Judy Bolton #33 The Secret Quest

7/17/2019 Judy Bolton #33 The Secret Quest

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The Secret Quest

The latest exciting mystery in which Judy becomes

involved starts innocently enough. Judy and her young FBI

husband Peter Dobbs go to the airport in Washington, D. C,to meet Peters sister Honey, who is going to visit them for a

week and take in the many interesting sights.

Back at the motel where the three are stopping, Honey is

amazed to find that accidentally she has picked up the

wrong suitcase. Instead of the pretty suits that she herselfhad designed, the bag contains some very old-fashioned

garments, an old diary dated 1847, and an old coffee mill.

Even more startling is Peters discovery of a sheaf of noteson solar science stuffed inside the drawer of the coffee mill.

The odd clothes remind Honey of two quaintly dressed

little old ladies who were on the plane with her. And later,

when she and Judy and Peter catch a glimpse of the same

two old ladies in the company of the new artist whosearrival at the Dean Studios caused Honey to lose her job

there, the three young detectives are even more perplexed.At a solar science exhibit in the Smithsonian Institution,

Judy picks up the first slim clue to an increasingly baffling

mystery and starts on her secret quest for its solution. Dont

miss this spine-tingling story of Judy Boltons latestadventure and its weird outcome.


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The Famous JUDY BOLTONMystery StoriesBy MARGARET SUTTON

The Vanishing Shadow

The Haunted AtticThe Invisible Chimes

Seven Strange Clues

The Ghost Parade

The Yellow Phantom

The Mystic Ball

The Voice in the Suitcase

The Mysterious Half Cat

The Riddle of the Double Ring

The Unfinished House

The Midnight Visitor

The Name on the Bracelet

The Clue in the Patchwork Quilt

The Mark on the Mirror

The Secret of the Barred Window

The Rainbow Riddle

The Living Portrait

The Secret of the Musical Tree

The Warning on the Window

The Clue of the Stone LanternThe Spirit of Fog Island

The Black Cats Clue

The Forbidden Chest

The Haunted Road

The Clue in the Ruined Castle

The Trail of the Green Doll

The Haunted Fountain

The Clue of the Broken Wing

The Phantom FriendThe Discovery at the Dragons Mouth

The Whispered Watchword

The Secret Quest

The Puzzle in the Pond

The Hidden Clue

The Pledge of the Twin Knights

The Search for the Glowing Hand

The Secret of the Sand Castle


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A Judy Bolton Mystery

THE SECRET

QUEST

By

Margaret Sutton

________________________________________________________

Grosset & Dunlap

PUBLISHERS NEW YORK


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1962 BY GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The Secret Quest


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Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I Honeys Arrival 1

II The Wrong Suitcase 9III In Borrowed Clothes 18

IV The Turreted Museum 26

V A Fearful Exhibit 33

VI Solar Power 40

VII Other Powers 48

VIII Promises 54

IX Homeward Bound 61

X After the Fire 70XI Horaces Clue 77

XII Headlines and Headaches 85

XIII Warned Away! 93

XIV Poltergeists! 102

XV A Time for Prayer 110

XVI A House of Flying Objects 118

XVII A Difficult Question 125

XVIII A Terrifying Answer 132

XIX A Strange Likeness 138XX A Web of Thread 146

XXI A Secret Departure 153

XXII A Dampened Spirit 161

XXIII A Promise Is Kept 167

XXIV Another Promise 175

XXV The Real Quest 183


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To my teenage daughter

LINDA SUSETTE SUTTON

Just because . . .


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The Secret Quest


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CHAPTER I

Honeys Arrival

Honey, whats wrong?

Judy wasnt sure just why she asked the question.

In the five minutes since Honey had stepped off theplane she must have assured Judy a dozen times that

she was glad to be in Washington.

Nothing is wrong,Honey insisted. The flight

was a little bumpy, thats all.Changing the subjectabruptly, she asked, Is this dress all right to wear

when we go sightseeing?

It was an attractive summer print that brought out

all the gold in her honey-colored hair. Judys ownhair was unmistakably red, but she had learned to

like the color and to choose her clothes morecarefully because of it. Both girls looked lovely and

told each other so.I brought a lot of stuff with me, Honey

confided. Id like to stay a whole week instead of


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the weekend we planned, if thats all right with you

and Peter. I wouldnt want to spoil any of your

plans.What an idea!exclaimed Judy. Honey, youre

part of our plans. Were both delighted to have

you.Judy meant it. She loved Honey dearly and

couldnt think of anything shed rather do than show

her around the nations capital. They were more than

best friends. Judys marriage to Peter Dobbs hadmade his sister hers. Peter had left to bring the car

around while Judy and Honey waited for the

baggage to be unloaded from the plane.

Theres my suitcase! Honey called out,pointing, and the baggage man placed the brand-new

suitcase at her feet. She was about to pick it up when

Peter reappeared and took it from her hand.Whew!he ejaculated as he lifted it. This thing

is heavy. What did you bring? The kitchen stove?

No, only a book or two.

Didnt anybody tell you there are bookstores and

libraries here in Washington?Oh, Peter!Honey was blushing now. Its only

clothes and my diary and a book of poems Horacegave me. If the suitcase is heavy, blame Judys

brother. He thinks I should read a poem a day for the

good of my soul.

Judy laughed. Knowing you, I think it does your


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soul more good to draw pictures.

I did sketch a few of the passengers on the

plane,Honey confessed. There were two little oldladies who fascinated me. There they are now!she

exclaimed. Did you ever see such a funny hat?

Its a sunbonnet! Judy couldnt help staring.The shorter one of the two doll-like old ladies just

leaving the air terminal was actually wearing a

checked gingham sunbonnet. Her dress was of the

same material, ruffled and edged with white braid.The other ones her sister, I think, Honey

explained as they watched.

The sister was wearing a less colorful dress and a

little straw hat trimmed with nodding flowers. Itseemed as if she, too, had stepped out of the past.

They just dont know what year it is,Judy said,

laughing.You meet all kinds of people coming to

Washington to see the sightsThey are the sights, Peter interrupted with a

chuckle. Bless them. Somehow they remind me of

Grandpa and Grandma Dobbs. How are they,

Honey?Theyre fine,Honey replied. They want me to

stay a whole week.

Can you? What about your work at the studio?

asked Peter.Mr. Dean doesnt need me, Honey answered

slowly. I did enjoy fabric designing, of course. This


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dress Im wearing is one of our new summer prints.

But work is slow right now, and they have other

artists.I dont believe they have one as good as you are,

Honey. Besides, Judy remembered, youve

already had your vacation. That trip to Yellowstonewhen we made the Discovery at the Dragons

Mouth

They hired a new artist while I was away,

Honey broke in. I cant explain just why, but Idont like him. And now . . .

What? Peter asked when his sisters voice

trailed off into an unspoken thought.

Oh, I dont know. Things kept disappearingfrom the studio. Art supplies and designs.

Now Peter was puzzled, too. Judy could see it in

his blue eyes. He asked a few more questions aboutthe new artist as they walked out to the car. Looking

back, they could see a crowd of people standing on

the observation deck atop the modern air terminal.

We were up there watching when your plane

came in, Honey,Judy said.You would be. Youre always there when I need

you,

declared Honey.

You were there when I firstheard the Invisible Chimes. I might never have

known I was Peters sisterand now yours, Judy, if

it hadnt been for you.

I dont deserve all the credit, Judy protested.


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What about Horaces part in solving the mystery?

And suppose my father hadnt consulted Dr.

Faulkner and he hadnt compared your heart-shapedthumb print with that of the baby he remembered?

Thats one thing youll have to see while youre

here in Washington,Peter put in. The FBI has thelargest collection of fingerprints in the world. Ill

take you around myself and show you exactly how

fingerprints are used as a means of identification.

Did you show Judy around?asked Honey whenthey were on their way in the car with Honey in the

front seat between Judy and Peter

I started to, but the tour was interrupted, and

Peter went on to tell his sister all about theWhispered WatchwordJudy had overheard.

I scared myself wandering around without

knowing what to expect,confessed Judy.

It will be

different touring the Capitol Building with you.Well visit Blackberry

Judy, youre joking!Honey exclaimed. What

would Blackberry be doing in the Capitol?

Working for the government, naturally.Your cat? Now I know youre joking. How can a

cat work for the government?

