The sapphire bracelet...

Chapter I

A PRETTY girl, looking very cool and attractive in a white muslin gown, descended from the veranda of the little Lake View Hotel, and directed her steps toward two distant maples, under which her hammock was slung, her way leading across a lawn yellow with dandelions. Only once she paused — to scan the lake, and to gaze wistfully at its one island, colored blue by the haze of a June afternoon.

She carried a white parasol, and a book bound in green buckram; she wore no hat. In the sun, her hair would have rivaled the dandelions, it was so deliciously and naturally yellow; and her eyes were as blue as the disi

'Se SAPPHIRE BRACELET tant island, where, at that very moment, a picnic party from the hotel was doing its best to divide itself into fractions, each fraction containing an interested and interesting member of an opposite sex.

On the island, alas, save in one or two cases, the problem remained a problem, for the picnic party was sadly lacking in men. So, if the girl had gone to the picnic, instead of remaining at the hotel with her Aunt Harriet, perhaps by this time she would have been looking wistfully across the lake to the deserted hotel. Still, one always fancies one will have a pleasant time at a picnic, and grows surer of it as the day advances — that is, when one stays away. So, the girl felt just the least bit lonely and unhappy, even though she cared not a cent for any individual member of the picnic party.

“ I couldn’t have gone, anyway,” she said to herself. “ That train being so early made it quite impossible.” Which might lead one to infer that she expected a friend, or some one, at least, by a certain train.

She was not really disconsolate, however, for she carried in her hand an exciting story. 2

She was sure It was exciting, for she had already read the last chapter, and it had ended most dramatically. Then, too, her hammock was most comfortable. Indeed, it was her own particular hammock, which she had brought with her from New York.

Therefore, when she approached the two maples, with every prospect of a peaceful afternoon, she was, naturally, surprised, and a little indignant, to find her hammock occupied by a young man; rather a handsome young man, to be sure, but also an interloping, vexatious young man, who must be shown his place, must be taught that he could not, with impunity, fall asleep in hammocks that belonged exclusively to pretty, attractive young ladies. For there could be no doubting it: the young man was fast asleep.

Perhaps if the girl had known him, she would have liked him, for Morton Prince was most likable. But she did not know him; she was ignorant that his name was Morton Prince. Indeed, she was aware of but three things : a young man was asleep in her hammock, she wanted her hammock, she meant to have it.

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To accomplish her design, it was obviously necessary to awaken the young man. It might be that a cough would awaken him ?

She coughed.

But Morton Prince slept through a whole series of coughs, whereat she eyed him reproachfully, then blushed a little as it occurred to her that, in a story book, he would be the only man in the world. And the only man in the world was always awakened, in story books, with — But she wanted her hammock.

Dropping both parasol and book, she grasped the rope supporting the hammock, and gave it a violent shake, causing Mr. Prince to stir uneasily. But he did not open his eyes.

Again the hammock was shaken, this time with better success.

“Where the deuce am I?” murmured Mr. Prince, rubbing his eyes.

“ You’re in my hammock.”

“ Good old hammock,” said Mr. Prince, preparing to take another nap.

“You mustn’t go to sleep again! I say you mustn’t 1 ”

We SAPPHIRE BRACELET

“Why not?” demanded Mr. Prince, sitting up suddenly.

“ Because it’s my hammock, and I want it.”

“Oh!” said Mr. Prince. “Your hammock, is it? By Jove, your hammock, of course!” he added, rising hastily. “I’m sure I beg your pardon. I’m only halfawake, you see.”

“ Yes, I see,” the girl replied coldly.

Mr. Morton Prince smiled disarmingly. “ I was dead tired, and I didn’t know it was a private hammock. I only arrived an hour ago,” he explained. “ It seems to be pleasant here,” he continued, by way of making conversation.

“ No doubt some people find it pleasant,” said the girl in a tone of finality. “ Good-afternoon.”

“ I say ! ” exclaimed Mr. Prince, hope you’re not offended with me.”

“Why should I be?”

“ I don’t know. But, somehow, I that you are.”

“ Really, I’m not.”

“ Are you sure? ”

“I feel

[the SAPPHIRE BRACELET]

“ I’m not so sure as I was when I said I wasn’t.”

“ Perhaps I’d better go. But I hate to go with this misunderstanding between us.”

The girl eyed him disapprovingly, then stooped to pick up her book.

“ Let me,” said Mr. Prince, making a hasty dive.

