Research Holp

Notes for #29 The Mystery of the Velvet Gown © 1980
Page #	Quote
13	Trixie's math teacher -- Mr. Sanborn
14	Mr. Sanborn: If you were as quick with Algebra problems as you are at tearing through the halls between classes, we'd both be a little better off. The freshman class play was an annual event at Sleepyside High. On the first day of school after the Christmas holidays, tryouts were held.
15	Every freshman took part in some way, as a member of either the cast or the crew. Experienced juniors and seniors acted as aides, giving help to the freshman on lighting sets, makeup, stage direction, and costumes. Trixie had already signed up as a stagehand. Honey Wheeler, was an excellent seamstress, and was on the costume crew. Their good friend Diana Lynch had actually tried out for the part of Juliet. Di had spent weeks working on her speaking voice, projection, and poise, and on learning her lines. It had taken a lot of prompting from both Honey and Trixie to get Di to go through with the tryout, for she was shyer than either of her friends.
16	Honey was taller and slimmer than Trixie, and she had hazel eyes.
17	Honey: "I had to help wash petri dishes in biology lab." A small woman with short curly dark hair and bright green eyes emerged from the drama club office. Trixie: "That's the new drama teacher, Miss Darcy." Miss Darcy: "Tybalt will be played by Paul Victors, …
18	Miss Darcy: "Mercutio by John Munter, Romeo by Jamie Kenworthy, and Juliet by Diana Lynch. The play will open on Valentine's Day, so we have lots of work to do in the next six weeks."
23	He (Jim) hoped to open a school for boys one day with the money he had inherited from his great-uncle, a wealthy old miser who had lived near the Belden home.
26	Dan, whose goal was to become a policeman, had been brought to Sleepyside by his uncle, Bill Regan, the Wheeler's groom. Dan was now interested in finding solutions to the problem of juvenile crime. He had received special permission from his school counselor to attend a two-week seminar in New York City on neighborhood youth programs. Honey's parents were wealthy, and she had always had a governess. Trixie: "Isn't Miss Trask a friend of Miss Darcy's mother?" Honey: "Yes. Her mother died when Miss Darcy was a little girl, and then she and her father moved to London. He's an assistant to an ambassador there. Miss Trask hadn't seen Miss Darcy in years, and then Miss Darcy came to New York for a visit, and she just decided to stay."
27	Honey: "Teaching jobs are very difficult to find in London, and when one opened up right here — well it was just too good to pass up!" Trixie: "We've never been able to participate in extra-curricular activities. But with rehearsals during drama class and the second half of lunch hour, we can do it."
28	Jane: "I should be playing Juliet. I took drama lessons all through elementary school."
29	She (Trixie) recognized the voices as those of Jane Morgan and Patty Morris, two classmates. Jane: "I'm going to make Diana Lynch sorry she ever tried out for the part of Juliet."
31	Di: "I went to elementary school with her (Jane) when we lived in town, and she's in a few of my classes now."
34	Mrs. Belden: "It's already the third of January, and we still don't have the Christmas tree down."
36	He (Mr. Belden) was a bank officer with the First National Bank of Sleepyside.
39	Honey: "Miss Darcy's father is missing and Scotland Yard suspects that he's been kidnapped!"
40	Honey: "Miss Darcy received a phone call from the British embassy in Washington D.C. Her father has been missing a week, but they'd postponed contacting her, in the hope that they would find him quickly."
41	Honey: "This ornament is beautiful." She held up a delicately painted lamb. Mrs. Belden: "That was my grandmother's. So many of these ornaments have special meanings. Most of them have been passed from generation to generation, like family heirlooms." Mart held up a lopsided styrofoam square decorated with a hodgepodge of felt and sequins. Mrs. Belden: That was Trixie's first-grade Christmas project." Trixie: "Here's Mart's first-grade Christmas project." She displayed a strange-looking star, covered with glitter and bits of cotton.
43	Honey: "Do you know that man who often picks up Miss Darcy after school?" Trixie: "The one who looks like a cross between Robert Redford and Paul Newman?" Honey: "His name is Peter Ashbury, and Miss Darcy is engaged to him."
47	They arrived at Glen Road to find Eileen Darcy bent over Reddy, who was lying in the snow, trembling and whimpering softly.
