The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Mexican Idol
Cause I named her that already declared Sue Don’t you think Mathilda is a good name Just then the two other Hollister children walked up Pete was a handsome twelve-year-old boy with a crew cut Pam two years younger had fluffy golden hair and a happy smile We all like Mathilda Ricky said pointing to the snake in the window Do you spose we could buy her Crickets said Pete That would be great fun to have How much does she cost The boy pressed closer to the glass in order to see the price tag It was marked six dollars I’ve only got thirty-nine cents said Ricky jiggling a few coins in his pocket The other children counted what money they had and it made a grand total of three dollars and sixty-two cents Suddenly they heard a voice behind them So there you are The children whirled about to see their father smiling at them He was a tall handsome man wearing light blue slacks and a sport shirt to match We wondered where you had disappeared he said Oh Daddy we’d like to buy Mathilda Pam said Who’s Mathilda he asked and was quickly told When he learned how much extra money was needed to purchase the snake Mr Hollister went inside the shop with his children The clerk took Mathilda from the window and handed her to Sue After everyone 8
helped to pay they left the shop smiling happily Sue tucked the snake’s head under her arm and Ricky draped the back end over his shoulder What kind of snake is she asked Sue as they trooped across the terminal floor toward the ticket counter where her mother waited It’s a spotted purple friendly replied Daddy I think Mother will be surprised to see it Oh dear what do you have there exclaimed Mrs Hollister as the children ran up to her She was a slender blond woman with blue eyes It’s a spotted purple friendly named Mathilda explained Sue Here pet her Mommy As Mrs Hollister bent down to pet the velvety nose an announcement came over the public address system Passengers awaiting flight sixty-three from Los Angeles to New York there may be a delay in departure from this airport due to an emergency aboard this flight That’s the plane Uncle Russ is on said Pam with a startled look What’s the trouble Mr Hollister asked the clerk behind the counter I really don’t know sir The aircraft is just landing now Hearing this Ricky and Holly dashed toward stairs which led to an observation deck overlooking the airfield The others hastened after them with Sue dragging Mathilda along behind her 9
A strong wind whipped their hair as the children pressed close to the railing to watch the plane taxi in All at once a small white truck sped across the field It stopped near the big aircraft and two men jumped out with nets in their hands Oh dear said Holly Perhaps someone on the plane is dangerous Or maybe a wild animal is loose was Pete’s guess When the plane was still some distance from the terminal building a portable stairway was rolled up to it The front door opened and the two men with nets hastened aboard For a few minutes the Hollisters watched the open doorway anxiously Then the passengers began to step out of the airplane Look there’s Uncle Russ Ricky shrieked as a tall broad-shouldered man started lightly down the long flight of stairs Come on Holly shouted and raced through the terminal toward the loading gate with the other children pell-mell behind her Their hearts pounded with excitement for they adored their fun-loving uncle who visited them every chance he had on his trips between the East and West Coasts He was a famous cartoonist who drew comic strips for a chain of newspapers Uncle Russ lived in the town of Crestwood with Aunt Marge and their two children children Teddy and Jean 10
As the Hollisters dashed through the loading gate onto the field they saw him pause to look over the white truck Uncle Russ Uncle Russ what happened Ricky said scrambling into his uncle’s arms Sue whose chubby legs were not as long as the others trotted beside her mother with Mathilda looped around her neck Uncle Russ saw the stuffed snake and his eyes widened Well what do you know about that A snake caused the trouble on our airplane A live snake asked Pam I’ll say it was the cartoonist replied The thing slithered all over the cabin Everyone was in a panic I would imagine so said Mrs Hollister Did it bite anyone Fortunately no But in the excitement I lost my briefcase Was your secret in it Holly spoke up She remembered a telephone call from her uncle the day before when he told them he was bringing a secret to Shoreham Uncle Russ patted his breast pocket No I put the secret in my wallet thank goodness As he spoke the two men with the nets hastened past them followed by a crowd of onlookers Well we caught it all right one of them said His net was bulging with a long snake the color of golden corn A seven-footer exclaimed the other attendant and added There was a professor on the plane He 11