As he placed the book in her hands, the girl’s face brightened. “ You say you arrived an hour ago? ” she asked.

“ Yes,” said Mr. Prince, greatly relieved to find his dismissal temporarily postponed. “ Yes, an hour ago.”

“ But there is no train at that time.”

“ I came in a motor car.”

“ Started from New York at five this morning. Not a bad record.”

“ You must have been in a hurry.”

44 I’m always in a hurry.”

44 How stupid of me ! ” exclaimed the girl. “You needn’t say another word; I know now who you are. You see, I expected you on the four o’clock train.”

41 Er — yes,” said Mr. Prince, vaguely troubled, “ quite so. The four o’clock train.”

“ But, of course, time is money in your profession.”

“ Oh, rather! ” agreed Mr. Prince.

“ I think it was clever of me to know you.”

“ You didn’t, at first.”

“ Well, you see you are rather young-looking. I presume of course that you’re a subordinate.”

“ I’m not a subordinate,” declared Mr. Prince, with conviction. “ That is, I may be this minute. But just you wait.”

“ Then you are the head of the agency? ”

Mr. Prince looked puzzled, then squared his shoulders, impressively. “ You’ve guessed it,” he said.

“ That simplifies matters. I feel, now, I can tell you everything.”

“ Yes, everything,” said Mr. Prince. “ That’s what I want to know — everything.”

“ I hardly know where to begin,” said the girl, seating herself in the hammock, and regarding the tips of her fingers.

jjffie SAPPHIRE BRACELET

“ You might begin at the beginning,” suggested Mr. Prince.

“ That wouldn’t be logical,” said the girl.

“ Why not?”

“ Is it logical for a woman to be logical? ”

“ But you’re a mere child,” he objected.

“ I’m not. I’m twenty.”

“ And I’m twenty-eight.”

“ A girl is older at twenty than a boy at twenty-eight.”

“ Than a man at twenty-eight,” corrected Mr. Prince.

“You are awfully boyish to hold such a responsible position,” said the girl.

“ If I were not successful, would I be here? ” he demanded.

“ Since you are here, wouldn’t it be more business-like to — to be business-like?”

“ I am waiting to hear why you sent for me,” said Mr. Prince, adopting what he deemed to be a professional manner.

“ But I thought you knew. Surely the telegram — ”

“ Your telegram was most vague,” said Mr. Prince.

m?

“ Didn’t it tell you I needed your services? ”

“ That’s why I’m here.”

“ Come to think of it, I don’t believe it did tell you why I needed your services.”

“ That’s just it,” said Mr. Prince. “ I came, hoping to be of service to you, but entirely ignorant as to the reason why my services were needed.”

“ Can’t you guess? ”

44 Of course I can guess.”

44 Then guess.”

44 That would be hardly professional.”

44 No, I suppose not. Still, when one sends for a detective — ”

“A detective?” exclaimed Mr. Prince, taken quite off his guard by the unexpectedness of it all.

“Yes, a detective. You are a detective, aren’t you ? ”

“ She asks me if I’m a detective,” he said, appealing to the universe at large with a voice of amazement.

44 Well, are you, or aren’t you? ”

“ Did you never hear of Morton Prince? ”

44 1 never did.”

TSe SAPPHIRE BRACELET )

“ Or of Red Fennessy, or of Anarchist Joe, or of — of — ”

“ Go on/’ said the girl.

“ Red Fennessy is now serving fifteen years in jail for the Winchester bank robbery; Anarchist Joe is doin^j a life sentence for the Baltimore bomb outrage. And who put them there? ”

“ I give it up,” said the girl.

“ I put them there.”

“ And is Morton Prince in jail, too? ”

“ No. Morton Prince is not in jail. It is Morton Prince you see before you. I am Morton Prince.”

“ Not really? ”

“ Just as sure as I’m standing here.”

“ I never dreamed the agency would send such a famous detective.”

“ It would naturally send you the best it had,” Mr. Prince explained modestly. “ If you will be so good as to tell me why my services are needed.”

“ It is on a very delicate matter,” said the girl.

“Ah, I see; a case in which caution and diplomacy are required.”

io

HER FEET

‘ffie SAPPHIRE BRACELET?,

“ Oh, lots of caution, and no end of diplomacy ! Do you think you can manage it, Mr. Prince ?”

“ Pm sure of it.”

“If you are tired of standing, you may sit down.”

