tting farther west also. That means
the storm is almost over. And the tide ought to turn in ten minutes or
so. It's practically at its highest now. Ten chances to one it won't rise
more than a foot or two further. But we'll keep watch, and if it does,
we'll get your aunt out of here in Eileen's car, which is just down the
road, and take her either to our place or to the village. Our bungalow
isn't likely to be damaged, as it's farther up the dune than these. Don't
worry!"

Thus encouraged, Leslie turned indoors again, and the man, who was still
lingering on the porch, remarked:

"If it isn't too much trouble, friends, I'd like to come in for a minute
or two and ask you folks a few questions about that little fracas this
evening and how you came to be mixed up in it. It's all right and
perfectly proper!" he hastened to add, seeing their startled glances. "I
can show you my credentials." He opened his coat and exhibited a shield
on his vest--the shield of a detective of the New York police force!

So amazed were they that they could scarcely reply, but the man took
matters in his own hands and walked into the house. And Leslie never even
thought to warn him to speak softly because of Aunt Marcia!

Unconsciously they grouped themselves about him at the open fire. And
Rags, now that the obnoxious stranger had been admitted to the house on a
hospitable footing, made no further demonstrations of enmity.

"My name is Barnes--Detective Barnes of the New York force," he began,
"and I'd like to clear up one or two little puzzles here before I go on
with this business. It's a rather peculiar one. I heard this young
gentleman refer to a car that was standing in the road near here and say
it belonged to one of you young ladies named Eileen. I'd like to inform
Miss Eileen that the party who got that little article we were all
scrapping for to-night, jumped into her car when he got to the road, tore
like mad in it to the station, left it there, and caught the express for
New York. I was just in time to see him disappearing in it, but of course
_I_ had to walk to the village. I suspected what he was going to do,
though, and I went straight to the station and found the car standing
there. So I took the liberty of getting in it, driving myself to the
village doctor, and then back out here. You will find your car, Miss
Eileen, standing just where you left it, but I thought you'd like to know
it had had the little adventure!"

Eileen