Easy, Judy replied, and now Peter was

laughing, too. Hes official mousecatcher in the

basement of the Old Senate Office Building. He

wasnt welcome at the motel. In fact, he was


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practically catnapped. Liz Holbrook will tell you.

She and Rosita are waiting to meet you.

Ill be glad to meet your new friends, Honeysaid, but its you and Peter I really came to see.

And all this, of course.

They were driving along Mount Vernon highway,and the scenery across the blue Potomac was

breathtaking in its beauty. Honey was taking it all in

as they crossed the second bridge and turned north

on Fourteenth Street. Now, looking to the west, theycould see the tall shaft of the Washington

Monument towering into the sky and reflected in the

oblong pool that extended all the way to the Lincoln

Memorial.To the east was the famous mall with its

picturesque museums and art galleries. The older

buildings were red stone with turrets and pinnaclesoutlined against the sky. Beyond, the CapitolBuilding itself dominated the city and gave it a quiet

dignity that, once seen, could never be forgotten.

See those cathedral-like buildings? Peter said,

breaking the silence that had fallen over the three inthe car. I promised Judy wed explore them.

What are they?

asked Honey.Collectively, Peter said, his eyes twinkling,

they are known as the Smithsonian Institution.Oh, no! Not institution.This seemed funny to

Honey, and she began to laugh. Why on earth do


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they call them that? They look like fairy castles.

There are all sorts of exhibits inside,Peter said,

and theyre open on Sunday. I thought wed go toAll Souls Church tomorrow and after that, we can

visit those turreted museums, and you girls can

explore to your heartscontent.That will be fun.They had passed the buildings

now, and Honey was exclaiming over other things.

Peter stopped the car to point out the Department of

Justice Building which was one of several importantbuildings to the right as they looked back toward the

Capitol. Just ahead was the White House. They

circled the grounds and then turned when they

reached New York Avenue. In five more minutesthey were at their motel.

I hoped Liz would be at the desk,Judy said as

Honey registered,but you

ll meet her later. She

s

the girl who toured the FBI with me andafterwards She shivered at the memory. Come

on, Honey. Ill show you around.

Judy took Honey through the lobby past a court

enclosed on three sides by the long motel buildingsand on into a dark passageway that proved to be a

shortcut to the outside rooms.Meanwhile Peter was unloading the car which he

had parked just outside the door of their adjoining

rooms. Honey liked her room and exclaimed over

the red, white, and blue color scheme and the eagle


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decorations.

Let me help you unpack, Judy suggested as

Peter brought in Honeys suitcase and put it down.Honey opened it with her key and threw back the

lid.

Is that your diary or the book of poems?askedJudy, observing a worn brown book on top of a pile

of folded clothing.

It isnt either one! Honey exclaimed. She

snatched up the book and opened it. Its a diary allright, but its dated 1847! And look! This is what

made the suitcase so heavy. I neverbrought along an

old coffee mill.


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CHAPTER II

The Wrong Suitcase

Honey stared at the contents of the suitcase, a

dismayed expression on her face. The coffee mill,

gaily decorated with pink painted roses, sat squarelyon top of a pile of calico printed garments. They

were ruffled and tucked and trimmed with white

braid. Beside them was another pile of white things.

Its uncanny, isnt it?Judy wasnt sure whethershe ought to laugh or sympathize.

Its horrible!Honey exploded. Nothing in here

is mine.She snatched up an embroidered petticoat

with matching undergarment. Do you think Idwear these? Even Grandma Dobbs doesnt wear

white embroideredwhat are they, anyway? Sliptops?

Judy giggled. She couldnt help it. Corsetcovers, I believe. Grandma Smeed used to wear

them. I found some in the attic of our house in Dry


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Brook Hollow. Dig a little deeper, Honey, and you

may find the corset

But I want my own things, Honey protested.How do you suppose these funny old-fashioned

clothes got into my suitcase?

It cant be your suitcase, Honey,Peter told her.Youve taken a suitcase belonging to someone

else.

But my key opened it, she insisted, and it

looks exactly like mine.Wheres the baggage check?asked Judy.

Oh dear!Honey cried. I tore it off and threw it

away without looking at it. I felt so sure this suitcase

was mine.Well soon find out who owns it,Judy declared

as they explored its contents. She unrolled a pair of

long black stockings and exclaimed,Ill bet those

two old ladies we saw at the airport wear stockingslike this.

Judy, do you think this could be their suitcase?

Honey asked.

Quite likely,Judy replied. The same key couldfit both locks. And look, Honey! These dresses are

all cut after the same pattern, and they are like thedresses those two old ladies were wearing. Theres

even a sunbonnet to match this one.This looks like one of your grandmothers

antiques, Judy, Peter said, examining the coffee


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mill. This was quite an invention for its day, he

remarked as he began to turn the handle. You

poured the coffee beans in the top, ground them uplike this, and they came out here.

He pulled open the little wooden drawer to

demonstrate and then whistled in surprise.Now what have you discovered? exclaimed

Judy as Peter withdrew a stack of folded papers and

immediately became absorbed in what was written

on them. Judy noticed that there were drawings, too.Not sketches of the kind Honey made, but diagrams

to illustrate text.

They look like the sort of drawings you see on

blueprints,she observed. Is that what they are?Peter nodded, not taking his eyes off the pages.

Honey glanced at them and then picked up the old

diary.Strange,

she murmured as she turned the

pages. This is like mine, only its about schoolboysinstead of schoolgirls.

Is that a boys diary?asked Judy.

A mans, I think. I cant find his name. Hes

talking about his schoolmates as if some time hadgone by. Here, read it for yourself, Honey

suggested, handing Judy the well-worn book.She found the handwriting a little hard to read

with all the curlicues and flourishes. Under the date,

May 1, 1841, she read: Today a great honor came

to an old schoolmate of mine. The cornerstone of a


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magnificent building to house him and his staff was

laid with impressive ceremonies. President Polk and

his Cabinet were there and Im sure our oldprofessor was there too, in spirit. He used to

encourage us to play at chemistry and I remember

some sad results of those early experiments. PoorHenry was nearly burned to death when he

attempted to stamp out a fire set by one of Joes

balloons. We were seeking an answer to the

question: Why does smoke fly upward? Why does it?Honey interrupted.

Warm air is lighter than cool air, Peter

explained, but go on, Judy. I think I know what

building hes talking about. Is there anything moreabout this boy, Henry?

The one who was burned? No, its all about Joe,

the boy with the balloon. He kept on with hisexperiments Oh, I see, his name was JosephHenry. That name seems to ring a bell.

It certainly should. Joseph Henry was a famous

scientist, and his friend who was burned must have

been Henry James. Are their names mentionedanywhere else in the diary?Peter asked.

I don

t see many names. Do you, Honey? Mostof this seems sort of private and personalIm not

sure we ought to read it.But Judy, it cant be private and personal after

more than a hundred years, Honey objected. Its


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an antique like everything else in the suitcase.

Not everything,Peter protested. These papers

I took from the drawer in the coffee mill arent old.They look to me like notes on the latest findings in

solar science.

Then we were wrong! Judy exclaimed. Whatwould those two old ladies we saw at the airport

know about solar science?

They might know quite a bit if one of their

ancestors wrote this diary, replied Peter. Oldpeople are full of surprises.

I dont like this kind of a surprise, declared

Honey. If they threw away their baggage check

without looking at it, the way I did, they may carrymy suitcase around for hours without knowing it

isnt theirs. I have to get it back some way. Oh, I

wish I knew their names!

Ill phone the airport and describe bothsuitcases, Peter said. They may have found out

right away that it wasnt theirs and left it at the lost-

and-found desk. If they did, we can drive right back

and get it.Please, Peter, call them right away, begged

Honey.

I simply can

t go to church tomorrow withnothing to wear. I packed a little summer suit and

hat to match.Youll get them back. I know you will. In the

meantime, how about wearing this?Judy giggled as


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she held up a creation of brown silk and velvet with

lace sleeves and a trailing skirt.

Oh, Judy!Honey refused to make light of thematter. It isnt Halloween.

Well, your suitcase isnt at the airport, Peter

reported. He had just finished making a telephonecall from the adjoining room. Now he suggested

dinner.

In this? Honey indicated the soiled dress she

was wearing. Ill have to change into somethingelse. I leaned up against something and made a big

smudge on the back

It doesnt show,Peter told her.

Put my jacket on over it,Judy suggested, andlets eat. Well figure out some way to solve your

clothes problem.

