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

glanced back. Jeff’s group was gathered together. Tod opened the box and glanced inside. It was empty. There was another box about half a mile farther, and as Barney and Tod walked quickly in that direction Jeff’s team caught up with them.
    “What’s the matter, Tod? Stuck on that last clue?” asked Jeff as he trotted past.
    “Still puzzling,” answered Tod. “The rest of the gang thinks they know where they’re going.”
    Jeff held up his hand and formed his fingers into a large “OK” sign. Tod knew Jeff thought he had it made. He waited until Jeff and his followers were past the next mailbox, then reached out and opened it.
    “There’s something in there, Barney. Reach in and get it while I stand in front of you—just in case they look back.”
    Barney obeyed, and Tod slowly walked ahead reading the clue.
    CROSS THE ROAD
KNOCK AT THE DOOR
THEY KNOW WHAT
YOU ARE COMING FOR!
    Tod walked backward, replaced the clue in the box, and looked at Barney. “Now all we need is our team!”
    When Jeff’s team had gone ahead, the members of Tod’s team gradually returned to find their captain. “Tod!” exclaimed Tricia, “Are you going to let them win?”
    “Is everyone here?” asked Tod. The boys and girls gathered around and he reached in the mailbox and pulled out the clue. A moment later Mrs. Graybill was passing out large, juicy oranges. When she had seen that everyone had one, she handed Tod another clue. Tod opened the paper and read,
    THE BRIDAL TRAIL WILL LEAD YOU ON
UNTIL YOU REACH THE ALTAR,
BUT ON THIS BRIDLE TRAIL YOU’LL FIND
THE CRITTER WEARS A HALTER.
    “That’s a clue?” asked Pam.
    “Mmmm,” Tricia mumbled. “Brides and altars.”
    “There are other kinds of bridal trails, little sister,” laughed Tod.
    “Sure, a bridle trail is a horse trail!” exclaimed Skinny Peterson, who had her own horse.
    Tod couldn’t help but laugh. Skinny had her hair done up in a pony tail.
    He turned to Mrs. Graybill. “Thanks. If we see the other team we’ll send them back.”
    A quarter mile farther they turned off the main road. The bridle trail led through the woods, up over the hill, and behind the old Martin place. The gang scattered out along the trail searching for clues. There was no sign of Jeff and his team, and Tod concluded they had continued along the main road. Well, they would become tired before long and retrace their steps.
    Barney was dragging his shovel behind him, catching it from time to time on tree roots and bushes. Tod wondered what possible use they would find for it. He lagged behind the others so he wouldn’t get too far ahead of Barney. Every few minutes they would catch up to the group sitting beside the trail waiting.
    After the climb to the top of the hill, the trail leveled off. Just before they reached the clearing around the Martin place, Tod and Barney saw the gang standing in a circle looking at something along the trail. They parted when they heard Tod and Barney. Next to the trail, rocks had been piled together and in the center a stick had been placed in a standing position. A red ribbon was tied to it. Tod crouched and began to search for the clue.
    “I don’t see anything,” he said as he puzzled over the problem. He began to take the stones from the pile examining each one, but when he had finished he still had no clue.
    “I don’t get it,” he said frowning. He replied the stones and replaced the stick.
    They fanned out searching the ground nearby, but gathered again around the little mound of stones. A bluejay flew overhead scolding loudly.
    “Look!” exclaimed Pam pointing upward. There in the tree was another red ribbon tied around a branch. Tod reached up on tiptoe and felt around the limb. A moment later he held a piece of paper in his hand.
    DON’T GO IN THE HAUNTED HOUSE
WHERE GHOSTS AND GOBLINS PLAYED.
RIPE, RED APPLES ONCE GREW HERE.
PERHAPS YOU’LL NEED A SPADE.
    “A spade,” cried Barney. “I brought one. See, Tod. It will be useful