The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Golden Witch
Mr Hollister pulled to the side of the road stopped the car and they all got out Pieces of pumpkin were stuck on the front bumper and the front right wheel was smeared with pumpkin seeds The fender too had been hit but there was only a small dent on it which could hardly be seen Carefully watching the Sunday-afternoon traffic Pete and Pam hastened into the road and removed the pieces of slippery pumpkin What made the pumpkins run away asked Sue tugging at her mother’s hand Mrs Hollister a pretty slender woman smiled at her daughter and said Maybe they didn’t want to be made into jack-o lanterns Perhaps Daddy knows why Mr Hollister was a tall athletic-looking man with a pleasant smile He had already taken a cloth from inside the car and had wiped everything clean The lane the pumpkins rolled out of is on Mr Johnson’s farm he said Come on let’s see what’s the matter The mother and father and five youngsters walked back toward the lane They were a happy family and often shared mystery and adventure together Sometimes their travels took them to distant places but now and then they met with mysteries right in their home town Shoreham was located on beautiful Pine Lake and the Hollisters big comfortable house was situated on the shore of the lake a mile or so from Mr Johnson’s farm They had come there to buy pumpkins to be used in making 8
jack-o lanterns for a Halloween party the children were planning to have When they reached the lane they turned in It was narrow and stony leading up a small hill Blond fluffy-haired Pam took Sue’s hand and helped her climb Pete ran on ahead He turned gestured with his arm and called out I see what’s the trouble What is it Ricky asked dashing to his side There’s a tractor in the ditch up ahead Yikes Ricky exclaimed And a wagonload of pumpkins has turned over All five youngsters hurried on ahead and reached the scene shortly before their parents Farmer Johnson a middle-aged man with a weather-beaten face looked up from the ditch where he was surveying the damage to his tractor Hello Mr Johnson the children’s father called out What’s your trouble The man removed his cap mopped his brow and climbed onto the road Broken axle he said My tractor skidded into the ditch and look what happened to my load of pumpkins Three of them rolled down the road and banged into us Holly declared twirling one of her brown pigtails I hope no one was hurt Mr Johnson said quickly Our car looked like a pumpkin pie for a few minutes but it’s all right now said Pam She tried to 9
make a joke so that their farmer friend would not feel so bad But the man did not smile He looked sorrowfully at the tractor and the spilled load of pumpkins Trouble and more trouble he said with a sigh and thrust his hands deep into his overall pockets First my farm helper leaves just in the middle of harvest and now this Can’t you get another one Ricky asked I’ve tried Mr Johnson replied but there’s a shortage of workers this fall I’ll have to do without a farmhand all right and that’s no joke Maybe we can help you Pete said Now a little smile flicked across Farmer Johnson’s face You’re nice to say that Pete he said but how The boy ran his hand over his blond crew-cut hair Well first of all we can set the wagon upright and gather these pumpkins Good idea Pete said Mr Hollister Let’s get started He jumped into the ditch and helped the farmer uncouple the wagon shaft from a hitch that connected it to the back of the tractor then with everyone pitching in the wagon was pulled out of the ditch and onto the lane As Mrs Hollister set a stone behind the back wheels her family began to gather the pumpkins that had rolled into the nearby field Even dark-haired Sue giggling with delight carried the smallest pumpkins to the wagon Ricky Pete come over here called their father I need help with this one Together the three lifted 10
a huge golden-yellow globe and half stumbling carried it to the wagon All ready now one two three heave said Mr Hollister and the pumpkin rolled onto the floor of the wagon The red-cheeked boys took a deep breath of crisp October air Yikes said Ricky what a monster The farmer glanced up at the setting sun which slanted brightly over the farm If you’ll excuse me I’ll hurry on ahead he said I have to phone for a mechanic to get here before dark I hope you can find one on Sunday afternoon said Mr Hollister and added We’ll pull the wagon to the barn for you Yikes I like to play horse exclaimed Ricky as he grabbed the wagon shaft Pete Pam and Mr Hollister pulled on it also while Mrs Hollister and the other children pushed from the rear With creaking wheels the wagon went up the hill around a bend and along a level stretch which led to Mr Johnson’s barn and beyond it the rambling farmhouse On the way they passed a grove of willow trees with long yellow leaves Beside it was a little duck pond fed by a narrow stream that trickled down the hillside In a field nearby were tethered three small goats on long chains When the Hollisters reached the barn Holly dashed over to a wire enclosure at the side of it Look she cried Chickens As she stooped clucking at the hens Mr Johnson and his wife approached smiling 11
