good a sport as you are, Nan Brent! Hear me, now, lass.
Think of the thing in life you want to do and the place where you want
to do it--"

She interrupted him.

"No, no, Mr. McKaye; there can be no talk of money between us. I
cannot and will not take your son--for his sake, and for my own sake I
cannot and will not accept of your kindness. Somehow, some place, I'm
going to paddle my own canoe."

"Guid lass; guid lass," he whispered huskily. "Remember, then, if
your canoe upsets and spills you, a wire to me will right you, and no
questions asked. Good-by, my dear, and good luck to you!"

He pressed her hand, lifted his hat, and walked briskly away in the
direction of The Tyee Lumber Company's office, quite oblivious of the
fact that his interview with Nan Brent had been observed by a person
to whom the gods had given at birth a more than average propensity of
intrigue, romance, and general cussedness--Mr. Daniel J. O'Leary, of
whom more anon.

From the station, Hector McKaye hurried over to the mill office and
entered Andrew Daney's room.

"Andrew," he began, "you've been doing things. What became of old
Caleb Brent's motor-boat?"

"I opened the sea-cock, cast it off, and let it drift out into the
bight on the ebb-tide one night recently."

"Why?"

"In order that I might have a logical and reasonable excuse to furnish
Nan Brent with sufficient funds to leave this town and make a new
start elsewhere. I have charged the twenty-five hundred to your
personal account on the company books."

"You also indulged in some extraordinary statements regarding our
pressing need for the Sawdust Pile as a drying-yard."

"We can use it, sir," Daney replied. "I felt justified in indicating
to the girl that her room was desired to her company. Your son," he
added deliberately, "was treading on soft ground, and I took the
license of an old friend and, I hope, a faithful servant, to rid him
of temptation."

"I shall never be done with feeling grateful to you, Andrew. The girl
is leaving on the train that's just pulling out, and--the incident is
closed. My son is young. He will get over it. Thank you, Andrew, dear
friend, until you're better paid--as you will be some day soon."

"I'll have need of your friendship if Donald ever discovers my part in
this deal. He'll fire me out o' hand."

"If he does, I'll hire you back."

"Hell will pop when he finds the bird has flown, sir."

"Let it pop! That kind of popping is music