It was as Sim said. The dog was trying almost to thrust her pointed muzzle into the glass.
“Maybe Clayton and Melissa are hiding there,” said Terry. “You didn’t go down cellar, did you, Mr. Reilly?”
“No, I didn’t. Didn’t see any use. But if you think we’d better, why, I got a flashlight in my boat.”
“I think we had better,” said Arden.
“Then we will. Nothing like eating your cake and having your bread,” the chief declared. “Wait a minute.”
He tried to run down to his motorboat but made a bad job of that, for he only waddled. However, he soon came back with the flashlight. Meanwhile Tania had not ceased her barking. She no longer ran frantically about the shack. She remained at the one window and barked continuously.
“Now, girls,” said the chief as he again started into the house, “there’s no use of you running into any danger. I don’t say there is danger but if it’s there I ain’t going to let you run your pretty necks into no noose. I’m paid for this work and I’ll do it. Nobody can ever say Rufus Reilly let anybody else pull his pancakes out of the ice box. I’ll go down in that cellar alone.”
“But if Clayton is there,” said Arden, “and starts to fight you——”
“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 assistance. I can run a boat.”