Dan Mangan

## Appearance

Dan is a young man, described as having dark hair with sideburns, and dark eyes.

## History

Dan is an orphan, and Bill Regan's nephew.

Dan is first introduced as a member of a gang from New York City, called "The Cowhands." After he gets into trouble, the juvenile courts contact Regan, giving him the options of offering Dan a home or letting him go to a juvenile home. Regan chooses to let Dan stay with Mr Maypenny, the Wheeler's gamekeeper, and assist him in patrolling the game preserve.

## Personality

Dan is a quiet member of the Bob-Whites. Dan is quiet and sensitive, a hard worker who doesn't mind manual labour.  He is extremely loyal and sensitive to the feelings of others. Although cautious, Dan is not so quick to dismiss Trixie's theories and often supports her when the other boys don't.

He often misses group vacations because he has to work with underprivileged children or catch up on his studies. He doesn't usually get to play a large role in the mysteries Trixie is involved in. However, when he does, he is incredibly useful. His knowledge of New York City, and his street smarts, saved Trixie's life when he led the police to her and rescued her from three gangsters.

Dan's goal is to become a policeman in New York.

## Relationships

### Family

#### Bill Regan

Regan is Dan's uncle. The two share an estranged relationship, and rarely interact in the series.

#### Parents

Dan is an orphan, whose father, Tim Mangan, died in a car accident when he was young. Dan's unnamed mother mother died when Dan was in his mid-teens.

#### Mr. Maypenny

Dan lives with Mr. Maypenny on the game reserve. The two seem to get along well, and Dan trusts him quite a lot, even coming to his defense against the Wheelers if needed. Although not related, Mr. Maypenny serves a fatherly role for Dan as his guardian.

### Bobwhites of the Glen

#### Trixie

Dan had a shaky start with Trixie, and she was very suspicious to him. However, after saving Bobby Belden's life, the two become friends.

#### Mart Belden

Dan is closest to Mart and is often found spending time with him when he is included in the book.

### Friends

#### Hallie Belden

Dan has a romantic interest in Hallie Belden, Trixie's younger cousin. Hallie, although four years younger, appears mature for her age. They share some moments in *The Uninvited Guest*, but there is no development of a relationship.

#### Loyola Kevins

She is in Dan and Brian's chemistry class.

### Pets

#### Spartan

Dan learned to ride soon after coming to Sleepyside, and was given a horse owned by the Wheeler's, Spartan, to ride.

### The Cowhands

#### Luke

Luke was a part of Dan's old gang, the Cowhands. He attempts to coerce Dan into robbing the Wheeler's after he first moves to Sleepyside, but Dan declines and the two fight before parting ways.

#### Oliver Trolliver

Another member of the Cowhands, and past associate of Dan.

### Others

#### Al Finlay

Al is a drug dealer who Dan knew from his days living in the city.

## Trivia

* Dan's age is never confirmed and is very convoluted. His age is only mentioned directly once, when we are told he is the same age as Mart. However, he is said to be in Mart's class, then Jim and Brian's, then referenced as a sophomore with Mart, then in Brian's chemistry and social studies classes.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Dan Mangan." Trixie-belden.com. N.d. Retrieved April 4, 2021 from http://www.trixie-belden.com/chars/dan.htm
2. ↑ For a list of all reasons why Dan missed an adventure, see https://trixiebeldentidbits.weebly.com/page-2.html
3. ↑ The Black Jacket Mystery, pg. 94
4. ↑ The Black Jacket Mystery
5. ↑ The Black Jacket Mystery, pg 81
6. ↑ From https://trixiebeldentidbits.weebly.com/page-1.html