to his feet. But Madge's eyes were so clear and
serene, her face so calm, that it was utterly impossible she could have
overheard him.

Philip delivered Mrs. Curtis's message and then left the two girls
together. Madge dropped down on the sands by Tania and put her arm about
her. "You need never tell me who Mr. Holt is, nor why you are afraid of
him, Tania," she whispered; "I overheard what he said, and you need not
be afraid. I will take care of you!"

"He is the Wicked Genii," faltered Tania, "who hated the Princess and
wanted to drive her away from her kingdom in Fairyland."

"But he can't harm you, Tania, dear," comforted Madge. "He dare not try
to take you away from us. I am going to tell Mrs. Curtis all about this
Wicked Genii and if I'm not mistaken it will be he, not you who is sent
away."

CHAPTER XIV

CAPTAIN JULES MAKES A PROMISE

Little by little Madge was able to put together the whole story of Philip
Holt's life. He was old Sal's son, and "Holt" was not his own name, but
he rarely came near his mother, never gave her any help, and denied his
relationship with her whenever it was necessary. When Philip Murphy was a
small boy, he had been taken into the home of a wealthy family named
Holt, but he had never been legally adopted as their child. He was raised
in luxury and had made a great many wealthy friends, and he had learned
to love money more than anything else in the world. But his rich patrons
would not allow him entirely to desert his own mother. Twice every month
he was made to go to see old Sal Murphy in her tenement home on the East
Side. Philip Holt, who now went by the name of his foster parents, fairly
loathed these visits. It was because of his hatred of them that he began
to take his spite out on Tania when he was a lad of about fifteen, and
poor Tania a baby of only six years old.

Tania's mother had died in the same tenement where old Sal lived. There
had been no one who wanted the little girl, so old Sal had taken her,
beaten and starved her, and made her useful in any way that she could.

When Philip Holt had grown to manhood his foster parents lost most of
their money. A little later they died, leaving their foster son nothing.
The young man had been used to luxury and rich friends, and he could not
give them up, therefore he told his wealthy friends that because he had
once been a poor boy he meant to devote his life to charity. He proposed
to work among the New York poor