he
guessed from what you told him that it all was because of me you
wouldn't go with him, and he just dropped in, he said, to have a
neighborly chat, and let me know how much he was interested in a boy by
the name of Darry."

"That was fine of him. What did you think, wasn't he all I said?"

"As nice a young gentleman as I ever met. He asked a lot of questions
about you."

"Of course. He had a right to. When a gentleman asks a strange fellow to
go off with him on a cruise it's only business for him to learn all he
can about whether the other is honest and all that. You told him I
never touched liquor, I hope?"

"He never asked about such things. In fact, it was all in connection
with your past he seemed interested."

"My past--how could he be interested in that? He never saw me before."
Yet, strange to say, the fact seemed to thrill Darry through and
through; for he was still hugging that hope to his heart, and wondering
if some day he might not be lucky enough to learn who and what he was.

"Well, all I can say is that he kept asking me all about you came here,
why you were Darry, and what your other name might be; when he learned
that you never knew who your parents were he seemed to be strangely
agitated. He didn't take me into his confidence; but I'm morally
convinced that Mr. Singleton believes he is on the track of some sort of
discovery. I heard him ask Miss Pepper, who was hurrying over, seeing I
had a visitor, if there was a telegraph office in Ashley; and when he
left he was saying to himself: 'I must let her know--this may be
important.' It would be a fine thing for you, my boy, if circumstances
brought you face to face with some rich relative so soon after you
landed on the soil of America."

Darry drew a long breath, and shook his head.

"It would be great, as you say, whether my father or mother were rich or
poor, it wouldn't matter a bit to me; but I'm afraid you're getting too
far along. Perhaps what you heard him say may refer to another affair
entirely. No matter, I like Mr. Singleton, and have from the start. If
we go off together I know I'd enjoy it first-rate in that dandy little
motor-boat of his. I haven't said I would for sure. I mean to wait a
while and see how things come out here ashore."

She knew he was thinking of Jim Dilks and his scheming for
mischief--that he believed the fact of her giving him shelter and a home
had drawn upon her head the vindictive fury of the lawless rasc