rictures upon Cap'n Amazon's character.

It was really hard when she was in his presence to think of him as an
audacious prevaricator--and perhaps worse. He was so kindly in his
manner and speech to her. His brisk consideration for her comfort at
all times--his wistful glances for Jerry, the ancient canary, and the
tenderness he showed the bird--even his desire to placate Diddimus, the
tortoise-shell cat--all these things withstood the growing ill-opinion
being fostered in Louise Grayling's mind. Who and what was this
mysterious person calling himself Cap'n Amazon Silt?

She had, too, a desire to know just how many of those weird stories he
told were filched from Cap'n Abe's accumulation of nautical literature.
When Cap'n Amazon had gained access to the chest of books Louise could
not imagine; but the fact remained that he had at least two of the
stories pat.

Louise had promised to spend the evening at the Perritons, and did so;
but she returned to Cap'n Abe's store early and did not invite her
escort in, although he was a youth eager to taste the novelty of being
intimate with "one of these old Cape Codders," as he expressed it.

"No," she told young Malcolm Standish firmly. "Uncle Amazon is not to
be made a peepshow of by the idle rich of The Beaches. Besides, from
your own name, you should be a descendant of Miles Standish, and blood
relation to these Cape Codders yourself. And Uncle Amazon and Uncle
Abram are fine old gentlemen." She said it boldly, whether she could
believe it about Cap'n Amazon or not. "I will not play showman."

"Oh, say! Ford Tapp comes here. I saw his car standing outside the
other evening."

"Mr. Tapp," Louise explained calmly, "comes in the right spirit. He is
a friend of the--ahem--family. He is well known to Cap'n Abe who owns
the store and has made himself acquainted with Cap'n Amazon over the
counter."

"And how has he made himself so solid with you, Miss Grayling?"
Standish asked impudently.

"By his gentlemanly behavior, and because he knows a deal more about
boat-sailing and the shores than I know," she retorted demurely.

"Leave it to me!" exclaimed Malcolm Standish. "I am going to learn
navigation and fishology at once."

"But--don't you think you may be too late?" she asked him, running up
the steps. "Good-night, Mr. Standish!"

Upon going indoors she did not find Cap'n Amazon. The lamp was burning
in the living-room, but he was not there and the store w