The Mystery of the Fires

  _The canoe rounded a bend in the river and camewithin full view of the burning resort._(Page 64) (THE MYSTERY OF THE FIRES)]

  The Mary Lou Series

  THE MYSTERY OF THE FIRES

  by

  EDITH LAVELL

  A. L. Burt CompanyPublishersNew York Chicago

  The Mary Lou SeriesbyEDITH LAVELL

  The Mystery at Dark CedarsThe Mystery of the FiresThe Mystery of the Secret Band

  Copyright, 1935, byA. L. Burt CompanyPrinted in the United States of America

  _To My Friend_ Suzanne Simonin

  Map of Shady Nook]

  Contents

  CHAPTER PAGE I The Burnt Bungalow 13 II Clifford's Story 29 III The Ditmars 42 IV Another Fire 54 V Freckles' Story 68 VI More Suspects 79 VII The Crazy Woman 97 VIII Danger 103 IX The Arrest 114 X The Visit with Rebecca 128 XI Adelaide Ditmar's Plan 139 XII Getting Business 151 XIII The Threat 163 XIV The Search 177 XV Captive 190 XVI Weary Waiting 205 XVII Release 218 XVIII Return 233 XIX Conclusion 244

  Characters

  Mary Louise Gay a girl detective. Jane Patterson her chum. Mr. Gay, Mrs. Gay her parents. Joseph (Freckles) Gay her brother. Silky her dog. David McCall a young insurance agent, visiting Shady Nook. boy-friends. Max Miller Norman Wilder

  _Residents of Shady Nook_ Reeds two adults and five young people. Hunters mother and son. Partridges four adults. Mr. and Mrs. Flick owners of the inn. Robinsons two adults and two boys. Smiths two adults and three children. Mr. and Mrs. Ditmar a young married couple. Adams a farmer with three grown-up children. Mr. and Mrs. Frazier owners of the Royal Hotel. Eberhardt a village storekeeper.

  CHAPTER I _The Burnt Bungalow_

  "For the whole month?"

  Jane Patterson's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she repeated theinvitation her chum had just extended.

  "Yes," replied Mary Louise Gay. "You see, we never could invite youbefore, because the bungalow is so small, and there's just room enoughfor our own family. But Dad will be out West all of August. He doesn'texpect to be back until Labor Day."

  "On a case?" inquired Jane, for Mr. Gay was a detective on the policeforce.

  Mary Louise nodded.

  "Yes. An important one. I almost wish I could go with him--it sounds sothrilling."

  "Didn't you have enough excitement and mystery at Dark Cedars?" demandedJane.

  "I never have enough," returned the other girl.

  "Well, please don't dig up anything to spoil our vacation at Shady Nook.Still, I don't really suppose you could if you tried. The very nameimplies peace."

  "It is a peaceful spot," agreed Mary Louise. "Not a bit like a big summerresort. Just the mountains and the woods and the lovely Hudson River.Only half a dozen bungalows, so that everybody knows everybody else. It'sall so friendly and nice."

  "Then I shan't need any fancy clothes--like dance dresses?" Jane's toneheld a faint note of disappointment. She loved outdoor sports, but shewas equally fond of parties.

  "You better take a couple along," replied the other girl. "Across theriver from Shady Nook there's a big modern hotel where we often go fordinners and dances. Everybody wears their best clothes there. But most ofthe time we eat at Flicks' Inn. It's just a bigger bungalow, where theyhave a dining room for the Shady Nook people and a few boarders. Verynice and informal."

  Jane jumped up and started down the steps, across the lawn that separatedthe Gays' house from the Pattersons'.

  "I must go tell Mother all about it," she explained, "and begin to get myclothing ready. What time do we start?"

  "Seven o'clock tomorrow morning. Rain or shine."

  Left alone, Mary Louise opened the screen door and went into her ownhouse. Her father, with his suitcase on the floor beside him, was sayinggood-bye to her mother and to his young son Joseph, whom everybody called"Freckles."

  Mr. Gay put his hand upon his daughter's shoulder and said to his wife:

  "I am counting on Mary Louise to take care of you, dear. After the wayshe mastered that situation at Dark Cedars, I feel that she is capable ofalmost anything. Far above and beyond most girls of sixteen!"

