Missing at Marshlands Part 34

"I've got a gun," said the chief, showing an automatic. "I can fight as good as the next one if I have to, but I don't think I'll have to. If I do, well, you're outside here to go git help. You know what I mean." A gold-toothed smile.

"Yes," said Terry. "If we hear shooting, or any calls for help from the cellar, we'll take your motorboat and go get a.s.sistance. I can run a boat."

"That's the idea," said the chief. "You go right back to town and get Henry Doremus and Ike Tantker. They're deputy constables, and you can generally find 'em around my garage. If they ain't there, Ted Rollaby, my mechanic, will tell you what to do. Now I'm goin' in."

There was an outside slanting door leading down into the cellar. The chief pulled this up, hooked it into place, and then, with his flashlight in one hand and his automatic in the other, started down the half-rotten wooden steps.

He had no sooner started down than Tania, deserting her barking post at the window, rushed past him and was into the dark musty cellar ahead of him.

"Oh," murmured Arden, "I'm glad the dog went down."

"So am I," said Sim. "I wouldn't want anything to happen to the funny old chief, even if he does drive me crazy with his proverbs."

"What do you think he'll find?" asked Terry.

Before either of her chums could hazard a guess they all heard, above the frantic barking of Tania, the chief's voice shouting:

"I've got him! I've found him! Here he is, tied up like a bag of potatoes in the cellar. I've found Mr. Uzlov!"

CHAPTER x.x.x All Is Well

Gazing with fear-widened eyes at one another, the three girls waited for what might happen next.

The chief had found the man missing from Marshlands; but in what condition? The worst might have happened, for it was now obvious that Dimitri had been the prisoner of George Clayton ever since the mysterious disappearance from the _Merry Jane_.

"Oh," murmured Arden, "if he is--"

She could not finish.

"I-I feel sort of funny," said Terry.

"Girl, if you pa.s.s out on us now I'll never speak to you again as long as I live!" threatened Sim.

"Oh, I'm all right-I guess," Terry said. "But--"

She was interrupted by the voice of Chief Reilly coming, m.u.f.fled, from the cellar.

"Guess maybe you girls had better come down here," he called. "I might need your testimony for evidence."

"Oh!" almost shouted Arden. "Is he--"

"Mr. Uzlov is all right. He's alive, though I can't say he's very well,"

went on the chief. "He's bound and gagged and all knocked out, but I can't see anything very wrong. There's so many ropes on him I'll need help in getting them off quick. But I want you to see him so you can testify against this rat of a Clayton. Nasty piece of business, if you ask me."

The girls could hear Tania now joyously whimpering. The dog no longer barked fiercely. It was evident she was with her beloved master whom she found to be alive, at least.

Thus rea.s.sured, the three descended the outside cellar steps. The chief held his torch for them to see, and by its light they noted that he had already started on the work of rescue. A cloth that had been bound around the Russian's mouth had been taken off. But he was still trussed up.

With a slash of his knife, while Arden held the light, the chief released the roped hands. And as Dimitri rubbed his numbed lips he said weakly:

"So you've come at last."

"Oh, if we had only guessed this before!" exclaimed Arden.

"Still, you are in good time. I am not harmed," said Dimitri. Then he could talk no longer, for Tania was frantically licking his face.

With the help of the girls, one of whom held the light while the chief and the others loosed the binding strands, Dimitri Uzlov was soon set free. He was a little weak in his legs, but after stamping about managed to regain the use of them and was able to leave the cellar.

He had been found in a sort of closet in one corner, small and dark, with only the cracks around the sealed window for ventilation.

"I seen that shut closet door as soon as I got down here," said the chief as they all went into the upper sunlight. "I'd 'a' knowed somebody was in that closet even if the dog hadn't rushed for it like-well, like a mouse goin' for cheese in a trap," he finished.

"It is good to be out again," said Dimitri as he paused at the top of the steps and took a long deep breath. "I have been in the dark too long."

"But what happened?"

"How did he get you?"

"Did he harm you?"

"Where is he now, and Melissa?"

The girls' questions came trippingly.

"I think it is best if I go back to my houseboat and there tell you the story," said the artist. "Perhaps there is even left some tea-and I should dearly love a cup of tea. This Clayton jailer gave me nothing but coffee. I am so sick of it!"

"There is tea left," said Arden.

"That is good. I suppose," and his voice faltered, "that my precious box is not left. They must have taken that."

"I'm afraid they did," said Arden.

"Well, it is fate! I am glad at least to be alive," and Dimitri shrugged his shoulders with resignation.

"You all better get in my boat and leave yours here until later," said the chief when it was found that Dimitri, after a long drink of water, was able to walk with more ease. "We'll make better time that way. More haste the quicker you get over it."

Sim shook her fist at him behind his back.

They all piled into the motorboat, Tania never leaving her master's side, and in a short time they were at the _Merry Jane_. After it was seen that Dimitri, though obviously suffering from neglect, was not seriously harmed, it came to Arden's mind that she and her chums must make a confession.

They had looked at the forbidden picture. It was very likely that Dimitri's trained vision would detect that the cloth had been removed and put back. Of course, he might think Clayton had done it, but it was better to tell. So Arden said:

"We discovered your secret."

"My secret?" He appeared not to understand.