cried Prudence faintly, pointing
at Ida May.

The most difficult thing Sheila Macklin had ever done in all her
life was what she did now. To act and speak a deliberate falsehood
before Tunis Latham!

She disengaged herself from Prudence, and before the simpering Ida
May could speak again Sheila ran to him. In her face was, for the
moment, all the fear and horror of the situation which she felt. It
was a warning to him, and he was acute enough to understand it even
before she spoke.

"Oh, Tunis! This girl must be beside herself. She says her name is
Ida May Bostwick and that she is Mrs. Ball's niece."

Involuntarily Tunis had stretched forth his hands to welcome Sheila.
He drew her closer without giving the Balls any attention
whatsoever. One flashing glance he gave to the girl he held so
gently--a look which was both a promise and a reassurance. Then he
gazed over her head at the smirking Ida May.

"What's the matter here?" he demanded.

"Matter enough," said Cap'n Ira, not without marking, however, the
attitude of the two young people he and Prudence loved. He even
nudged his wife, who now stood close beside him. "Matter enough.
That gal there, Tunis, seems to have lost her top-hamper. Leastways,
some of it is mighty loose."

"Tunis Latham!" gasped the new claimant. "You know who I am. Tell
that girl--"

She halted again, realizing the young man's expression of
countenance and his attitude with the other girl. She was quick
enough of comprehension to see that this other girl had the
advantage of her with the captain of the _Seamew_ as well as with
her relatives.

In Ida May's own artful mind she had decided that a smart girl could
easily "twist that fellow around her finger." This girl who had
usurped her name and identity had already succeeded in doing just
that! The girl from Hoskin & Marl's halted, the wrathful flush came
back into her pretty, insipid face, and she almost screamed:

"What's got into you folks? Are you all crazy? Why, that fellow
knows who I am well enough! I bet he brought that girl here himself
and palmed her off on you." She turned to blaze at Cap'n Ira and
Prudence. "He picked her up somewhere--some low creature! But I'll
show them both up; that's what I'll do. I'll make them both sorry
for cheating me. I guess you folks have got a heap of money, and
that fellow and that girl are trying to get it all. But they won't.
I'll have my rights or--"

"Belay that!" exclaimed Cap'n Ira su