ngling of romance and practical worldly advantage won Miss
Porter's consent to the plea of her suitor. Perhaps, either would have
sufficed of itself; certainly, together, they were irresistible. Ichabod
was all a-tremble with happiness and pride, as the spinster coyly
offered her cheek to his kiss.

He started guiltily a moment later, as a huge negress appeared in the
doorway, and bawled at him:

"Mr. Ichabod, the 'phone is a-callin' yoh-all."

CHAPTER XIX

BOTTLED UP

Captain Ichabod Jones stepped briskly into Squire Chadwick's
courtroom--which was otherwise the parlor in his modest home. Van Dusen,
that very shrewd detective, observed that the old man trod with a
jauntier step than heretofore, and that his expression was one of smug
complacency. He wondered a little as to just what might have occurred to
make this change so swiftly. He could not guess that a romance of twenty
years was concerned, but his observant eyes told him that in some
mysterious fashion this aged native had found a new happiness in life
within the hour.

That happiness indeed was a thing assured in the opinion of Captain
Ichabod. The smile that Van Dusen found so hard to interpret was the
outward expression of great things within the old man's soul. He had
loved his loneliness. Now, he was rejoicing that no more would his life
be lonely! The gulls and fish-hawks and sand-crabs could take possession
of the old shack that had sheltered him for years. He cared nothing for
that. Shortly, he would be known as Ichabod Jones, proprietor of a
fashionable tourist hotel. He chuckled, and his lips moved into the
travesty of a kiss.

"I'm a-sayin' good-bye to that-thar hermit o' Captain Icky's Island,
what lived thar fer twenty year. He hain't a-goin' to live thar no
more."

The warrant was speedily signed and duly sworn to, after which Van Dusen
and Captain Jones hurried to board the yacht. The two chartered motor
boats arrived. Since _The Hialdo_ had the legs of the others, it took
both in tow to bring them to the point whereat the search was to start.
On reaching the Island, the red skiff also was taken in tow at Ichabod's
suggestion, since its draft would permit it to penetrate shallows
impenetrable to the other craft.

At a point midway between Harker's Island and Smyrna, Uncle Ichabod
directed that one of the chartered boats should be sent over and along
the shores of the Island, then to proceed up the Banks shore, but not so
far