"You're kidding!"
"No way!"
"A buried treasure!" Louise and her friends exclaimed before clamoring for more information. Everyone was at Pixie's for the party, and there were more people this time as word had spread, but Louise and her friends, including the group from Sanford, had gathered around the six detectives.
Eileen bobbed her head. "Oh yes, there's buried treasure at Cedar Ridge!"
"Which might explain the motive," interjected Josie thoughtfully, "but it doesn't explain the bell. Why does it need to be rung? And who is ringing it?"
"You didn't find out any more information on the bell tower?" asked Johnny.
The girls shook their heads. "Nothing else on the bell besides what caused the rope to fray, and definitely nothing else about sprites or the secret society." Josie rubbed her chin. "Which is rather odd, to be honest. You would think there would have been more." Her eyebrows furrowed. "I think I shall take another look through the library tomorrow."
"I'll go with you," said Mary Louise.
"Count me in as well!" exclaimed Eileen.
Josie smiled at them. "Thanks."
Sim glanced at Arden, clearly expecting her to say something. Arden bit her lip. She definitely wanted to get to the bottom of this, and she definitely wanted to see a detective in action, but she kind of wanted to be in charge of this one. She pursed her lips. What should she say?
"I'll, I'll join you as well," Arden finally said.
"So will I," said Sim.
"Me too!" quickly said Ethel.
Josie glanced from one to the other before nodding slowly. "Sounds good." She turned to Terry. "Will you be joining us as well?"
Terry shot Arden a look before nodding her head at Josie. "Yeah, I'll be there."
"Great, let's meet at the library at eight o'clock tomorrow." She glanced at the rest of the group. "Anyone else want to join?"
"I don't even know if Sanford students are even allowed on Cedar Ridge grounds," said Mike Mars with a soft chuckle. He waggled his eyebrows. "But I bet we could find out real quick."
"Even if you were, I would think everyone would think it suspicious that so many students are going to the library before classes start," said Louise. "I know I would think that."
"Of course you would," muttered Jim.
"But that's a good point," said Josie, "that would be a very odd sight to see just before classes start." Josie drummed her fingers on the table. "If you do want to help, maybe you could look for clues near the bell tower. We'll join you once we've finished at the library."
Louise nodded slowly. "That could work. Anything in particular we're looking for?"
Josie shrugged. "Can't tell you, anything and everything could be a clue."
"Unless it's trash," quipped Eileen. The others laughed.
"Well, I guess we can go to Cedar Ridge, at least for that," said Ralph.
"But do we really need to? It seems like there's going to be too many people if you come over and we could get in each other's way," said Maurice.
"Besides, we seem to be having our own little adventures," said Martie, shooting a look at Mike.
"Oh yes, tell us all about it!" exclaimed Louise. The Sanford group took turns telling them about the near-hit-and-run they had the previous night.
"I still think Rod's behind it," muttered Martie as she crossed her arms and shot glares at Mike.
Mike rolled his eyes. "Between you and Johnny, I'm never going to hear the end of it. Frankly, I'm surprised we even made it as a team back at the base with the way you two talk about him!"
"That's because he had to be content with being on the top team with you. But now that he's not and the glory of being an astronaut is on the line, he'll do anything to keep you from getting to the top," said Martie.
Johnny scoffed. "Besides, can't help it if it's the truth."
Mike threw up his hands. "Guys, we still have no proof that Rod was behind it, and I won't believe it until we find absolute proof!"
Johnny and Martie shot each other a glance. "Fine."
"Thank you." Mike paused then wagged his finger at them. "And don't go fabricating any proof."
"Won't need to," quipped Johnny as he crossed his arms. "We just gotta find the proof."
Mike rolled his eyes and groaned. "Whatever, just drop it already, please!"
"What's this about somebody behind something?" Everyone jumped at the sound of the newcomer's voice. Four guys were standing behind Jim and Maurice. The two jumped up with a delighted shout and shook hands with each of them.
"I was wondering when you were going to show up!" said Jim with a hearty laugh. He and Maurice quickly introduced everyone to the newcomers as their roommate and his childhood friends, a group of boys who called themselves the Darewell Chums. Ned Wilding had wild light brown hair and hazel eyes that sparkled with mischief. He was quickly pointed out as the head prankster of the group. Bart Keene had coiled dark brown hair, brown eyes, and was revealed to be the jock of the group. He wanted to be the captain of the Cedar Ridge team, it didn't matter which sport. Fen Masterson was chubby with blonde hair and grey eyes, but quickly became a fan favorite, partially due to the platter of cookies he brought and the generous helping of compliments he dished out. But no one could stop staring at the fourth member of the party, Frank Roscoe. He was definitely considered the most handsome of the four, but there was an air of mystery hanging around that brown head and a sense of secrecy that clouded his otherwise shining emerald eyes. His other oddity was how he dressed, like he stepped out of a 1940s magazine. It wasn't a full on suit and tie, but it was by no means the jeans and t-shirt that everyone else wore either.
