“I’ve got it safe,” the girl said briefly.
“Melissa,” began Terry in a tone that commanded attention, “that was a very wrong and dangerous thing to do, to take that box. I want you to come back with me, while I explain to my friends and the Russian man’s brother just what happened. Then I want you to go over to your house with us and give back the box.”
“Oh, no,” pleaded Melissa. “I won’t do it. My father would do something awful to me if I did.”
“You’ve got to. If you don’t,” threatened Terry, “you’ll probably be arrested, and then what will become of you?”
Melissa’s eyes widened with fright. “Arrested?” she echoed dully.
Terry nodded her head.
“You better come back with me,” she said quietly. Slowly Melissa began to turn the boat. She was cornered, and she knew it. Terry spoke quietly as they rowed back to the cottage, explaining to the worried girl that she and her friends would see that no harm came to her. So well did she plead that by the time they docked the boat, Melissa had grown confident, and even eager to do Terry’s bidding.
CHAPTER XXVIII
Driven Away
A great deal of tact was necessary to keep Melissa in a helpful frame of mind. One careless word, and Terry knew Melissa would run. So, hoping her chums would understand, she walked back to the house, talking cheerfully to the girl as they went.
“Melissa is going to help us find the snuffbox,” Terry announced to the astonished group that awaited them on the porch. “She knows where it is, and she’s going to take us over to her house for it.”