y, in spite of the indignant opposition afforded
by the daughter of the house.

"What's in here?" enquired a well-known voice, as a hand was placed on
his door handle.

"Nothing," said Miss Chiffers; "'ere, you go away, that's my bedroom. Go
away, d'you 'ear?"

There was the sound of a diminutive scuffle outside, then the door
opened and a smartly-dressed young man, regardless of the fair form of
Miss Chiffers, which was coiled round his leg, entered the room.

"Why, Dick," said the skipper, rising, "Dick! Thank goodness it's you."

"I've no doubt you're delighted," said Mr. Tipping, coldly. "What are
you doing with that knife?"

"I thought it was somebody else," said Flower, putting it down. "I
thought it was another attempt on my life."

Mr. Tipping coughed behind his hand and murmured something inaudibly as
his sister entered the room, followed by the third member of the party.

"Oh, Fred!" she said, wildly, "I wonder you can look me in the face.
Where have you been all this time? Where have you been?"

"Give the man time to think," said her brother, exchanging a glance with
the other man.

"I've been everywhere," said Flower, facing them defiantly. "I've been
hunted all over the country."

"But where did you go when you left me that day?" enquired Miss Tipping.

"It's a long story," said Flower, slowly. "But you got the letter I
wrote you?"

Miss Tipping shook her head.

"You didn't get it?" said Flower, in surprise. "I can't think what you
must have thought of me."

"I'll tell you what I thought of you, if you'd like to know,"
interrupted Mr. Tipping, eagerly.

"I wrote to you to explain," said Flower, glibly "I went abroad
suddenly, called away at a moment's notice."

"Special trains and all that sort o' thing, I s'pose," said Mr. Tipping,
with interest.

"Dick," said Miss Tipping, fiercely.

"Well," said Dick, gruffly.

"Hold your tongue."

"I've not had any real sleep since," said Flower, pathetically, "what
with the danger and thinking of you."

"Why didn't you write again?" enquired Miss Tipping.

"I asked you to write to a certain address in that letter I sent you,"
said Flower, "and when I came back to England and found there was no
letter, I concluded that you couldn't forgive me."

Miss Tipping looked at him reproachfully, but Mr. Tipping, raising his
eyes, gasped for air.

"But who are these enemies?" asked Miss Tipping, tenderly drawing closer
to Flower.

"A man in the