CHAPTER XXIX The Barking of Tania
Chief Reilly came out of the poor little house, a veritable shack it was,shaking his head.
"I suppose," remarked Sim in an aside to Arden, "he is going to say 'it'sa long road without a cat in the attic,' or something equally brilliant."
"He might," remarked Terry, "propose that the race is not always to theswift but there are none so blind as those who won't eat."
"Meaning what?" asked Arden.
"That we've drawn a blank," said Sim.
She was right. For the first impression, gathered on arrival at the homeof the Claytons, that no one was there, was borne out as the chiefemerged a second time from an inspection of the premises.
"Can't find anybody," he announced with a flourish of his big red hands.
"You mean there's nobody home?" asked Terry.
"That's about it," said Mr. Reilly. "Nobody home. You can't get anythingout of an empty bag except dust, you know."
"And I suppose there was plenty of dust?" suggested Sim.
"Well, not so much as you'd think for," said the officer and garageowner. "Melissa must have humped herself, for the old shack was prettyclean. Case of pot calling the kettle black, you know."
"Poor kid! I guess she had her own troubles," remarked Arden. "I wonderwhere her father took her and why?"
"Maybe we'll know that when we find Dimitri," suggested Terry.
"If we ever do," voiced Sim.
"Oh, don't be Mrs. Gloom!" exclaimed Arden. "Of course we'll find him."
"And find out why he painted such a lovely picture of you," said Terry.
"Silly!" murmured Arden as she blushed beneath her tan. But it wasobvious that she was as curious as were her chums about the mysteriousportrait.
"Well, I guess we've found out all we can here, which is about less thannothing with a hole in the middle," said the chief, as he came back froma walk about the place. "None of the Claytons are here. Not that there'smany in this branch of the family--jest Melissa and her dad. But they'regone."
Suddenly Arden had a thought. She expressed it to Sim and Terry while thechief was looking into a rain-water barrel, as if he might find themissing Dimitri there. Arden said:
"I think we ought to tell him about the policewoman."
"Emma Tash," murmured Sim.
"Yes," said Terry. "I think we had."
"Mr. Reilly," began Arden, after receiving this confirmation, "we havesomething to tell you."
"You ain't got that Russian stranger hid away with that there goldsnuffbox, have you?" chuckled the chief. "Like a hen on a wet griddle,you know."
"Oh, he'll be the death of me," sighed Sim.
"It's about Melissa," said Arden, and then, much to the astonishment ofthe chief, the girls told him about the visit of the detective woman andthe happier prospects for the unfortunate girl.
"I always knowed there was something more than met the eye in themClaytons," said the chief. "Hum! Melissa with a rich aunt that wants tosend her to school and make her into a lady. Well, I hope she does.Melissa is a good girl in spite of being a bit queer. She's the championswimmer around here."
"Maybe she might give me points," said Sim.
"Oh, yes, she's a natural swimmer," went on the chief, taking no noticeof this aside. "And a good girl. Loves bright things--birds and flowers.More than once I've seen her sitting on a fence where somebody had agarden full of red poppies, looking at 'em to beat the band. Her old man,though--there's a case! All he cares about are crabs, lobsters, andfish."
"Did you ever hear," asked Arden, thinking to confirm what Emma Tash hadsaid, "that Melissa's mother came of a good family?"
"It wouldn't have to be very good to beat the Clayton end of it," saidMr. Reilly. "Yes, Mrs. Clayton was a different breed. Give a dog a badname and throw him a bone," he chuckled. "Yes, Melissa's mother made abad match of it. I hope this here detective woman can do something forthe poor kid."
"Maybe she has," said Terry suddenly.
"What do you mean?" asked Sim.
"Maybe Emma Tash has been here without us knowing it and has takenMelissa away," explained Terry. "That detective woman was smart. She mayhave come here, met George Clayton and Melissa, and have prevailed on himto let her take the girl. That would account for their being gone now."
For a moment they were inclined to accept this theory. Then Arden, asusual putting her finger on the critical point, said:
"It wouldn't account, though, for the barking of Tania."
For the first time they all realized that the dog was barking with anunusual note in the tone and that she kept it up almost continuously. Upto this moment they had been so engrossed with approaching the shackwithout inciting George Clayton to the point of desperate resistance thatthey had not paid much attention to Tania.