On the way to the outdoor tables they met twogirls whom Judy introduced as Liz Holbrook and hertwelve-year-old cousin, Rosita Rocklin.

Liz works at the switchboard, and Rosita is the

managers daughter, Judy finished the

introductions. Theyve been looking forward tomeeting you.

Honey greeted them warmly. But her faceclouded when they began to plan things for her to

do.Im afraid I wont be staying that long she

began.


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But you said you could stay all week, Judy

objected.

How can I, with nothing to wear?Honey picked up the wrong suitcase by

mistake,Judy explained. Its full of old things that

look as if they belonged in a museum.That isnt such a tragedy,declared Liz, smiling.

Youre just my size, Honey. Let me lend you some

of my clothes.

Thanks, Liz,Honey said gratefully. I will needsomething to wear to church tomorrow.

See you later then.

After dinner Honey paid a visit to Liz and

returned with her arms full of what she laughinglycalled loot. She put everything down on the bed and

then, almost as if she were afraid of what she might

discover, picked up one of the notes from the drawerof the coffee mill and sniffed it.

Is it perfumed paper?Judy asked with a laugh.

Honey shook her head. It smells just like any

paper. Judy,she added abruptly, Ive decided not

to stay all week even though Liz was nice enough tolend me these things.

If it

s on account of your clothes, you might buya few things,Judy suggested. Youll have time for

shopping Monday. I always travel light and buy

things. Then I can say to myself, This is the dress I

bought in New York or Washington, or wherever


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Ive been.

You dont understand.

Honey was right about that. Judy didntunderstand, but she meant to find out.

What dont I understand?she asked.

Why I ought to go home,Honey answered. Itold you things have been disappearing from the

studio, didnt I? And that artist I told you about has

been working overtime even though Mr. Dean let

me out because he says work is slow. If I return toFarringdon unexpectedly I may find out whats

going on behind my back.


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CHAPTER III

In Borrowed Clothes

Honey, are you still determined to go back to

Farringdon? Judy asked the following morning

when they were getting ready for church.Yes, Honey replied, shrugging into her

borrowed dress, and I wish you would come with

me. You arent needed here in Washington, are

you?Peters here, and if I can be of any help to him

Judy began.

But if you can help him more by leaving

Honey interrupted.How can I help Peter by going back to

Farringdon, Honey?Judy asked curiously.Honey studied her reflection in the long mirror on

the wall before she answered. The dress fitted as if ithad been made for her.

Judy,she said slowly, if you were in my place,


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you would be worried, too.

I am worried, declared Judy, if you are. Do

you intend to fly back?Not if youll drive me back.

And leave Peter here? I wouldnt think of it.

You would if you thought there was a realmystery to solve. I know you, Judy, and this time

Im asking for your help. The Dean Studios make

photostats of sketches like those in the drawer

Lots of firms make them,Judy interrupted.Lots of firms arent missing some of their

supplies. Honey lowered her voice. Maybe Mr.

Dean suspects somethings going on but for some

reason is afraid to say anything. Maybe thats whyhe wanted me here in Washington where its safe.

Safe!exclaimed Judy. If youd been here last

week when we tangled with those men from theprotection racket, you wouldnt say that. I have to behere for the hearing on Tuesday. Liz is married

She is? She doesnt look old enough to be out of

high school,declared Honey.

She dropped out of high school and married ayoung salesman who was forced into the protection

racket,

Judy explained.

He cooperated with us,and I can help him by testifying. After that, if you

really think we should, I suppose we could drive

back to Farringdon.

I really do want to. Please,implored Honey.


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Well see. Now hurry into your borrowed finery,

or well be late to church.

They were a little late. Washington streets wereconfusing, especially the streets named after states.

I never thought Id cross so many states all in

the space of ten minutes, laughed Honey as Peterturned north on Fifteenth Street.

Thats Meridian Hill Park to your left, Peter

pointed out. Its filled with statues, but you cant

see them very well in this fog.It isnt fog. Its rain. Oh dear!exclaimed Judy

as big drops began to splash against the windshield.

Why does it always have to rain on Sunday?

I hope it wont spot this lovely dress I borrowedfrom Liz. It was good of her to lend it to me, and the

hat, too. Id hate to spoil them,Honey said.

Borrow this lovely transparent rain cape from

me, and you wont. There!Judy exclaimed as Peterstopped the car half a block from their destination.

It covers both of us.

Judy folded the rain cape back into a small square

and put it in her pocketbook as they entered thechurch. They had missed the doxology and the

opening sentences all except the very end:

Summer bringeth heat.

Thy rays nourish every garden.

They live and grow by Thee.


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Thats part of Akhenatens prayer to Aten,

Honey whispered. Its in my book of poems.

Judy hadnt the least idea what Honey wastalking about, but now wasnt the time to ask her.

The congregation had risen to sing the first hymn:

Joyful, joyful we adore thee,

God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flowers before thee,

Hail thee as the sun above.

The sun? Thats it,thought Judy. Aten was the

Egyptian word for the sun, and Akhenaten was an

ancient Pharaoh of Egypt.Judy had never thought of it before, but during

the service she learned that the first people to

believe in one God were the ancient sunworshippers. Akhenaten had written his hymns tothe sun and proclaimed that Aten bound all men

together.

Scientists today are finding out how true his

words were,the minister continued.Honey whispered something, but Judy was

listening to the sermon and didn

t pay muchattention. Afterwards she asked, What were you

trying to tell me?Just that a woman quite a way in front of us has

on a covered pillbox hat like one in my suitcase.


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They stood to sing the closing hymn, and then

walked down the aisle toward the vestibule. Honey

was urging them to hurry.You could be wrong, Peter told her. There

might be another hat like yours. There was another

suitcaseMy suit! Honey suddenly interrupted. The

nerve of them! They arewearing my clothes.

Judys sympathies were suddenly with the two

old ladies who were just leaving the church. She feltsure they had been as upset about taking the wrong

suitcase as Honey had. They were wearing identical

suits except for the color and little hats of matching

material that looked strange perched atop their knotsof gray hair. The suits didnt fit very well, Judy

noticed.

They had to wear something,

she defended

them.Theyve hailed a taxi. We can overtake them in

the Beetle if we hurry,urged Peter, pulling the two

girls along with him.

The Beetle was the name Judy had given Peterscar. It was parked on Fifteenth Street with its nose

pointed toward downtown Washington, the directionin which the taxi went. In almost no time they were

following it.Theres a man with them,observed Peter. You

didnt see him at the airport, did you, Honey?


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No, but they were waiting for someone. Cant

you drive a little faster?

Peter was driving as fast as safety allowed. Judyglimpsed a number of embassies she had wanted to

see as they sped past them with the taxi still in sight.

Then came one of those annoying little parks with amonument to house a statue in the center.

I dont see them any more, cried Honey when

they had passed the monument.

I dont either,Judy exclaimed. But, look, isntthat the President?

She had caught sight of the President himself in a

chauffeured car.

Honey, we saw him,she breathed when she hadrecovered her breath.

And his wife, too. Isnt she beautiful? Honey

was lost in admiration, the chase forgotten until thePresidents procession had passed. Suddenly theintersection was filled with cars.

They created a beautiful traffic jam, Peter

complained. We really let that taxi get away from

us, but I have his number. Ill check with the cabcompany if your suitcase isnt returned soon,

Honey.

Judy was glad they had seen the President even if

it did mean losing sight of the taxi they had been

following. Peter drove on down Fifteenth Street in

the hope that the cab had not turned off on any of


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the intersecting streets. It was a lovely drive, even in

the rain.

We have lost that taxi, but I have an idea wherethose two old ladies may have been going, he

declared. Do you remember the magnificent

building mentioned in the diary? Well, I imaginethat turreted museum seemed quite magnificent a

hundred years ago when it was standing all by itself

on the green meadow west of the Capitol.

Oh, Peter! Is thatwhere you think those two oldladies were going? Judy asked eagerly. Maybe

they were bringing that old diary to exhibit there.

But now they have mine! Honey objected. I

hope they dont want to exhibit that.


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CHAPTER IV

The Turreted Museum

They drove on toward the group of magnificent

buildings known collectively as the Smithsonian

Institution.They were named for the founder, James

Smithson, Peter explained. That red stone

museum that looks like a castle is the original

building.Is that a statue of Mr. Smithson?

Judy noticed the statue while Peter was driving

around looking for a place to park.

