but dared not. "It may hurt her to know I know it," he
thought, "and I will wait till she knows me better." Instead he began
telling her about himself and his own early life, his home, his loss of
parents, his struggle to earn a living, and how much success he had so
far met. It may be considered egotism, but it was the wisest thing he
could have done, for it awakened her interest in him far more than he
realized. When his recital and cigar were both at an end and it was time
to go in, he said: "I may not have another chance to ask you, Miss
Terry, before I leave here; but when I get back to Boston may I write to
you, and will you answer my letters if I do?"

The question startled her a little, but she answered:

"I shall be pleased to hear from you, Mr. Page, and will do the best I
can in replying, only do not expect too much."

When he had bade her good night and was alone in his room, the memory of
Mrs. Leach and her pitiful prayer, coupled with Telly's pleading eyes
and sweet face, banished all thoughts of sleep, and he had to light
another cigar and watch the moonlit ocean for a half hour while he
smoked and meditated.

CHAPTER XXV

THE "GYPSY" RETURNS

"How did ye like the prayer-meetin'?" asked Uncle Terry the next
morning, as Albert stood watching him getting ready to start on his
daily rounds. "Did the Widder Leach make ye feel ye was a hopeless
sinner?"

"It was an interesting experience," replied Albert, "and one I shall not
soon forget."

"Oh, it don't do 'em no harm to git together an' pray an' sing, an' most
likely it divarts their minds from other troubles, but in my way o'
thinkin', prayin' is a good deal like a feller tryin' to lift himself by
his boot-straps. It encourages him some, but he don't git much further."
Then, as if a load was on his mind, he added, "You haven't thought o' no
way ter git me out o' my scrape, hev ye?"

"I have thought a good deal about it," replied Albert, "and the best
way, it seems to me, is for you to go right to Frye and tell him you
can't afford to carry the case any further, and offer to pay whatever
fee he sees fit to ask. You can tell him you will give up the case
entirely, and ask him to return the proofs you want. I may decide to
have a detective within hearing, so that if he refuses you these things,
we can use the detective as a witness in a replevin suit. Most likely he
will demand quite a sum, but it is best to pay it if we can get the
proofs