o view things in a different light. He
did not want Donaster to have Jess Randall, so it was necessary for him
to do all in his power to keep her out of his grasp. As for himself he
knew there was not the slightest hope that she could ever care for him.
And why should she? He had only known her for a brief space of time,
and why should such a girl feel any stirring of the heart for such a
clown as himself. He knew that he was tall, ungainly, roughly clad,
and ignorant. His hands clutched hard upon the wheel as he thought of
all this, and an expression of determination overspread his face. A
vision of the girl, her beauty, the light in her eyes, and her gentle
encouraging voice rose before him. She had been kind to him, and had
been interested in his drawings. Between him and her there was a vast
gulf, and he knew it. But she had been kind to him. That idea kept
repeating itself over and over again in his mind. What could he do to
repay her? "Keep Donaster from getting her," came the answer. Yes,
but what else? "Help her in her love for Hampton." But in what way?
Grimsby broke his reverie.

"Say, Eben, I was almost asleep. I didn't rest well last night."

"What was the trouble, Gabe? Why couldn't ye sleep?"

"Thoughts, boy, thoughts. I was thinking about Donaster."

"H'm, it's no wonder ye couldn't sleep with that skunk in yer mind.
Couldn't ye find something better to think about?"

"I suppose so, but I didn't want to. Ye see, he's anxious for me to
find Miss Randall for him. Then when she's found, to make a show of
kidnapping her, or getting her into a dangerous place, so he can come
along and rescue her. See?"

An amused expression shone in Eben's eyes as he turned them upon the
face of the reclining man.

"Something like a movin'-picture show, eh?" he queried. "A pretty
girl, villains, an' hero all made to order. Ho, ho, that's a good one."

"Seems so. And I guess he wants us to be the villains, Eben. Suppose
we try it, boy. It'd be great fun, wouldn't it?"

Eben thought for a few minutes, and then he brought his right hand down
upon his thigh with a resounding whack.

"I've got it!" he exclaimed, much excited. "It's jist the thing."

"What is it, lad?"

"An idea, an' we kin work it, too. It'll be great fun."

"Out with it, then."

"S'pose we give Donaster a big scare. I know a dandy place back in the
hills where we kin take him. It's an island in a lake, an' there's a
c