The Mystery of the Fires Page 4

  CHAPTER IV _Another Fire_

  Everybody at Shady Nook worked all day Monday on the decorations for theboats. Everybody, that is, except Mr. and Mrs. Flick and a few of theolder people, who were preparing the food for the supper on the littleisland that night. Jane was helping Clifford Hunter paint pieces of woodwhich were intended to transform his launch into an auto-giro, and DavidMcCall and Mary Louise picked flowers and leaves all afternoon to makefestoons for her canoe.

  "I do think Freckles and those other kids might have helped us," sheremarked as she tied on the last cluster of sunflowers.

  "Oh, we didn't need them," returned David, smiling. He had enjoyed havingMary Louise to himself all afternoon.

  "It's five o'clock now. We'll have to hurry and wash and dress. Don'tforget supper at Flicks' is half-past tonight."

  The young man nodded. "I'll be ready, Mary Lou."

  Mrs. Gay's voice interrupted them from the inside of the bungalow.

  "Has anybody seen Freckles?" she called.

  "Not since this morning," replied her daughter. "I tried to get him tohelp us, but he said he was off for the day with his gang."

  "Yes, I know that. I gave him some lunch. But he ought to be home bynow."

  "He'll probably be along in a minute."

  But he did not come. David went back to the inn, and Mrs. Gay and the twogirls dressed for the picnic, but still Freckles did not appear.

  "We can't go off and leave him without any supper," said Mrs. Gay."Because Mrs. Flick is going to close the dining room and lock up atsix-thirty."

  "If we could only phone the Smiths," sighed Mary Louise. "He's probablyover there with the boys.... Suppose Jane and I run over?"

  "It's too far. It will make you late for supper."

  "Not very late. We'll hurry. Come on, Jane. We'll be back in ten minutes.But you go on down to the inn, Mother, and order the dinner."

  Mrs. Gay nodded, immensely relieved. What a comfort Mary Louise was! Younever had to ask her to do anything for you.

  The two girls hurried away along the private road beside the river, pastthe Flicks' and the Robinsons', then turned up the hill to the Smiths'house beyond. It was Jane's first sight of the imposing-looking place atclose range. She exclaimed in admiration.

  "What a marvelous house! They must be awfully rich!"

  "They are," replied Mary Louise. "But they don't appreciate this place abit. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are hardly ever here at all in the summer. Thosetwo boys just run wild. There's a nurse to look after the littlegirl--she's only four years old--but the boys do pretty much as theyplease and boss the servants around. That's why Mother and I feel worriedabout Freckles when he's with them."

  A sedate-looking butler answered the girls' ring at the door.

  "No, miss," was his reply to Mary Louise's question, "the boys haven'tbeen here all day."

  "Did they expect to go to the picnic tonight on the island?"

  "Yes, miss. Steve, the chauffeur, was to take them."

  Mary Louise sighed. There was nothing she could do.

  "Well, if my brother comes back here, will you please send him right overto the inn?" she asked. "And tell him to hurry."

  The girls turned away and started back. "It's going to spoil Mother'sevening," remarked Mary Louise disconsolately.

  "Oh, he'll be sure to turn up soon," returned Jane reassuringly.

  "I know, but even if he does, he won't be able to get to the island. Allthe boats at Shady Nook are being used. Even the rowboats. Everybody'sgoing except the Ditmars."

  "Poor Adelaide Ditmar!" sighed Jane. "Imagine missing all that fun justbecause of a grouchy husband! I'm glad I'm single."

  Mary Louise laughed.

  "All men aren't alike, Jane. You know Cliff Hunter would never miss anyfun. Or Max or Norman," she added, mentioning their two best friends inRiverside.

  Mrs. Gay looked up hopefully as the girls entered the inn, but herexpression changed immediately. She could tell from their faces that theyhad not been successful.

  After supper was over, all was bustle and excitement as the people gotinto the boats and pushed them out into the river. There were six canoes,four rowboats, and three motorboats, all decorated beautifully orfantastically, according to the taste of the owners. Three prizes were tobe awarded for the cleverest boat of each type, and everybody was to voteon the style in which he or she was not competing. Mary Louise and DavidMcCall stepped into their flower-covered canoe; Mrs. Gay joined thePartridges in a rowboat, and Jane waited for Cliff Hunter's motorboat tocome puffing across the river. It arrived at the same time as theFraziers' rather seedy launch, and Jane was introduced to them and toMrs. Hunter.

  "You'll walk away with the motorboat prize, Cliff," called Mary Louise tothe young man at the wheel. She lowered her voice. "Poor old Frazier'slaunch is pathetic, and Stuart Robinson's is just funny!"

