Chapter I: Front Matter

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Transcriber's note:

Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).

The Mary Lou Series

THE MYSTERY OF THE FIRES

by

EDITH LAVELL

A. L. Burt Company Publishers New York Chicago

The Mary Lou Series by EDITH LAVELL

The Mystery at Dark Cedars The Mystery of the Fires The Mystery of the Secret Band

Copyright, 1935, by A. L. Burt Company Printed in the United States of America

_To My Friend_
Suzanne Simonin

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE
I The Burnt Bungalow 13
II Clifford's Story 29
III The Ditmars 42
IV Another Fire 54
V Freckles' Story 68
VI More Suspects 79
VII The Crazy Woman 97
VIII Danger 103
IX The Arrest 114
X The Visit with Rebecca 128
XI Adelaide Ditmar's Plan 139
XII Getting Business 151
XIII The Threat 163
XIV The Search 177
XV Captive 190
XVI Weary Waiting 205
XVII Release 218
XVIII Return 233
XIX Conclusion 244

Characters

Mary Louise Gay a girl detective.
Jane Patterson her chum.
Mr. Gay, Mrs. Gay her parents.
Joseph (Freckles) Gay her brother.
Silky her dog.
David McCall a young insurance agent, visiting Shady Nook.
boy-friends.
Max Miller
Norman Wilder

_Residents of Shady Nook_
Reeds two adults and five young people.
Hunters mother and son.
Partridges four adults.
Mr. and Mrs. Flick owners of the inn.
Robinsons two adults and two boys.
Smiths two adults and three children.
Mr. and Mrs. Ditmar a young married couple.
Adams a farmer with three grown-up children.
Mr. and Mrs. Frazier owners of the Royal Hotel.
Eberhardt a village storekeeper.