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people were Miss Trask and her brother. She guessed they must be standing on the second floor landing. She also guessed they had to be close to the shaft where she was trapped. She opened her mouth to call to them.
    Before she could call, however, Miss Trask said sharply, “I’ve marked your words before, Frank. The last time I was here, we quarreled because you had some wild idea of turning the inn into a fast-food outlet. It was going to have jukeboxes and neon signs and heaven knows what else besides. I don’t know what would have happened if the historical society hadn’t stepped in and prevented it.”
    Trixie heard Mr. Trask chuckle. “Ah, you’ve got me there. That one was a bad idea. But I tell you, Marge, this time I’ve found the magic formula, and I haven’t upset the historical society a bit. I’m giving the people what they want, too. And they’re eating it up. All I had to do was to
    borrow some money and spruce the old place up a bit—”
    “You borrowed money?” Miss Trask sounded shocked.
    “Which I am about to pay back this very weekend.” Her brother’s voice was triumphant. “My note’s due tomorrow night at seven o’clock. That’s why I asked you here. I wanted to prove to you that your brother could do it. And I wanted to see the look on your face when I hand over the cash to our old friend, Nicholas Morgan.”
    Miss Trask gasped. “You borrowed from Nick ?“
    “And why not?” her brother answered. “He’s as rich as Croesus, and he owns a lot of the property around here. He was real friendly when I asked him for a loan.”
    “I’ll just bet he was.” Miss Trask’s voice sounded bitter. “And if the money isn’t paid back? What happens then?”
    “Then the place is his,” Frank Trask said, “lock, stock, and vanishing pirate. I had to put up the inn as collateral, y’see. But it won’t happen, I promise you. I’ve got the money in a safe place, never fear.”
    “You haven’t got it in cash!”
    “Of course it’s in cash,” her brother answered. “You know how I feel about banks, Marge. Don’t approve of ’em—never have—never will.”
    Trixie put her hands over her ears and tried to stop listening. She didn’t quite know what to do. Should she clear her throat loudly to let them know that someone was listening, however reluctantly, to their private conversation? Should she yell for help at the top of her lungs?
    At that moment, a sudden jerk on the rope beside her solved her problem.
    Slowly but surely, Trixie felt herself being pulled up and up. Gradually, the bricked-up hatchway slid downward. She saw floor joists and wooden beams. Then the dining room’s dark paneling appeared once more.
    Now that she was on the point of being rescued, she could feel the hot tears gathering behind her eyelids, and she realized how frightened she had been.
    She twisted her head upward to catch the first sight of her gallant rescuer—and she found herself gazing into the villainous-looking face of Weasel Willis.

Fire! ● 6

    TO TRIXIE’S IMMENSE RELIEF, Honey’s worried face appeared almost immediately at Weasel’s shoulder.
    “Are you all right?” she cried, helping her friend to uncurl herself. “Oh, Trix, you have no idea how scared I was. I thought we’d never get you out of there!”
    “It’s a good thing I wasn’t too far away,” Weasel remarked mournfully. “Otherwise, I can’t think what would have happened.” He watched Trixie trying to restore the circulation to her cramped limbs. “Of course, I’m not surprised,” he added. “Heaven only knows we’ve had our share of bad luck around here lately. We’ve had termites in the woodwork. There’ve been odd accidents in the kitchen. We’ve had our help quitting for no reason at all. And now you get stuck in that shaft. I suppose, before we know it, the Sea Fox will come sailing up the Hudson River as a warning to us all.”
    Trixie had only been half listening to him. She was still trembling