No,he replied, its a statue of Joseph Henry.The boy in the diary! Why on earth

He wasnt a boy when that diary was written. Hewas a man with a number of brilliant scientific

discoveries to his credit. He was chosen to be theInstitutions first secretary.

Why is it called an institution?Honey wanted


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to know.

An institution can be a place of learning. This

one is, declared Peter. Its famous for itscontribution to scientific knowledge. The head

offices of such organizations as the Bureau of

American EthnologyIn plain English, American Indians, Judy put

in, seeing the dazed look on Honeys face.

Peter laughed. As I was saying, the Institution

houses ten or twelve bureaus, among them theAstro-physical Observatory. I believe its the only

organization in the world devoted exclusively to the

study of the sun.

On a day like this?Judy teased.Well, the suns still there,Peter reminded her.

I know. Behind the clouds the suns still shining.

Unquote. Think of that, Honey, whenever you feelblue about losing your clothes,advised Judy.

It wasnt just my clothes, Honey protested. I

wanted to surprise you

I wassurprised.

Oh, Judy! I dont mean like that. There wassomething in my suitcase I wanted to give you.

There was my diary, too, and that beautiful book ofpoems Horace gave me. How am I going to tell him

I lost it?Easy, Peter said reassuringly. Being a

newspaper man, Judys brother likes a good story.


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Nothing would please him better than to join us in

our search for those two elusive old ladies. They

may be hard to spot, though, disguised in yourclothes.

Not for me, Honey said. I designed those

prints myself. Judy and I were going to wear them.That was supposed to be the surprise, but I may as

well tell you. Those two suits were ours, Judy.

Yours and mine. I thought it would be fun to go

sightseeing dressed in similar suits. The pale yellowwith the lacy spider-web design was mine, and the

pale green was yours, and there were hats to match.

I saw them, Judy said, unable to conceal her

disappointment. Those darling little pillboxescovered with matching material. They would look

better on us

Much better,

agreed Honey.

They didn

t know

how to put them on, and the suits didnt fit.Judy sighed. Well,she said, they had to wear

something to church, and those clothes they had on

yesterday wouldnt do. I dont believe they want to

give up that old diary and all those scientific papers,either. They must have been taking them somewhere

to show someone. That is, if they knew the paperswere in the drawer.

Do you suppose they didnt? Then weve really

made a discovery. Well, here we are, announced

Peter as he eased the car into a parking space not far


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from the Smithsonian Institution.

Again Judy and Honey protected their clothing

with the transparent rain cape and ran through therain until they reached the main building with its

confusion of towers, turrets, and pinnacles. It was a

copy of an old Norman castle, Peter told them, andthey could well believe it. Judy suspected some of

the people surging through the arched doorway were

more interested in keeping out of the rain than they

were in scientific findings about the sun.Look at the crowds! Honey explained. A

museum cant be that interesting.

This one is.Peter steered the two girls down a

crowded aisle toward an exhibit of old cars. Many ofthem looked more like wagons with their leather

seats and high, spoked wheels.

Can

t you just imagine those two old ladies

riding in them?asked Judy.Yes, Honey giggled. I dont see them

anywhere, do you, Judy?

No, Judy admitted after looking over the

crowds, but well find them. Im sure of it, Honey.Wont it be fun to return that old coffee mill and tell

them what

s in the drawer? Maybe they

ll telephonethe motel. Liz is at the switchboard. Shell take the

message.

Honey shook her head. No, Judy, they wont

call. I have one of my hunches


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Which, Peter broke in with brotherly candor,

are not very reliable.

Just the same, if they were going to call, whydidnt they?Honey asked.

Peter had to admit that he didnt know why.

Down another aisle Judy found a number ofrooms reconstructed from long ago. Wax figures

stood about in various poses. She called Honey over

to see them.

Do you recognize these ladies?she asked.Honey looked at them closely. Is this one

supposed to be Martha Washington? Oh, and Im

sure this one is Dolly Madison! Isnt her gown

beautiful?Its all the First Ladies in their inaugural gowns.

See!Judy pointed out the furnishings of the rooms

in which the wax figures were exhibited. Some wereseated on plush divans. Some were standing.Antique chairs, tables, and desks made the rooms

look much as they must have looked in the days of

Washington, the Adamses, and Thomas Jefferson.

Honey said they reminded her of store windows.And yet they are different,she added.

I should think so. Just look at those dresses!

enthused Judy, moving from one room to another.

Here theyre getting a little more modern. See this

one, Honey! Its almost like that brown silk and

velvet dress in the suitcase.


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How real she looks! Honey was gazing up at

the figure wearing the dress. Doesnt she make you

feel creepy? I dont like manikins, the way theystare.

Youd like them even less if they blinked,Judy

said, moving on to the next display and shivering alittle as the wax figure seemed to look back at her.

Honey shivered, too. Theyre all a little too

lifelike, arent they?

They certainly are,agreed Judy. I suppose itsthe way the light reflects on their glass eyes or

something. If we hadnt seen the real First Lady this

morning, these wax figures wouldnt bother me.

If we hadnt seen the real First Lady wewouldnt have lost sight of that taxi, Honey

reminded her. You havent forgotten that were still

looking for those two old ladies, have you? Maybe ifwe went upstairs and looked down from the

balcony

Thats an idea, agreed Judy. We might find

Peter, too. Hes deserted us for some scientific

exhibit that interested him. I guess he thought wedspend the rest of the day looking at First Ladies in

their inaugural gowns.

Did he go up this way?Honeys hand was on

the stair rail.Yes, to the right, I think . . .

But Honey wasnt listening. She was already


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halfway up the stairs and for some reason, turning to

the left.

Wait a minute!called Judy.Other people on the stairway were blocking her

way. She couldnt pass them without appearing

rude. It seemed that everyone was turning to the left.Honey had reached an open doorway. There she

stopped and stood as if frozen.

What is it? Oh, what is it? cried Judy as she

hurried after her.


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CHAPTER V

A Fearful Exhibit

Honey stood there, frightened, gazing at something

just inside the door. Judy was almost afraid to look.

When she did, she couldnt help staring infascination.

Its nothing but another exhibit!she exclaimed.

You had me worried for a minute, Honey. You

opened your mouth just as if you were going toscream.

II almost did,Honey admitted. This room is

enough to scare anybody. Look, Judy! That is what

everybody came to see.She didnt need to point. Everybody was looking

in the same direction. There, on a pedestal, stood atransparent figure with moving parts to show the

digestive system and the circulation of the blood.Skeletons stood about in various poses. They didnt

frighten Judy. She had seen too many pictures of


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such things in her fathers medical books.

Look at it the way I doshe began, but Honey

shook her head.I cant. Im not a doctors daughter. When I look

at a skeleton I cant help thinking that once it was a

living, breathing person, and now its nothing but anunidentified collection of bones.

But that transparent moving figure isnt really

frightening, Judy said. You came upon it a little

unexpectedly, that was all. We should have stayedtogether.

Were together now. This fact seemed to

comfort Honey. But wheres Peter?

Hell be along in a minute. Lets go and look forhim, shall we?Judy suggested. I saw him turn to

the right at the top of the stairs. He may be over

there.

She indicated an exhibit with flashing lights. Thesign said it was operated by solar power. A whole

group of people were standing around it while a

young scientist demonstrated the appliances that

might be found in the homes of the future.This display looks more like one of the homes of

the past,

Honey observed as they turned down theaisle toward the solar exhibit.

The display was of an antique kitchen with more

wax figures in the act of cooking and serving meals.

The imitation food reminded Honey that she was


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hungry.

I could use some real food,she declared.

Honey, look!Judy was standing on tiptoe to seewhat was on a high shelf in the old-fashioned

kitchen. Isnt that a coffee mill? It doesnt look as

old as the one we found in the suitcase.You dont suppose those two old ladies were

bringing it here for this display, do you? asked

Honey.

They certainly werent going to grind coffeewith it, unless

Judy stopped speaking as she noticed something

else inside the cubicle Honey had called a home of

the past. The Queen Esther range in the antiquekitchen was a real curiosity. A wall calendar

advertised horse blankets. January, February, March,

and April had been torn off. The month thatappeared was May, 1847, the same date as that onthe diary. Judy could hardly wait to tell Peter about

it. Could there possibly be some connection?

Unless what? Honey was asking. You started

to say something, but you didnt finish.I was about to say they might be living in some

room where they are allowed to do their owncooking. Maybe they dont like instant coffee and

want to grind their own from fresh coffee beans.

