es of the negligee about her throat and removed the s

mist held a luster heralding the sun. The "hush-hush" of the surf along The Beaches was more insistent now than at any time since

om her stall; a cow lowed; then, sweet and clear as a mountain stream, broke forth the whistle of a wild bird in the marsh. This matin of the feathered songster ros

ion, and Louise knew it must be the reflection of the light upon

a spiral of blue smoke, mounting through it from the chimne

as though the early morning tasks of getting in wood and filling the coal scuttle

too early to go down yet. She might really have another nap

ent on below plainly. The step was lighter than Cap'n Abe's. The bolts of the two-leaved door rattled and it was set wi

ce more when she descried the figure coming through the fog. She saw only the boots and legs of the person at first; but the fog was fast separati

immediately beat the call to arms. Louise Grayling's morning face, framed by the s

he sill, the frilly negligee so loosened that he could see the column

t Water Taffy King, "there's nothing artificia

on the porch, smok

fishhooks you sold me l

he Merry Andrew waitin

ant

ir turned its head. It w

" said the stranger cor

them hooks. I ain't h

t. I don't even know w

e. Do

an, but he somehow gave the impression of muscular power. He was dressed in shabby clothing-shirt, dungaree trouse

to a rich mahogany hue. Not alone his shaven face, but his bared forearms and his chest where the shirt was left unb

he iron gray of advancing age in it. He wore gold rings in his ears and to cap

young feller? Cat got your to

finally gasped Lawfor

re not. You must be

I be," agree

bro

e, eh?" and Cap'n A

Cap'n Abe's. Well, I declare!" repeated

learing with swiftness and a ray of sunlight slanted through a dusty wi

ere Cap'n Abe keeps his fi

dy to go quite a spell, I shouldn't wonder. Had his chest all packed and sent it to the

ere's h

hed here, tight and fast, for c'nsider'ble of a spell. He and this store of

!" murmure

ye. "Young man, what's your name?" he asked bluntly. Lawford told him. "Wal, it strikes me

set, I d

the right ho

I beli

y Andrew-what is s

lo

out," said Cap'n Amazon coolly, pointing with his pipestem to the doo

aning on the scarred brown plank just as Cap'n Abe so often did. The amazing difference betwe

nd his sash full of pistols, swarming over the rail of a doomed ship. The young man had it in his mind to ask a question about that wonderfull

beached. He had no idea that a pair of gray eyes watched him from that windo

one back to bed. Instead, she dressed as simply as she

her chamber. Down the Shell Road, in the direction of the sea, there were but two or three houses

midst of tilled fields and orchards. Sandy lanes led to these homesteads from the highway. She could see the blunt spire of t

r ajar and suddenly hea

earest to the stair w

s nearly six. I'll go down and interview the lady

down the stairs Louise saw a squat, square figure standing in the open doorway. It was topped by a man's fel

ex it was hard to be sure-Louise could see an open letter

rd and blunt-fingered, but not large. They did

irway aroused this person, who turned, revealing a rather grim, weather-beaten face, lit

jaculated

lup boasted a pronounced mustache and a voice both deep and

. "You don't look much like

gay laughter-she

ou're his niece-his ha'f sister's child-name, Loui

d, still dimpling. "And

ll

l staring at Louise. "Humph! you're pretty 'nough not to need m'lasses to

all laid to go away,

. You are his nie

ise gayly replied, "though when I came I had no id

etty Gallup, her speech c

for several reasons, I have known very little about my mother's kinfolk.

ctures. Mandy Card was over to my house last nigh

ntil I have met him," Louis

him?" gasped Bett

t y

him when he c

s in

w Cap'n Abe's gone? Or

this critter 'round C

ed with stron

bout it," the girl explained, fearing that scandal was to take root here and now if she did

expression in Betty Gallup's fa

tty. "His voice sounds mighty like Cap'n Abe's. Bu

s. Gallup?" demanded

n boarded by pirates. Go take a look at tha