  "She is!" agreed Mrs. Gay proudly. "But I am not expecting any trouble atShady Nook. I'm more worried about what may happen to you before youcatch those criminals!"

  "I'll be all right," her husband assured her. "Wire for me if you needme--and I'll come back by airplane."

  Mrs. Gay nodded, little thinking that she would have to follow his advicebefore the month was over.

  As soon as he was gone, the other three members of the family returned tothe business of packing. Silky, Mary Louise's little brown spaniel,trotted around after them, sniffing at everything and looking serious andimportant, as if he were doing most of the work.

  "I'm thankful your father left us the car," remarked Mrs. Gay, as thesuitcases and packages were piled up near the back door. "We'll need it."

  "Shady Nook is so far from the Junction," added Mary Louise. "Yes, we'relucky. And isn't it nice I have my license, so you won't have to driveall the way?"

  "It certainly is," agreed her mother. "You've always been a big help tome, Mary Louise. And so have you, Freckles," she added to the boy.

  At last everything was finished, in time to allow them all a good sleepbefore their trip. Shady Nook was almost a day's journey from Riverside,if they took it in a leisurely manner, driving slowly enough to enjoy thebeautiful Hudson River, and stopping at noon at some pleasant inn to eatlunch and rest.

  Jane was on hand early, helping the Gays to stack the luggage in the backseat and on the rack provided at the rear of the car.

  "Don't forget to leave a corner for Silky!" Freckles reminded the girls,"He can't be left behind!"

  "As if I could forget him!" returned his sister, picking up the littlespaniel and giving him a hug. "Didn't he save our lives that night werode in Harry Grant's car?"

  Jane shuddered; she could never forget the horror of that dark night orthe terror she had experienced when the tramp commanded, "Hands up!" Goodold Silky, biting a piece out of the thug's leg while the girls madetheir escape!

  "Who's driving first?" she asked, as the last bundle was stored away.

  "I am," answered Mary Louise. "You and Silky in front with me, and Motherand Freckles in back. We'll shift places after lunch."

  It was a lovely clear day, not so hot as it often is in August, and thewhole party was in the gayest of spirits. Mary Louise loved to drive, andshe did it well. She would not have minded if she had been kept at thewheel all day.

  Nevertheless, after their pleasant lunch at a quaint little tea room onthe roadside, she was perfectly will
ing to exchange places with hermother and enjoy the better opportunity to look at the scenery.

  Jane, however, was more interested in Shady Nook than in the countrythrough which they were passing. She asked innumerable questions.

  "How many bungalows did you say there are, Mary Lou?" she inquired.

  "There were six last year, counting Flicks' Inn. But I understand thatthere were two new ones put up this spring."

  "And are there plenty of young people?"

  "Not so many at the cottages, but it doesn't matter, because we have justas much fun with the middle-aged people. Everybody swims and paddles anddances and plays tennis. Besides, there are always extra young peopleboarding at Flicks' for shorter vacations. And sometimes we meet thepeople at the Royal Hotel."

  "Is that where they hold the dances?" inquired Jane. "When we wear ourflossy dresses?"

  "Yes. That's the place. Across the river from Shady Nook."

  "Tell me some of the people's names," urged Jane.

  "Well, next door to us--only it really isn't next door, because there'squite a little woods between--is the loveliest cottage at Shady Nook. Itwas built by a man named Hunter, who was very rich. He bought all theland around there on our side of the river and sold it to people he knewand liked. But he died last year, so only his wife and son came back thissummer."

  "A son?" repeated Jane, rolling her eyes. "Not a babe in arms, I hope!"

  "A sophomore at Yale," replied Mary Louise. "Rather homely, but awfullynice--and piles of fun."

  "What's the youth's name?"

  "There you go! Putting him down in your notebook already! His name'sClifford. We all call him Cliff."

  "Naturally. But if he's your property, Mary Lou, just say the word, andI'll keep off."

  Mary Louise laughed.