Now they noticed that the dog was running about the shack in a mostexcited manner, scarcely ceasing her growls and barks. And, now thattheir attention was fixed on her, they saw that she stopped at a certaincellar window and barked there with unusual vigor.
"The barking of Tania," murmured Sim. "No, the taking away of Melissa bythe detective woman, with her father's consent, and his desertion of hishome, would not account for the barking of Tania. Arden, I think we aregoing to make a discovery--a big discovery."
"What do you mean?" faltered Terry. "Do you think Dimitri----" She couldnot finish. She dared not finish. But the others knew what she had inmind.
"Now you speak of it," said the chief, "that dog is making quite a row.Barking dogs, you know, catch no cats. But we'll see what's up."
"You think, don't you, Sim," said Arden, "that there is something in thecellar?"
"I can't help but think that, from the way Tania acts. Look at her now,barking into the window."
It was as Sim said. The dog was trying almost to thrust her pointedmuzzle into the glass.
"Maybe Clayton and Melissa are hiding there," said Terry. "You didn't godown cellar, did you, Mr. Reilly?"
"No, I didn't. Didn't see any use. But if you think we'd better, why, Igot a flashlight in my boat."
"I think we had better," said Arden.
"Then we will. Nothing like eating your cake and having your bread," thechief declared. "Wait a minute."
He tried to run down to his motorboat but made a bad job of that, for heonly waddled. However, he soon came back with the flashlight. MeanwhileTania had not ceased her barking. She no longer ran frantically about theshack. She remained at the one window and barked continuously.
"Now, girls," said the chief as he again started into the house, "there'sno use of you running into any danger. I don't say there _is_ danger butif it's _there_ I ain't going to let you run your pretty necks into nonoose. I'm paid for this work and I'll do it. Nobody can ever say RufusReilly let anybody else pull his pancakes out of the ice box. I'll godown in that cellar alone."
"But if Clayton is there," said Arden, "and starts to fight you----"
"I've got a gun," said the chief, showing an automatic. "I can fight asgood as the next one if I have to, but I don't think I'll have to. If Ido, well, you're outside here to go git help. You know what I mean." Agold-toothed smile.
"Yes," said Terry. "If we hear shooting, or any calls for help from thecellar, we'll take your motorboat and go get assistance. I can run aboat."
"That's the idea," said the chief. "You go right back to town and getHenry Doremus and Ike Tantker. They're deputy constables, and you cangenerally find 'em around my garage. If they ain't there, Ted Rollaby, mymechanic, will tell you what to do. Now I'm goin' in."
There was an outside slanting door leading down into the cellar. Thechief pulled this up, hooked it into place, and then, with his flashlightin one hand and his automatic in the other, started down the half-rottenwooden steps.
He had no sooner started down than Tania, deserting her barking post atthe window, rushed past him and was into the dark musty cellar ahead ofhim.
&n
bsp; "Oh," murmured Arden, "I'm glad the dog went down."
"So am I," said Sim. "I wouldn't want anything to happen to the funny oldchief, even if he does drive me crazy with his proverbs."
"What do you think he'll find?" asked Terry.
Before either of her chums could hazard a guess they all heard, above thefrantic barking of Tania, the chief's voice shouting:
"I've got him! I've found him! Here he is, tied up like a bag of potatoesin the cellar. I've found Mr. Uzlov!"
CHAPTER XXX All Is Well
Gazing with fear-widened eyes at one another, the three girls waited forwhat might happen next.
The chief had found the man missing from Marshlands; but in whatcondition? The worst might have happened, for it was now obvious thatDimitri had been the prisoner of George Clayton ever since the mysteriousdisappearance from the _Merry Jane_.
"Oh," murmured Arden, "if he is----"
She could not finish.
"I--I feel sort of funny," said Terry.
"Girl, if you pass out on us now I'll never speak to you again as long asI live!" threatened Sim.
"Oh, I'm all right--I guess," Terry said. "But----"
She was interrupted by the voice of Chief Reilly coming, muffled, fromthe cellar.
"Guess maybe you girls had better come down here," he called. "I mightneed your testimony for evidence."
"Oh!" almost shouted Arden. "Is he----"
"Mr. Uzlov is all right. He's alive, though I can't say he's very well,"went on the chief. "He's bound and gagged and all knocked out, but Ican't see anything very wrong. There's so many ropes on him I'll needhelp in getting them off quick. But I want you to see him so you cantestify against this rat of a Clayton. Nasty piece of business, if youask me."
