Missing at Marshlands

  CHAPTER XXVII Terry's Tactics

  Melissa was just about to push off in her old rowboat when Terry, withoutasking permission, hopped in and sat smiling at the startled girl.

  "You're in a great hurry, Melissa," Terry said in an effort to befriendly. "You forgot your pin."

  Without saying a word Melissa held out her hand. But Terry, holding upthe piece of jewelry, teased Melissa.

  "I'll give it to you when you tell me where you really got it," Terrysaid.

  "I found it, just like I told you," Melissa insisted.

  "Come, now, Melissa, that's hard to believe. But don't let me stop youfrom having your sail. I'd be glad to have someone row me for a change.I'm always giving other people a ride."

  "Well, I ought to be gettin' home. Pa will wonder about me," Melissasaid.

  "Don't forget that piece of cake I just gave you. And you left before Igot back to you. Why? Is anything worrying you?"

  "No, I just thought I'd better go," Melissa murmured sulkily. "Thanks forthe cake."

  "That's all right, I'd give you something a lot better than that if youcould help me," Terry said. Perhaps if Melissa thought she could be ofsome definite use she would tell where she really got the pin.

  "What? What would you give me?" Melissa asked craftily.

  "What would you like--jewelry?" Terry questioned with a quiet sort ofemphasis on the last word.

  "Jewelry?" Melissa's eyes lit up greedily. "I got some jewelry now that'dbe better than any you could give me. No, you better not come along. Igot to be goin' home."

  "How could you have?" Terry asked, deliberately trying to antagonize thegirl. "The only jewelry you ever got was that old bracelet Sim gave youweeks ago and that your father made you give back."

  "It is not," Melissa insisted. "I've got----No, I won't tell you; you'rejust jealous."

  "Come on, Melissa, be a sport. You tell me about the secret you know andI'll tell you something I know about you. Something fine. You'll love it.What do you say, is it a bargain?"

  Terry waited. It would never do to rush things. If Melissa got stubbornit would be hopeless, and Terry was almost positive, now, that the queergirl was in possession of something.

  Melissa looked at her uninvited guest in the boat distrustfully. Therewas no reason for not trusting her. The three girls had been very kind toher this summer and had tried to give her the bracelet. Still, shehesitated. Her father was also to be reckoned with. What would be hisattitude? Oh, well, Melissa mentally shrugged.

  "I did take the pin, but no one was there, and I knew the man wouldn'tcare," Melissa said, watching Terry closely.

  "When, Melissa? When did you take it?" Terry asked, hoping that the girlcould throw some light on Dimitri's disappearance.

  "One day when the man was out with his dog, painting," Melissa replied."I sneaked in just to have a look around. Some of the village people saidhe might be a spy, so I went over to see what a spy was. What is a spy,anyway?" Melissa asked, forgetting for the minute that she had just toldTerry that the pin had not been found after all.

  "Never mind that. Dimitri's not a spy. That's foolish. Tell me the secretyou know." Terry was becoming impatient.

  Melissa hedged. This girl was too wise. Melissa's father might punish herseverely, send her away, even, where she'd have to dress up and wearshoes in hot weather and do other uncomfortable things.

  "You won't tell my father?" Melissa begged Terry.

  "Not if you don't want me to," Terry replied.

  "Well," Melissa began, "over at my house I've got the prettiest box!"

  Terry jumped. The snuffbox! But she mustn't seem too surprised.

  "You have? Tell me about it. I won't tell your father," Terry said,smiling confidentially.

  "I got it on the houseboat. It was in a little closet on the wall and Ibroke the door open to see it," Melissa confessed, now trusting Terrycompletely.

  "But how did you know it was there?" asked Terry.

  "The pretty lady told me about it. She gave me a dollar to bring it toher, but after I found it, I liked it so much I couldn't bear to give itup," Melissa explained.

  "But don't you know, Melissa, that you shouldn't take things that belongto other people?" Terry said gently.

  "This was only a yellow box, and the lady said it was hers, anyway."

  "It wasn't, Melissa. It was Dimitri's, and the lady had no right to it.Where is it now?"

  "I've got it safe," the girl said briefly.

  "Melissa," began Terry in a tone that commanded attention, "that was avery wrong and dangerous thing to do, to take that box. I want you tocome back with me, while I explain to my friends and the Russian man'sbrother just what happened. Then I want you to go over to your house withus and give back the box."

  "Oh, no," pleaded Melissa. "I won't do it. My father would do somethingawful to me if I did."

  "You've got to. If you don't," threatened Terry, "you'll probably bearrested, and then what will become of you?"

  Melissa's eyes widened with fright. "Arrested?" she echoed dully.

  Terry nodded her head.

  "You better come back with me," she said quietly. Slowly Melissa began toturn the boat. She was cornered, and she knew it. Terry spoke quietly asthey rowed back to the cottage, explaining to the worried girl that sheand her friends would see that no harm came to her. So well did she pleadthat by the time they docked the boat, Melissa had grown confident, andeven eager to do Terry's bidding.