"Isn't he just so handsome?" Terry whispered to Arden with a soft giggle as other girls began crowding around him.
"Y-yeah, yeah he is," muttered Arden. She could feel a slight warmth rising in her cheeks. Terry giggled and winked at her before joining the throng of girls surrounding Frank. But while he was handsome and Arden wanted to be with him as much as any of the other girls there, she couldn't help but think of Peggy Lane. The two would make a great couple. A great-looking couple at that too. Not only that, but that air of mystery that hung over him like a cloud was getting under Arden's skin. She wanted to solve that, provided he even let her get close to him to solve it. Would a guy like that even want to go out with a girl like her? She pursed her lips. Besides, one look at Miss Peggy Lane would drive all thought of Arden from his mind, she was sure of it. She glanced at the excited throng around him, it would drive every other girl out of his mind as well.
As if on cue, in walked Peggy Lane and what looked like the entire acting class. They were all dressed in very nice clothes and every girl had on the most perfect make-up. They looked like they were ready to put on a play right then and there. But the moment Arden figured would happen did happen, Frank's and Peggy's eyes locked. Time seemed to slow to a crawl. Arden blinked. It was like watching a movie where the lead couple first meet and time seems to stop. It was truly an odd sensation, an almost out of body experience. But then Frank blinked, Peggy smiled, and the spell was broken.
"Hey mister! Can we get some dance music going?" shouted one of the guys. Aramon shot him a thumbs up before heading to the back room.
"But we haven't been introduced yet!" exclaimed Terry.
"We can introduce ourselves while we wait for the music!" announced the fellow. "I'll start, I'm Phillip Piper, but you can call me Pip!"
"Good, because I'm Phillip Morgan!" Phillip shouted. "And I don't like being called Pip!" Everyone laughed, that broke the ice and introductions were well under way when the music started up. People coupled up and the dancing commenced. Pip swept one of Louise's and Linda's friends Dot off to the dance floor, while Peggy was with a redheaded fellow and Frank asked another girl to dance. Arden pursed her lips. Well, that movie romance might take a while before it fully blossomed, but she figured they would get together eventually. She stood for a bit, watching the dancing, before she joined Josie, Eileen, and Mary Louise at their table.
"It's alright, Mary Louise, go dance. You don't have to give it up every time we're at a party simply because I can't dance," said Eileen as she crossed her arms. Arden sat down across from her. Eileen turned to her. "Arden, Josie, tell Mary Louise she should go dance."
"Well, it would help if a guy asked her to dance," mumbled Arden.
"She can just as easily ask a guy to dance," quipped Eileen, "but that's not it. She just feels guilty about me not being able to join in the fun."
"Eileen's right though," said Josie, "you should go have some fun. Arden and I are here, we'll keep Eileen company."
"You both should go dance too," said Eileen with a huff.
"And what happens if I don't want to dance?" quipped Josie. Someone cleared their throat. They glanced up. A young fellow from Sanford was looking at Mary Louise.
"May I have this dance?"
"She accepts," said Eileen, nearly pushing Mary Louise out of her chair. Arden and Josie burst out laughing as Mary Louise shot Eileen a scowl before joining the fellow on the dance floor.
Eileen glanced at them. "One down, two to go."
"Don't you mean one up, two to go?" said Josie between snickers.
"Ha ha, quite possibly."
Someone else cleared their throat. "Um, Arden?" Arden's eyes widened as she turned in her chair and came face to face with Tom Corbett. "May I, uh, have this dance?"
Arden jumped up. "Yes!" She quickly turned to Eileen and Josie. "And I'd better, or else she'll throw me out of my chair and roll me over!"
Eileen grinned. "You bet I would!"
Tom chuckled. "Well alright then. We'd better get going then, wouldn't want you rolled over and flattened like a piece of paper."
Arden laughed. "I don't think she could get me that thin, but I'd rather not hang around and find out." He laughed as he led her to the dance floor. They started dancing, but they didn't talk until Tom asked about her family. That's how they found out they both had brothers named Bobby, but while Arden had just one brother, Tom had five younger siblings, two brothers and three sisters. The two continued to dance and chat, oblivious of the smirks and winks Linda and Louise were giving each other.
(Author's Note: Hello rosy readers! Welcome back to another chapter dump! Sorry, no Nancy or the Hardys this time, this story has been soo cooperative, so I've just been focusing on this one. Getting close to halfway! Woohoo! Now if only the Mystery of the Monoplane's Mission can go just as quickly. But maybe, hopefully, I can get this one done and out of the way real soon. And once I get this one and Monoplane's Mission out of the way, getting back onto the Boxcar Children in Oz and getting my nose to the grind for the first book in the Daisy Took series. All while continuing to work on the Hardys and Nancy. I think I will need a break from all of them soon, but now doesn't seem to be the time. Plus, I now have another part-time job, so now I have even less time to write. So, yeah, things are rolling. Anyways, thanks for reading and have a great day! God bless!)