The Meredith children were delighted when their father accepted a temporary job as estate manager for Major Cleveland of Mappins. Their holiday spirit was quickly dampened, however, when they learned that the irascible Major did not like children. Also, Leonie, Ian, and Paul noticed suspicious men and mysterious happenings at Mappins. While helping Mr. Meredith restore the run-down estate, the children found themselves caught in the center of the mystery. All their hard work had been willfully and maliciously destroyed. This cowardly attack, instead of defeating the children, intensified their efforts on behalf of Mappins. How the Merediths trap the culprit and solve the mystery provides an exciting story filled with suspense as well as fine family feeling. #childrens#mystery