CHAPTER XVII Olga Makes Light of It
"To find out something," was what Olga had said, her dark eyes flashing.The girls, too, wanted to find things out. Did Olga know about themissing snuffbox, and did she also know, or suspect, where Dimitri mightbe?
They eagerly accepted the invitation to get into the car. Olga droverapidly, scorning ruts and bumps. Once she spoke questioningly to Arden,who was in the front seat with her.
"My little friend, Melissa? Did she enjoy her ride?"
"Very much," replied Arden. "But she got into trouble over it. Herfather----"
"Ah, yes, she told me of him. Have you seen her recently, then?"
"Not for quite a few days," Arden answered, and then she remembered, witha start, that no one had seen Melissa or George Clayton for--she couldnot recall how long. Three or four days, at least.
"The dog!" Olga exclaimed suddenly. "Is she still on the boat? She cannotbear me. I attempted to discipline her once, and ever since that I cannotgo near her. She never forgets."
"She's still there, but I guess we can tie her up before you go in,"Arden said, wondering how they were going to do it.
Then Olga drove without talking further. When they got to the end of thenarrow road leading to the houseboat the three girls sprang out and,going on board, coaxed Tania to the stern of the craft, where they tiedher securely. They then called down that it was safe for Olga to comeaboard.
"Watch her carefully," Arden cautioned Terry and Sim, indicating Olga."Notice just what she does."
Terry and Sim agreed silently as Olga appeared at the steps. Tania barkedfuriously at the sight of her and strained to get loose. Olga, castingthe merest glance in the direction of the animal, at once went inside thehouseboat. The three girls followed close behind her. She did nothesitate in the living room. But, walking briskly, pushed aside thecurtains and stopped short as the broken cupboard caught her eye. Themysterious covered canvas might not have been there for all the noticeshe gave it.
"Who did that?" she asked, angrily turning to the girls. "Who? Tell me atonce!"
"We found it that way," Arden answered. "What's the matter?"
"Matter?" Olga repeated. "Did you not know, then, that Dimitri had here agold box worth a fortune? Come! I see by your faces you did know. This iswhere he kept it. I told him it was foolish. After all, one can getaround Tania with a piece of raw beef. Yes!"
She was quite beside herself with rage. Her dark eyes flashed, and shebit her lips impatiently. Then, apparently realizing how odd all thismust seem to the girls and shrugging her shoulders, she attempted to makelight of the incident. With another shrug of her expressive shoulders,she said:
"But of course he has removed his precious box with him. He can take careof himself, that one. Ha! Yes! There is no use wasting time here. I mustget back to New York--quickly!"
Olga fumbled in her bag and pulled out a gaudy compact. At the same timea paper fell but, though she did not notice it, none of the girlsattempted to pick it up. The whole affair seemed to rob them of theirnatural intelligence. Olga's personality was so overpowering.
"But," Arden began, "why should he break open the cupboard? Surely he hada key."
"I have known him to lose things more important than keys. Don't worryyour pretty heads over it, Dimitri is not harmed, I am sure of it." Olgaused her compact vigorously. All that she did was vigorous.
"And Tania," Sim reminded her. "He left nothing for her to eat."
"About that I know nothing. Oh, you dear, foolish children! What do youthink has happened? Murder? Abduction? Come, I am going back!" Olga sweptout of the small space. She had succeeded in making the girls feel veryyoung and rather silly. They followed her almost against their wills, andshe drove them back to the cottage, where she stopped and, smilingbrightly, said:
"Please don't distress yourselves. I tell you, Dimitri is very capable.You believe me--yes?"
"Yes, of course," Arden faltered.
"Oh, and if you see my little friend Melissa, tell her I have been here,will you?"
The girls nodded dumbly, and Olga drove off up the muddy road, splashingthe brown water widely out from beneath the wheels.
There was a temporary lull in the storm, a sort of breathing spell. Therain had ceased, and the wind was less. The surf, though, was heavierthan ever, booming on and tearing at the beach.
Arden stood in a little pool of rain water watching the car fade fromsight. She suddenly moved aside as the water soaked through her shoes andwet her feet.
"What next?" she asked of no one in particular. "She is the queerestperson I ever saw."
"Do you think she really was disturbed about Dimitri and just pretendedshe wasn't?" Sim inquired.
"If you ask me," Terry began, "she doesn't care a snap about Dimitri. Butshe did seem mad about the box and the broken cupboard."
"That's just what I thought," agreed Arden. "I think she was surprised tofind it gone, and maybe I'm crazy, too, but she seemed to expect that,somehow."
"Why should we tell Melissa we saw her?" Terry reflected. "Anyway, wehaven't seen Melissa for days, and that's odd, too."
"That's just Olga's manner: playing Lady Bountiful to the poor nativechild," Sim sneered. "What does she know about Melissa, anyway?"
"What does she know about this whole business?" Arden said firmly. "I'mfor telling Chief Reilly. Then, if anything should be wrong, ourconsciences would be clear. What do you say?"
"I think you're right, Arden!" Terry exclaimed. "There's more to thisthan we realize. Wait till I tell Mother where we're going."
Terry ran into the house and was out again almost at once.
Arden backed the car from the garage, Sim shut the doors after her, andthe three were ready for the drive to the village.
"Let's go!" called Terry hopping into the moving car. "Hurry, Arden! It'sbeginning to rain again."