tn't grieve any more, dear. You must go to
sleep. It is long after midnight."

The chaperon bent down to kiss Madge good night.

"Good night, Miss Jenny Ann," said Madge. "I shall go to see Mrs.
Curtis in the morning and apologize to her for leaving the party so
suddenly. I seem destined always to be making apologies."

But for reasons which she could not foresee, Madge's apology was to be
delayed indefinitely.

* * * * *

The night had grown pitch dark when Alfred Thornton crossed the bay. He
had engaged a fast-going sea launch for his use during the evening of
their play, and as his boat rushed along through the sea, which was
rapidly growing rougher, he debated in his mind as to whether he was
acting wisely.

Alfred Thornton was not a high-minded youth. He was often dishonorable
and unscrupulous in his dealings with men, but he thoroughly disliked
the hateful task ahead of him. Yet he moved doggedly toward it. He must
save his own and his father's reputation, perhaps his fortune! There
was no reason for him to believe that Flora Harris would spare him
unless he did what she had demanded. He had that evening seen how far
the spirit of revenge could lead her.

While Alfred Thornton was on his way to the houseboat Tom Curtis lay
awake on his camp cot thinking of Madge and of what he could do to
disprove the cruel story that Flora Harris had told. Of course, it must
be false. Yet the girl would hardly have dared to tell such a tale
unless a grain of truth had been hidden in it somewhere. Poor Madge!
Tom wondered how her proud, passionate spirit would bear up under the
shadow of such a sorrow.

In the meantime Alfred Thornton brought his launch in to the shore. He
landed about a mile below the houseboat. The "Merry Maid" was anchored
near a point of land known as Wayside Point. Alfred left his shoes in
his launch, walking up the beach in his stocking feet. He waded in the
water the greater part of the time, so as not to leave the imprint of
his feet in the sand. A storm was blowing in from the ocean. The
singing sound of the wind came over the face of the waters. Alfred knew
that the night was working with him. If he could accomplish his secret
design without being discovered in the act, the houseboat party and
their friends would believe that the houseboat had been torn from her
moorings by the force of the September gale.

He reached the neighborhood of the boat without m