Missing at Marshlands / Arden Blake Mystery Series #3

Ru

settling down for the night, there was hardly a hint of rain left. The sandy ground

n let the porch awnings down and jumped back just in time to escape

n the comfortably screened porch and watched n

ry' creature peeked in at the window and then ran awa

path and was frightened. That dog of his cert

,'" Arden chuckled. "But don't you thi

her gave a

t bother Mr. Uzlov. He seems a serious young man, and he hinted, quite charmingly, that he would rather be

y drawled-"as if

they could not possibly object to. But this evening her well-meant plan of leaving them alone to talk was not needed, for they soon f

d kicking up whitecaps on Bottle Bay. "Buckingham Palace" stood on a li

own the bay a bit," Terry sugges

seboat without disturbing the he

sitively uncanny, Arden, the way you read people's m

e bottom step of the porch, idly watching tiny ants rebu

training this very day, and when we go back to Cedar Ridge in t

answered her, and going to the door of the house she called: "Mother, we're going for a l

ad kept out the rain. They quickly pulled off the cover, and Terry took the oars from the

hroats; no hats, but Sim had tied a ribbon like Alice in Wonderland around her head

ou are, Sim," Terry sugge

, and, Terry, you sit there, too, then you can watch me and tell where we're going." Sim foun

eboat. Pretend we're going some place else," Arde

nyway. Oh-ouch!" Sim exclaimed. "I caught my fingers between t

" Terry cautioned quickly. "Oh, Sim

ter, slipped out of the oarlock and

l paddle," Terry cried, reaching

and in so doing gave Arden

e hitting me,"

" grunt

!" Arden was indicating the shore line. The houseboat was only a few hundred feet away now

. What'll we do?" Sim wailed

Stick out the oar, Terry, so we do

side, and the boat rammed the houseboat with a li

e girls could hear a call: "Tania! Tania!" and

little group, while their lazy old cr

ould cheerfully duck you, clothes

stopped as she heard footsteps on t

down at them silently. They looked back, uncer

d you, but we lost an oar and

sly. "I'm not very good at rowing, I'm afr

, saying nothing, half amuse

d row over and get ours," Terry sugg

, and they all felt better, so much bette

ay take my oar; I will get it for you," and he disapp

spered gleefully

ou push down to this end of my c

er, for the houseboat was tied up at th

s fast to the larger craft. Dimit

u can recover yo

replied Terry. "I

while Terry, with long strokes, pulled toward the deepe

when they reached it, "and

e dripping wooden shaft succ

erry went on, and turned the

nounced their arrival, and D

minute?" he invited hospitably. "It w

rry but Arden, seeing his smiling face tak

t a second. I've never

round to the stern of the houseboat over a little boardwalk a

ing up a barrage of barking, showing

e," Dimitri said. "I will impres

ly. The big white-and-tan dog stood like a statue. "Come here!" h

the girls: "I will tell her that in Russian, and she will be sure to understand. Then

a ceased her worried barking. The dog put a dainty paw on Ard

ely dog," m

gent, too,"

o see it," said Mr. Uzlov, smiling his invitation. "It is the first time I have ever l

own chief of police. This is the first time it's been rented in I don't know how long. I think you hadn't better t

enough on my boat. I don't intend to move her, and probabl

part, between it and a low rail. There was a small float at one end to which a rowboat was made fast. From the float a cleated plank gave access to the lower deck of the boat, if a deck it could b

pening a sagging door which led into the rear pa

ad entered did the double duty of a sleeping and working space, for there was a cot in one corner. On a table gleamed a bright brass samovar with some dis

nt," the artist said, indicating th

d standing beside a window was another easel with a picture on it. But what the

a place all your own to do just as you please in and no

he houseboat is hard to come at. I always loved marshlands. That i

ul, I think,"

lonesome," s

esomeness-as one rea

a stormy ocean with sea gulls fighting the wi

s lov

to be losing some

painting-the one covered with a s

ing a hand as though to lift the

young man's

lease! It is-unfinished. I can

ner. But his last word had been almost pleading. Even then it seemed as if his friendliness, whi

w back as

he faltered. "I'm sorry!" Even h

me over the face

my seeming ill haste," he murmured. "But

ained and awkward, but Terry went

. Mother will be expecting us. Thank you for your hel

at their sudden departure, but simply said good-bye a

ute all sunshine and gladness, and the next, all wo

trying to show a little interest. My goodness! Who would want to

Sim asked curiously. "Perhaps he's a s

ed up in another mystery?" Terry jeer

n that easel," Sim remarked as Terry pulled w