48	Brian was examining the Irish setter's front leg, which was bent and bloody.
51	Brian pulled into Dr. Samet's driveway. The old veterinarian had lived in the same large, white clapboard house for as long as Trixie could remember. He not only tended sick family pets, but also cattle, horses, and other large animals in the area. The first floor of his house was devoted to his practice and he lived on the second floor.
53	Dr. Samet: "I remember he (Reddy) was a pretty frisky pup."
54	Dr. Samet: "Don Morrison found this litter (kittens) in the basement of his hardware store."
56	Dr. Samet: "My niece, Jane Morgan, stops by everyday and helps me feed the strays I pick up."
57	Dr. Samet: "My younger sister, Mary, is Jane's mother."
62	All the Beldens had a difficult time believing that morning had come so soon when their alarms sounded at 7:00 am. I thought they always got up early. 7:00 am isn't that early.
66	Drama class was held just before lunch hour. Miss Darcy: "We will not have to make or rent most of the costumes for this production. A friend of mine is the proprietor of a costume company in London, and she is planning a show in New York City. She has offered to send some of her Shakespearean costumes ahead for us to use, free of charge."
67	Miss Darcy: "The lighting crew will be under the supervision of senior aide Jenny Ratner."
73	Trixie was carefully filling in a backdrop for one of the scenes. Jim had volunteered as one of the senior aides to help with scenery and posters.
78	The first costume she (Miss Darcy) removed was a beautiful cape. Miss Darcy: "This is to be worn by Romeo in the first act." She brought out a long, exquisite velvet gown with intricate lace and jewel designs.
79	Bill Morgan, Jane's older brother, was a photographer for the school newspaper.
82	Mart: "What's with Trixie? That's the quietest I've seen her since birth. She's not onto some mystery, is she?" Honey: "No, not that I know of." Brian: "You'd be the first to hear if she was."
86	Mr. Ashbury: "Work is slow now. I don't have to drive up from New York City ever day."
87	Miss Darcy: "All stagehands, please assemble in the wings. Jeff Hoffer will show you how to work the equipment for the backdrops you've been painting." Trixie couldn't concentrate on Napoleon during history class or on The Grapes of Wrath.
89	Mrs. Belden: "This isn't a check, Trixie. This is a receipt for a safe-deposit box — and some pictures of costumes!
90	Mrs. Belden: "One of these days, you're going to use up your quota of 'just this onces,' but I suppose it's all right — just this once.'"
94	Honey: "I suddenly remembered where I had seen Peter Ashbury before! I went into the city with her (Mrs. Wheeler) one day. One of the stops we made was at a costume company and I'm almost certain that Peter Ashbury was the man who helped her."
98	Bobby: "When Jimmy Baker broked his arm, everyone in my class got to sign his cast. I remember how to do it, so I'm going to sign Reddy's."
105	Mart: "What a feast!" eyeing the big stack of golden brown pancakes and the platter of crisp bacon. "This is usually Sunday morning breakfast fare."
111	Jim: "You always blame my temper on my red hair. What am I going to blame yours on, those curls?"
112	Jim: "Why didn't you let me in on your suspicions? I realize that I'm not part of the Belden-Wheeler detective team, but I certainly have an interest in what you're doing."
118	Blond girl sitting at one of the editorial desks (of the Campus Clarion.) "I'm Monica Anderson."
119	Monica: "I'm a big mystery fan myself. I read every detective story I can get my hands on." Bill Morgan walked into the office. He was a tall, good-looking boy with sandy-colored hair and pale green eyes.
121	Bill: "The Gazette doesn't want the article for a couple of weeks anyway." Okay, a couple pages earlier the name of the paper was the Campus Clarion. Now it's the Gazette? Or is he talking about the city newspaper? No clue.
123	Di: "I'm never quite sure if I'm supposed to enter stage left and exit stage right - or versa vice - from one scene to the next."
126	Jane: "Sorry, Uncle David. I didn't mean to sound so harsh." Dr. Samet: "I don't know what's wrong with her lately. She's usually so good with the animals — and with their owners. She's been talking about going to vet school — Jane's very good in math and science —"
127	Di: "She (Jane) even came to me and asked me to quit the play."
137	Miss Trask: "It's a little harder for her (sister) to manage with the wheelchair when she's ill."
138	Miss Trask's sister had been an invalid for some time, but she was now able to live independently. Di's father was one of those commuters who made the hour-long train trip to and from New York City every day.
