on the bed. Apparently her
father had not distrusted Michael Haymond's motives nor had he
considered Mrs. Masterbrook's rude action as anything out of the way.

"Dad takes everything casually," Penny thought.

She could hear her father and Michael Haymond in the kitchen laughing
and talking together. The icebox door slammed shut. Evidently they
were indulging in a snack of food.

"Mrs. Masterbrook will be furious in the morning," Penny chuckled.
"She seems to detest Michael Haymond anyway. For a moment I thought
she appeared to recognize him, but I suppose she was merely trying to
be dramatic. That's the trouble with Mrs. Masterbrook--she's usually
acting a part."

Penny allowed her thoughts to ramble at will until she heard her father
and Michael Haymond enter their rooms. The hall light was switched
out. Once more the house quieted down.

Penny crept back into bed, but she could not sleep. She felt strangely
excited.

Throughout the night there was no further disturbance. After a few
hours the rain ceased and stars began to straggle through the clouds.
The wind died down.

Penny tossed restlessly upon her pillow. Now and then she could hear
Mrs. Masterbrook's bed creak in the next room as if the housekeeper
also were spending a sleepless night.

At dawn Penny arose and, quietly dressing, let herself out of the
cottage. The grounds were muddy, but everything seemed fresh and
green. Birds chirped and the earth gave off a pleasant odor.

At breakfast time Penny returned to the house, feeling none the worse
for her sleepless night. As she approached the porch she saw her
father and the guest talking earnestly. They turned to greet her.

"Aren't you an early bird this morning, Penny?" inquired her father.

"Oh, I just went for a little walk before breakfast, Dad."

Mrs. Masterbrook appeared in the doorway.

"You're lucky to get anything to eat this morning," she said stiffly.
"There's something the matter with the stove. It doesn't draw properly
and we're practically out of wood."

"Anything else wrong about the place?" Mr. Nichols asked with a sigh.

"There are enough odd jobs around here to keep a man busy for a week,"
replied the housekeeper. "The water pump isn't working well and
someone ought to put on the screens."

"I'll be glad to do that for you," offered Michael Haymond. "And I'm
good at cutting wood too. Is there an ax around here anywhere?"

"I think I saw one in the base