Quotes from Carole Marsh

Brian looked at Michele and shrugged. Michele shook her head back at him. They both looked at Jo Dee. Here they were on the verge of finding the head, Michele pondered, and they were at the mercy of a ten-year-old. Have you got that item covered? she asked Jo Dee, hopefully.

The legend says a man named Jesse Elliot was horse racing. He must have had a bet or something, 'cause he shouted to his horse, Take me in a winner or take me to hell! You said a bad word, Michael interrupted. It's OK when you're quoting someone else, silly, Brian argued.

Then Brian stopped so quickly that she had to grab her hand brakes to keep from plowing into him. Hey, you want me to bump my head against a tree, too? she asked.

Cap'n, who ran the boat dock when he wasn't asleep on the pure with a bottle of beer in his hand, was just pushing off in his dinghy to check his crab pots. Michele decided he didn't know much about kids or he would have asked them if they had permission to head out to sea at dusk. Of course it was hard for them to ask John when he had gone to Belhaven to pick up some people who had come over on the ferry from Ocracoke to see the play.

Suddenly, she jumped up and waved frantically toward the boat vanishing in the twilight. Dark thirty? She doubted Cap'n would even remember he had brought them, much less to pick them up. And no one, no one knew they were here on this uninhabited island in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Cap'n, come back! she cried. Her words were lost in the threatening wind. But he just waved, and she figured he thought she was waving good-bye. And she probably was—forever.

Brian! Brian! Michele screamed into the dark jungle of green behind her. Holding her stomach with one hand, Jo Dee propped herself up to see what Michele was hollering about. Brian streaked out of the woods, the oar raised menacingly over his head. He looked like a pirate was chasing him. Snake? he asked. No, yuck! Michele said. Look! Look . . . the clues make up a map! Treasure? asked Brian hopefully.

The kids all turned to look at the Mystery Girl and saw Mimi's and Papa's bottoms as they leaned into the plane looking for the lost necklace. Uh, I guess you'll meet the front of them later, Grant said.

I'm beginning to feel like a forty-niner myself, groused Mimi. Our trip to California has been fraught with problems so far.

If you need a handout, all you have to do is ask, please. Only Mimi could be so nice to a thief, Grant muttered under his breath.

Ms. Rogers sighed softly. Just keep a weather eye, she said. Grant looked out the window. But it's a bright sunny day. Papa laughed. She means keep our eyes open for anything or anyone unusual or suspicious, he explained.

Checking in? an equally sickly, yellowish woman asked, who seemed to have materialized out of nowhere. Yes, said Mimi, wanting to add, Afraid so!

Everyone seated at the table stared at Mimi and the kids. They did not speak nor give them any form of recognition or welcome to join them. How dangerous can a grandmother and four kids look? Christina whispered to Alex, who giggled.

In fact, being the proud new owner of a gold mine seems like a big pain in the neck, frankly.

As Michele lifted one bare-toed foot over the side she squealed. A crab had escaped from one of the pots and was scurrying around the bottom of the boat. Super choice, she said to Brian. Stranded on a pirate island or eaten alive by a crab.

As they climbed the rickety stairs and made their way along the narrow balcony that looked down into the lobby, they were most unhappy to see the bearded miner head into Room 12, and the businessman open the door and enter Room 14. Surrounded! said Christina. Shhh! said Mimi, unlocking the door to Room 13.

They didn't bother to explain to Ray about the mystery and how they had thought he was the one who had caused so much trouble. Michele just couldn't think of a way to explain all that fast enough. So, with a mumble of thank you's and play, they hustled Jo Dee and Michael through the wet bushes toward the theater. Play? Ray called after them in a baffled voice. Is that all you kids think about—playing?

I'm like the mailman, said Papa, and when the kids looked confused, he quoted, Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow can keep me from my appointed rounds! Not even thundersnow! added Grant, and they all laughed heartily.

When they reached the theater, Mr. Tankard greeted them grouchily. The rain's stopped just in time. Full house tonight, kids. Do you know what evil eyes I've gotten trying to save four seats on the front row for you? Where in the world have you been? The four of them coughed and stuttered and mumbled at him. Oh, tell me later, he said exasperatedly.

Just like Long Tom assumed the mine was his, said Zac. And the businessman assumed... began Christina, who then shrugged her shoulders, well, I don't know what he assumed.

Michael stuffed a fistful of popcorn into a yawn. How could he eat at a time like this, Michele wondered.

He didn't know who he was messing with, did he, Papa? asked Grant, giving his karate pose. Papa laughed. No, Grant, he didn't. He finally picked on a family he couldn't outsmart. I guess he'll go to jail now. With moose hair up his nose! said Alex and they all laughed.

Michele didn't think she was allowed to cry on center stage—or scream which she thought about as Ormond handed her the ugly head.

The hot lights made Michele's skin sweat and mosquitoes attacked the back of her neck. You can't even scratch on center stage, she thought.

And nobody wanted to come to Bath, reminded Mother. It was going to be an awful, terrible, boring summer, she teased.