  "I hope the prize is a deck of cards," returned Cliff. "Mine are wearingout."

  Mary Louise laughed and dipped her paddle into the water. Her canoe didlook pretty, and it was a heavenly night. If only Freckles were there!

  The boats began to move off, the launches puffing ahead, the canoesgliding gently behind them, and the rowboats progressing moreponderously. Somebody began to play a ukulele, and gay voices took up thetune.

  The island, a small oblong strip of land, was situated about two milesdown the river from Shady Nook. Several years ago someone at the resorthad discovered it, and everybody had taken a hand at fixing it up forpicnic purposes. There was a glorious stone fireplace, and a large spothad been cleared for dancing and games. Seats had been scattered about,and a couple of board tables had been erected near the fireplace. Tonightthe whole island was alight with Japanese lanterns, giving it a gay andfestive air.

  When the last rowboat had finally reached its destination, the crowd allgathered together on the grass near the shore to record their votes. Thetwo Robinson boys went about collecting them.

  Mary Louise was sitting close to her mother, watching her intently.

  "The Reed boys aren't here either," whispered Mrs. Gay. "I was justtalking to Mrs. Reed, and she said she hasn't seen Larry or George sincemorning. But she doesn't seem much worried."

  "Freckles must be all right if he's with the whole bunch," Mary Louiseassured her. "Nothing much could happen to five boys together."

  Mrs. Gay forced herself to smile.

  "I'll try not to worry, dear.... Oh, listen! Mr. Robinson is going toannounce the winners!"

  The jovial-faced man, Stuart's father, stepped forward.

  "First prize for rowboats goes to Sue and Mabel Reed," he said. "Comeforward, girls, and get your prize. It's a box of tennis balls."

  The twins, dressed exactly alike in blue dimity, came up together, bowingand expressing their thanks.

  "The prize for canoes--to Mary Louise Gay," continued Mr. Robinson. "Moretennis balls!"

  David McCall clapped loudly, and everybody else joined in the applause.Mary Louise was a general favorite at Shady Nook.

  "The prize for motorboats goes to my son Stuart for his funny-lookingcontraption!"

  Everybody clapped but Jane; she was terribly disappointed. She didn't seewhy Cliff's clever idea hadn't taken the honors. But glancing at theyoung man she could detect no resentment in his face. He was a wonderfulsport.

  After the prizes had been disposed of, the games began, and continueduntil dark. Almost everyone joined in the fun--even the middle-agedpeople. All except a few who were helping Mrs. Flick prepare therefreshments, and Mrs. Hunter and the Fraziers, who were too stiff anddignified.

  "How do you like Mrs. Hunter?" whispered Mary Louise once when the twochums found themselves hiding side by side in a game.

  "Kind of stuck up," replied Jane. "But she's better than those Fraziers.He's positively oily!"

  "Didn't I tell you? I wouldn't stay in his hotel if our bungalow burneddown--no matter how much money we had."

  "
Mrs. Hunter seems to like him. But I think it's Frazier who put the ideainto her head that Ditmar set her cottage on fire. Because I heard himsay to her, 'I wonder whose place will burn down tonight. Ditmar stayedhome!'"

  "Oh, how awful!"

  "Sh! Oh, gosh, we're caught! Why must girls always talk?" lamented Jane.

  The moon came up in the sky, making the night more enchanting, morewonderful than before. The games broke up, and Mrs. Flick called thepeople to refreshments.

  "Sit with me, Mary Lou," urged David, jealously touching her arm.

  "We must find Mother," returned the girl.

  "She's over there with Mrs. Hunter and the hotel bunch. You don't want tobe with them, do you?"

  "Not particularly. But I do want to be with Mother and Jane and Cliff. Socome on!"

  David closed his lips tightly, but he followed Mary Louise just the same.Mrs. Gay made a place for them, and the young couple sat down.

  "You're not still worried, are you, Mother?" asked Mary Louise as shepassed the chicken salad.

  "I'm afraid I am, dear. If we could only see Shady Nook from here,perhaps the boys would flash their lights."

  "They're surely all right," put in Mrs. Hunter consolingly. "They're bigenough to take care of themselves."

  "I'll say they are," remarked Mr. Frazier. "I caught them cutting my yewtree to make bows. There's nothing they can't do!"

  Mary Louise regarded the hotelkeeper with contempt, thinking again howstingy he was. Anybody else would be glad to give the boys a branch of atree!

  "So long as they don't set anything on fire," observed Cliff lightly.

  "Oh, Cliff!" exclaimed Mary Louise in horror.

  David McCall nudged her meaningly.

