Missing at Marshlands / Arden Blake Mystery Series #3

Dog, an

affectionately known as "Buckingham Palace" popped

mised to become a thriving seashore resort. But the "plans of men" had gone "agley," and Oceanedge had never d

the noise of the horn and Terry's shrill whistle with

d and once more gave h

ad practised faithfully under Terry's instruction, were never abl

h to be Terry's sister, appeared in the doorway and wa

ionately around her proud parent, "it's so good to be h

Terry's mother replied and with a w

night, it has been so sultry today," she went on, and as though to gi

a cold supper, for we were not sure just when you'd get here. Ida,"

," came from the kitchen while the

drooms upstairs, maid's room downstairs type, but it was bright and airy, a

hoes on stockingless feet. They hoped before their visit was over to have acquired a ta

ce and sliced tomatoes, cold meat, and lemonade that made a great hit. They ate hungrily and dra

ing. Mrs. Landry lit the low-hung chandelier over the table; and then,

nd, Sim and Arden, see if you can pull up the porch a

d Sim and Arden made for

hair in their eyes and snapped the awn

den asked, pulling with all

ered and gave a little sque

it was so blue. Oh, dear, Sim, let's pull together!" Arden wra

mmed as Terry went on with her job. The sky was as dark as night now, and the lightning flas

en and Sim inside. Terry came running downstairs, and they all gathered in

rclap. "You mustn't be. The storm will follow the bay right out to sea. They never

hed above the roar of the storm. The little group, with one accord, turned to a side window from whence the sound seemed to come. What the

in!" Mrs. Landry called, quickly

d; the screen door beyond it was blown bac

outed against the screaming

er, looked sharply at Terry, then turned and dashed away in the dim

othing her hair, came back to

ed simply. "What do you suppose she w

r a look around," Sim agreed. "You

ll under the spell of the majestic storm. "She was

imagine I hear a knock at the do

here was certainly a

ed the door. The storm by this time had abated a bit

ood their "handsome stranger" of the lift-ride, soaked thoro

urprise. "Won't you come in?" she c

amp strand of hair back from his face. "I am sorry to trouble you--"

's mother coming forward. "We don't m

g animal and then drew back in

her, she is not used to strangers, but she will not harm you. Tania," he said again, "t

his white wraith of a dog now stood dripping puddles of rain water on Mrs. Landry's s

his." He held up a soaked cardboard clip-container, soft from the rain. There was just a hint of a foreign accent as he continued: "I am, in a wa

ned Mrs. Landry. "I

e into town this afternoon. He lives on the houseboat down the bay," she quickly wh

e rented the houseboat for the summer while I do a little painting and sketching. This is Tania, my faithful dog. She is not as savage

ting a hand on her shoulder. "My other daughters are not here

e turned the hat he was holding upside down, and wat

laimed in so

t matter,"

told you." Another bow to Mrs. Landry. "But I must not stand here dripping like this. I

y always kept a supply of both in stock, knowing, from past sad experiences, that the

long wooden ones with blue

m, again bowing and splashing more water from his hat to the floor. "I mus

ked visitor

ger," Mrs. Landry asked, "un

lready. My humble houseboat is alone. Come, Tania," he replied

ch cold-the rai

stay any longer. I am a solitary person. But thank you." A

the direction of the houseboat with Tania, the Russian wolfhound, at his heels, l

r" he looked, getting farther and farther away unt

for Dimitri and a series of small holes

e man!" Mrs. L

said. "I suppose he couldn't bear to co

," Terry's mother answered and

real hermit, and a majestic wolfhound!