The girls could hear Tania now joyously whimpering. The dog no longerbarked fiercely. It was evident she was with her beloved master whom shefound to be alive, at least.
Thus reassured, the three descended the outside cellar steps. The chiefheld his torch for them to see, and by its light they noted that he hadalready started on the work of rescue. A cloth that had been bound aroundthe Russian's mouth had been taken off. But he was still trussed up.
With a slash of his knife, while Arden held the light, the chief releasedthe roped hands. And as Dimitri rubbed his numbed lips he said weakly:
"So you've come at last."
"Oh, if we had only guessed this before!" exclaimed Arden.
"Still, you are in good time. I am not harmed," said Dimitri. Then hecould talk no longer, for Tania was frantically licking his face.
With the help of the girls, one of whom held the light while the chiefand the others loosed the binding strands, Dimitri Uzlov was soon setfree. He was a little weak in his legs, but after stamping about managedto regain the use of them and was able to leave the cellar.
He had been found in a sort of closet in one corner, small and dark, withonly the cracks around the sealed window for ventilation.
"I seen that shut closet door as soon as I got down here," said the chiefas they all went into the upper sunlight. "I'd 'a' knowed somebody was inthat closet even if the dog hadn't rushed for it like--well, like a mousegoin' for cheese in a trap," he finished.
"It is good to be out again," said Dimitri as he paused at the top of thesteps and took a long deep breath. "I have been in the dark too long."
"But what happened?"
"How did he get you?"
"Did he harm you?"
"Where is he now, and Melissa?"
The girls' questions came trippingly.
"I think it is best if I go back to my houseboat and there tell you thestory," said the artist. "Perhaps there is even left some tea--and Ishould dearly love a cup of tea. This Clayton jailer gave me nothing butcoffee. I am so sick of it!"
"There is tea left," said Arden.
"That is good. I suppose," and his voice faltered, "that my precious boxis not left. They must have taken that."
"I'm afraid they did," said Arden.
"Well, it is fate! I am glad at least to be alive," and Dimitri shruggedhis shoulders with resignation.
"You all better get in my boat and leave yours here until later," saidthe chief when it was found that Dimitri, after a long drink of water,was able to walk with more ease. "We'll make better time that way. Morehaste the quicker you get over it."
Sim shook her fist at him behind his back.
They all piled into the motorboat, Tania never leaving her master's side,and in a short time they were at the _Merry Jane_. After it was seen thatDimitri, though obviously suffering from neglect, was not seriouslyharmed, it came to Arden's mind that she and her chums must make aconfession.
They had looked at the forbidden picture. It was very likely thatDimitri's trained vision would detect that the cloth had been removed andput back. Of course, he might think Clayton had done it, but it wasbetter to tell. So Arden said:
"We discovered your secret."
"My secret?" He appeared not to understand.
"That picture," she added. "We looked at it."
The whiteness of Dimitri's face, blanched by many days of confinement ina dark cellar, was changed to a deep red as he murmured:
"I hope you do not think me too presumptuous."
"It is lovely!" declared Sim.
"A beautiful picture," said Terry.
"And you--have you nothing to say in forgiveness?" He was lookingstraight at Arden.
"Oh, I think it is wonderful," she said. "There is no need of pardon. Butit is too beautiful! I never----"
"It is not half good enough!" he interrupted. "It was only from memory.Perhaps you will do me the honor to sit for me that I may properlycomplete it."
"If Daddy and Mother consent," she said.
"As if they wouldn't!" said Sim.
They were at the houseboat now. It seemed silent and deserted, but thechief said:
"Might as well take precautions. Nobody ever yet died of a broken neck bydrinking milk. I'll go aboard first."
"And if he utters another of his famous sayings I'll choke him with myhandkerchief!" hissed Sim.
The silence of Tania as they approached close to the _Merry Jane_ wasfairly conclusive evidence that no strangers were aboard. They walkedconfidently up the little gangplank and, allowing Dimitri to take thelead, followed him into the living room.
He went through the curtains to the broken cupboard, and as they allstood grouped behind him they saw him, after a moment of hesitation, puthis hand in and take out an object. Then they heard his delighted cry:
"Here it is! My box! And not harmed in the least. Wait!"