  "Nobody's my special property," she said. "Not even Max Miller," sheadded, mentioning her particular boy-friend in their home town ofRiverside. "Though he sometimes acts as if he believed I were his! I likeCliff Hunter a lot--everybody does. But we don't pair off much at ShadyNook, except sometimes to go canoeing. Most of the time we're just onebig family."

  "Who else are there besides the Hunters?" inquired the other girl. "Imean, what other families with young people?"

  "The Reeds are about the jolliest family at Shady Nook," answered MaryLouise. "There are five children, and the father and mother are just asmuch fun as the kids. The two oldest girls--Sue and Mabel--are twinsabout our age. Seventeen, I believe, to be exact. Then there are twoyounger boys that Freckles chums up with, and a little girl."

  "I'm afraid I'll never be able to keep all those names straight," sighedJane.

  "Wait till we get there and you meet them one at a time," advised theother. "It's so much easier to remember people after you've seen them."

  This advice sounded sensible, and Jane settled back in her corner toenjoy the remainder of the ride. The time passed quickly; at five o'clockthey crossed the railroad junction and turned into the private road thatled to Shady Nook.

  The trees were thick on one side of the road, but on the other they couldsee the lovely Hudson River, gleaming blue in the August sunlight. Janewent into ecstasies over the beauty of the spot.

  "Here we are!" announced Mrs. Gay as she turned off to a dirt drivewayand brought the car to a stop at a tin garage. "Our back door!"

  "Why, we're right in the woods!" cried Jane, still unable to see theGays' cottage.

  "Wait till you see the bungalow!" returned Mary Louise. "It's like alittle dream house. You can borrow it for your honeymoon, if youlike--provided you don't get married in the summer time."

  "Thanks a lot! But I think I'll wait a few years before I accept yourkind offer."

  In another moment they were all out of the car, following Mrs. Gay aroundto the front of the cottage, up to the screened porch, from which theyhad a good view of the river.

  As Mary Louise had said, the bungalow was charming. Built entirely oflogs, it combined the picturesqueness of olden times with theconveniences of the modern day. A huge fireplace covered one entire wallof the living room, and the chairs were big and soft and comfortable. Adrop-leaf table at one end of the room was sometimes used for meals,because there was no dining room. But the spotless kitchen contained abreakfast nook where the Gays always ate their first meal of each day.Two bedrooms branched off from the living room, with a white bathroombetween them.

  "A little bit too civilized for me," said Freckles, in a most superiormanner. "I sleep out back in a tent."

  "In good weather," amended Mrs. Gay. "Now, girls, suppose we just unpackone suitcase apiece and get ready for dinner. We're going over toFlicks', of course."

  "I got to have a swim!" announced Freckles.

  "All right, if you'll be quick about it. And don't go in all byyourself."

  The group gathered together again at half-past six and started down theprivate road to Flicks' Inn, where they would have their supper. MaryLouise and Jane had both put on light summer dresses and looked as restedand refreshed as if they had been at Shady Nook all summer.

  "And where is our next-door neighbor's cottage?" inquired Jane, peeringthrough the trees on the road. "Or do the Hunters live on the other sideof you?"

  "No, the Reeds live on the other side. Theirs is the last bungalow. TheHunters' is right in here." She paused at a path between two big oaktrees.

  Jane stepped to her side and looked in among the foliage.

  "I don't see it," she said.

  "It's been burnt down!" cried Freckles, dashing up behind the girls. "Ididn't have a chance to tell you. About a week ago, Larry Reed said.Awful mysterious. In the night."

  "Burned down!" repeated Mary Louise, rushing in through the trees besidethe path. "Honestly?"

  "See for yourself!" replied her brother.

  A few steps more, and they saw for themselves that it was only too true.The blackened trunks, the dry, scarred grass, and the faint smoky odorconfirmed his statement. The beautiful cottage was gone forever. Nothingremained but the charred stones of its foundation.

  "Boy, don't I wish I'd been here!" exclaimed Freckles regretfully. "Itmust have been some fire. But they say nobody saw it. It was practicallyout when they discovered it."

  "Lucky that it was!" said Mrs. Gay. "Suppose ours had caught too!"

  Mary Louise shuddered; such an idea was too dreadful to contemplate.

  "Do you know any of the details, Freckles?" asked his mother, as theparty turned back to the road again.

