with a good will to help wash dishes, and to pack up the
Ozone Association's property in the galley. But let him work and joke
as he might, he won no smiles from the "brothers."

"Lord, if it was me, I'd put up a better bluff to hide my feelings," he
thought.

Later he took over part of the deck to watch and keep the children from
climbing the rails and precipitating themselves overboard. Later
still, as they neared home and the small passengers became weary and
obstreperous, he resumed the tale of the bandits in the saloon to an
immense audience. Evan, perhaps because of his casual air towards the
children, became the most popular man on the boat. He did not try to
win them, and so they were his.

Corinna could not quite fathom his changed attitude towards her.
During the whole afternoon he let her be. More than once he caught her
glancing at him, and laughed to himself. He was taking the right line.

On one occasion the sardonic Dordess joined him on deck. Dordess had
excited more than a passing interest in Evan. He was different and
inexplicable. He had eyebrows that turned up at the ends like a
faun's, giving him a devilishly mocking look. The essence of
bitterness was in his smile. He had the look of a man of distinction,
yet his clothes were a thought shabby. "Clever journalist gone to
seed," was Evan's verdict.

Dordess said very offhand: "How do you like your job of nursemaid?"

"First-rate!" said Evan.

"How did you happen to stumble on our deep-sea perambulator?"

Evan was wary. "I just happened to be passing, and saw the kids
crowding aboard. I stopped to look, and Denton asked me if I wanted a
job."

Dordess cocked one of his crooked eyebrows in a way that suggested he
didn't believe a word of it. Evan didn't much care whether he did or
not.

Dordess said dryly: "Denton said you were a friend of Anway's."

"He misunderstood," said Evan carelessly.

"Are you going to be with us regularly?" asked Dordess with a meaning
smile.

"I only volunteered for to-day." Evan's tone implied that the future
could take care of itself.

Dordess said deprecatingly: "I hope the boys haven't made you feel like
an outsider."

"Not at all," said Evan cheerfully. "I wouldn't mind if they did," he
added. "The main thing is for the kids to have a good time."

"Sure," said Dordess dryly. "You see, the boys get the idea that these
excursions are a sort of family affair, and they're apt to resen