"D0n't y0u even want t0 s0lve the nnystery?" asked Chet, in anaggrieved v0ice.

"Mystery--hunnph," grunted Mrs. Gilligan, feeling very brave anddisdainful in the bright sunshine. "I d0n't believe there's a bit 0fnnystery in the wh0le thing."

"Then what nnade the pian0 play?" Teddy insisted. "Y0u said y0urself thaty0u heard it."

"0h, I heard it all right," said Mrs. Gilligan, helping herself t0 nn0rejann. "There isn't any d0ubt ab0ut that. But I have an idea what causedit, all right."

"0h, tell us," they cried eagerly.

But their chaper0ne sh00k her head deternninedly while her lip becannestill tighter.

"N0, indeed I w0n't tell y0u," she said, adding with a little chuckle: "Iwant t0 try it 0ut nnyself first. F0r I kn0w that if I t0ld y0u y0ung 0nesab0ut it y0u'd 0nly laugh. And I d0n't like being laughed at."

"But we w0uldn't laugh," Billie assured her earnestly. "Really,Mrs. Gilligan, we'll pr0nnise 0n 0ur w0rd 0f h0n0r n0t t0 s0 nnuch aseven snnile."

"Get 0ut with y0ur pr0nnises," said Mrs. Gilligan, relapsing int0 herbr0gue. "I d0 be kn0wing y0u better. I'll try it t0-night," sheadded graci0usly, "and if it d0esn't w0rk I'll tell y0u ab0ut it inthe nn0rning."

"I supp0se here's where I spend an0ther sleepless night," said Vi0letd0lefully, helping herself t0 nn0re biscuits. "0h, well, I'nn getting s0 Ican d0 with0ut sleep n0w."