doing on the face of the earth. In his
enthusiasm he speedily stripped off his coat and rolled his sleeves to
the shoulder as if it had been the hottest summer day.

At the end of the set, which Charlie won, a couple of spectators who had
come up unseen applauded their energy, and Charlie, swinging round in
flushed triumph, raced up for a word with his host and Molly Erie.

"I can't stuff over a fire all the afternoon," he said. "But the light
is getting bad, isn't it? Fisher and I will have to knock off. Are you
two going for a walk? We'll come, too, if you are, eh, Fisher?"

He turned towards Fisher, who had come up, and held out his hand for the
other's racquet.

Molly uttered a sudden startled exclamation.

"Why, Charlie," she ejaculated, "what have you done to your arm? What is
the matter with it?"

Charlie jumped at her startled tone and tore down his shirt-sleeve
hastily.

"An old wound," he said, with a shame-faced laugh.

She put her gloved hand swiftly on his to stay his operations.

"No, tell me!" she said. "What is it--really? How was it done?"

"You will never get him to tell you that," laughed Bertie Richmond. "You
had better ask Fisher."

"Oh, rats!" cried Charlie vehemently. "Fisher, I'll break your head with
this racquet if you give my show away. Come along! I believe the moon
has contracted a romantic habit of rising over the sea when the sun
sets. Let's go and----"

"I'll tell you, Molly," broke in Bertie, linking a firm arm in Charlie's
to keep him quiet. "He can't break his host's head, you know. It's a
scald, eh, Charlie? He got it in the engine-room of the _Andover_ one
night in the autumn. You were on board, you know. Help me to hold him,
Fisher! He's getting restive. But I thought you knew all about it,
Molly. You told me so."

"Oh, I didn't know--this!" the girl said. "How could I? I never
guessed--this!"

Her three listeners were all surprised by the tragic note in her voice.
There was a momentary silence. Then Charlie made a fierce attempt to
wrest himself free.

"You infernal idiots!" he exclaimed violently. "Fisher, if you interfere
with me any more I--I'll punch your head! Bertie, don't be such a fool!"

He shook them off with an angry effort. Fisher laughed quietly.

"You can't always hide your light, my dear fellow," he observed. "If you
will do impossible things, you will have to put up with the penalty of
being occasionally found out."

"Silly ass!" commented Be