The Slipper Point Mystery

The Slipper Point Mystery
by Augusta Huiell Seaman
Author of "Three Sides of Paradise Green," "The Girl Next Door,"
"The Sapphire Signet," etc.
Illustrated by C. M. Relyea
New York The Century Company 1921
Copyright, 1919, by The Century Co.
Published, September, 1919

CHAPTER I
THE ENCOUNTER
SHE sat on the prow of a beached rowboat, digging her bare toes in the
sand.
There were many other rowboats drawn up on the sandy edge of the
river, - as many as twenty or thirty, not to speak of the green and red
canoes lying on the shore, bottoms up, like so many strange insects. A
large number of sailboats were also anchored near the shore or drawn
up to the long dock that stretched out into the river.
For this was Carter's Landing, the only place on lovely little Manituck
River where pleasure-boats could be hired. Beside the long dock there
was, up a wide flight of steps, a large pavilion where one could sit and
watch the lights and shadows on the river and its many little activities.
There were long benches and tables to accommodate picnic-parties and,
in an inner room, a counter where candies, ice cream and soda-water

were dispensed. And lastly, one part of the big pavilion was used as a
dancing-floor where, afternoons and evenings, to the music of a violin
and piano, merry couples whirled and circled.
Down on the sand was a signboard which said:
"CHILDREN MUST NOT PLAY IN THE BOATS."
Nevertheless, she sat on the prow of one, this girl of fourteen, digging
her bare toes aimlessly in the sand, and by her side on the prow-seat sat
a tiny child of about three, industriously sucking the thumb of her right
hand, while she pulled at a lock of her thick straight hair with her left.
So she sat, saying nothing, but staring contentedly out over the water.
The older girl wore a blue skirt and a soiled white middy-blouse. She
had dark brown eyes and thick auburn hair, hanging down in a ropelike
braid. Her face was somewhat freckled, and apart from her eyes and
hair she was not particularly pretty.
The afternoon was hot, though it was only the early part of June, and
there was no one else about except one or two helpers of the Landing.
The girl stared moodily out over the blue river, and dug her bare toes
deeper into the sand.
"Stop sucking your thumb, Genevieve!" she commanded suddenly, and
the baby hastily removed the offending member from her mouth. But a
moment later, when the older girl's attention was attracted elsewhere,
she quietly slipped it back again.
Presently, from around the bend of the river, there slid into sight a red
canoe, paddled vigorously by one person sitting in the stern. The girl in
the prow of the rowboat sat up and stared intently at the approaching
canoe.
"There it is," she announced to her younger sister. "The first canoe
Dad's hired this season. Wonder who has it?" The baby made no reply
and placidly continued to suck her thumb, her older sister being too
absorbed to notice the forbidden occupation.

The canoe approached nearer, revealing its sole occupant to be a girl of
fourteen or fifteen, clad in a dazzlingly white and distinctly tailored
linen Russian blouse suit, with a pink satin tie, her curly golden hair
surmounted by an immense bow of the same hue. She beached her
canoe skilfully not six feet away from the rowboat of the occupied
prow. And as she stepped out, further details of her costume could be
observed in fine white silk stockings and dainty patent leather pumps.
Scarcely stopping to drag her canoe up further than a few inches on the
sand, she hurried past the two in the rowboat and up the broad steps to
the pavilion.
"You'd better drag up your canoe further," called out the barefooted girl.
"It 'll float away if you leave it like that."
"Oh, I'm coming right back!" replied the other. "I'm only stopping a
moment to get some candy." She disappeared into the pavilion and was
out again in two minutes, bearing a large box of candy, of the most
expensive make boasted by Carter's Landing. Down the steps she
tripped, and crossed the strip of sand toward her canoe. But in front of
the occupied rowboat she stopped, drawn perhaps by the need of
companionship on this beautiful but solitary afternoon.
"Have some?" she asked, proffering the open box of candy. The
barefooted girl's eyes sparkled.
"Why, yes, thanks!" she answered, and gingerly helped herself to one
small piece.
"Oh, take some more! There's plenty!" declared her companion,
emptying fully a quarter of the box into her new friend's lap. "And give
some to the baby."