“ Thank you so much,” said Mr. Prince, seating himself at her feet, a position which, figuratively, of course, he was to occupy for some time to come.

u

Chapter II

T HE girl, evidently at a loss where to begin her narrative, bestowed a tentative glance on Detective Prince, who sat silent, regarding her with trustful and appreciative eyes; she gazed, for a moment, at the sky. Naturally, one would hesitate to declare that she found in the color of the sky an answer to some vexing question. But it is said we are strangely influenced by colors, and the sky was wonderfully blue that afternoon. At all events, when her gaze left the sky, to rest once more on the approving Mr. Prince, she seemed to have acquired the information, confidence, or whatever it was she had been seeking.

“ I am ready now,” she said.

“ Do you mind if I smoke?” asked Mr. Prince. “ I can think better when I smoke.”

®ie SAPPHIRE BRACELET

1 hope you don’t use morphine,” said the

I’m a bit too modern for that. Why, 1 don’t even use a magnifying glass! ”

“ I suppose modern methods are more — more modern.”

“ Oh, rather ! ” said Mr. Prince.

“ Still, I presume you disguise yourself occasionally.”

“ That isn’t necessary. Of course we occasionally disguise our true feelings,” he explained.

As this statement was accompanied by a look of undisguised admiration, the girl had little reason for supposing this to be one of the occasions to which Detective Prince referred.

“ I doubt if you ever have any feelings to disguise,” she said.

” Oh, I say ! ” protested Mr. Prince.

“ Of course, to me, you are a mere machine, possessing a coldly analytical mind, and no heart.”

“ Detectives often have hearts.”

“ Before they become detectives, perhaps.”

” There is something in that.”

SAPPHIRE BRACElETf

“ Then you’ll admit that all detectives are heartless.”

“ I’ll admit I lost my heart when I became a detective,” Mr. Prince replied evasively.

“ Perhaps it would be better if you were to smoke,” said the girl.

Detective Prince drew a gold case from his pocket, and selected a cigarette.

“ This is great! ” he said.

“ Does it really affect your mind? ” asked the girl.

“ Oh, rather! ” said Mr. Prince. “ I see things much more clearly through smoke.”

“ I suppose I’d better tell you all about the robbery,” said the girl.

“A robbery? Good! Goon.”

“ It promises to be a very difficult case.”

“ It might be for some,” said Mr. Prince, “ but I’m no end of a dab at finding things; been doing it ever since I was a youngster.”

“ How very curious ! ”

Pe SAPPHIRE BRACELET?

there’s that silly game with a dollar, where you hold hands under a table.”

“ I have never played it,” said the girl.

“ What, never played Up Jenkins ?”

“ Never! ”

“ Of course I’ve only played it with men,” said Mr. Prince, “ but I could generally tell where the dollar was without half-trying. It has always been so,” he added vaguely.

u Aren’t we losing time? ” asked the girl.

“ I’m not,” replied Mr. Prince.

“ Supposing you had been robbed of a sapphire bracelet? ”

“ That’s different,” he admitted. “ Did the robbery take place here? ”

“ Where else?”

“ Ah,” said Mr. Prince, producing a gold pencil and a check book, “ a sapphire bracelet, you say. Sapphires are blue* aren’t they?”

“ Generally.”

“ I think blue would be awfully becoming to you. Go on.”

“ Wouldn’t it be more professional of you to ask me questions? ”

“ It would be,” said Mr. Prince, “ but I 15 foie SAPPHIRE BRACELET

thought best to adopt a different method in your case.”

“Why?”

“ One has to ask rather — er — intimate questions.”

“ Still, perhaps it would be better.”

“ What a horrid profession ! ”

“ I’ll admit it has a disagreeable side. But there are certain pleasant features; one meets so many charming people.”

“ Criminals may be interesting, but I should hardly call them charming,” said the girl.

“ I was thinking of my clients.”

“ I suppose charming people are robbed occasionally.”

“Yes, indeed! If that weren’t so, I wouldn’t be — ”

“ Wouldn’t be what? ”

“ Wouldn’t be a detective,” said Mr. Prince.

“ I can’t afford to pay you a large sum if you are successful in finding the bracelet,” said the girl.

“ We never receive large fees, except from 1 6 jjfeWPHIRE BRACELET

banks and corporations. Of course, you pay me nothing if I fail.** u And if you succeed? ”

“ Six dollars.”

