Missing at Marshlands

  CHAPTER XXVI Melissa Again

  Sim smiled a little bitterly. "If you mean the snuffbox," she said, "weknow it's gone. It has been for some time."

  "Then you know about it?" Serge asked.

  "We knew Dimitri _had_ it, if that's what you mean," Arden went on. "Butwe don't know where it is _now_."

  "Of course," the young man breathed a sigh of relief, "Dimitri has itwith him, wherever he is."

  "He may have. We can't prove he hasn't," Terry said explaining. "But whyshould he have broken open his own cupboard?"

  "You're right!" exclaimed Serge. "He would never have done that."

  "I wonder what that man who jumped overboard was doing," Sim mused. "Idon't see that he has touched anything in here."

  After a look around, they all agreed that, whatever was his mysteriousreason for coming, he apparently had left in a hurry. Several books thathad been on the table now lay on the floor, but that was all in evidence.

  "We're just as much in the dark as ever," Terry remarked sadly. "We'llhave to start all over again."

  "Tell us about Dimitri," Arden said to Serge. "You were, as far as we cantell, the last person who saw him a----" she started, she had almost said"alive." So she began again. "Was he all right when you saw him last? Didhe say anything about going away?"

  "We sat talking and eating all evening," Serge explained. "Russians aregreat eaters, you know. But Dimitri didn't mention going away, and I lefthim in the best of spirits. Then I rowed back, got into my car, and droveon to New York."

  "That doesn't help at all," Sim wailed. "It only proves that Dimitri leftvery suddenly and probably against his will. He would have told you ifhe'd planned leaving, wouldn't he?" she asked the young man.

  "I am sure he had no thought of going," Serge hastened to assure her. "Hewas too much interested in the portrait he was finishing."

  "You mean the one of me?" Arden asked simply.

  "Yes; you've seen it?"

  "We looked--after Dimitri----" Arden said sadly. "Do you think he wouldmind?"

  Serge shrugged. "Don't worry about it. We have something more importantto think about."

  "But the worst of it is," Sim complained, "that we're so helpless."

  "We can do nothing here, at any rate," agreed Serge.

  "You will come to dinner with us, won't you?" Terry asked. "Motherexpects you. There is no place in town where you can get anything wortheating."

  "You are sure it won't be too much trouble? I did not expect it, youknow," Serge answered, smiling.

  "Of course not," Terry insisted. "You have to get your car, anyway."

  After another look around, the little party left the houseboat once more.Tania seemed used to these comings and goings, for she took no notice ofthem as they departed.

  The water of the bay was as smooth as glass as they rowed away, the girlslooking back wistfully as they left the houseboat behind.

  Terry's mother had a delicious meal waiting, and after so much excitementand activity the girls felt very hungry.

  The conversation naturally centered about the disappearance of Dimitri.They discussed it from all angles. It was during a lull in the talk thatTerry gave a little scream.

  "What's the matter?" Arden asked at once.

  "Nothing," Terry answered. "I saw a face at the window, and it made mejump. But it's only Melissa again."

  "See what she wants, Terry," Mrs. Landry told her daughter. "Perhaps thepoor child is hungry."

  Terry left the table and hurried outside. She could see Melissa runningdown the path in the late summer twilight. She was wearing black rubberhip boots and her old gray sweater, but surely, Terry thought to herself,it couldn't have been Melissa whom they had seen on the houseboat. Terryfelt she must stop the girl, at any rate, to find out.

  "Melissa! Melissa!" Terry called. "Wait, I have something for you."

  Melissa stopped and faced Terry. "What?" she asked abruptly. "What've yougot?"

  "Something nice," Terry assured her, and then, because she could think ofnothing else, she asked the frightened girl, "Do you like chocolatecake?"

  "Sure do," Melissa replied shyly. "Heaps!"

  "Come on back, then," Terry coaxed, and Melissa came towards her.

  Terry took her into the bright little kitchen and gave her a large glassof milk and a big piece of chocolate cake. Melissa ate greedily, andTerry spoke gently to her to gain her confidence.

  "That certainly is a lovely pin," Terry remarked. "Would you mind if Ishowed it to my mother? She's in the other room, but I'll bring it rightback."

  "I guess so," Melissa agreed reluctantly, and taking the stick pin fromher collar she handed the ornament to Terry. Her rather pale blue eyeswere questioning her benefactor, and she looked not at all sure that sheliked the situation.

  Terry took the pin and pushed in the swinging door that led to the diningroom.

  "Come, finish your dinner," Mrs. Landry said. "What happened to Melissa?"

  "She's out in the kitchen," Terry replied and put a warning finger to herlips. "Don't let her hear you. I just wanted to show this to Mr. Uzlov."She held the pin out to Serge. "Isn't this your brother's?"

  Serge took it and examined it closely.

  "I gave it to Dimitri years ago," he said. "He always liked it. I don'tbelieve he would have parted with it willingly."

  "We didn't think so, either," Arden remarked, taking what smallsatisfaction there was in the fact.

  "Go back to her, Terry," Mrs. Landry directed, "and talk to her a bit.See if she will tell you anything. But don't frighten her," shecautioned, and then to Serge she explained, "Melissa is like somewoodland creature. She runs at the first hint of danger. Poor child! Thegirls have done all they can to help her, but she doesn't trust anyone."

  Terry, taking the pin, they all having decided it would excite Melissa ifthey kept it, returned to the kitchen.

  Ida, the maid, was rattling pans and knives in the sink, but Melissa wasgone.

  "Where's Melissa?" Terry asked.

  "She went," Ida answered briefly.

  "Why? Did you say anything to frighten her?" Terry wanted to know.

  "Never said a word," Ida insisted. "She et the cake and got up and walkedout."

  Terry clenched her fists. Melissa gone again, and just when they thoughtthey would learn something. If the girl really wanted to hide, they couldnever find her. There was only one thing to do. Follow her at once beforeshe got too far away.

  "I'll be back in a minute," Terry flung over her shoulder, and stillholding the pin clutched in one hand she slipped out the back door afterthe elusive Melissa Clayton.