The Merriweather Girls in Quest of Treasure

In Short

The Merriweather Girls in Quest of Treasure (1932) is a brisk juvenile adventure story about four close friends—Bet, Joy, Shirley, and Enid—who spend their summer vacation in the Arizona hills. Hosted by Judge Breckenridge and joined by their local friend Kit, the girls stumble into a web of rival mining claims, missing treasure maps, local scoundrels, and an old professor searching for an Indian chief's grave. Driven by Bet's unstoppable enthusiasm, the group navigates desert hazards and hidden tunnels. It endures as an optimistic period cozy mystery celebrating youthful independence and female camaraderie.

The Story

The adventure opens at a train station as Bet Baxter, Joy Evans, Shirley Williams, and Enid Breckenridge embark on a long-planned trip to Arizona. Traveling under the care of Judge Breckenridge and his wife, the girls make a brief stopover in Washington, D.C., where Joy gives everyone a scare by vanishing early in the morning to explore the streets near the Capitol on her own. Reunited, the group continues westward, stopping at a small Mexican settlement along the railway tracks. After helping an injured child named Pedro Alvarez and winning over the locals, they enjoy authentic regional food and photograph the landscape before arriving at Benito.

In Arizona, they meet up with Kit Patten, a local girl whose wilderness instincts complement their eastern city background, and Tommy Sharpe, a former ward of the Judge. The girls are quickly introduced to Professor Anton Gillette of Dorsey College, an eccentric, childlike academic hunting for the ancient grave of an Indian chief in Lost Canyon. According to local lore, the canyon is haunted by the chief's daughter, a princess who cursed her tribe after a massacre. The professor's quest immediately draws the interest of Kie Wicks—a hawkish local storekeeper—and his scheming wife, Maude, who plan to let the old man do the hard work of searching so they can steal whatever he uncovers.

As the summer unfolds, the girls stake out mining property, dubbed the "Orphan Annie" claim. During their explorations, Bet discovers mystery markings and a carved arrow on a sheer rock ledge, pointing toward hidden historical secrets. Tension mounts as Kie Wicks and a cross-eyed Mexican companion named Ramon attempt to double-cross the party, spying on their camps and guarding mountain tunnels to secure the riches for themselves. The plot thickens when the professor goes missing, locked away in an isolated hut, while an Indian girl glides through the night to warn the friends.

The arrival of the girls' home friends—Phil, Bob, and Paul—along with Bet’s father, Colonel Baxter, adds extra support to their cause. After the professor is recovered and treated for illness by Kit's mother, Bet explores a sealed tunnel at their claim. Scraping away rock and dirt, she unearths a brass-bound metal chest packed with ancient coins, gold chains, nuggets, and jewels. Having secured the treasure trove and helped the professor validate his theories, the girls cap off their summer, already planning their next big enterprise as they prepare to head back east to Rockhill School.

How It Unfolds

Heading West — The four Merriweather Girls board a Pullman car for Arizona, stopping in Washington, D.C., where Joy temporarily strays from the group, and assisting a family at a desert train stop.

Meeting the Explorer — Upon arriving in the mountain region, the girls and Judge Breckenridge meet Professor Gillette, who reveals his search for an Indian chief's grave in Lost Canyon.

Schemes and Arrowheads — Local storekeeper Kie Wicks and his wife plan to spy on the professor to swipe his discoveries, while the girls explore the terrain, hunt for arrowheads, and bond with Kit's family.

Staking the Claim — The group files paperwork for the "Orphan Annie" mine, where Bet spots strange rock carvings and an arrow pointing toward hidden secrets on the neighboring hills.

Confrontation in the Canyon — Kie Wicks and his partner Ramon try to block access to the tunnel, but Bet and Kit surprise the unarmed men, keeping them at bay while defending their ground.

Rescuing the Professor — After Professor Gillette goes missing, the arrival of an Indian chief's daughter and the help of visiting friends enable the group to locate the captive academic and bring him to safety.