Judy waved a hand toward the display. Ill bet they

still five like this.


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And Ill bet theyre going back in my clothes to

wherever they live, Honey added. That taxi they

took was probably to the station. I dont believetheyre flying back. They were frightened on the

plane. They kept telling each other theyd never fly

again.What else did you overhear?asked Judy.

Honey shook her head. Nothing of much

importance. Snatches of whispers. This is their last

trip. I heard the older one say so. She said aftertheyd seen Washington and found out what it was

all about, theyd go back home and live on

borrowed time. It was rather sad. I suppose we ought

to be glad they have our suits if they will make themfeel young again.

But will they?

Honey sighed.Im afraid not. Those prints

werent designed for old people. They weredesigned for us. It was going to be such a nice

surprise, Judy, but now its spoiled just like

everything else. All my lovely designs It makes

me just heartsick to think about them.Why?asked Judy. What happened to them?

Aldin improved on them. That

s the name of thenew artist, Aldin Launt,Honey explained. Maybe

he is as good as Mr. Dean thinks he is, but I cant

see it. I liked my designs better the way they were.

He didnt change them much. But I dont see why


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they needed changing at all.

Did you ask Mr. Dean about it?Judy asked.

II was afraid to,Honey admitted.I wish you had asked him. Honeys sudden

timidity puzzled Judy. Its always better to come

right out with your questions instead of worryingyourself sick over possible answers. There are

answers, you know.

They could bethe wrong answers.Honey was

hesitating again. I dont know anything for sure,Judy. It was my designs that disappeared and then

were returned, and I think Aldin Launt did it, but I

dont know how nor why. Ive had it on my mind so

much that I see him in places where he couldntpossibly be.

What kind of places, Honey?

In that taxi with those two old ladies. It looked

like his back, but it couldnt have beenMaybe it could. Youre a sensible girl, Honey,

Judy told her. You arent in the habit of seeing

things that arent there.

It isnt that,Honey protested. There wouldntbe any reason for him to come to Washington. You

see, I had it all figured out that he wanted me out ofthe way so hed be free to work out his own fabric

designs, but if he came here, tooOn Sunday? He could be back by Monday,

Judy reminded her.


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Thats so. Honey pondered this for a moment

while Judy turned her attention back to the crowds

around the solar exhibit. She didnt see Peter, andyet she was sure he had turned to the right because

he would be interested in the solar exhibit.

I hadnt thought of that. You see, Judy, I do needyour help, Honey was saying. If you really care

about me youll drive back home with me and help

me find out whats going on.

I do care, Honey. Ill ask Peter if he can sparethe car, Judy promised. If its all right with him,

we can start back Wednesday morning. Will that be

soon enough?

It cant be too soon. Well return the suitcaseI hadnt thought of that, Judy said, but I

suppose if that man in the taxi really was Aldin

Launt, then he knows the old ladies. We could askhim where they live and take the suitcase thereourselves. It would be an adventure. Remember

when we found that other suitcase and heard the

voice

Yes, and when we explored the ruined castle andsomeone locked us in the dungeon. I hope it wont

be that kind of an adventure.

Dont worry, Honey. It wont be. After all, well

just be calling at the home of two little old ladies.

What could happen?

Honey shivered. I can think of possibilities


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Well, dont. Just leave everything to me. Ill

question this Mr. Launt myself and find out the

addressPlease, Judy, dont question him. Well have to

find out some other way. I dont trust Aldin Launt.

You might call it a hunch, and Peter doesnt believein hunches. Here he comes, Honey observed with

an imploring glance that begged for secrecy. I dont

want to talk about it any more.


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CHAPTER VI

Solar Power

Peter had been looking at the exhibits in the room to

the right of the stairs, just as Judy had thought. She

could hardly wait to tell him her latest theory.Its in this cubicle. Honey called it a home of the

past. See the date of the calendar? And theres a

coffee mill on the shelf, but it isnt as old as the one

we found. I think those two old ladies intended thecoffee mill in the suitcase for this exhibit, and the

diary, too. Cant you just imagine it opened to that

part about Joseph Henry? Theres a table right in

front with nothing on it. Im sure the diary wasmeant to go there.

Im sure of it, too.Peter had agreed with her almost too readily.

Suddenly Judy realized he must have facts to backup his statement.

Youve found those two old ladies! she


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exclaimed.

Peter shook his head. Not so fast. I didnt find

them, but I did find out who they are. Theres ayoung solar scientist here who says hes their great-

nephew. As a matter of fact, his father sent them

their plane ticketsAnd you told him about the suitcases being

mixed up?Honey prompted him.

Yes,replied Peter, but he says the coffee mill

and the old diary they promised to bring cant beexhibited until they sign a release.

I hope you found out their names and where they

live,Judy said.

I did. Peters blue eyes twinkled. You cantrust me to find out the facts. He called them Aunt

Dorcas and Aunt Violetta, although actually theyre

his great-aunts. They live in Ulysses, a little townsomewhere to the northeast of Farringdon.

I know where it is. Peter, I think I will drive

home with Honey if you can spare the car, Judy

decided. Ill be free after Tuesday, wont I?

Peter hesitated. Yes, but I thought you wanted toshow Honey the sights

We could start early Wednesday morning.

Judycontinued making plans. That will give me time to

testify. And it will give those two old ladies time to

return Honeys suitcase or take it home if they

intend to keep it. I dont think they do. Theyre


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probably just as mixed up as the suitcases. Peter,

what else did you find out about them?

Not too much, Peter admitted. The scientistwas rather vague. Theyre his grandfathers sisters, I

believe. Anyway, they brought him up. His name is

Jewell, the same as theirs. Joseph Henry Jewell.With a name like that, Judy put in, he could

hardly be anything but a scientist. But what about

his great-aunts? Were they on their way here?

He thought so. They had telephoned that theywould meet him here right after church, but for

some reason, they never showed up.

Thats strange. What do you think happened?

I dont know,replied Peter, looking concerned.I was beginning to think something had happened

to you, too. Where were you all this time?

Peter wanted to see the room they pointed out,and so Judy and Honey showed it to him. Thetransparent figure had stopped moving. Judy

explained that it was set in motion every so often,

she didnt know how, but Peter said it might be

operated by solar power.But doesnt that mean sunshine? How can

anything operate by solar power on a cloudy day?

Thats a good question, Angel. Henry Jewell

could probably give you the answer.Please, Peter, lets not look at his exhibit now,

Honey protested. Im so hungry I could even eat


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our supply of coal and oil will be exhausted. But the

energy that comes from the sun is inexhaustible.

Right now the girls are more interested in theenergy that comes from food,Peter reminded him.

Even that would be impossible without

sunshine, the scientist continued as he led themback toward the solar exhibit to demonstrate his

point. Well be going out to dinner soon . . .

Very soon, I hope. Judy said this under her

breath as he described the dinner they would beordering. He picked up a plate of wax food that was

part of the display. Take this dinner, for instance.

Roast beef with baked potato, green vegetables, and

a glass of milk. The meat and milk were once storedin the body of a cow. The cow got its energy from

the grass it ate. The grass got its energy from the

sun. So did the vegetables and fruit

What about the sugar frosting on that cake?

asked Honey as she pointed out an artificial dessert.

Sun power,he replied, demonstrating with the

light machine. This shows the process by which

plants make sugar out of water and carbon dioxidewith the help of sunlight. Its called photosynthesis.

So we may think of the sugar, too, as hiddensunshine. When we eat either animal or vegetable

foods the sunshine is built into us.Thats what the minister was saying this

morning! exclaimed Judy. He read a part of


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Akhenatens hymn to the sun. Do you remember it,

Honey?

Part of it,she replied. We five and grow byThee. I have the whole thing in a book in my

suitcase. Your great-aunts took it by mistake, Mr.

Jewell, and I took theirs. Im sure theyll try toreturn it. My address was in it.

Your Washington address?

No, my home address, replied Honey. It was

on the flyleaf of that book of poems. They wouldnttry to return it to my home, would they?

Who knows? Henry Jewell dismissed the

subject with a gesture of impatience and continued

demonstrating his sun-powered machines. AgainJudy asked the question that had puzzled her before.

How can these machines operate on a cloudy

day like this? If direct sunshine must be caught on acurved mirror

Exactly, he interrupted. In this way a large

amount of sunshine can be brought to focus in a

small space. This produces heat and stores it for a

limited time. Unlimited storage of sun power is ouraim. Think of all the wasted heat in deserts.

