Hoofbeats on the Turnpike   By: Mildred A. Wirt (1905-2002)

By MILDRED A. WIRT

Author of MILDRED A. WIRT MYSTERY STORIES TRAILER STORIES FOR GIRLS

Illustrated

CUPPLES AND LEON COMPANY Publishers NEW YORK

PENNY PARKER MYSTERY STORIES

Large 12 mo. Cloth Illustrated

TALE OF THE WITCH DOLL THE VANISHING HOUSEBOAT DANGER AT THE DRAWBRIDGE BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR CLUE OF THE SILKEN LADDER THE SECRET PACT THE CLOCK STRIKES THIRTEEN THE WISHING WELL SABOTEURS ON THE RIVER GHOST BEYOND THE GATE HOOFBEATS ON THE TURNPIKE VOICE FROM THE CAVE GUILT OF THE BRASS THIEVES SIGNAL IN THE DARK WHISPERING WALLS SWAMP ISLAND THE CRY AT MIDNIGHT

COPYRIGHT, 1944, BY CUPPLES AND LEON CO.

Hoofbeats on the Turnpike

PRINTED IN U. S. A.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE 1 OLD MAN OF THE HILLS 1 2 PLANS 9 3 INTO THE VALLEY 18 4 A STRANGER OF THE ROAD 28 5 SLEEPY HOLLOW ESTATE 40 6 GHOSTS AND WITCHES 48 7 BED AND BOARD 60 8 A RICH MAN'S TROUBLES 70 9 STRAIGHT FROM THE SHOULDER 78 10 BARN DANCE 86 11 THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN 93 12 PREMONITIONS 101 13 RAIN 107 14 A MOVING LIGHT 116 15 INTO THE WOODS 126 16 A FRUITLESS SEARCH 134 17 ACCUSATIONS 140 18 FLOOD WATERS 151 19 TRAGEDY 158 20 EMERGENCY CALL 165 21 A MYSTERY EXPLAINED 175 22 WANTED A WIRE 184 23 TOLL LINE TO RIVERVIEW 192 24 A BIG STORY 199 25 MISSION ACCOMPLISHED 205

CHAPTER 1 OLD MAN OF THE HILLS

A girl in crumpled linen slacks skidded to a fast stop on the polished floor of the Star business office. With a flourish, she pushed a slip of paper through the bars of the treasurer's cage. She grinned beguilingly at the man who was totaling a long column of figures.