Quickly he pressed the spring, took out the key, and wound up themechanism. Suddenly the jeweled bird began to sing. A fairy hymn ofvictory.
"But how did it get here?" asked Arden.
"The mystery is solved--but how?" questioned Terry.
"This has got my goat," admitted the chief. "There's no fool like aspring chicken," he added, showing his gold tooth in a wide grin.
"I think this may explain matters," remarked Dimitri as he again put hishand into the shattered cupboard and brought out several sheets of paper.He glanced over them and said: "It is a confession from this GeorgeClayton--he who caught me and held me prisoner. It perhaps tellseverything, my friends."
It did. George Clayton, crabber, lobsterman, and fisher, proved to bemore of a scholar than anyone had ever suspected. He wrote a good hand,though some of the words were rather shaky.
_"'First of all,'"_ the written sheets revealed, _"'I want to let thegirls, who were kind to my Melissa, know that she is in good hands.Melissa had nothing to do with me catching Mr. Uzlov. After I got him shewanted me to let him go, but I wouldn't. Melissa is a good girl. I'mgoing to let her aunt have her and bring her up right. A woman named EmmaTash came to my place the other day, though I told her to get out, butshe didn't.'"_
"Emma Tash just wouldn't do that a second time," said T
erry, recallingthe crabbing party.
_"'So I had a talk with her,'"_ Dimitri read on from the letter, _"'and Idecided it wasn't right to Melissa to keep her here with me. Not that I'mgoing to be here any more. I'm leaving. But before I left I told thisEmma Tash she could take Melissa and bring her up the way her aunt wantsher brought up. So that woman took her off.'"_
"Then the poor child will have something in life after all," murmuredArden. "I'm so glad!"
"She may even become a champion swimmer," suggested Sim.
"Oh, you and your swimming," laughed Terry. "Let's find out about thesnuffbox."
"That's right here," said Mr. Uzlov. He read on:
_"'Melissa has always been different from other girls. Mrs. Landry andthe three young ladies know that. One day Melissa came home to me withthis gold box that I'm leaving back in your cupboard. She told me she hadbroken open your cupboard and taken it from your houseboat, Mr. Uzlov.Melissa always loved bright things. Well, I was struck all of a heap whenI saw she had it. I didn't know what to do. In a way it was stealing, butnot for Melissa. She didn't mean to steal it. She just couldn't helptaking it once she saw it. I love my daughter. Nobody shall ever say Idon't. Anyhow, here's your gold box back and I'm going to clear out andMelissa has gone with that good detective woman. That's all. From GeorgeClayton.'"_
There was a little silence following the reading of the strange letter.
"But it isn't all," said Arden, looking at Dimitri. "How did he get youand hold you a prisoner?"
"I suppose that is my part to explain," said Dimitri. "Well, it shall nottake me long. First we shall begin with Olga."
"Who is she?" burst out Sim impulsively.
"She is my talented but spendthrift sister," said Dimitri with a littleembarrassed laugh. "She always claimed to have an interest, and right, inthe snuffbox, which once belonged to the late lamented Czar, but that wasnot so. I mean she had no interest in it. That box was mine alone. Thatis what we often quarreled about. My brother Serge, with whom you say yougot in touch, can bear me out in this. I sent for him when Olgabecame--well, rather troublesome," he said with a smile.
"So," he resumed, "one day I came back here, after having been out in themarsh sketching, to find my cupboard broken open and my box gone. I wasthunderstruck. Of course I suspected my sister. But before I had time todo anything, this Clayton man came on board with the box. He said hisdaughter had taken my treasure, as she often did with bright things, notknowing their value, and he had come to restore it. He asked me not tohave her arrested or to prosecute her as he would give me the box back.
"But there I made a mistake." Again Dimitri shrugged his expressiveshoulders. "I was naturally resentful at being robbed, even by poorMelissa, who, I understand, is not wholly responsible. So I flared up andsaid the guilty must be punished; that the law must take its course. Yes,we Russians are too temperamental--I admit that. I said I would see thatno real harm came to the girl but that she must be sent away and taughtto do the right."
"He didn't like that, not for a cent, and it takes ten shillings to makea pound," interpolated Mr. Reilly.
