear tonight,” Trixie announced. “It’ll take him a while to get
down from the tree, and when he does, we’ll be waiting for him.” “Maybe Fred could
build a trap,” Brian wryly suggested. Back inside Manor House… At the
appointed time, the four groups met in the Manor House foyer with their
clues. “What did everybody find?” Jim asked. “Like man, just this
groovy box of chocolate,” Shaggy offered, holding up the clue. Dan grabbed the box.
“Where’s the chocolate?” he questioned after opening the lid and peering
inside. Mart grinned
impishly. “My colleagues and I animadverted that it would be advantageous for
us to scrutinize the apprehensive delicacies.” “The whole box?” Di
inquired archly, placing her hands on her slim hips. Trixie sighed in
exasperation at her almost-twin. “Mart! Those chocolates could’ve been an
important clue! How could you?” “Zoinks!”
Shaggy exclaimed, slapping his forehead. “We only meant to eat a couple, but
like, we just couldn’t stop. Those chocolates were just so groovy!” “Especially the
caramel ones,” Mart admitted with a sheepish grin. “Rummy-rum-rum!”
Scooby rubbed his belly with one paw and giggled in that goofy way of his. “We found a piece of
paper,” Daphne said, holding it up for the others to see. Trixie and Velma
both reached for it at the same time. However, Trixie was a bit quicker. She held
the piece of paper close to her face and scrunched her nose in confusion. She
turned the paper upside-down, but it still made no sense to her. “Looks like Greek to
me,” she admitted. “Actually, it’s
French,” Velma corrected in a highly superior, intellectual tone. She
snatched the paper from Trixie’s grasp. “Fortunately, I am fluent in seven
languages, including French. Roughly translated, this says, ‘My precious
dove, I am astounded by your beauty. You drive me crazy when you wear your
smart tweed suits and your sensible shoes. Your brisk efficiency makes me
want to sweep you off your feet and make mad, passionate love to you. Run away with me, my love.’ Of course, it
loses something in the translation.” Velma pushed her glasses farther up on
her nose. “Could this be written to Miss Trask? It certainly sounds like her.
At lunch she was wearing a smart
tweed suit, as well as sensible shoes.” Trixie, Honey, and
Di collapsed in a fit of giggles. However, Jim, Brian, Mart, and Dan looked a
little green around the gills. “Who would write a
letter like that to Miss Trask?” Dan asked, looking a bit nauseated. “Maybe it’s “ Di shrugged her shoulders.
“I suppose it’s his first name. Why do you ask?” Honey pulled out a
fancy pen and held it out for the others to examine. “We found this when we
were looking for clues.” The others gathered around the look at the pen. “What does a pen
have to do with this Dan took the pen and
pointed to the engraved initials. “See this H. J. L.? This could belong to the ghost.” “I am reluctant to
refute your hypothesis; however, why would a specter have such a superior
writing utensil?” Mart inquired. “Rat rid re ray?”
