put him at ease. He looked
keenly into the woman's eyes, and what he saw there gave him great
encouragement. In truth, Miss Royanna was much impressed with his
manly bearing. He stood so erect, with his blue eyes looking straight
into hers. For an instant there flashed into her mind the idea that
she had seen those eyes before. Some chord of memory was stirred,
which affected her in a remarkable manner. She tried to recall
something, but in vain.

"You wish to speak to me, so I understand," she encouraged, noting
Rod's embarrassment.

"Yes, please, if I may. But I'm afraid now that you won't do it."

"Do what?"

"Come to our concert."

"Your concert! Where is it to be held?"

"At Captain Josh's, and Whyn would like to hear you sing so much. You
see, the scouts are getting up a concert to raise money, and we want
some one to sing. Whyn is sick, and can't walk. She heard about you
from her brother, Douglas. She couldn't come herself to hear you, so
we have come to ask you to help us out, and sing for Whyn. It would be
a great surprise for Whyn, as she knows nothing about what we are
doing. We will give you half what we make at the concert."

John Markham turned suddenly around, so that the boys could not see the
amusement upon his face. He wanted to laugh outright, so funny did it
all seem. He longed to rush out and tell some of his friends the whole
story. The thought of the famous woman being asked to go to sing in an
out-of-the-way country place, and to receive half the proceeds, tickled
him immensely.

Miss Royanna was also amused, and her eyes twinkled as Rod blurted out
his request. And yet there was something about his straightforward
manner which appealed to her. She thought, too, of the sick girl, and
the spirit of true chivalry which had caused these two boys to come all
the way to the city for her sake. How disappointed they would be when
she told them how utterly impossible it would be for her to go.

"Where is this concert to take place?" she at length enquired.

"At Headquarters, just in front of Whyn's window, so she can see and
hear," was the reply.

"Yes, but where? How far is it from the city?"

"Oh, I forgot that," and Rod smiled. "I thought everybody knew that
Captain Josh lived at Hillcrest."

"Hillcrest, did you say?" the woman demanded, while a new interest
shone in her eyes.

"Yes. It's on the river, about twenty-five miles from here. You could
go up in th