Judy had never thought of sunshine as beingwasted. She glanced at Honey, who seemed to be

taking in all this information with wide-eyed

wonder.

Sunshine is stored in the air, in the sea, and in


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the ground, as you can see by this photograph,the

scientist was saying. What would you say this

was?Judy thought it was a photograph of cars on a

parking lot, and that was exactly what it turned out

to be. The strange part of it was that when thephotograph was taken the cars no longer were there.

It is their shadows you see. Such photographs

are possible, the young scientist explained,

because of sunlight stored in the ground. You seehow useful this sort of photography might be in

crime detection.

Its already in use, declared Peter. Youre

interested in pure science, but in the FBI we makepractical use of what you discover. Its our job to

protect your discoveries, too.

I worked with my father and grandfather on

most of them, Henry Jewell said. You see, bystudying these natural storage tanks, science is

gradually working out artificial ways of storing

sunshine. We are convinced that our deserts will

eventually become the sites of great solar powerplants and that sun-powered rockets will take us on

flights to the moon and Venus. Sun power of anytype will work better outside the earths

atmosphere.

He explained why, and Judy listened, but she was

growing hungrier with every word.


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It will be cheaper than atomic power and will

solve the problem of getting back to earth from

space flights, he continued. Our sun-poweredspace ships would resemble flying saucers with the

suns rays reflected in the center. I had it all worked

out on paper. If I had not lost my notesWhere do you think you lost them? Honey

asked.

If I knew wherehe began and then stopped

as if he had been about to blame someone else forthe loss and then changed his mind.

Perhaps they were just put away somewhere,

Judy suggested.

She knew what Honey had in mind, but when sheglanced at Peter, he shook his head at both of them.

For some reason, he did not want them to mention

the papers that had been found in the drawer of thecoffee mill.


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CHAPTER VII

Other Powers

Before they left the museum, the young scientist

insisted on exhibiting a new solar battery that had

been used in space photography. A picture of the

earth taken from outer space showed the misty cloudcovering. Oceans and continents were partially

hidden. The familiar world Judy knew so well from

maps was strangely unfamiliar in the picture. It

resembled the other planets.Who knows what secrets the atmosphere of a

planet like Jupiter or Venus may be hiding?Henry

Jewell asked. Theyre children of the sun just like

our earth.They were on their way to a nearby restaurant

when Honey asked, How did you first becomeinterested in sun power, Mr. Jewell?

Call me Henry, he said. I hope we will befriends. It was my Aunt Violetta who first awakened

my interest. She is quite a naturalist. One day we


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were examining a leaf through a magnifying glass

when suddenly it began to smoke.

The suns rays did it! We did that onceourselves, didnt we, Judy?Honey asked.

It was quite by accident. We were looking for

clues.Judy was more eager to hear about the scientists

missing great-aunts than she was about his boyhood

experiments, but he went on talking, and Honey

encouraged him. He had made what he called agalvanometer out of a piece of cardboard lined with

tinfoil and shaped into a hollow cone. He explained

how it worked.

A magnetic needle was suspended over a coil ofwire. When the axis of the conical reflector was

directed toward a distant object, such as a horse

Did your great-aunts keep horses?

Judy

interrupted to ask.They did then,he replied. This scar under my

right eye is proof of it. One of their horses threw me.

I hit a stone and landed with my leg doubled under

me. The weeks I spent recovering from the accidentgave me time to study with Grandfather. The body

temperature of an animal is usually greater than thesurrounding area. I was amazed that the difference

in radiant heat was shown by the needle on my

homemade galvanometer.

Did your great-aunts encourage such


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experiments?asked Judy.

Aunt Violetta did. I had a feeling that Aunt

Dorcas vaguely disapproved. She resisted changethe way a heavy sled resists the energy of a boy

pulling it uphill. That was another one of the

wonders I discovered as a child. I was continuallyasking, Why?

His questions, the scientist went on to explain,

were usually answered with patience and

understanding. Not all the answers were scientific,but they did stimulate thought. It was not until they

were seated around the restaurant table that Judy

learned, to her surprise, that Henry Jewell had not

seen his great-aunts since he was ten years old.We wrote to each other regularly until a few

months ago when, suddenly, their letters stopped. It

puzzled me at first,he admitted,

but then I decided

I must have said something that rubbed them thewrong way.

Havent you any idea what you said? Judy

questioned.

He shook his head sadly. It might have beensomething I didnt say. I was so preoccupied with

my own work at the time that I probably forgot toanswer some query of theirs or ask after their health.

My grandfather is living there with them now, so my

father sent three plane tickets and asked him to bring

them down here for a visit. It seemed a shame, after


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all these years. . . .

His voice drifted off. Honey looked at him with

that understanding smile of hers and then gave herattention to the food that was being served. It looked

delicious but then, as Honey had said, even the wax

food had begun to tempt her.Were filling ourselves with sunshine, arent

we?she asked, attempting to turn the conversation

back to something more cheerful.

You sound like Aunt Violetta, the scientistcommented. She was always the sunny one. I

remember, when I was a boy, how we used to climb

up to the observation room at the top of the house

and study the sun through a homemade telescope.My grandfather provided the lens. He lived with us

for a while after Grandmother died. I dont

remember her very well, but Ill never forget my

great-grandmother and her tapping cane. She was aninvalid and used to manage the house from her bed.

My great-aunts had to report all their own activities

and my misdeeds to her. But up in the observatory

we felt free.If they brought you up until you were ten years

old it must have been hard for them to give you up.What happened?Judy asked.

Henry Jewell hesitated for so long that Judy was

afraid she shouldnt have asked the question. Peter

hadnt done much talking, but Judy knew he had


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been listening and making mental notes of every

word. This time he did not shake his head at her

question. He wanted to hear the answer, too.Maybe you dont want to talk about what

happened,Honey ventured. I understand

It isnt that, the young scientist interrupted.The explanation is simple. My father married

again. He didnt want divided loyalties. That sort of

thing. I soon became fond of my stepmother and

didnt want to hurt her by acting homesick.But you werehomesick?Judy prompted him.

Yes, I suppose I was. That house has been in the

family for five generations, he explained. My

great-great-grandfather, Nathan Jewell, built it. Hewent to school with Joseph Henry, and it was his

diary my great-aunts said they were bringing to

Washington. I read it when I was a boy.

Nathan Jewell. So that was your great-great-grandfathers name!exclaimed Judy. We couldnt

find it anywhere in the diary. He mentioned Joseph

Henry and Henry James and a lot of other important

people, but never once did he give his own name.My people were all like that. Modest to a fault.

I

d like to know them,

Judy said.

Honey and Iare thinking of driving home in a couple of days. We

could drive on to your great-auntsplace and pick up

Honeys suitcase if they still have it. Well return

theirs, of course.


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Give them my love when you see them, wont

you? My father expected they would come to our

house, but they insisted upon going to a hotel. Theytelephoned yesterday, probably before they

discovered they had the wrong suitcase. Afterwards

they may have become frightened and stayed justlong enough to go to church and pray about it.

They took a taxi from church. Were sure of that

much,declared Peter. They attended All Souls

Thats our church. They would go there.There was a man in the taxi with them, Judy

began.

Henry Jewell laughed. Why didnt you tell me

that before? I guess the joke is on me. The man inthe taxi was probably my father. Ill call home right

now and find out if my aunts changed their minds

and went there. They may have patched up theirquarrel with my father and had dinner with him andmy stepmother.

This was the first Judy had heard about a quarrel.

It was all very puzzling. If the man in the taxi was

Henry Jewells father, why had Honey mistaken himfor Aldin Launt, a much younger man? And why

hadn

t Peter told the scientist about the papersconcealed in the drawer of the coffee mill? They

were supposed to be looking for answers, but how

could they find them when they were keeping

secrets from each other?


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It will be fun, wont it, Judy?Honey agreed.

They talked of the proposed trip as if all four of

them were taking it. Plans were made for sightseeingall day Monday.

Each time you tour the Capitol Building or the

FBI its like the first time, declared Judy. Thereare so many new things to see. Honey, youll be

especially interested in the microdots used in various

designs. They are on exhibit in the Department of

Justice Building. Magnified, these microdotsbecome secret messages sent back and forth by

subversive groups.

May I accompany you on the tour?