Scooby asked, scratching his head with his paw. “Mart so eloquently
observed that if this apparition were truly a poltergeist of some sort, it
would not consider a pen an ineluctable object,” Velma replied in a scholarly
tone. Mart scowled. “The
position for smart aleck linguistic expert has already been filled,” he said
under his breath, glaring at the pint-sized, orange-wearing visitor. Di
giggled and poked him in the ribs. “The answer’s
obvious: the ghost is a fake,” Jim answered. “And I’m sure I
could rig a simple trap using an old mine car, flour, and a light bulb,” Fred
remarked. Jim rolled his eyes
and exhaled loudly. “I told you how
it works, Fred. We don’t se…” “Miss Lefferts!” Trixie interrupted excitedly. “What was her
first name, Honey?” “I think it was
Josephine,” Honey told her. “Why?” “Josephine could’ve
been her middle name,” Trixie explained, her sandy brows furrowed
contemplatively. “Her first name could have been Harriet or something like
that. The rest of the initials match the ones on the pen.” “Like, who’s this Lefferts chick?” Shaggy inquired, scratching his
whiskered chin. “She was Honey’s old
governess,” Brian said. “She was fired after Honey begged her father to hire
Miss Trask instead.” “There’s the motive,”
Fred observed. “But what about the love letter?” “That could’ve been
planted to throw us off the trail,” Dan offered. “Or maybe it was one
that Miss Trask already had,” added Honey. “I’ve always suspected that she
once had a special beau. Or maybe she has a secret boyfriend now that we don’t
know about.” “But that part about sweeping her off her
feet and making…EWWW!” Jim shivered, not wanting to think about the
middle-aged governess being intimate with a man. “It makes me feel kind of sick to my
stomach.” “If the mysterious
figure isn’t really a ghost, then how does it appear on Miss Trask’s
balcony?” questioned Daphne, a perplexed look on her pretty face. “Trixie found the
answer to that one,” Brian stated. “Tell them, Sis.” With a satisfied
grin, Trixie pulled the torn piece of material out of her pocket and held it
up for all to see. “I found this in a re maple by Miss Trask’s window. The
ghost could’ve easily climbed the tree and hopped to the balcony.” “Brilliant
conjecture, Beatrix!” Mart applauded. “Methinks
this enigma is all but deciphered!” “We still need to
catch that ghost!” reminded Fred. “If we could find some baling twine, scuba
gear, and…” “I suggest we wait
and see if the ghost appears tonight,” Jim interrupted. “We can stake out
Miss Trask’s room and catch him or her in the act.” “Great idea, Jim,”
Daphne said. “Everyone can stay
over,” Honey suggested. “We have plenty of room. That way, we’ll all be here
if Rip Van Winkle decides to make an appearance.” |
|
That night… The Bob-Whites had a busy day showing Daphne
and her friends around Sleepyside. They showed Mystery Inc. the sights in
town and had a picnic dinner at the Wheelers’ boathouse. It was too cool for
a swim, but everyone enjoyed looking at the shimmering water of the lake. When the mosquitoes
began biting, the group retreated indoors to the Wheelers’ large den. Fred
broke out a large, rolled up set of plans, and rolled them open on the coffee
table. “I know you said no traps, Jim, but I had a few free minutes before
dinner, so I worked this up. Would you mind taking a look?” Jim sighed and
reluctantly looked at the plans Fred had designed for a trap to catch Rip Van
Winkle. Trixie’s curiosity made her peek over his shoulder. “Wow! This really might
work, Fred!” Trixie cried excitedly. Jim half-heartedly
agreed. “What would we need to get this together?” “This is a rather simple
design. All we’ll need is a small trampoline, an extra mattress, a large
barrel, and some Sugar Smacks,” Fred explained. “What are the Sugar
Smacks for?” Mart asked. Di giggled. “Maybe
it’s a snack to keep you, Shaggy, and Scooby occupied while we’re waiting.” “Now, about the
bait…” Daphne began, looking pointedly at the loveseat on which Shaggy and
Scooby were sitting. “Zoinks!
I’m, like, outta here, man!” Shaggy cried,
clambering to stand to his feet. “Ree
roo! Ree roo!” Scooby agreed, heading for the door. “Hold on, guys!”
Trixie yelled. “We can’t let Miss Trask know about our plan. Someone needs to
sleep in her room and pretend to be her.” “Hmmm. We need
someone skinny, because Miss Trask is
rather thin,” Di mentioned casually. “Our fill-in should
be tall, because Miss Trask is tall
for a lady,” put in Velma. “And, if the ghost is someone from
this area, they might recognize one of the Bob-Whites, so that leaves us
out,” Dan pointed out. “Gee, who could do it?” Mart’s bright
blue eyes fell on Shaggy. “Like, no way!” Shaggy protested.
“I’m sick of being bait! Let Velma do it!” |
