d
her lover's affections, and Jean's passionate nature had been aroused.
What would she do? he asked himself. What could not a woman do when
crazed with intense fury?

Douglas expected that Jean would spring suddenly from among the bushes
and confront Ben and Nell face to face. She did nothing of the kind,
however, but, stopped when a short distance away, crouched low to the
ground, and watched. Douglas remained where he was, spell-bound.
There was nothing he could do, and it was not his business to
interfere. If he went forward now, it would show that he had been
spying. No, he would wait and see what the outcome of it all would be.

He did not have to wait long, for in a few minutes Ben and Nell left
the tree and walked slowly along the path leading to the house. And
after them crept Jean, keeping well within the deep shadows of the
thick bushes. Soon all had disappeared and Douglas was left alone with
his thoughts. He did not at once leave the shore, but sat there
thinking over what he had just witnessed. Jean was jealous of Nell,
and blamed her for stealing her lover. And what of himself? Was he
not jealous of Ben? Did he not want that beautiful woman for himself?
Yes, there were twin fires burning in their breasts. But, oh, how
different were their natures. Jean's was like a fiery volcano, ready
to burst forth in fury and destruction. His was more moderate, he
reasoned, righteous, temperate, and he must see to it that it should be
kept under control.

CHAPTER XVII

CRUEL AS THE GRAVE

Nan had gone to the store that morning for a few groceries, and when
she returned she was greatly excited.

"Nell, Nell," she called, as she laid her parcels on the kitchen table,
"where are you?"

"Here I am," Nell replied, coming from the next room. "What is the
matter? You are all hot and excited."

"They are going to arrest my musician, just think of that!"

"Arrest your musician! Mr. Handyman! Why, what for?"

"Because he hit Billy Keezer and Tom Oakes last night on the road. He
cut them up pretty badly, so I heard."

Nell looked at her sister for a few seconds in an effort to comprehend
the meaning of it all. Then the truth flashed upon her mind. "I am so
glad I gave him that pick-handle," she said to herself. "I felt that
an attack would be made upon him." To her sister, however, she merely
said,

"Sit down, Nan, and tell me what you have heard."

In a few words Nan told her the s