The young scientists request was unexpected.Honey seemed pleased. She was not looking

forward to sightseeing alone on Tuesday, she said,

when both Judy and Peter would be at the hearing.But with Henry to show her around, none of her

precious time in Washington would be wasted.

There was so much to see in just two days. The

girls planned to pick up Judys cat at the Capitol on

Wednesday morning, take a last-minute tour of thebasement, and then start home.

We

ll join you there on Sunday,

Peterpromised.

The we puzzled Judy. She glanced at Honey to

see if she understood and surprised a look of utter

absorption in her eyes. Wasted time had reminded


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the young scientist of wasted sunshine, and he was

off again.

The sun, as if weary of so much discussion,appeared briefly only to hide behind a rosy cloud in

the west. Judy could see it through the restaurant

window. It was late for dinner and later still whenthey finished. The museum closed at five. Henry

went back to finish up some paper work he was

doing, and the others headed for Peters car. Judy,

able to speak freely now, turned to Peter.Why did you say we? she asked. Is Henry

Jewell coming with you?

He may. We havent discussed it,Peter replied.

It seems to me theres a lot we haventdiscussed, declared Judy, and Im not talking

about sunshine. Didnt you tell him anything about

those papers in the drawer of the coffee mill? Istarted to, but you gave me that look

Peter laughed. I have you well trained. I did

mention the coffee mill but only to promise that we

would see that it was returned

But wasnt it intended for the museum?It was. You guessed right about that.

Then why didn

t you want me to talk about it?Those papers in the drawer were probably his lost

notesProbably, Peter agreed. The question is, how

did they get there? He didnt mail them to the old


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ladies, unless he accidentally put them in an

envelope with one of his letters.

Do you think he did?No. A scientist doesnt do things like that.

Maybe hes sort ofwell, absent-minded,

Honey suggested. Like Horace. You know how heis, Judy. Ive seen him put sugar on his potatoes

instead of in his coffee when his mind was on

something else.

That could be what happened, Peter, Judyagreed. Henry Jewells mind is on sunshine. If he

had a round face instead of a rather angular one, Id

call him a human sunflower.

Mr. Sunflower! Oh, Judy! I like Jewell better.He is a jewel, declared Honey. Were going to

help him, arent we?

We

ll try,

Peter promised.

He seems confident

that you girls will find his aunts at home andexchange suitcases without any trouble. If theyre

still in Washington

Honey shook her head. I dont think they are.

Its just one of my hunches. You dont believe inhunches, so why discuss it? Well find out for sure

when we go home. I

m looking forward to meetingthe Misses Dorcas and Violetta Jewell. If we walk

up to the door with their suitcaseJust a minute, Peter stopped her. Before you

rush into this, I have a request to make. Those


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papers, as you say, may be Henry Jewells lost

notes. His aunts may or may not know they were

hidden there. You can tell by the way they act whenthey open the suitcase. If they open the drawer of the

coffee mill and act surprised to find it empty, I want

to know it.Well report everything exactly as it happens,

wont we, Judy?Honey said.

Yes, but what if they dont open the drawer?

Judy asked. I dont see how we can find out whoput those papers there unless

Honey did not let her finish. Well think of a

way. You know how good Judy is when it comes to

mysteries, and I have helped her solve a few ofthem. Trust us, Peter.

Just the same, Peter said gravely, you girls

keep in touch with me. If any harm has come tothose two old ladies, let me know. Ill be ready toinvestigate at this end. As for the papers, theyll be

safe with me. Ill see that theyre returned to Henry

Jewell after Ive looked into this myself. You can

tell his aunts where they are if they ask about them.But suppose they dont ask?

Judy

s question was followed by a long silence.Finally Peter said, If they dont ask for those papers

youll know they were put there by someone else,

and its up to us to find out who that someone is. I

want you to telephone me immediately. You know


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where to reach me. Will you promise to do that?

We promise,Judy and Honey answered.

When they arrived back at the motel, there hadbeen no inquiries concerning the suitcases. Liz

Holbrook had been at the switchboard all day, and

she agreed with Judy and Honey. The Jewell sistersprobably had left for home with the wrong suitcase.

But dont worry, Honey, she finished. They

may leave your suitcase with your grandparents if

its on their wayIt is if they left by train. They have to pass right

through Farringdon.

You see? Its all solved then. I wish my

problems were that easy.Judy promised Liz she would do her best to help

her solve her problems, too, when the case against

Lizs husband came up. And Judy

s testimony at the

hearing on Tuesday did help Charlie Holbrook.Its always like this, Judy said to Peter when

the morning in court was over. We wind up one

mystery just to be plunged into another.

You dont agree with Liz that Honeys mysteryis solved as soon as she finds her own suitcase, do

you?

Peter said as they started for the restaurantwhere they were to meet Henry Jewell and Honey

for lunch.I certainly do not. Those papers puzzle me,

Judy confessed. They arent perfumed, and yet


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Honey sniffed them just as if she expected to smell

something. Im going to ask her about that if I get a

chance to speak to her privately.When Judy did have an opportunity to question

Honey, she received her answer in one word:

ammonia.Ammonia! gasped Judy. But thats used in

washing. You dont wash papers. They

disintegrate.

Its used in other ways, Honey repliedmysteriously. Ill show you when we get back to

Farringdon. Until then lets forget it and enjoy

ourselves.


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CHAPTER IX

Homeward Bound

Honeys remark about ammonia continued to puzzle

Judy. Honey didnt want to talk about it. But she did

say this much, as the two girls were packing to leaveWednesday morning.

My suspicions are probably without any

foundation in fact. And the more I think about it, the

surer I am that the man I saw in the taxi couldnthave been Aldin Launt. I only saw his back.

Peoples backs all look alike.

Do they? asked Judy. Id know Peters back

anywhere. Theres something about his shouldersand the way he turns his head

You love him. Thats why.But if you dislike someone, your feelings may

be just as strong and you may be just as aware of hispeculiarities.

Perhaps. Honey dismissed the subject with a


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bang as she closed the folding bed. Half of it

disappeared into the wall. She threw cushions on the

other half and said, There! Now the room looks justas neat as it did when I moved in. Where do I put the

bedding?

Just leave it there, Judy told her. The maidswill take it. Thats the beauty of living in a motel

room. I wish you could have stayed the whole week.

Anyway, we had two wonderful days of

sightseeingThree wonderful days,Honey said. Have you

forgotten I toured the FBI with Henry? I like him,

Judy. Thats my trouble. I like so many boys Ill

never settle down to just one.Dont tell my brother that,warned Judy. Hes

still waiting for you to settle down. I never liked that

word much myself. It sounds like a broody hensettling over a bunch of eggs and just staying there.

Well never be like that, will we?

Never,agreed Judy. I like to travel. But home

is best. I find myself wishing the house in Dry

Brook Hollow wasnt rented. Id even enjoy dustingit.

Honey sighed.

I feel the same way about mydrawing board. There was something homelike

about my little corner. I suppose somebody else is

working in it.

You dont really think Mr. Dean has replaced


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you, do you, Honey?Judy asked.

I dont know what to think. Well see whats

going on when we get there. Im certainly travelinglight.

They were all packed now. What few things

Honey had went into Judys suitcase. The othersuitcase would be returned just as it was except for

one small detail. Henry Jewells notes were no

longer in the drawer of the coffee mill. How they

came to be there in the first place remained amystery.

I can hardly wait to see their faces when they

open the drawer,Honey commented.

Whose faces?asked Judy.She was checking to see if they had forgotten

anything and wasnt paying much attention.

The Jewell sisters, of course.

Suppose they dont bother to open the drawer?Peter said then wed know the papers were

hidden there by someone else. Where is he,

anyway?

Hes out in the car waiting for us. Come on,Honey, Judy urged her. Were going to the

Capitol to pick up Blackberry, and I thought we

dinclude Washingtons crypt in this last bit of

sightseeing.

The crypt, Honey soon discovered, was in the

sub-basement of the Capitol Building. Few tourists


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knew it was there. But Judy and Peter were familiar

with this part of the building because of their

frequent visits to Blackberry.I hope he finished off all the mice down here,

Peter said as they searched for the cat. They could

hear a scratching sound. Honey shivered.Is George Washington really buried down

here?she asked. I thought his tomb was in Mount

Vernon.

It is, but it was supposed to be here, Judyreplied as she pointed out a space directly below a

circular rail. The guide told me that, when the

foundations for the rotunda were laid, a marble

monument was meant to stand just about wherewere standing now. That railing above was so

people could stand around in a circle and look

down

Peter laughed. Do you see whos looking down

now?