  "No, I don't. Nobody does. It just happened, at night, while everybodywas over at a dance at the Royal Hotel across the river."

  "Maybe we'll hear more about it at Flicks'. Come on, let's hurry."

  They passed one bungalow on the way to the inn, which Mary Louise pointedout to Jane as belonging to the Partridges--all middle-aged people, sheexplained--so that her chum was not interested. Nobody over twenty-fivewas any use to Jane Patterson.

  The inn, a large square frame building, was completely surrounded byporches on which tables were placed where people were already eatingtheir dinners. Of the eight families at Shady Nook, all except one tooktheir lunches and suppers at Flicks'. Besides them, there were at leasthalf a dozen boarders. Roughly, Mary Louise estimated there were aboutthirty-five people at the inn.

  They all seemed to know the Gays, for everybody was bowing and smiling asthe little party opened the screen door of the front porch.

  Mrs. Flick, a fat, good-natured woman of about fifty, came forward towelcome them.

  "My, it's good to see you all back again!" she exclaimed, with genuinepleasure. "But where is Mr. Gay?"

  "He had to go to California on business," explained Mrs. Gay. "So webrought Mary Louise's friend, Jane Patterson, in his place. Mrs. Flick,this is Jane."

  "Happy to meet you, Miss Jane," returned the landlady as she led the Gaysto their accustomed table. When they were seated, she pulled up a chairbeside them to talk for a few minutes with Mrs. Gay.

  "Tell us about the Hunter
s' bungalow!" begged Mary Louise immediately.

  "There isn't much to tell. Nobody knows much.... Oh, here's Hattie totake your order." And the newcomers had to exchange greetings with thewaitress, the daughter of a farmer named Adams who lived a couple ofmiles from Shady Nook.

  When the order had been given, Mary Louise repeated her question.

  "It happened a week ago--on a Saturday," explained Mrs. Flick. "Mr.Clifford had four college boys visiting him, and they all went across theriver that evening to a dance at the Royal Hotel. Mrs. Hunter went alongwith 'em. When they came back, the place was burned to the ground."

  "Didn't anybody see the flames--or smell the smoke?"

  "No. The wind was the other way from the hotel, and there wasn't anybodyat Shady Nook to notice. Everybody, except Pa and me, went to the dance.And we were sound asleep."

  Hattie came back with the soup, and Mrs. Flick rose from her chair. "I'llsee you later," she said as she hurried into the house.

  "It sounds very mysterious," muttered Mary Louise.

  "Oh, there's probably some simple explanation," replied Jane lightly."We'll have to ask Clifford Hunter. Where is he, Mary Lou? Do you seehim?"

  The other girl glanced hastily about the big porch and shook her head.

  "Not here," she answered. "But he may be inside. There's another diningroom in the bungalow."

  "This isn't Clifford?" asked Jane, watching a tall, good-looking,dark-eyed young man coming out of the door.

  Mary Louise turned around and smiled.

  "No. That's David McCall. He usually comes up just for two weeks'vacation and stays here at Flicks'."

  A moment later the young man reached the Gays' table and was introducedto Jane. But he merely nodded to her briefly: his eyes seemed to devourMary Louise.

  "I thought you'd never come, Mary Lou!" he exclaimed. "A whole week of myvacation is gone!"

  "But you have another week, don't you, David?"

  "Yes. A measly seven days! And then another year to wait till I see youagain!" His tone was not bantering, like the boys at home. David McCallwas serious--too terribly serious, Mary Louise sometimes thought--abouteverything.

  "May I come over to see you after supper?" he pleaded.

  "Of course," agreed Mary Louise lightly. "And then you can tell us aboutthe fire. You were here when it happened?"

  "No. I didn't get here till Sunday. But I can tell you something aboutit, all right!"

  Mary Louise's eyes opened wide with interest.

  "Somebody set it on fire--on purpose, you mean, David?"

  "Yes."

  "Who?"

  The young man leaned over and whispered in her ear:

  "Clifford Hunter himself!"

  Mary Louise gasped in amazement. "But why?" she demanded.

  "To collect the insurance!" was the surprising reply.

  And, turning about, David McCall went back into the boarding house.