' a story like this off in some obscure place, and then
use it as the basis for one of those lurid stories in the Sunday
supplements.

"I shouldn't wonder a bit but what this was one of those cases. So,
sister mine, go to sleep in peace, and in the morning you'll have
forgotten all about it. Only don't let's tell any one, for some of the
company, like Mr. Sneed, might make trouble for Mr. Pertell, saying
alligators were there."

"Well, there are."

"Perhaps. But who cares? I'd like to get one ordinary-sized 'gator."

"Why, Alice! What for?"

"I've always wanted an alligator bag, and I never could afford it. Now's
my chance. But we may never get far enough into the interior for that. By
the way, where did it say those girls started from? I didn't half read
it."

"From Sycamore, near Lake Kissimmee."

"Well, Mr. Pertell did mention that we might get to the lake, but he
didn't specify Sycamore."

"No, and now I'm going to try and do as you said, and forget all about
it," and Ruth laid aside the paper and resumed putting up her hair for
the night.

"I wonder what will happen to-morrow?" mused Alice, as she slipped into
her robe, and thrust her feet into bath slippers.

"What do you mean?" Ruth's voice was rather muffled, for her hair was
over her face now.

"I mean Mr. Towne fell in to-day, and--"

"Gracious, I hope you don't infer that it's someone else's turn
to-morrow!"

"Hardly!" laughed Alice. "Hand me that cold cream, please, the salt air
has chapped my face. Oh, say, did you notice how much color Laura had on
to-day? If ever there was a 'hand-made' complexion hers was!"

"You shouldn't say such things!"

"Why not? When they're true! And such eyes as she made at poor Mr.
Towne!"

Ruth slipped a rosy palm over her sister's lips, but Alice pulled it
away, and laughingly added:

"She found that her glances failed to reach Paul, and so she's trying her
'wireless' on--"

"Alice, you _must_ stop. Someone may hear you!"

"Can't! Daddy has the stateroom on one side, and Mr. Pertell the other,
and they're both sound sleepers. But I've finished anyhow. You put out
the light," and with a bound, having completed her toilette, Alice was in
her berth.

Ruth sighed, and then sat again staring off into space. It must have been
some little time, too, for when she turned to look at her sister, Alice
was breathing deeply in sleep.

"Dear Alice!" murmured Ruth, and she bent over her for a moment, and
kissed