ficers and soldiers were
required to return to the cantonment. But owing to the play and Mrs.
Burton's efforts in their behalf, they had received a special permit
from the officer in command of their camp to remain away several hours
later than their regulations demanded.

In the midst of the good-bys Gerry and Felipe moved swiftly toward each
other.

"We must get away _now_, Felipe, while no one is thinking of us. I can
only talk to you for a moment."

Even as she spoke Gerry was walking toward the beach with the young man
following. In this way at least what they had to say to each other would
not be overheard. There was no nearby place where they could actually
escape observation.

In front of Sunrise camp the beach stretched long and level, broken only
by small rocks, which afforded a shadow, not a shelter. Behind the
little group of tents and Mrs. Burton's house were the level fields of a
great ranch. There were no trees worthy of the name in sight.

"But I can't say what I must to you in _one_ minute, Gerry. I must have
time to explain many things. Surely you will go somewhere else with me.
Here on the open beach we may be interrupted at any moment."

Gerry only moved on more rapidly. "I don't know where else to go,
Felipe. We can walk along the beach until perhaps we are out of sight of
the others. Then afterwards I can tell Mrs. Burton that we only
intended taking a short walk."

"Very well," Felipe murmured, but Gerry could guess that he was annoyed.

"I suppose to a girl, Gerry, conventions are dearer than anything else
in life. So since what I intend is to ask you to break one of them,
perhaps I might as well not speak to you," he began, when they had
nearly reached the water.

The ocean was not so calm as usual tonight on this particular line of
coast. Great waves were rolling in, breaking and curling in white
spirals of foam. If there had been a storm, it was somewhere out in the
ocean, for although there was no moon the stars were everywhere a
shining glory.

"I don't know what you mean, Felipe," Gerry answered quietly.

She was still wearing her lovely shepherdess costume of pale blue and
white, the pointed bodice and panniers of blue satin, the skirt and
sleeves of muslin and lace. Mrs. Burton had insisted on Gerry's using a
long white coat which was her property, so coming back in the motor she
had slipped this on over her dress. Now the wind was blowing the coat
open, revealing the soft c