Robert Quackenbush - Texas Trail To Calamity: A Miss Mallard Mystery

Read more ALADDIN QUIX books!

Our Principal Is a Frog!

by Stephanie Calmenson

Royal Sweets: A Royal Rescue

by Helen Perelman

A Miss Mallard Mystery: Dig to Disaster

by Robert Quackenbush

First for Piet and all my friends in Texas,

and now for Emma and Aidan

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the authors imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

ALADDIN QUIX

Simon & Schuster Childrens Publishing Division

1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020

www.SimonandSchuster.com

This Aladdin QUIX paperback edition May 2018

Copyright 1986 by Robert Quackenbush

Also available in an Aladdin QUIX hardcover edition.

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

ALADDIN and the related marks and colophon are trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Simon & Schuster Special Sales at 1-866-506-1949 or .

The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.

Designed by Nina Simoneaux

Cover designed by Nina Simoneaux

Cover illustration copyright 1986 by Robert Quackenbush

The illustrations for this book were rendered in pen and ink and wash.

The Library of Congress has cataloged a previous edition as follows:

Quackenbush, Robert M.

Texas trail to calamity.

Summary: When her horse runs away with her across the desert, Miss Mallard, the famous ducktective, finds herself at a forbidding ranch where she must spend the night despite mysterious warnings about her safety.

[1. Mystery and detective stories. 2. DucksFiction 3. West (U.S.)Fiction.] I. Title.

PZ7.Q16Te 1986 [Fic.] 86-4991

ISBN 978-1-5344-1310-8 (hc) ISBN 978-1-5344-1309-2 (pbk) ISBN 978-1-5344-1311-5 (eBook)

Miss Mallard: World-famous ducktective

Horace and Florence Butterball: Owners of the house Miss Mallard goes to after falling off a horse

Cindy Butterball: Daughter of Harold and Florence

Phil and Tessie Dabbler: Guests

Mrs. Scaup: Housekeeper for the Butterballs

Clarence: Cook and baker for the Butterballs

Sheriff Teal: Local law officer

Miss Mallard has many detective tools she brings with her on her adventures around the world.

In her knitting bag she usually has:

Newspaper clippings

Knitting needles and yarn

A magnifying glass

A flashlight

A mirror

A travel guide

Chocolates for her nephew

Miss Mallard , the world-famous ducktective, was on vacation at a dude ranch in Texas. Late one afternoon she went horseback riding.

Out on the trail, her horse was suddenly frightened by a bouncing tumbleweed .

Her horse squealed and reared up on his hind legs. Miss Mallard went crashing to the ground, knitting bag and all. Then her horse galloped back to the ranch.

She was left alone on the prairie to find her own way back.

Soon it grew dark. Miss Mallard saw some lights in the distance and headed toward them. At last she came to a huge, old house.

Miss Mallard firmly clutched her knitting bag and climbed the steps of the spooky-looking house. When she rang the doorbell, a housekeeper opened the door.

I fell off my horse, said Miss Mallard. And I am lost. May I use your telephone?

The housekeeper invited her inside. There Miss Mallard met the owners of the house Horace and Florence Butterball and their daughter, Cindy .

With them were their guests, Phil and Tessie Dabbler . They gathered around Miss Mallard, excited to have a famous ducktective in their midst.

You must spend the night with us, said Florence Butterball, and let us treat you to some Texas-style hospitality .

Oh, but I cant, said Miss Mallard. Im expected back at the Duckaroo Dude Ranch. They are probably searching for me at this very moment.

Well call them! said Horace Butterball. You must stay for our cookout tomorrow morning and then the celebration in our beautiful city of San Antonio. Were going to make a Texan out of you!

It does sound wonderful! said Miss Mallard. But...

Good! Then its settled! said Florence Butterball.

She quickly turned to the housekeeper.

Mrs. Scaup , she said, please call the ranch. Tell them that Miss Mallard is safe and that she will spend the night with us. Then prepare the Gold Room for her and tell Clarence , the cook, that we have another guest.

Mrs. Scaup said sourly, I dont think Clarence will like the idea of an unexpected guest, Madam. Its too much work.

Dont be silly! Florence Butterball replied. Clarence is a terrific cook. He enjoys making new dishes! Hell be thrilled when he learns that the guest is Miss Mallard, the famous ducktective.

Mrs. Scaup left in a huff. Shortly afterward she rang a bell calling everyone to come for dinner.

Horace Butterball grumbled , Our new housekeeper gives me the creeps with her snooty ways and ringing bells and all.

Now, dear, said his wife. Shes just being efficient . Havent you noticed the house is spotless and she checks everything for dust with her white gloves?

Duck waddle! said Horace. Lets eat.

At dinner, the conversation was lively and interesting to Miss Mallard. Much of it was about Texas history, which she found fascinating.

There was even an unsolved crime for Miss Mallard to ponder !

Many old documents and treasures from Texass history had recently been stolen from homes all over the state. The only clues the police had were some telltale prints. But they could not identify the prints and find out who was behind the thefts.

Here is one document the thieves will never get, Miss Mallard, said Horace Butterball after dinner.

We keep it in an old leather pouch that belonged to our first hero of early Texas, Sam Houston Drake.

Everyone gathered around a glass case in one corner of the dining room.

Horace Butterball opened the door of the glass case with a key. Then he took out the leather pouch. He opened the pouch and removed an old, torn parchment.