The Happy Valley Mystery by Julie Campbell Read Free Book Online

ladder. “This isn’t the first time this has happened, by any means. Even with the ravine fenced off, they have a way of getting through. Why, you’re shaking, Trixie. Here, take my sweater. I’ve another under it, and I’ll be warm enough when I get at this job. Give me a hand here, boys.” He handed the ax to Jim. “Go up,” he said, “and chop off a few of the stoutest branches from that tree spanning the gully. Trixie, if you get through that wall of sheep, please go down a way and see if you can find a slope not quite as steep as this one.”
    Trixie jumped ahead to do his bidding. “Where’s Tip?” she asked, suddenly aware that the dog wasn’t with them.
    “He got out and came back, so I shut both of them up in the barn,” Mr. Gorman said. “They’d have driven us crazy, and the sheep, too. We’ll follow you, Trixie, as soon as Jim cuts the branches.”
    Because the sheep had crowded so close to Trixie for warmth, they followed her now, like a dozen Mary’s little lambs. Not far away she found a gentler slope of wall and called back to tell Mr. Gorman, who, with the boys, soon joined her.
    “We’ll make a sort of ramp,” he said, attacking the bank with his shovel, “with shallow steps, then lay the branches on them so the sheep can get a foothold. That’s right, Mart! We’ll have the stairs made in no time.” Trixie watched, fascinated, and did her best to keep the restless sheep out of the way.
    “Now,” Mr. Gorman, said to her, “take a handful of the cracked com out of this bag. Just let them smell it. Don’t give them any right now. Sooooo—sheep! Baaa— sooooo!” he commanded. “There, Trixie, spread a little of the corn over that lower step.”
    Trixie did as she was told. As each step was dug out, she followed after Mr. Gorman and the boys and sprinkled some cracked com. She watched anxiously then, as one of the ewes started to nibble timidly at the lower foothold, then struggled up to the next one. Others followed the lead sheep. Soon all were out of the gully and on solid ground.
    At Mr. Gorman’s bidding, the boys held up the lower fence wires, and Trixie helped the manager to herd the protesting ewes through and toward the home field.
     
    Back home, when the sheep were safe in the sheltered fold, the weary five went into the house. Mrs. Gorman, Honey, and Diana had gone to bed, but they had left food and hot coffee.
    “We’re surely sorry we caused you all this trouble,” Trixie said. “Maybe we can make up for it someway... you know... we just 'might be able to find some clue that will help you find the stolen sheep.”
    “Don’t worry anymore about anything, Trixie,” Mr. Gorman said, rubbing his head wearily. “It all turned out all right tonight. In the first place, I should have remembered to tell you to lock the gate. As for the stolen sheep, that’s a problem for the law, not for girls and boys. I’m sorry I was so cross tonight. Mr. Belden wanted you to have fun. This business tonight can’t qualify as fun, but it surely can be called adventure.”
    “Yes, indeed,” Mart called back as the boys started through the back door for their quarters in the barn. “And adventure is Trixie’s middle name, isn’t it, Trix, old girl?”
    Trixie didn’t answer. She was halfway up the stairs. Not a problem for boys and girls, she said to herself. Then why hasn’t that sheriff discovered even one little tiny clue by this time? Jeepers, Honey and I have solved far bigger mysteries than this one! Not for boys and girls, she repeated. I’ll show theml
     

On the Trail • 6
     
    TUESDAY THE SKIES were sunny. The mood of the day was reflected in the faces of everyone at the breakfast table at Happy Valley Farm. The trouble of the night before seemed to be forgotten.
    “Around noon I’ll let the sheep out into the pastures again,” Mr. Gorman said. “There’s hardly a trace of the snow left. Unfortunately, as it melts, all that water will get to the river,