  "Criminals always try to cover up their crimes by laying the suspicion onsomebody else," he whispered. "But only a cad would blame innocentchildren."

  Mary Louise cast him a withering look. She was beginning to despise DavidMcCall.

  When the whole party had eaten all they possibly could, somebody startedto play a ukulele, and the young people danced on the smooth grass thathad been worn down by so many picnics. Nobody apparently wanted to gohome, except Mrs. Gay. Finally Mrs. Reed, beginning to be anxious abouther own two boys, seconded the motion for departure.

  "Let's give the rowboats twenty minutes start," suggested Cliff Hunter."And the canoes ten. We'll beat you all at that!"

  "If our engines don't give out," put in Stuart Robinson doubtfully. Henever felt confident about his ancient motorboat.

  "Suits me fine!" cried Jane, realizing that the arrangement gave hertwenty extra minutes to dance.

  The rowboats pushed off, and ten minutes later Mary Louise and her motherand David stepped into their canoe. It was a light craft, built forspeed, and both she and David were excellent paddlers. In no time at allthey were leading the procession.

  It was David's sharp eyes which first detected signs of a disaster.

  "There's a fire at Shady Nook!" he cried breathlessly.

  "Oh!" gasped Mrs. Gay in horror, and turning about swiftly, Mary Louisethought that her mother was going to faint. But she didn't; she pulledherself together quickly and sat up very straight.

  "It's true," agreed Mary Louise, her voice trembling with fear. Supposeit were their own cottage--and--and--Freckles!

  The canoe rounded the bend in the river and came within full view of thelittle resort. The Reeds' house was visible now--yes--and the Gays'!Thank heaven it was unharmed!

  "It's either the Partridges' or Flicks'," announced David. "And my bet isthat it's Flicks'. I was expecting it."

  "You were expecting it, David?" repeated Mrs. Gay in consternation. "Whatdo you mean by that?"

  "Because Cliff Hunter holds a big mortgage on Flicks' Inn," replied theyoung man. "It means ready cash for him."

  "Don't be absurd!" commanded Mary Louise. "How could Cliff have anythingto do with it when he was with us all evening?"

  "Haven't you ever heard of a bribe, Mary Lou?" he asked.

  The girl did not answer. The increasing noise of the engines behind themtold them that the motorboats had caught up with them. Everybody knewabout the disaster now; Mrs. Flick was crying, and Mr. Flick was yellingand waving his arms wildly, calling upon everybody to help him.

  He was out of his boat first--he happened to be riding in the Robinsons'launch--and he dashed madly through the trees that stood between his innand the river. In his excitement, he almost knocked over a small boycarrying a pail of water from the river.

  "Freckles!" cried Mrs. Gay, in a tone of both relief and fear: reliefthat her child was safe, fear that he had had something to do with thefire. "What are you doing?"

  "Trying to save the trees," explained the boy. "The inn was gone when wegot here, but us guys kept the fire from spreading." He looked upproudly, as if he expected a medal for his bravery.

  "I don't believe a word of it!" thundered Mr. Flick. "I believe you boysset the place on fire. And now you're trying to lie out of it!"

  "I wouldn't put it past 'em," muttered Mr. Frazier, at his side. TheFraziers had landed at Shady Nook instead of crossing to the hotel'sshore.

  "Tell the truth, boys!" urged Mrs. Gay, for by this time both the Smithsand the two young Reeds had joined Freckles.

  "We came along here about dark," said Larry Reed, who was the oldest ofthe group, "and smelled smoke. Course, we investigated. The inn was gone.But the ashes were still smoldering, and there was smoke coming out fromthe bushes. So we ran over to Gays' and to our house and got buckets andcarried water from the river. It's about out now."

  "You're sure that's the truth?" demanded Mr. Reed.

  "On my honor, Dad!" replied the boy solemnly.

  "Did you see anybody in the woods or around Shady Nook?" inquired Mrs.Flick.

  "Yeah. A big guy who looked like a tramp from the woods--it was too darkto see his face--and a funny-looking woman in a gray dress with a bigpitcher under her arm."

  "Together?" asked Mary Louise.

  "No. The big guy was in the woods. And the woman was running along theroad that leads to Four Corners."

  "Nothing but a made-up yarn!" denounced Mr. Flick.

  But the fire was really out; there was nothing anybody could do. Fraziersuggested that the Flicks and their guests come over to his hotel, andthe latter accepted. But the Flicks, realizing that this was not a realinvitation, that the hotelkeeper would present them with a bill later on,chose to stay with the Partridges. So at last the group dispersed for thenight.

  Mary Louise, however, was so exasperated with David McCall that she nevereven answered his pleasant "Good-night!"