"You are right," agreed Dimitri, evidently not bored by this crossquotation. "At once Mr. Clayton, what you call, flared up. Before I couldavoid him, he had attacked me. He is a big man. He had me at adisadvantage, and before I could do anything he had put part of a fishnet over my head, for all the world like the old Roman gladiators." Helaughed a little, for he had brewed some tea in his samovar, and thesipping of it appeared to revive him more than anything else. "So he hadme helpless."
"But Tania," interrupted Sim. "Where was she?"
"He must have suddenly planned his attack," resumed Dimitri, "for when hecarried me away, half unconscious as I was, I dimly saw Tania tied andlying on the deck. He must, a little while before, have given her somedrugged meat. He didn't take time to make friends with her and entice heraway."
"But just what did Clayton do to you?" asked Terry.
"He threatened after the net was over me, to take me away and keep meaway if I did not promise to let Melissa go unharmed. I would notpromise. I felt it was for the girl's own good that I be instrumental insending her to some institution. I was stubborn. He grew very angry. Itried to hit him. He hit me. It all went black before my eyes, and when Iawoke, I was bound and my mouth was tied, in the place where you foundme."
"Oh, how terrible," said Arden.
"Such a brute!" declared Terry.
"You should have shouted for help," argued Sim.
"I tried to, dear young lady, but one cannot shout with one's mouthbundled up like a muff. So I remained a prisoner. At times the man camedown to me and opened my mouth that I might eat, but he stood over mewith a gun so I dared not shout. But his place is so isolated that itwould have done no good if I had. Each time he said he would let me go ifI would promise. But I would not promise. I assure you we Russians arevery stubborn." Even now he seemed proud of it, and the girls ratherliked him for it.
"You couldn't trick him out of it?" asked Mr. Reilly.
"Trick?" Dimitri questioned.
"I mean promise and then get out and later do as you pleased."
"The Uzlovs never do that, sir! I beg of you! Yes!"
"Oh, well, all right. You can't go two ways at the same time," said thechief, grinning. "What else happened?"
"Nothing. I stayed in the cellar closet. Clayton maintained me bound andgagged as you saw. Once he came to me to say he had gone back to my boatto restore my beautiful box. But, as he was about to put it in the brokencupboard, he was surprised by you girls and my brother Serge coming onboard. So Clayton leaped over the rail in great haste. I suppose you didnot then see him or my box?"
"We heard a noise," said Terry, "and saw a man jump off your boat, but wedidn't even guess who was leaving the _Merry Jane_ in such a rush. And tothink at that time the snuffbox was on the point of being given back. Ifwe only had known!"
"Perhaps it is as well," said Dimitri with rather a wan smile. "If thebox had been put back then, and my sister Olga, she of the so spendthrifthabits, had paid another visit, she might have then taken it. And if sheknew this Clayton had it, without doubt she would have so raged at himthat she would have secured it. So it is all well as it is. Also Mr.Clayton told me something else. It seems my beautiful but desperatesister tried to bribe poor Melissa, with auto rides and some money andtrinkets, to get the box for her. But that plot did not quite come off.It may have been Olga's talk, speaking of my box in the cupboard, thatcaused Melissa to take it for herself."
"And she got your tie pin, also," said Arden.
"Oh, yes, but I have that back." He showed it to them. "Mr. Clayton gaveit to me. He said his daughter had picked it up off the floor in my paintroom. It is very possible. Poor Melissa!"
"But how did Clayton and his daughter come to go away and leave you tiedin the cellar?" asked the chief. "If it hadn't been for the way your dogbarked, we might never have found you."
"Oh, yes. That I can explain. Good Tania!" He pulled her silky ears."Only last night," Dimitri went on, "Mr. Clayton came to my prison celland told me he was then leaving to go to the _Merry Jane_ and, under thecover of darkness, restore my box."
"And he did!" exclaimed Sim. "Some virtue in him, anyhow."
"Yes," agreed the artist. "Also he told me that matters were all nowsettled. He did not require any promise from me, for he told me hisdaughter was going away with her aunt and he would separate from her.Perhaps that is not so?" He looked questioningly at the girls.
"Oh, yes, that part is true," said Arden.
"I am so glad. The poor child! Well, Mr. Clayton went on to say that hewas shuffling off, as he expressed it, though why shuffle, I do not know.Nevertheless, he said he and his daughter were going away. But he felt hehad to protect himself. So he said he would not release me then. But whenhe was safely far enough away, he would telephone to you, sir, the headof the Metropolitan Police here, and tell you to come and unbind me."Dimitri bowed to Mr. Reilly.
