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  CHAPTER XII A Friend in the Deep

  "Well, Sim," said Arden, stretching luxuriously, "I feel merry as a grigthis morning."

  "You don't say," Sim replied with sarcasm. "I guess you haven't lookedoutside then. I think we're in for a storm. What is a grig, anyway?"

  "I don't know exactly," Arden continued, "but that's how I feel. It'svery merry. How do you feel?"

  "I feel like a chocolate nut sundae," Sim answered, making a wry face.

  "You're a little cross, too. What's the trouble?" Arden asked.

  "Oh, nothing. But I'm thinking, if we do get a northeaster, there won'tbe any bathing for days. I think I'll go in today just to get a swimbefore it comes," Sim answered. "Look at that," she continued, pointingto the little weather vane on the garage roof.

  It was quivering in the wind and pointing due northeast. A brave morningsun was trying to pierce the leaden clouds, but not making much headway.

  A week before, Arden had seen the second mysterious caller drive away inhis car after tying up their boat. Since then they had neither seen norheard from Dimitri, and in an orgy of swimming and sunbathing had almostforgotten about him, so perfect had the weather been and so completelyhad the girls enjoyed it.

  Now Sim and Arden were in their room making plans for the day, and Terry,in gay bathrobe and slippers, strolled in to talk things over beforebreakfast.

  "Don't go in today, Sim, there's bound to be a bad undertow; and besides,I have to go to town," Terry remarked as she had heard Sim's decision.

  "But the tide will be coming in, and I'll only take a short dip. I'll beready when you want to go. Let's eat now, and by the time we have ourrooms in order I can go in for a swim. Then we'll drive to the village.How's that?" Sim asked, smiling.

  "You seem to have it all planned. I suppose it's all right. It's nearlyten now, so let's go down for breakfast," Terry suggested. "I'm hungry."

  Sim and Arden, donning bathrobes and slipping their feet into soft mules,pattered downstairs after Terry.

  They ate and put on their bathing suits when they went upstairs again, ahabit they had fallen into since the lovely weather had begun.

  When they went out a little later, Sim wished she hadn't been soinsistent about swimming. The breakers were piling in, slapping down onthe beach and churning up a white sudsy foam.

  "I'm not going in _that_ sea," Arden decided, "and I don't think youshould either, Sim."

  "Nonsense, Arden," Sim said scornfully. "It looks a lot worse than itis."

  "We'll have rain before night," Terry stated positively, "and the oceanis getting rougher all the time. Go on in, Sim, if you're going to, butbe careful."

  In a moment of bravado, Sim flung off her sweater and ran down to thewater. She hesitated for a second as the cold water whirled around herfeet, then, running swiftly, she plunged in head first. She was lost tosight immediately, but presently came up again and waved a hand to Ardenand Terry, who were watching. Then she turned and began to swim out intothe sea.

  "I wish she wouldn't go out," Arden worried.

  "Oh, she'll be all right. Sim's a good swimmer," Terry reassured her.

  As they watched they could see Sim's scarlet bathing cap bobbing in therough sea. She swam easily for a while and then floated on her back. Didthey imagine it, or was she having trouble? Arden and Terry strainedtheir eyes to see. Sim was swimming hard toward the shore but seemed tobe making no headway.

  "She's having a hard time getting back. Do you think she's all right?"Arden asked anxiously.

  "Wait--" Terry cautioned--"I'm not sure----"

  Sim was still swimming but seemed to be tiring. She turned over on herback for a brief rest and began again. But it seemed no use. Apparentlyshe was caught in a sea-puss and was still making no headway.

  Terrified, Terry and Arden looked at each other, unable to utter a word.In that instant a figure flashed by them and disappeared with a splash inthe waves. Still speechless, they both knew----

  It was Melissa!

  She was going to help Sim to safety. The girls watching on the beach feltthe relief so suddenly and so completely that each grasped the other.

  "Melissa!" breathed Terry.

  "She'll get her," answered Arden.

  What little they had done to make friends with the girl came now in arush of grateful memory.

  Yes, Melissa would help them. She was their friend.

  In almost no time at all Melissa and Sim walked out of the wild sea, alittle further down the beach. Arden and Terry ran down to greet them.

  "Sim, you idiot! I told you not to go in. Are you all right?" Arden askedbreathlessly.

  "Of course I'm all right," Sim panted.

  "She was caught in a sea-puss. There's a trick in getting out. It'sbecause the storm is coming and the inlet to the bay is so near," Melissaanswered modestly.

  "It was very brave of you to go out, just the same," Terry insisted. "Itwas just fine!"

  Sim looked a little sheepish and pulled her sweater on over her drippingsuit.

  "Don't tell your mother, Terry; you know how she would worry," Sim said."Melissa, you were swell!" she exclaimed.

  Melissa smiled happily. It was seldom, indeed, that her actions pleasedanyone. Her whole day would be happy now, and at night she could lie inher hard little bed and remember how the girls had praised her. It tookso little to brighten the dull life of Melissa.

  The girls thanked her again and cautioned her about telling Mrs. Landry.Then, waving good-bye to Melissa, they left her, digging her toes in thesand in embarrassment, with her confused thoughts.

  The three girls, a guilty little group, went back to "Buckingham Palace"and dressed quickly, never mentioning the almost tragic adventure toTerry's mother.

  Sim's feet and hands were still cold when she climbed into the car besideArden and Terry, a while later, as they started for the village.

  The storm was coming in rapidly now. The sun was obscured, and suddenstrong gusts of wind swerved the car as they drove along. It had not yetbegun to rain. But Chief of Police Reilly cocked his weather eye and"reckoned" it would not be long in coming. He was filling the gas tank ofthe little car and chatting with the girls as he worked.

  "How do you like your new neighbor, Miz Landry?" he asked, showing ashining gold tooth.

  "We like him all right, but we don't see much of him," Terry answered,smiling.

  "Funny feller," he chuckled as he wiped off the windshield. "Wrote to me'long 'bout last April and rented my ole boat. Never even saw it." Hegave the windshield a grand swipe.

  "Do you know Melissa Clayton?" Sim asked, abruptly changing the subject.Her adventure in the ocean was still fresh in her mind.

  "Sure; everyone knows Melissa," the chief answered.

  "How about her father? What kind of a man is he?" pursued Sim.

  "George Clayton? He's all right. None too smart, but he gets along,"Reilly answered indifferently. "Can't make a silk purse out of a sow'sear, you know."

  But Sim was not satisfied. She wanted to find out if Melissa's father wasas cruel as they imagined him to be. The chief, however, in hisgood-natured way, didn't see what Sim was driving at and gave her nosatisfaction. Finally she questioned him no further. They agreed on theweather and said they'd see him soon again, just how soon, none of themknew.

  Then they drove back home and unloaded the last of the groceries from thecar just as the first drops of rain showed on the windshield. Like allbad news, it was better to have it started. The sooner begun the soonerit would be over.