“ But that’s a ridiculous price ! ”

“ Four dollars, then.”

“ I mean it’s absurdly cheap.”

“We detectives look on private cases, such as yours, as a diversion,” said Mr. Prince. “ It’s restful, after tracking people through subways, and chasing them in hansoms, and all that sort of thing. I say, are you fond of sailing? ”

“ I’m mad about it.”

“ I’ve a sloop yacht that’s a regular hummer; raced it to the Bermudas last year.”

“ I didn’t know detectives were yachtsmen,” said the girl.

“ I was chasing a criminal,” said Mr. Prince. “ But he arrived first, and took refuge under the British flag.”

“ Goodness ! ”

* I got him, though I kidnaped him, you know. He was an awful rascal.”

“ I should think a little case like mine would seem stupid, after that.”

I?

[Ue SAPPHIRE BRACELET]

“ Not at all. Let’s see, where were we, anyway? ”

“ We hadn’t got very far.”

“ But I feel that we’re progressing,” said Mr. Prince, looking at her with an expression of great hopefulness.

“ Of course you see much that is hidden from me,” said the girl.

Detective Prince now wrote two words on the back of a blank check.

“ Pm making a note of something,” he explained. “ I say, are there two ‘ p’s ’ in sapphire ? ”

“I — Why, Pm not sure.”

“ It looks awfully queer with only one.”

“ If it looks queer, it’s probably right,” said the girl.

“ Pm glad you can’t spell,” said Mr. Prince. “ I hate people who know everything.”

“ I admire them.”

“ Detectives know a great deal about certain things,” said Mr. Prince. “ You ought to see me play polo.”

“Polo?”

“ I used to be a mounted policeman before 18 gfie SAPPHIRE BRACELET^

I became a detective, you know, and IVe never lost my fondness for horses.”

“ But isn’t polo an expensive game? ”

“ We detectives make a thundering lot of money. I’m thinking of retiring soon.”

“ I suppose it is a strain.”

“ It’s beginning to be an awful strain,” said Mr. Prince. u I shouldn’t wonder if this were to be my last case.”

“You will probably marry some nice, reformed criminal, and settle down,” said the girl.

“ I shall do nothing of the sort.”

“ Perhaps bachelors are happier.”

“ They’re not,” said Mr. Prince.

“ I hope you’re not thinking of marrying above your station,” said the girl.

“ A detective is as good as anybody,” declared Mr. Prince.

“ Aren’t we becoming a bit personal.”

“ By Jove! We are x aren’t we? ”

“ It’s always a mistake to become personal.”

“ One has to in my profession. It’s the personal note always that leads to clues, you know.”

Jtfe SAPPHIRE BRACELET

“ But you haven’t done a thing toward finding the sapphire bracelet.”

“ I’ve been leading up to it. A detective’s first duty it to become acquainted with his client, and to inspire her with confidence, and all that sort of thing.”

“ I can’t say you’ve been altogether successful.”

“ That,” said Mr. Prince, “ is because you haven’t yet become acquainted with me.”

“ I doubt if any one could ever really become acquainted with a detective,” said the girl ; “ they’re so suspicious, and relentless, and cynical.”

“ Oh, I say,” exclaimed Mr. Prince, “ I’m not cynical ! ”

“ Then you still retain a little faith in mankind ? ”

“ A little.”

“ And you are not entirely cynical? ”

“ Er — not entirely.”

“ I don’t understand it,” said the girl.

“ Well, you see, I’ve always dealt with the better class of criminals — bank presidents and railroad officials, you know.”

“Was Red Fennessy a bank president?”

fieSAPPHIRE BBACtlEI

u That was before I reached the top of the ladder,” Mr. Prince replied uneasily. “ What about that sapphire bracelet, anyway? You couldn’t have mislaid it, could you ? ”

“ That would have been impossible.”

“ It’s easy to mislay things.”

“ I couldn’t have mislaid that bracelet. I’m sure of it.”

“ Then some one must have stolen it,” said Mr. Prince. “ When did you see it last?”

“ Yesterday evening.”

“ Before or after dinner? ”

“ Before dinner.”

“ It might have been a bellboy.”

“ There aren’t any.”

“ Or a chambermaid.”

“ I’m sure it wasn’t.”

“ Rather a difficult problem,” said Mr. Prince, wrinkling his forehead.

“ It wasn’t in my room when I went upstairs, after dinner,” the girl volunteered.

