Free The Mystery of the Man in the Tall Black Hat by Margaret M. Sandberg Page A

hopelessly as he dropped down onto the grass behind the woodshed. He put his head down on his arms and felt the hot tears come to his eyes.
    “Dear Lord, You know we really did see that man. Please help us find out who he is so they won’t think we’re making it up!”

8
Carp Lake
    Tod was still feeling blue when he slipped into the kids’ club meeting at Wildwood Church at six o’clock. He hadn’t felt like talking to Tricia, so he had poked around until she left.
    After they had sung a chorus, the leader asked for testimonies. Tod wasn’t paying much attention until Tricia stood up and turned around and faced him.
    “I don’t really have a testimony, but my brother does.”
    Tod felt his heart jump, wondering what she meant. Everyone turned and looked at him, expecting him to say something.
    “About Barney—tell them, Tod,” Tricia urged.
    Tod had been so miserable that he had forgotten about Barney’s decision to invite Christ into his life. He stood up and told what had happened.
    “He would have been in Sunday School this morning but he had a bicycle accident yesterday and his mother wouldn’t let him come. She wouldn’t let him come tonight, either, but I’ll be sure and get him for next week.”
    After he sat down, Tod didn’t feel so sorry for himself anymore. He was glad Tricia had thought about Barney. He even listened to the lesson and took part in the Bible quiz. After the closing song and prayer, Mr. Taylor, the club sponsor, stood up. “Before you go, I have a very important announcement to make. How would you like to have a treasure hunt next Saturday afternoon?”
    “With clues?” asked Pam Dobson.
    “And real treasure?” asked Jeffrey Jacobs.
    “Yes, with clues and real treasure. Let’s meet here at the church at one o’clock. No later or you’ll miss the first clue.”
    “What shall we wear?” asked Tricia.
    “Don’t dress up. Hunting treasure is hard work.”
    “Can we invite a friend?” asked Jim Faris.
    “You sure can. We want a lot of kids to come. The more the merrier. Tod, why not ask your friend Barney?”
    “Thanks, Mr. Taylor. I’ll do that.”
    “Now if there are no more questions we’d better go in for the evening service.”
    Tod looked for Barney the following morning. When he hadn’t come by noon, he decided that his mother wouldn’t let him out yet. He had finished his chores and checked the polliwogs what seemed like a hundred times. Every time he looked it seemed there were less of them swimming around.
    The newly hatched ones had finally loosed from the jelly which had surrounded the eggs, and now they wriggled about aimlessly. Tod wondered how many of them the large polliwogs had already eaten. He was going to have to get something else for them to eat today, Barney or no Barney.
    “I wonder if I should go back up to Mud Lake and try to get some of the guck they were eating up there,” he commented as he ate lunch with Tricia and his mother.
    “Donna and I are going over to see her uncle at Carp Lake. Why don’t you go over there and find something?” suggested Tricia.
    “That’s a good idea. Maybe I will, but I sure wish Barney was here to go with me. It’s not much fun alone.”
    Tricia finished her lunch and carried her dishes to the sink. “Can I go now, Mom?”
    “I guess so. You’ve earned the afternoon off. Your room looks very nice since you cleaned it this morning.”
    “Hey, Tricia. Why not invite Donna to the treasure hunt?”
    “Good idea!” Tricia called back as the screen door slammed behind her.
    Tod put his dishes in the sink and went out back of the woodshed to check once more on the tadpoles. The one with the legs was fatter than the day before, and Tod thought he saw another one with legs.
    He looked around for the can which he had taken to Mud Lake and finally found it in the woodshed. Rounding the corner on his way out, he almost ran into Barney.
    “Where did you come from?” he asked in surprise.
    “I don’t