Unearthing the Treasure — Returning to the tunnel, Bet digs into the rock floor and uncovers a brass-bound casket full of historic gold, jewels, and coins, securing their summer victory.

Bound for Rockhill — With the mystery solved, the girls board the train for the upcoming school term, excitedly signing up for aviation classes for their next big adventure.

The People

• Bet Baxter: The energetic, blond-haired driving force of the group from Lynnwood on the Hudson. Bet craves romantic adventure, climbs sheer rock faces, and drives the search for hidden treasure, though her quick temper occasionally flares when her friends tease her about her bond with Phil Gordon.
• Joy Evans: The emotionally dramatic "butterfly girl" of the squad. Joy sheds tears easily, hates riding horses and facing desert heat, and prefers teasing Bet about boys to digging through dirty caves, yet her sharp eyes frequently spot critical clues like the rock arrow.
• Kit Patten: The capable, brown-eyed Arizona native who grew up playing in Lost Canyon. She rides spirited horses like Powder, understands mountain life, and acts as the bridge between the city girls, the local Indian communities, and the surrounding wilderness.
• Professor Anton Gillette: An absent-minded scholar from Dorsey College whose childlike enthusiasm for Indian lore, ancient massacres, and chief graves endears him to the party while making him a target for local swindlers.
• Kie Wicks: The long-beaked, prying storekeeper from Cayuga who, along with his manipulative wife Maude, acts as the primary antagonist, attempting to jump claims and steal the professor's discoveries.
• Enid Breckenridge & Shirley Williams: Loyal members of the quartet; Enid offers practical nursing care and warm hospitality, while Shirley captures their western journey through her camera lens.

In Its Own Voice

When the girls first board their train out of the station, Bet calls back to her anxious father on the platform while Joy gives in to the drama of the moment:

"It's so thrilling to be going away for a long trip, and when it comes to the luxury of a private car, why it's twice as thrilly."

Out in the wilderness, Professor Gillette explains his scholarly quest, surprising the girls with how closely it matches local folklore:

"This old chief was supposed to have been buried with many historical objects of the tribe, and it is his grave that I must find."

Upon discovering the carved arrow high up on a cliff ledge, Bet leads the charge to follow its path despite the confusion of her friends:

"It points toward the hill, that way," replied Bet, studying the markings carefully.

What It's Really About

Beneath its upbeat mystery beats, the book explores the tension between naive eastern expectations and the realities of the American West. The narrative contrasts the academic, theoretical approach of Professor Gillette and the city girls with the practical, land-wise experience of Kit Patten and her mountain family. It also examines female agency and solidarity during an era when young women were gaining greater independence; the girls take charge of business filings, handle rough outdoor terrain, outwit dishonest men, and manage their own financial claims ("One for all and all for one!"). Trust, observational skill, and healthy curiosity are rewarded, while greed and deceit—represented by the calculating Wicks family—are consistently thwarted by straightforward teamwork.

Why Read It Today

The Merriweather Girls in Quest of Treasure offers a charming, nostalgic window into 1930s juvenile series fiction. Readers who enjoy classic mystery series like Nancy Drew or The Bobbsey Twins will appreciate its sunny, fast-paced storytelling, crisp dialogue, and clean period style. The plot moves rapidly from train travel to desert campfires, rock climbs, and hidden caskets, maintaining a light, optimistic tone throughout.

Modern readers should expect some dated period elements, including simplified portrayals of Native American and Mexican locals, as well as melodrama typical of early twentieth-century series books. The characters speak with exaggerated youthful slang ("thrilly," "hoodooed"), and the plot relies heavily on convenient coincidences. Nevertheless, the genuine warmth between the core girls, Bet's infectious boldness, and the authentic period flavor make it a light, enjoyable piece of vintage fiction for fans of historical youth adventures.