“By Jove! Then it must have been a guest who took it.”

“ I’d hate to think so.”

SAPPHIRE BR\CELET]

“I — I really ought to see the room,” said Mr. Prince.

“ You can see it to-morrow,” said the girl. “ It’s the one in the corner, on the second floor. Yes, the one with open shutters.”

Mr. Prince favored the window indicated with a glance, then turned once more to the girl.

“ I have a theory,” he said.

“ What, so soon? ”

“ It came to me all of a sudden. That’s the way things usually come to me.”

“ After a series of deductions, no doubt.”

‘‘Rather! I’ve been deducing right along, ever since I met you.”

“ And your theory? ”

“ That,” said Mr. Prince, “ is a secret.”

“ I presume it would be hardly professional to tell me, but I’m dying to know.”

“ You’d be surprised if I were to tell you — uncommonly surprised.”

11 Not too fast,” cautioned Mr, Prince, preparing to make notes.

“ I should say it contained nine or ten sapphires.”

“ Big ones? ”

“ Beauties ! And it wasn’t a clasp bracelet; it was one of the kind you slip over your hand.”

“ Yes, I know,” said Mr. Prince.

“ And there was a little ribbon of diamonds running in and out between the sapphires.”

“ I don’t think I understand.”

“ You’d understand in a moment if you saw it,” said the girl. “ And it was chased.”

“ I think pearls are more chaste,” said Mr. Prince. “ Do you care for pearls? ”

“ Do you really believe you’ll be able to find the bracelet? ” asked the girl.

“ I’m sure I’ll find it.”

“ If you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go in now,” said the girl.

“ There are lots of questions I haven’t asked you,” objected Mr. Prince. “ Besides, the hotel is deserted — everybody’s gone to a picnic.”

44 My aunt didn’t go to the picnic. There she is, on the veranda.”

The girl rose from the hammock; Mr. Prince sprang to his feet.

44 I must see you again, soon,” he said.

44 Is it necessary? ”

“ Absolutely! ”

44 Perhaps if you were to be at the boathouse, at five — ”

44 I’ll be there,” said Mr. Prince.

44 You mustn’t count on seeing me.”

44 But you’ll come if you can? ”

44 Yes, if I can. Good-afternoon.”

Mr. Prince watched the girl as she retreated across the lawn; she was wonderfully graceful, he thought, and — By Jove, she had gone off without her book! He picked it up, almost tenderly, then settled himself in the hammock.

44 1 forgot to ask her if I might, but I’m sure she wouldn’t mind,” he said to himself. 44 I’ll stay here till half-past four, and then I’ll look about for that boathouse. I’ve got myself into no end of a mess, I fancy. But she’s — she’s so — ”

Mr. Prince gazed dreamily at the sky.

Chapter III

W HEN Mr. Prince had left New York in his motor car at five o’clock that morning, it had been with the intention of dining at the Kenwood Country Club, which lay some twenty odd miles beyond the little Lake View Hotel where he now was. Of course, it was still possible for him to dine there, even if he kept his appointment at the boathouse, an appointment he had not the slightest intention of missing. That he should play in the golf tournament, to be held on the Kenwood links next day, was, however, just the least bit doubtful. He could manage it by making an early start in the morning. But so much depended on his interview with the girl!

He wondered if she had suspected he was *5

%e SAPPHIRE BRACELET?

not a detective. He had been rather clever in his deceit, he thought. Still, he mustn’t underestimate her intelligence; that would be a grave mistake. He was sure he hadn’t underestimated her charm. She was the most charming creature it had ever been his good fortune to meet. It was, moreover, quite too bad that their meeting should have been the result of a misunderstanding on her part.

Great Scott! Suppose a man should arrive on the four o’clock train! And suppose he were a detective ! Mr. Prince knew vaguely that there were laws — unpleasant laws — applying to citizens who passed themselves off as police officers. And what were detectives but glorified policemen ?

“ I may have got myself into no end of a scrape,” he thought, a trifle ruefully.

Still, it was very probable that no detective would arrive by the four o’clock train. Besides, he wouldn’t have missed meeting the girl for anything — not for a year in state’s prison; not for two years, by George !

2 6

This sincere, if misguided, declaration tended to restore his confidence amazingly. Looking at his watch, he saw it was now but half-past three; a half-hour yet to dream of the girl before the fateful four o’clock train should arrive. She was so pretty, and her smile so adorable; the hint of mischief in her eyes was truly enchanting; he was her slave, her willing slave, and he would follow her — not openly, of course, for that would give offense. But he’d follow her, and be near her always till — till — Just what Mr. Prince resolved, only the sandman knew, for Mr. Prince was once more fast asleep.

