on.'"

"It looks as though your young captain is finding his companion so
pleasant that he forgets to look frequently at his watch," suggested
the reporter, slyly.

"Jack Benson doesn't know anything about the three o'clock appointment,"
replied Mr. Farnum.

"If he isn't here in season," put in quiet Hal, "it won't cause us any
real trouble, anyway. Those of us who will be on hand can manage the
boat through any ordinary trial or trip."

Eph was very silent--for him. After fifteen more minutes had gone by
young Somers sauntered out into the road, where he could command a long
view in the direction in which he would naturally look for Jack's
approach in Mlle. Nadiboff's car.

After some ten minutes Eph Somers came running up the roadway.

"It's all right," he announced. "The car is coming."

In hardly a minute more the car rolled up to the veranda, and stopped.
Mlle. Nadiboff, catching sight of the little party, smiled and nodded
graciously as she stepped to the veranda.

"Where's Captain Benson?" inquired Hal, starting toward her.

"Captain Benson?" repeated Mlle. Nadiboff, looking a trifle surprised.
"Hasn't he returned?"

"Not yet," Hal Hastings answered her, his gaze fixed steadily on the
young woman's face. "How could he return ahead of your car,
Mademoiselle?"

"Why, he left me more than half an hour ago, and within two miles of
here," replied the young woman, easily. "I proposed going to another
hotel, a few miles from here, for luncheon. So he asked me to put
him down, saying he would walk in. That was not more than two miles
from here, was it, Gaston?"

"Much less than two miles," replied the chauffeur.

"And he hasn't returned?" queried Mlle. Nadiboff, looking mildly curious.

"He has not yet come," Hal replied.

"Then he must be a slow walker, or--but will you take my car and go
back to look for him? Will take you to the spot where your young
captain left us on foot?"

Hal Hastings's first impulse was to accept the offer of the car. Yet
Mlle. Nadiboff's acting was so perfect, her air so unconcerned save for
mild curiosity, that any suspicion Hal may have felt for a second or two
was quickly banished.

"No, though I thank you, Mademoiselle," he replied. "Captain Benson
will doubtless be here before we could make a fair start."

Nodding pleasantly, the Russian vanished through the ladies' entrance.
Hal went back to his companions.

"Say," broke in Eph, presently, "if she left J