/> "First I heard about that," said the chief. "I didn't get no telephonecall. Out of sight sours no cream."
"Maybe a message has come since you started out with us," suggested Sim.
"Maybe it has; better late than never get to the fair."
"Oh----" Sim began, but she repressed herself.
"So you see how it all happened," concluded Dimitri. "I was takenunawares, kept prisoner even when my lovely box was restored, and allbecause I was such a stickler for a principle. Yes, we Russians are verystubborn. But, to say the truth, I was on the point of agreeing to whatMr. Clayton wanted me to, about not being instrumental in having hisdaughter sent away, when he told me he had arranged for my release, so itis just as well. I have my pride left."
"But you must have suffered," said Terry.
"One must always suffer for one's pride. Yes?"
There was little else to tell. The _Merry Jane_ seemed like her old selfagain with Dimitri and Tania on board. The Russian drank more tea andoffered glasses to his guests.
"What are you thinking of, Arden?" asked Sim, noticing that her chum wasscarcely sipping her tea and had a dreamy far-away look in her eyes.
"I was wondering," came the answer, and Arden addressed Dimitri, "if youwere down in the cellar of the Clayton shack the time we went to it, withyour brother and Melissa, to get the box she said she had. Did you hearus talking or moving around up above you?"
"No, I can't say I did," the Russian replied. "But that is easilyaccounted for. I dozed or slept much of the time. More than once I thinkClayton put some quieting potion in my food or drink, for I seemed alwaysto have a heavy, sleepy feeling. No, I didn't know how near you were."
"If we had only known then," said Terry, "we could have made a thrillingrescue. But we didn't. Or if we had taken Tania she would have discoveredyou. A pity we didn't."
"Yes," agreed Arden.
"Please do not reproach yourselves," said Dimitri. "I am too much in yourdebt to allow that. It is all over now."
"Another thing I wonder about," said Arden. "You know when we went to theshack with Melissa after she promised to restore the box, and it wasn'twhere she said she had hidden it, she was, or appeared to be, greatlysurprised. I wonder if she was acting or if she knew her father had takenthe treasure?"
"I don't believe Melissa could act that much, though she is very cleverat times," said Terry. "I don't believe she suspected her father hadtaken the box from where she had concealed it. And it would be wellwithin reason, considering her character, for her to have thought thatperhaps she had forgotten where she had put the box. You know, when wefirst talked with her father, after he wouldn't let her keep thebracelet, he said she often took trifling bright objects and hid them allaround the house. He said she often forgot where she had hidden hersimple treasures and would go looking for them day after day. Then shewould suddenly recall the place and be happy again. So in this caseMelissa might have thought that, after putting the box in her poor littlebureau, she herself had removed it and couldn't recall where it was."
"Yes, that would account for it," Sim said.
"It's very possible," Arden agreed. "It is all very strange. The poorgirl certainly needs careful and regular training. I'm so glad this auntof hers remembers her in time."
"I wonder if Melissa knew you were down in the cellar?" asked Sim.
Dimitri shrugged his shoulders, answering: "It is difficult to say. Idon't know just when her father told her what he had done. I believe,though, it was only a short time before they both left."
"It's queer Melissa didn't discover you," spoke Arden.
"No, not when you consider what sort of a girl she is," replied Sim. "Shewas always coming and going, wandering like a wild spirit. I don'tbelieve she saw much of her father. He could easily keep his secret fromher."
"I believe he did," said the Russian. "It is strange to think that onceyou were all so close to me, and again so near to getting the box whenClayton brought it back but was frightened away. Very strange. But, Mr.Reilly, I am neglecting you. Let me give you some more tea, if youplease."
"Not for me," said the chief. "Coffee sets me up better. It is the cupwhich cheers but doesn't give you the jitters." He laughed. "And now, ifthere's no arrests to be made, I guess we might as well call it a day,wind the clock, and put the cat out." He laughed again.
"Your brother will be anxious about you," said Arden. "You should let himknow, Mr. Uzlov."
"I shall. At once."
"We are going back," said Terry. "We could send him a telegram. In fact,we did."
"You did?"
"I mean before we found you," and Arden's ruse was detailed.
