Free The Mystery in Arizona by Julie Campbell

in one of these racks, so. Now we attach this little hose to the faucet and spray everything thoroughly with scalding water. After they have drained, it is very easy to dry them, yes?”
    The girls nodded soberly and set to work. Trixie was very impressed by Maria’s efficiency, but she couldn’t keep herself from wondering what the Mexican girl had meant when she had said, “If only my husband’s family were not so-so—”
    “So what? “ Trixie kept asking herself. Had they left suddenly because they were afraid of something —something which Maria herself was not at all afraid of? Had the strange Mexican really threatened them? If so, with what, and why?
    To Trixies surprise, the mountain of dishes dwindled rapidly, and an hour later the last piece of silver was dried and put away. With everyone helping under Maria’s cheerful supervision, it had turned out to be more fun than a chore.
    “That is all for tonight,” Maria told them, smiling. “You chulas —pretty ones—had better go right to bed, for I am sure you’re tired after your long trip. Tomorrow you will have to get up at six, for you must tidy your own rooms, set the tables, and have breakfast before the guests’ breakfast is served at eight.” Trixie thought, There goes my hope of studying for an hour early tomorrow morning.
    “Most of the guests,” Maria was saying, “linger over breakfast and then go on to some form of amusement, so often they do not return to their rooms until it is time to freshen up before lunch. But there are three guests who eat almost no breakfast and return immediately to their rooms where they spend most of the morning. As you can understand, those rooms must be done first and quickly.”
    “Oh, woe,” Trixie moaned. “I’m always all thumbs when I try to hurry.”
    "Who are those three guests?” Honey asked curiously. “Why don’t they eat breakfast, and why do they mope indoors when it’s so beautiful outdoors all the year round and there are so many wonderful things to do?”
    “I don’t quite understand it myself,” Maria admitted. “It is true that Mrs. Sherman is so fat that she is wise to take only black coffee for breakfast. And a woman of her age cannot be expected to be as active as a younger person. But that is no reason for her to act so bored. Because of that, and also because I understand that she is very rich, we call her Lady Astorbilt.” Maria smiled. “I think it would be for the best if you did her room, Honey. She may well return to it before you have finished because she is rather untidy, and I think you would know how to please her better than Trixie or Di would.”
    “She doesn’t sound like my type at all,” Honey protested. “I’m so inexperienced I’d better not go near any of the difficult guests.”
    Maria led the way out of the kitchen to the moonlit patio. “It is not so much that they are difficult,” she said in a low voice. “I honestly think that they are troublesome simply because they are lonely. If they are present when you go to tidy up their rooms, they will keep you indefinitely, just for company. That is my opinion.
    “You take Miss Jane Brown—she came here to have fun, but she does not know how to enjoy herself. She does not know how to ride or swim. She does not care for Mexican food, and so, of course, she is sulky and cross most of the time.” Maria laughed softly. “I think perhaps Trixie would be good for her. You could perhaps make her relax and laugh occasionally, Trixie, yes?”
    “Ugh,” said Trixie. “She is definitely not my type, but if Honey will cope with Mrs. Sherman, I’ll try to be nice to Miss Jane Brown.”
    “Ugh, ugh, ugh,” Di wailed. “That leaves me with the unknown quantity. Is it a Mr. or Mrs. or Miss X, Maria?”
    “Mr. X,” Maria replied, “is a middle-aged man who came here for some reason which I cannot fathom. He never goes near the pool or the corral, nor does he seem at all interested in getting to know the