The Mystery on the Mississippi

lips. They were so swollen they would hardly open. Trixie shook her head sadly. In a husky voice she said, “Please give Honey a drink first. I think she’s fainted. Please try to revive her. Only, if you’re going to kill us, don’t try. It would be easier for her that way.”
    Lontard laughed mockingly. “Who said anything about killing such sweet little girls? Untie their arms and legs. Quickly, Juan. Don’t look at me that way. I know what I’m doing. Untie them. Don’t waste time. I’m merciful and kind. Don’t you remember how merciful and kind I can be?”
    “If my husband forgets, I remember,” Elena Aguilera said as she soothed Honey’s swollen wrists and ankles. “I’ve watched you with grown people, but I’ve never said a word. I can’t watch you torturing these young people any longer. Try to lift your head, Honey. Take a sip of this water.”
    Honey’s eyes fluttered and opened. Her pale face whitened even more when she saw who was holding her.
    “Drink the water, Honey,” Trixie said in a low, hoarse voice.
    “Yes, drink it!” Lontard commanded. “I’m thinking of taking you on a nice little trip, a sight-seeing jaunt. I don’t want you fainting all over the place. Get up! See if you can walk. Juan, lift the little darlings to their dainty feet.”
    Mrs. Aguilera slowly lifted Honey. The woman stood with her arms sustaining the trembling girl till strength returned to her limbs and she was able to stand alone. Her husband jerked Trixie to her feet roughly. Trixie knew very well that Lontard was not to be trusted, yet they were not going to be killed right away. The thought sent the blood rushing painfully through her numbed legs and hands. She put her arms around Honey. The girls clung to one another.
    Lontard dusted his hands together. “There, now, that’s better, isn’t it? See how kind Pierre Lontard is? How do you repay me? You have committed every
    known sin against me. You stole my valuable papers. You took them from where I had accidentally left them, in my room. You would not return them to me. You saw me hunting through that wastebasket, and you knew I was hunting for my property. Did you give my property back to me? No.” Trixie and Honey, their arms around one another, did not speak.
    “When I went to all the trouble of putting my helpers aboard the Catfish Princess to try and recover my papers, did they succeed? No. At that point, Elena was more inclined to help me. She pushed you into the river, Trixie. Everyone would have been sure it was an accident, and, in the excitement, Elena would have had your purse and the papers. But you”—he pointed his long finger at Honey—“had to butt in, and that plot failed.
    “Then, that night, you did not give me time to search your stateroom. I had to go overboard, into the water, and swim for shore. I’ll never forgive you for that!
    “I thought I could take care of things later, but everything went wrong. At every place I’d arranged to meet Bob with his boat, something kept him from stopping. Then I made a bad mistake when the Coast Guard picked up Bob. I should have waited. I’m sure that’s the time you turned the papers over to the authorities. They’re bound to have them.
    “At every move you frustrated me. And I can’t stand frustration! One paper I wanted. Just one paper, more than any other. The map of the river. With it in the hands of the authorities, our plan is ruined.”
    “What are you doing all the talking for, Frenchy?” Juan Aguilera interrupted. “You’re no history teacher. We know what’s already happened. Forget it. What we don’t know is what’s going to happen.”
    “A cat has great pleasure playing with a mouse,” Lontard growled.
    “Meantime, what’ll be happening to us?” Juan Aguilera inquired coldly. “We know they handed the papers over to the authorities. You’re getting to the point too slowly for me.”
    “Silence!” Lontard commanded.
    “You can’t ‘silence’ me. I’m tired of your stupid orders. I’m tired, too, of your chicken-heartedness, Elena. I’ll take a few things into my own hands.” Lontard grabbed Aguilera’s arm and twisted it till he howled with pain. “I give in!” he whined. “What’re you going to do?”
    Pierre Lontard turned to the girls. “What I’m going to do is to give you just one more chance to tell me where my property is. Do the authorities have the papers?”
    Neither Trixie nor Honey spoke.
    When Lontard spoke again,