Blackberry!exclaimed Judy as two green eyes

glowed at her. He thinks hespeople. How do we

get up there?There was no need. Blackberry had found a way

down. He knew the building better than Judy did.Soon her famous cat was purring in her arms.

I was afraid hed be spoiled, she confessed.He had his picture in all the Washington papers,

but hes the same loving pet hes always been. Peter,


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I do believe Blackberry is the nicest present you

ever gave me.

Hes the cheapest. That fur coat I gave youIt was lovely, Judy admitted, but it wasnt

alive.

Peter said he hoped not, and the three of them leftthe Capitol Building laughing. Blackberry

remembered his old place next to the back window

of the car and immediately made himself

comfortable.He wont be any trouble,Honey laughed.

And not much protection, either, Peter added.

If anyone tries to follow you girls

Who would?Judy interrupted.Nobody, I hope. But just in case there is

anything at all you have to report, stop at the nearest

telephone and let me know.

We will, Peter,Judy promised.I have to leave you now. Im meeting another

agent in ten minutes. Take care, both of you.

With a kiss for Judy and another for his sister,

Peter was off as soon as Judy started the car. Shedrove for a while, and then Honey took a turn. They

weren

t being followed except by other tourists likethemselves on the busy highway between

Washington and Gettysburg.

The trip was fast and uneventful except for a

short delay at the battlefield. Blackberry crawled


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inside a cannon and refused to come out until Judy

thought of luring him with a sardine. They escaped a

news photographer just in time. If there was onething Judy didnt want at this point, it was publicity.

Blackberry nearly spoiled our plans, Honey

complained when they were on their way again.Everybody would know we were coming if our

pictures got in the paper trying to fish him out of

that cannon.

We fished him out with a fish, didnt we?laughed Judy. Silly cat. Dozing there by the

window, he almost looks like a dog. It is more usual

to travel with a dog than with a cat.

A watchdog,declared Honey. Well need oneif we stop at the studio. I really dont want people to

see us. Theyd wonder why I came back so soon.

The mixed-up suitcases explain it. Of course, we

know theres another reason. Were on a secret questfor something. Im beginning to wonder what it is

myself,Judy added.

We may find out at the studio

It will be after closing time when we reachFarringdon,Judy reminded Honey. We can tell if

that artist is working overtime. Shall we drive byand look for lights?

Honey agreed, and Judy drove faster in

anticipation. After following the west bank of the

Susquehanna River for some distance, the road


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turned northwest into Pennsylvanias wooded

mountain region. It was beginning to look and feel

like home.Theres the park where we had our high school

picnic, and you and I were left behind, Judy

pointed out.That was the day we heard the voice in the

suitcase, wasnt it? Theres the old cemetery on the

hill. Do you remember how frightened we were

when we passed it? Those old gravestones still lookspooky,Honey observed.

Judy had been driving for some time now. The

road twisted and turned like a snake and finally took

her into Roulsville where the broken dam still stoodto remind her of the flood that had once swept the

valley.

This road is really haunted with memories,

she

said as they drove on.Above the dam were a few new houses that had

been built since the flood. Below it practically

everything was new. But farther up the valley there

were few changes. The Blade farm looked just as italways had except for the new barn. A fire had

destroyed the old one.The houses along the North Hollow road were the

same. Next came the little private road that led to the

house Judys grandmother had left her. A grove of

trees hid it from view, but she could see enough to


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give her a twinge of homesickness.

It seems strange not to stop, she commented

when they had passed.The sun was just setting as they crossed the last

hilltop and came down into Farringdon. It looked

like a toy city from this distance. Cupped in thevalley as it was, the downtown section looked misty.

Or is that smoke? Judy frowned. See it? Just

beyond the courthouse

Its a fire!gasped Honey. The fire engines arethere already. See that bit of red? Oh, I hope they

have the fire under control!

I hope so, too, agreed Judy, aghast when she

saw what was burning.It was the building that housed the Dean Studios.

Forgetting that Honey wanted to keep their visit a

secret, Judy drove as fast as she could toward thedowntown section of Farringdon.


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CHAPTER X

After the Fire

Oh, Judy! This is terrible. I should trust my

hunches,wailed Honey. Something told me there

would be trouble at the studio. Can you see howmuch damage was done? she asked as they drove

nearer.

I cant see much,replied Judy. Its too smoky,

but I think the fire is under control.The damage to the building appeared to be slight,

but the whole area was thick with smoke. The

downtown section was roped off. Judy couldnt turn

when she reached Grove Street. Traffic was beingdirected around the courthouse square.

Shall we park here and walk over? Judysuggested, noticing a vacant parking space.

I guess well have to if we want to find outanything,agreed Honey.

They closed the car windows so Blackberry


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couldnt jump out, and hurried toward the still

smoking building. Most of the smoke was coming

from the west end.Thats the end where the presses and most of the

photographic supplies are kept. Maybe some film

caught fire. That would make a lot of smoke,Honey said as they ran.

Suddenly the smoke cleared, giving Judy a good

view of the building. She pointed.

See that, Honey! The whole window frame isburned away, and the bricks are black. It must have

been quite a fire, but its out now. The east end of

the building doesnt seem to have been touched.

Thats where the artists work, isnt it?asked Judy.Thats right. I want to peek in and see if any of

the things in my corner have been disturbed,Honey

suddenly decided.I can see it through this window.

Dont worry! Its safe.Judy wasnt so sure of that. Smoke could be

treacherous, she knew. It could be followed by a

sudden burst of flame.

If a gust of wind blows all that black smoke inour direction, she began, but Honey had already

climbed up, using a basement window ledge forfooting.

Its just the way it always was!she exclaimed.Not a thing has been touched. Judy, I was wrong


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Were you? asked Judy. Dont be so sure.

Theres a whiff of ammonia in the air, and you were

sniffing those papers for ammonia. You said soyourself.

Didnt I say why?

You certainly didnt, but I think I know. Thatammonia smell comes from photostats just off the

press, doesnt it?Judy questioned.

Burned photostats, Im afraid. Its a shame,

declared Honey. I suppose Mr. Dean will be heldresponsible, though he must be covered by

insurance. Plans and drawings cant be replaced

without a lot of work if the originals were burned

with them.Do you think they were?

Probably. The originals have to be run through

the press to make the photostats. Sometimes you cantell if copies have been made. The paper retains afaint odor of ammonia.

But there wasnt any such odor on those papers

in the drawer of the coffee mill?

No, just a very faint odor of coffee. I really dontthink copies were made of them.

That doesn

t prove that Aldin Launt wasn

ttrying to get hold of them to make copies,declared

Judy. If we can find out what caused this fireWed better not stand here talking, Honey

interrupted fearfully. Lets go before anyone comes


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along and asks questions.

They started back toward the car, but before they

had gone very far they were surrounded by youngpeople who had come to watch the fire. Among

them were some of Judys friends from high school.

This is a surprise!exclaimed Lois Farringdon-Pett, stopping her. Horace said you and Honey

were spending the whole week in Washington. What

brought you back?

The Beetle, Judy parried the question. Itsparked over there by the courthouse with Blackberry

locked inside. We havent been home.

Then you dont know

What? Judy asked fearfully as Lois lookedabout as if she were wondering whether or not she

ought to tell whatever was in her mind.

Its nothing,

Lorraine said quickly. She and

Lois were always together. Like Judy and Honey,they were sisters-in-law. Lorraine Lee, the

newspaper editors fair-haired daughter, was now

Mrs. Arthur Farringdon-Pett.

If its nothing, why are you girls looking at eachother like that?charged Honey. Tell us the truth,

Lois. What were you going to say?

Lois hesitated. You can find out the truth from

Horace, she said. You know how he is. Always

starting a big crusade against crime. Well, someone

beat him up, and he wont say who it was.


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For a moment Judy and Honey were too stunned

by this news to speak. Judy had always thought of

her brother as a timid soul, until he had shown herthat physical courage wasnt the only kind. Had he

tried to defend himself when he received the

beating? Or had he turned the other cheek, accordingto his convictions?

Was he badly hurt? she asked when she could

find her voice.

Were sorry. We didnt mean to frighten youThen tell us,urged Honey.

Not too badly,Lois replied. A few bruises on

his face. He says they make him look worse than he

feels.He moves around all right,Lorraine put in. As

a matter o

Judy Bolton #33 The Secret Quest

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