sting effect. The
picnickers watched the sun set and the moon rise, then, filled with the
calm delights which Nature so generously shared with them, and
over-satiated with the creature comforts supplied by their hostess, they
re-embarked in the launch and returned to Sagamore Hall. To their
surprise, as they walked across the great lawn to the house, they saw
some one coming down to meet them.

"Mr. Huntington has returned!" Marian cried, and she hastened toward him
in advance of the others.

"Why, Harry!" she exclaimed surprised to discover that it was her
husband. "How did you manage to get back to-night? I'm so glad to see
you!"

Cosden hurried forward, sensing important revelations in Thatcher's
return. The new-comer grasped his hand cordially, and his face even in
the moonlight showed a relief from the long strain.

"With your help, old man, I've pulled through," he whispered later. "The
stock-markets of the world are closed indefinitely. Germany and England
are straining to jump at each other's throats. The history of the world
starts revision from to-day, and now I'm going to stay down here for a
while and let other people worry!"

* * * * *

XXXVII

* * * * *

Knowing that his telephone message would allay Mrs. Thatcher's greatest
anxiety, Huntington made no effort to return to the shore that night,
and when morning came it was a question whether he could go at all. He
knew that Hamlen would keep his promise so long as he remained master of
himself, but the roving eyes and the twitching nerves warned Huntington
that he must not place too great reliance upon this expectation. All
through the hours of darkness, without his friend's knowledge, he
watched over him, sharing in sympathetic silence the suffering which the
tossing body endured in expressing the tortures of the mind. When
morning came at last Hamlen was quieter, but this condition was due to
the exhaustion of high fever rather than to even temporary relief.
Hastily summoning a physician, Huntington watched the examination,
becoming more and more apprehensive as the expression of concern
deepened on the doctor's face. Together they stepped into the hall,
where the doctor shook his head gravely.

"Tell me something of what led up to this," he demanded.

Huntington briefly sketched Hamlen's history, and the climax.

"It will be nip and tuck," the doctor said crisply. "His re