Read The Mystery of the Millionaire for Free Online

because Frank would find out about it. And I don’t think private detectives take credit cards,” she concluded with a wry smile.
    “We have fifteen dollars in the Bob-White treasury,” Trixie said. “I’m sure you could have that.”
    “I could ask my parents to help, but you’d have to wait several days until they get home,” Honey added.
    Laura smiled at the girls bravely. “You’re very kind, but I’m afraid I need a lot more than fifteen dollars, and I need it immediately.”
    Silence reigned again. Trixie looked around the room, as if hoping to find an answer there.
    And, gazing at Mr. Lytell’s ledgers, she suddenly did. “Mr. Lytell—” she began.
    “No!” The storekeeper had read Trixie’s mind. “I’m sorry for Miss Ramsey, and I hope she finds her father, but I’m not going to give her any money.”
    “Oh, no!” Laura Ramsey exclaimed. “No, Mr. Lytell, of course not. You’ve done so much to help already, calling to tell me about my father’s wallet and listening so patiently to my whole story. I wouldn’t dream of asking you for anything more.”
    Laura Ramsey stood up and held out her hand to the storekeeper. “Thank you for everything. I’ll just have to solve this in my own way.” She smiled at the girls and turned to leave. Then she turned back to face them.
    “You know, if nothing else, this experience has already taught me about the value of money. I’d always taken it for granted, until now. Why, just a month ago, on my twentieth birthday, my father took me to a car dealer and let me pick out any car I wanted, then paid for it in cash— twelve thousand dollars! And now, today, when I need a couple thousand to find him, I can’t raise it.” She shook her head sadly and turned again to leave.
    “Wait!” Trixie shouted. “The car.”
    “I can’t sell it—” Laura began.
    “You don’t have to!” Trixie exclaimed. “Mr. Lytell, remember how you held Brian’s jalopy when I gave you my diamond ring as collateral?” Without waiting for an answer, Trixie rushed on. “You can do the same thing now. I mean, you can use the car for collateral and lend Laura the money!”
    “Oh, Mr. Lytell, it’s a perfectly perfect solution!” Honey said. “The car is worth six times the amount of the loan. You’d be perfectly safe, and Laura could call a detective today!”
    “I don’t know,” Mr. Lytell said suspiciously.
    “I don’t know, either,” Laura said. “Of course, the sooner I can get the money for a detective, the better my chances will be of finding my father. And I shouldn’t worry about borrowing, because my father is such a generous man. He’ll pay Mr. Lytell back immediately, and add a large reward, I’m sure. It’s just that.... Well, that car means a lot to me. It’s valuable, of course, but it m-may be a last gift from my father.” Her voice trembled a little. “To turn the keys over to a stranger....”
    “Are you saying I’m not to be trusted, young lady?” Mr. Lytell asked indignantly. “Why, my word is as good as gold. I’ll write the agreement up, all legal-like. Then you can take one copy, and I’ll keep the other. The car will be safe right here until I get my money back.”
    Laura sighed and sank back down in the chair. “All right,” she said. “I really have no other choice, do I?”
    The girls watched as Mr. Lytell rolled two pieces of paper, with carbon paper between, into his ancient typewriter. Muttering to himself, he typed out an agreement: He would lend Laura two thousand dollars and keep the car until his money was returned.
    He rolled the paper out of the typewriter and signed on the blank he’d left above his typed name. Laura did the same, and then Trixie and Honey, feeling very important, signed as witnesses.
    Mr. Lytell reread the contract carefully, then handed the carbon copy to Laura Ramsey. He painstakingly placed his copy in the top drawer of his desk, rose, and walked through a door into what Trixie had