Let it be said in his defense, if sleep need a defense, that Mr. Prince had gone to bed late the night before; also, he had risen at five, acting as his own chauffeur, had driven a long distance. Then, too, the hammock was most comfortable; its enticement was not to be denied.

The shadows lengthened, creeping eastward; a faint whistle announced the approach of the four o’clock train; ten minutes later, a shabby omnibus, drawn by two 27 dejected-looking horses, drew up before the hotel. And still Mr. Prince slept.

That he should be awakened twice in one afternoon, and each time by a girl, seems strange, indeed. But the arm of coincidence is long, and its powers elastic, to be stretched as easily as one stretches the truth. Which accounts, perhaps, for the fact that it was a firm young hand on his shoulder that now summoned Mr. Prince from slumberland.

He obeyed the summons slowly and sleepily — so slowly that the girl grew a little impatient.

44 You’ve got to wake up,” she said.

“Why?” demanded Mr. Prince, opening his eyes.

44 Because I want the hammock.”

Mr. Prince looked hurt.

44 I’m in a hurry,” said the girl, who was evidently a servant.

44 Oh 1 ” said Mr. Prince, rising to his feet. 44 Here, I’ll help you.”

Slipping the hooks from their supporting ropes, he rolled the hammock into a neat bundle. 44 Is the four o’clock train in yet? ” he asked.

“ The ’bus arrived five minutes ago.”

“ Any passengers? ”

“ Only one — a man.”

“Ahi” said Mr. Prince.

The girl now picked up the hammock and started toward the hotel, Mr. Prince gazing after her with troubled eyes.

“ That explains it,” he said to himself, “ the man who came in the ’bus must have been a detective. Or else, why the deuce did she send a chambermaid for her hammock? ”

Perhaps it was her method of dismissing him from the case. He must remember, however, that she may not have known he was occupying her hammock. Perhaps he had but witnessed a daily occurrence? Perhaps the hammock was removed to the hotel every afternoon at four? Perhaps he had been awakened by the chambermaid simply because his presence in the hammock had prevented her from following an established custom ? Here was a whole series of plausible conjectures. Besides, it was silly to take other than a hopeful view of things.

Yet it wasn’t so easy to be optimistic

TSe SAPPHIRE BRACELET where one’s affections were engaged. And certainly his affections were engaged. Oh, rather I His meeting with the girl meant far more to him than a pleasant incident of an idle afternoon.' It was an event — a big, breathless, bewildering event. It was dashed romantic, too. Mr. Prince was agreeably surprised to find there was so much romance left in the world.

And to think he had quitted New York that morning with no other idea than to reach the Kenwood Club by dinner time, and to drive a piffling golf ball a little farther, to approach a little better, and to putt a little truer than the next man, on the morrow. And here he was, acting quite like a hero in a story book. True, he had told more lies than lovers usually tell in story books. Which proved, by George, that truth was stranger than fiction!

But they would be difficult to explain, those lies. That is, they might be. It would make a great difference if his theory concerning the disappearance of the bracelet proved correct. It wasn’t exactly a theory, either; it was little more than an impression. 30 sapphire mam]

Yet Mr. Prince couldn’t help suspecting that the girl had not been robbed of a sapphire bracelet.

Still, she might have been robbed. And she might have been expecting a detective by the four-o’clock train. If this were true, it would mean, of course, that the single passenger in the hotel ’bus had been a detective. By Jove! She might be consulting him this very minute!

Mr. Prince’s eye now encountered the book bound in green buckram, which lay on the grass, not far away, the encounter resulting in the book being transferred to his pocket. Although not particularly important in itself, the fact of having it in his pocket comforted him.

“ It will, at least, give me an opportunity to speak to her again,” he said to himself, “ even if she doesn’t keep her appointment at the boathouse.”

The clerk of the Lake View Hotel, a brisk, business-like young man, possessing a mop of curly brown hair, and wearing a wonderful green tie, was making out bills. He 3i had just decided that six days, at three dollars and a half a day, plus extra charges for trunks, and ’bus fare, came to twenty-two dollars and twenty-five cents, when Mr. Prince approached the counter behind which he sat, and reached for the hotel register.