that
it you're wearing?"

"Hey? No. That was--was sort of s'iled, so I put on my other one. I--I
cal'late I'll go over and work on the Daisy M. a spell, unless you need
me."

"I don't need you. Go ahead."

The time dragged for John Brown after his superior's departure. There
was work enough to be done, but he did not feel like doing it. He
wandered around the house and lights, gloomy, restless and despondent.
Occasionally he glanced at the clock.

It was a beautiful afternoon, just the afternoon for a swim, and he was
debarred from swimming, not only that day, but for all the summer days
to come. No matter what Seth's new secret might be, it was surely not
connected with the female sex, and Brown would be true to the solemn
compact between them. He could not bathe in the cove because Miss Graham
would be there.

At four o'clock he stood in the shadow of the light tower looking across
the cove. As he looked he saw Miss Graham, in bathing attire, emerge
from the bungalow and descend the bluff. She did not see him and, to
make sure that she might not, he dodged back out of sight. Then he saw
something else.

Out on the dunes back of the barn he caught a glimpse of a figure
darting to cover behind a clump of bushes. The figure was a familiar
one, but what was it doing there? He watched the bushes, but they did
not move. Then he entered the house, went upstairs, and cautiously
peered from the back attic window.

The bushes remained motionless for some minutes. Then they stirred
ever so slightly, and above them appeared the head of Seth Atkins. Seth
seemed to be watching the cove and the lights. For another minute he
peered over the bushes, first at the bathing waters below and then at
his own dwelling. Brown ground his teeth. The light-keeper was "spying"
again, was watching to see if he violated his contract.

But no, that could not be, for now Seth, apparently sure that the coast
was clear, emerged from his hiding place and ran in a stooping posture
until he reached another clump further off and nearer the end of the
cove. He remained there an instant and then ran, still crouching, until
he disappeared behind a high dune at the rear of the bungalow. And there
he stayed; at least Brown did not see him come out.

What he did see, however, was just as astonishing. The landward door of
the bungalow opened, and Mrs. Bascom, the housekeeper, stepped out into
the yard. She seemed to be listening and looking. Apparent