she might
have been too sharp with him. She mended this by adding:

"You may tell me how to get to the Shell Road and Mr. Silt's, if you will
be so kind."

He smiled at that. Really, he was an awfully nice-looking youth! She
had no idea that these longshore fishermen would be so gentlemanly and so
good looking.

"Oh, you can't miss it. Take the first left-hand street, and keep on it.
Cap'n Abe's store is the only one beyond the Mariner's Chapel."

"Thank you," she said again and mounted the broad steps of the Inn. The
young fellow hesitated as though he were inclined to enter too. But when
Louise reached the piazza and glanced quickly down at him, he was moving
on.

The cool interior of a broad hall with a stairway mounting out of it and
a screened dining-room at one side, welcomed the girl. A bustling young
woman in checked gingham, which fitted her as though it were a mold for
her rather plump figure, met the visitor.

"How-do!" she said briskly. "Goin' to stop?"

"Only for dinner," Louise said, smiling--and when she smiled her gray
eyes made friends.

"Almost over. But I'll run an' tell the cook to dish you up something
hot. Come right this way an' wash. I'll fix you a table where it's
cool. This is 'bout the first hot day we've had."

She showed the visitor into the dressing-room and then bustled away.
Later she hovered about the table where Louise ate, the other boarders
having departed.

"My name's Gusty Durgin," she volunteered. "I reckon you're one o' them
movin' picture actresses they say are goin' to work down to The Beaches
this summer."

"What makes you think so?" asked Louise, somewhat amused.

"Why--you kinder look it. I should say you had 'screen charm.' Oh! I
been readin' up about you folks for a long time back. I subscribed to
_The Fillum Universe_ that tells all about you. I'd like to try actin'
before the cam'ra myself. But I cal'late I ain't got much 'screen
charm,'" the waitress added seriously. "I'm too fat. And I wouldn't do
none of them comedy pictures where the fat woman always gets the worst of
it. But you must take lovely photographs."

"I'm not sure that I do," laughed Louise.

"Land sakes! Course you do. Them big eyes o' yourn must just look
fetchin' in a picture. I don't believe I've ever seen you in a movie,
have I, Miss------?"

"Grayling."

"'Grayling'! Ain't that pretty?" Gusty Durgin gave an envious sigh. "Is
it your honest to goodness,