he biscuits will be ruined," she pleaded. "Leave the talk go. You've
all talked yourselves half-sick now."

Jack McCoy protested as Miss Lang led him to the table.

"Remember, I wasn't there," he said. "And I've got a lot to find out
before I get caught up."

Hawkins slid into a chair by McCoy.

"Well that's about all there is to it, Mac," he said. "Except that the
_Gray Ghost_ made a clean get-away in the fog. You see the Custom House
has been wise to her for a long time but they never could catch her with
the goods. For some time there has been a lot of dope floating around in
tuna cans so they kind of laid it to some fish cannery. In talking it
over with Cap. I began to look this fellow, Rock, up. And I found among
other things, that he didn't have a dollar until a few years ago. He
made his money quick, and as far as we knew, right here in town. Then,
this Diablo stuff gave me a hunch."

Gregory looked up quickly at the mention of the island.

"Easy on the Diablo stuff, Bill," he cautioned. "Aunt Mary doesn't know
much about that."

When supper was over, Jack McCoy rose hastily.

"I must be getting back," he said. "We have a big night-shift and fish
to burn. And they will burn unless I'm on the job."

Gregory followed him to the door.

"I'll be down pretty quick, Jack," he said. "I want to see Miss Lang a
minute before I go."

A crooked little smile twisted the corners of McCoy's mouth and for a
moment he looked deep into Gregory's eyes.

"I suppose congratulations are in order," he began somewhat uncertainly,
and seeing that Gregory made no denial, he put out his hand. "I hope
you'll both be happy," he said slowly.

Then he turned quickly and hurried out the door. Hawkins hurried after
him.

"I guess I'll go down with McCoy," he explained. "I want to keep near a
phone." Then he turned to Aunt Mary. "In to-morrow's _Times_ you'll get
the latest details of the secret of El Diablo," he said as he bade her
good night.

When Hawkins had gone out and Aunt Mary had retired to the kitchen,
Gregory exclaimed to Dickie Lang in a low voice:

"There's one secret she won't get in _The Times_. She won't have to wait
that long. For I'm going to tell her now."

"You'd better not," answered the girl. "You would have to shout. She's
unusually deaf to-night. All the neighbors would hear."

"That's what I want," Gregory cried as he walked to the kitchen with
Dickie following close behind.

In the semi-darkness