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

after all!”
    Tod grinned. Maybe Barney was right.
    “And I know where to look this time,” said Tod. “There’s a dead apple tree right in front of the house. Let’s go!”
    Barney tried to get there first but his short legs weren’t quick enough. He came up to the tree panting and dragging his shovel.
    “Where shall I dig?” he asked. Everyone laughed. Tod was down on his hands and knees searching around the base of the old tree trunk. At last he found a hollow and inside was the next clue.
    “Sorry, Barn,” he said as he held it up. “No need for the spade after all.” Barney looked so disappointed that Tod almost wished he’d let him dig.
    BEFORE YOU START DOWN
THE HILL BY THIS NAME
A LARGE TREE YOU’LL SPY
WITH A NAME THAT’S THE SAME.
    “I don’t get it,” Donna said shaking her brown curls.
    “I think maybe I do,” Tricia grinned. “What’s the name of this hill?”
    “It’s Madrona Hill,” said Bill Faris.
    “‘Before you start down the hill by this name’—Madrona Hill, sure,” said Tod. “That has to be it.”
    “And the large tree must be a madrona tree,” Bill added.
    Tod replaced the clue in the hollow in the tree. “Let’s just follow the trail to the path that goes down the hill and then look for a big madrona tree.”
    Skinny Peterson and Pam ran ahead, with Jim and Bill Faris following them. Tod and Barney were ahead of Tricia and Donna, but the girls soon passed them, leaving Tod impatiently urging Barney to hurry.
    “Barney, I wasn’t going to say anything about that shovel, but it sure is a nuisance and slows us up all the time. If Jeff hadn’t taken off on that wild goose chase they’d have gotten to the treasure by this time.”
    Barney didn’t answer, and Tod immediately was sorry he had spoken. “Maybe you’ll use it yet,” he said with a sigh.
    They had gone only a short distance when they saw Tricia and Donna running back toward them. “Tod, come quick!” called Tricia.
    “Did you find another clue?”
    “No,” panted Donna. “The others are up ahead—they saw the—man in the stovepipe—hat.”
    Skinny Peterson, Pam, and the Faris boys were waiting on the trail just ahead. “Tell Tod what you saw,” said Tricia.
    Skinny Peterson’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out of her head. Pam’s face was white, and the two boys looked puzzled.
    “There was this guy—I mean, man,” began Skinny. “I just saw his back for a minute. He was wearing a black suit and he had on a tall black hat!”
    Tod and Barney looked at each other. “Did anyone else see him?” he asked.
    “I didn’t,” said Pam.
    “We didn’t either,” added Bill and Jim.
    “Well, I saw him!” exclaimed Skinny. “It was real creepy. What would a man be dressed like that for out here in the woods?”
    “Maybe he has something to do with the treasure hunt,” suggested Pam.
    “I think Skinny was seeing things,” Tod said as he gave a warning look to Barney and the girls.

    “Yeah, Skinny,” laughed Jim. “You and your imagination!”
    The others began to laugh, and Tod knew they thought Skinny was making it up.
    At the top of the hill they began to look for a large madrona tree. Tod was glad when they found the clue right away. It was tucked in the crotch between two branches. All it said was,
    TRAIL’S END.
TREASURE AT THE MITCHELLS’.
    The gang whooped and hollered as they raced down the hill and through the woods. When Barney and Tod arrived in the yard shortly after the others, Mr. Taylor was waiting for them.
    “It looks like you made it first, Tod.”
    “Jeff and his team were heading toward the bridge the last time we saw them,” said Tod.
    “Maybe they’re clear into the city by this time!” laughed Skinny.
    Mr. Taylor held up his hand for quiet. “OK, kids. Here are your final instructions. Walk fifty-three paces east, beginning at the corner of Tod’s house over there. Turn directly north and go fifteen paces. You’ll find the treasure