e at Spruce Beach?" murmured Mlle.
Nadiboff, directing the full gaze of her luminous eyes at Jack's.

"Yes, truly."

"I go motoring at eleven in the morning. I shall expect you here, at
that hour, to drive with me."

Jack looked as regretful as he felt.

"I'm very, very sorry, Mademoiselle" he replied. "But I am here on
duty, and--"

"Duty?" she interrupted, with a light laugh. "And pray what is duty,
Captain, but a something with which to flavor our pleasures in life?"

"With me, Mlle. Nadiboff," Jack Benson replied, earnestly, "duty is
everything, pleasure included."

"I am not accustomed to having my commands disregarded," exclaimed the
young woman, though in a low tone, while her eyes flashed some of her
displeasure.

"You are giving me pain, Mademoiselle," Jack responded, gravely.
"Perhaps, at another time--"

"Enough sir!" the young woman interposed. "And now I behold my next
partner glancing this way appealingly. I shall speak with you the next
time we meet, Captain."

Jack bowed, withdrawing. Making his way around the ballroom, he dropped
into a seat beside Mr. Farnum.

Even before Mlle. Nadiboff's partner could rejoin her, M. Lemaire
appeared around a palm at Mlle. Nadiboff's back as naturally as though
he had not been playing the eavesdropper.

"Have a care, Sara," he whispered, mockingly, "or you will fail in
making a fool of that young fellow!"

Half way through the next dance Jack and his friends remained in their
seats. Then Hal, stifling a yawn behind his hand, remarked:

"I've a notion that I shall be asleep in a few minutes. Late hours,
except on duty, don't jibe with our line of work."

"They don't," admitted Captain Jack, rising.

"Good, boys!" nodded Mr. Farnum, approvingly, as he also rose. "The
more rest you have the keener your wits will be for your work."

So they left the ballroom, observed by but few.

Five minutes later Mlle. Nadiboff sat surrounded by three men, with
whom she was chatting gayly. M. Lemaire approached her. She greeted
him so pointedly that the other three men soon fell away.

"I can hardly congratulate you, Sara," hissed M. Lemaire, speaking in
French.

"You think I have not made young Benson attentive enough to my whims?"
the young woman asked, plaintively.

"Attentive?" sneered M. Lemaire. "Do you know where he is now?"

"No," admitted Mlle. Nadiboff.

"He has gone away upstairs with his friends, that they may all be
prepared for an