"Oh, how clever of you, my dear young ladies. Yes, I must let Serge know.If you will be so good. His address----"
He fumbled in his pocket and brought out a paper with the house number inNinth Street.
"That will save time," said Arden. "We will wire him. You must need arest."
"Oh, a rest will be most delightful," said the artist. "I must get incondition to finish--that." He waved toward the covered canvas.
"I haven't yet thanked you," murmured Arden.
"It is I who must thank you, dear young lady," and he murmured somethingin Russian, translating: "It is the subject, not the picture, to whom theartist is indebted."
The chief showed a desire to be gone. Doubtless to learn if thattelephone from Clayton had come into his garage.
"We must be going," said Terry.
"But we shall see you again," added Sim.
"Marshlands will be a place for a real vacation, now that there is nomystery to solve," said Arden, laughing a little.
"I thank you." Dimitri bowed very formally. "And, if you will be so good,include in your telegram to my brother the fact that I am going to sellthe snuffbox and give Olga the share she thinks she ought to have. Poorgirl! She must not suffer because of my love for a relic. I shall sellthe box."
"Oh," murmured Arden. "That lovely box!"
"It will still be lovely, no matter who possesses it," said Dimitri. "Andnow I must rest."
Truly he was very weary, for his imprisonment in the dank cellar had toldon his nerves. But he said he needed no attention; that he and Taniawould be all right for the remainder of their stay on the _Merry Jane_.He did need a little fresh food, however, and Chief Reilly promised tobring some back in his motorboat.
So, with bows from Dimitri, tail-wagging from Tania, and hand-flutteringsfrom the girls, while the chief demonstrated his gold-tooth grin, thevisitors came away. They went back to get Terry's boat, and then thegirls, being towed by the chief to the dock of "Buckingham Palace,"hastened to tell Mrs. Landry the news.
"Well, fancy that!" she exclaimed. "I hope it is all true about Melissa."
It was true, as they learned a few days later, for a letter arrived fromEmma Tash confirming everything, and with it there was a little note fromMelissa. Of course Emma Tash knew nothing about the prisoner in thecellar, and Melissa was forced into silence by her father. She did notknow, as a matter of fact, until the last few days of the imprisonment,that her father had captured Dimitri. If she had known, she probablywould have told the girls.
"But everything is all right now," said Arden as she and her chums sat onthe warm sands after a dip in the ocean.
"Yes," said Terry, "the mystery is over."
"And it was a good one while it lasted," declared Sim. "See what Ardengets out of it."
"What?" asked Arden, letting sand flow through her tanned fingers.
"Lovely picture."
"Oh, that!"
"Will your folks let you take it?" asked Terry.
"Oh, yes. They didn't make any fuss at all when I told them."
"I don't know what Dimitri would have done if they had," laughed Sim."Oh, he _is_ such an interesting character."
"So is the chief, if you come to that," spoke Terry.
"It's a long lane that has no back door," chuckled Arden. And then sheducked to avoid a clam shell tossed at her by
Sim.
"In a way it's rather sad," said Terry dreamily, after a long, thoughtfulpause.
"What?" asked Sim.
"Having a mystery end. I wonder if we'll ever be involved in another?"
"Maybe," said Sim.
And the girls were. In the succeeding volume, _The Hermit of PirateLight_, will be told what happened when the girls spent another summertogether.
Several times during the remainder of the season at Marshlands, Arden andher chums visited Dimitri at his houseboat. He finished Arden's portrait,which was later exhibited in New York, and the fact was made the occasionfor a little party attended by Olga and Serge. Olga seemed a muchdifferent person, now that she had some money from the sale of the Czar'ssnuffbox, which brought a very large sum. Dimitri also gave his brotherpart of the price. As for himself, he never seemed to care about money.
"My art is everything," he said. Truly it seemed so.
Chief Reilly, who was a guest at the "picture party," as it was called,admitted that George Clayton had left a telephone message telling abouthis prisoner and urging that he be released.
"But, shucks," said the chief, "you can't make a silk purse out of asow's ear."
"If he says that again," threatened Sim, "I'll run home."
But the chief didn't.
THE END
Transcriber's Notes
--The book's actual title is "Missing at Marshlands", not "Missing at the Marshlands" as on the cover.
--Silently corrected a few typos (but left nonstandard spelling and dialect as is).
--Rearranged front matter to a more-logical streaming order.
Missing at Marshlands Page 29
