“Never mind, my dears. It isn’t your fault.”
“But I did so hope something would come of this,” said Terry. “After getting Melissa to admit she had the box, then not to find it!”
“Do you really think she had it?” asked Arden.
“That’s hard to answer,” Terry replied. “I don’t see why she would want to deceive us. She described the cupboard, told how she slipped aboard the houseboat while Dimitri was out in the marsh, painting, and we all know she’s crazy about such objects as that bright and beautiful snuffbox.”
“And to think it may be gone forever,” sighed Sim.
“We’re not going to let it be lost forever!” suddenly declared Arden.
“What are you going to do about it?” challenged Terry.
“I’m going to see to it that a thorough search is made of that shack, in spite of George Clayton!” Arden’s head went up bravely, and there was a determined look in her eyes.
“How?” questioned Terry.
“With the help of the police or that detective woman, Emma Tash!”