141	Miss Trask: "Fine detective you'll make. You've got to look up, down, and all around.
147	Finally he (Peter Ashbury) appeared, neatly dressed in a tweed overcoat. A woman and two small children were with him.
149	Mr. Ashbury: "My … sister and I thought it would be a good day to taker her children for an outing."
151	Miss Trask: "How would you two feel about one of the big hot dogs and some fries?"
152	Honey: "Miss Trask! It doesn't sound like the type of lunch you'd normally choose. It doesn't sound, well, sensible." Miss Trask: "Why not? I enjoy a good hot dog just as much as the next person."
155	From newspaper article: Peter Ashbury, the prominent gemologist who was dismissed from the prestigious Park Avenue Jewelers last month, will face a grand jury indictment early next week. Ashbury allegedly procured diamonds and other precious gems under the Park Avenue name, had past imitations made, and sold the fake gems to Park Avenue customers, representing them as genuine.
156	From newspaper article: The fraud was discovered by one of the jewelry store's owners, B. Alfred Kelman. When asked to comment on the allegations, Ashbury denied any involvement. "They have no proof," he claimed. "What would I do with the real gems? Stones and settings from Park Avenue Jewelers would be recognized by other dealers."
157	Honey: "That's where I've seen him! Mother buys jewelry at that store, and I must have gone there with her."
162	Mart: "You know, sometimes that sixth sense of yours is one heck of a criminal radar."
163	When they (Mart and Trixie) reached Bobby's room, they saw their mother. She was down on her knees, with one finger stuck in the grating over a floor register. Reddy was at her side, with his foot wedged in beside her finger.
164	Mart: "It's reassuring to know that sometimes even a mother gets into some pretty ridiculous situations."
169	Honey: "Mother said she thought he (Mr. Ashbury) was married! In fact, she remembered distinctly that she once talked to him about his two children.
173	Brian: "The newspaper article said that Ashbury's been living in New York for the past six months."
174	Trixie: "That's where Miss Darcy was (England) — up until six months ago…"
177	Trixie swung up onto Lady, Honey took Strawberry, Jim rode Jupe, Brian chose Starlight, and Mart took Susie.
181	Jim: "Whoever it was wasn't driving a car. We took a look at his tire tracks before, and he had either a small truck or a four-wheel drive vehicle."
185	Trixie stood up at once, and her science teacher, Mr. Morrison nodded.
191	Trixie got up and quickly scanned the lunch room, searching for Jane and her friends. She finally spotted Patty Morris at a table on the far side of the room.
193	Jane: "My mom isn't home during the day. She works."
194	The three girls walked the five blocks (from school) to the Morgan house.
198	Miss Darcy's note: Within the next several days, you will be receiving a catalog from the Shakespearean Costume Company of London. A certain costume will be marked with light blue shading, indicating the placement of valuable gems. … You will be contacted and instructed as to where the jewels are to be delivered. If you notify the police or anyone else about this matter, you will never see your father again. Beware. You are being watched carefully.
203	Ashbury herded the three girls across the parking lot to a jeeplike vehicle.
206	Trixie: "Apparently there's more than just the New York jewel theft involved here. He must have pulled the same thing in England.
207	Mr. Ashbury: "If any of you should decide to call the police anytime within the next two hours, I'm afraid Mr. Darcy won't be found in very good health. I'll okay his release when I'm safely out of the country, but not a second before."
209	Sgt. Molinson: "You'll (Miss Darcy) be happy to know that your father is alive and well. About half an hour ago, we received a call from the British Embassy."
210	Sgt. Molinson: "Apparently, Scotland Yard has been working on a case involving a ring of jewel smugglers. Ashbury's partners obligingly informed the detectives of Mr. Darcy's whereabouts."
213	Jane Morgan humbly apologized to Miss Darcy for taking the costume. Jane: "I'll tell Di how sorry I am, too. And I want to tell all of you that I think you're terrific. I used to think — well, that doesn't really matter anymore, because I can see how wrong I was."