Part 6 (2/2)
”Yes,” answered Terry. ”I could take you over, and of course I'd be glad to do it.”
”Can we go at once?” the woman asked nervously.
”I guess so,” Terry replied. ”Tell Mother I'll be right back, will you, Arden? I won't be long.”
”Of course, Terry. But don't you want--” Arden asked in a meaning, unfinished way.
For answer Terry turned aside from their strange caller and winked understandingly at Arden and Sim. Arden did not press her point further, but nodded her head and said no more. Both were thinking: ”Now for another adventure!”
Terry quickly went for the oars and, with the dark flashy woman following, made for the rowboat. The pa.s.senger got in gracefully despite her extremely high-heeled shoes and sat in the stern while Terry pushed off.
”There it is, down there.” Terry pointed to the moored boat where Dimitri lived.
”That?” her pa.s.senger asked incredulously. ”That-that _thing_? Dimitri is an odd one. Fancy him living there!” she sneered openly.
Terry maintained an embarra.s.sed silence and rowed more vigorously. They soon reached the side of the houseboat, and at the sound of the oars Tania appeared on the narrow little deck, barking furiously.
”Dimitri! Dimitri!” the woman called. ”Have you still got that beast? Tie her up. I'm coming aboard.”
Dimitri, in answer to the call, opened the door and came outside. He looked almost shocked as he saw Terry and her queer pa.s.senger, and for a minute seemed awe-struck. Then he smiled at Terry, for it was impossible to be heard above Tania's wild barking. He shrugged his shoulders and grasping Tania by the collar had literally to pull the huge dog away from the edge of the boat.
Terry came closer and grasped the side of the houseboat that the woman had spoken of as _Merry Jane_. She waited until Dimitri returned without Tania. He leaned down and, holding the woman by the hand, a.s.sisted her to climb aboard. Then, turning to Terry, smiling queerly, remarked:
”I don't know whether to thank you, my friend, or--”
Terry's eyes opened wide in astonishment.
”Dimitri,” the woman said between shut teeth. ”What do you mean?”
”Nothing, nothing. Come inside, Olga,” he replied, and nodded to Terry as he held open the door for his apparently uninvited guest.
Terry knew at once she had no place in this strange little drama and prepared to leave. From the houseboat came the sound of a feminine voice raised in anger. But Terry could not understand the words beyond a pleading ”Dimitri.”
She rowed quickly away, back to safer if not saner surroundings.
CHAPTER VI The Unwelcome Guest
Terry bent to the oars, pulling hard and taking long strokes with the blades just missing the water. She could row with quite some skill when she particularly wanted to, and now she could scarcely wait to get back to tell Sim and Arden what had happened.
As she reached the little dock where they tied up their boat, she looked around and saw Arden and Sim inspecting the flashy green roadster which the woman ”Olga” had left parked near their back door. Terry put her finger to her lips and whistled shrilly. Arden and Sim at once came running to meet her.
”What happened, Terry?-surely something?” Arden asked, climbing into the boat. Sim followed, and all three settled down to talk on the quiet water's edge.
”Yes, lots!” Terry exclaimed. ”He was furious when he saw her, and Tania was wild.”
”Who was furious-what about?” Sim wanted to know.
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