THEN THERE WERE FIVE

Another Melendy story — the third in the series. Dad is in Washington on a government job; "Cuffy" still reigns supreme in the "Four Story Mistake", the country house acquired in the last report of their doings. In collecting scrap for the drive, they meet Mark Herron, 13 (just younger than Rush and older than Randy). Mark is an orphan and lives with a cousin, O. Meaker, in a scary, deserted looking house. The Melendy's take Mark under their collective wings and they have a jolly time exploring, swimming in the quarry, picnicking. Luck is in for Mark — his hated home and hated cousin in it burn to the ground. And the Melendy's father comes home and invites Mark to be adopted into the family. To celebrate they have a livestock auction and a children's fair-and life takes on new sheen for Mark....There is a certain guilelessness about Elizabeth Enright's stories — but they leave you with a warm and pleasant glow.