Missing at Marshlands / Arden Blake Mystery Series #3

alle

d revealing with a cruel indifference the dust gathered on the abandoned textbooks flung in a pile on the window seat. It wa

appy that examinations were over at last, and overjoyed that they had passed all subjects, except for a condition in mathematics for Sim,

used to close and bouncing up and down in an ef

be worried and--" Sim's list of worries and trials was ended by Terry, a smiling, sandy-haired creature, thrusting Si

all packed now?" Terry Landry asked,

hat!" she wailed. "You

t under there in the first place? I suppose you threw it at a mouse, Sim. I should have made yo

lf three nights ago, I remember. And, incidentally, I seem to b

ecovered shoe into a bag with its fellow and announced that she too was finished. Sim, powdering an uptilted nose, declared th

odbyes" at each open door and gayly knocking

em, then piled into the waiting car. A five-passenger touring car, it was, belonging to Arden's father. In it the three girls were to drive down to Oceanedge, on the coas

were anxious to conduct themselves creditably. Early as the start was, and it was not yet nine o'

piled up as they drove along the uncrowded roads leading out of Morrisville. They talked little; thoughts wer

d tea and a generous helping of chocolate cake they continued on their journey, becoming le

nd stunted, conventional pines, and grassy meadows fading into sandy wastes and dunes; the road stre

tion of country that they

ached it, "let's see what the trouble i

ither, not until we get to Oceanedge," Terry ann

y inspected a rather ancient car, sagging over a flattened

laconically. "The owner is

, suddenly, a huge white and tan dog, apparently arou

car with that-that-what is

d, pursing her lips into a crooning little whistle an

lled, where, from a safe distance, she was gazing i

," Arden suggested, "shall we go on

m, and Terry nodded as she

curled up again on the front seat to finish its interrupted nap; a

monotony. On the right, some distance away, they knew, the blue inviting ocean lay shin

ld them, pointing out a wary-looking wood

own the old car?" Arden aske

," Sim said firmly. "I'm going to enjoy this summer, and I refuse to become inter

t a handsome stranger, trudging slowly toward the v

him a lift, and unless my eyes deceive me, we a

ld be no other. Shall I pull over?" She had taken he

y, and Arden drove over to the side o

u a lift?" she

artled. He took a soft gray hat from his he

y car is back there. I was unable to get the tool chest

ooking! A "handsome stranger" in every respec

den continued, "but we could dr

much. I am used to walking. Besides," he said dis

judgment. You simply must let us take you. It is absur

ing off his clothes a bit, climbed in

d a houseboat out where I can be alone and have quiet. I do not need people around me. I have Tania, my dog, and my

er mother, that they were fast friends, and added, in a little burst of indignation, that of course they woul

inued on their way. They had to go back again to the main road a short distance, for the house, gayly called "Buckingham Pala

den?" Sim questioned, still wonderi

Really, I got that impression of him. Very

won't bother him. He'll be quite alone on that old hous

noring Terry's joke. "Quite different, I expe

ad at me," Sim remarked, pulling a blonde curl

if that's what he wants, but no scenery for painting. And wait until he sees that houseboat! It's been tied up in the bay fo

," Arden went on. "I thought he looked rather sad, and w

of this simple incident, after all we've just gone through, I'l

ow to hide himself and his dog," Arden said slowly, and then, stepping on the