Missing at Marshlands Part 29

"You are sure it won't be too much trouble? I did not expect it, you know," 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 of them as they departed.

The water of the bay was as smooth as gla.s.s as they rowed away, the girls looking back wistfully as they left the houseboat behind.

Terry's mother had a delicious meal waiting, and after so much excitement and 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 that Terry 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 me jump. But it's only Melissa again."

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

Terry left the table and hurried outside. She could see Melissa running down the path in the late summer twilight. She was wearing black rubber hip 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. Terry felt 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 you got?"

"Something nice," Terry a.s.sured her, and then, because she could think of nothing else, she asked the frightened girl, "Do you like chocolate cake?"

"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 gla.s.s of milk and a big piece of chocolate cake. Melissa ate greedily, and Terry spoke gently to her to gain her confidence.

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

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

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

"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 her lips. "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't believe he would have parted with it willingly."

"We didn't think so, either," Arden remarked, taking what small satisfaction 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," she cautioned, and then to Serge she explained, "Melissa is like some woodland creature. She runs at the first hint of danger. Poor child! The girls 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 if they kept it, returned to the kitchen.

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

"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 walked out."

Terry clenched her fists. Melissa gone again, and just when they thought they would learn something. If the girl really wanted to hide, they could never find her. There was only one thing to do. Follow her at once before she got too far away.

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

CHAPTER XXVII Terry's Tactics

Melissa was just about to push off in her old rowboat when Terry, without asking permission, hopped in and sat smiling at the startled girl.

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

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

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

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

"Come, now, Melissa, that's hard to believe. But don't let me stop you from 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," Melissa said.

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

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

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

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