her like a trapped jackal.

"You'll throw me over now!" he sneered. "That goes without telling. Rats
desert a sinking ship. But--_what do you mean to do about my ring_?
Maybe you thought I didn't know. Ask Mrs. Shuster! Angele told her. I
guess Mrs. Shuster's money and my ring have gone the same way!"

That was too much for Larry. "You'd better go after your d--d ring,
then!" said he, looking like a handsome, angry schoolboy. "I can give
you the pawn-ticket; and I bet Peter Storm--or Stanislaws--will lend the
money to redeem the beastly thing. As for Mrs. Shuster, we won't bring
her name into this. She and I will settle our affairs, official and
unofficial, although you seem to be so deep in her confidence. I say,
Captain Winston, do you mind my telling Caspian that the nearest way to
the pawnbroker's is through your front door, and the quicker he finds
it the better?"

"I don't mind in the least your telling him that," Jack replied
pleasantly.

"And I should _love_ you to!" I added breathlessly.

This brought Pat to me. "Oh, _Molly_!" she said.

"Oh, _Patsey_!" said I.

Then Peter came to us. "Oh, _Peter_!" said we both.

Somehow, I found that in his right hand was a hand of mine, and in his
left (nearest the heart) was one of Patty's. "It's all right," he said.
"It ends by _my_ getting the treasure of Kidd's Pines."

"Well, I do think you've earned it!" I exclaimed. "If it were mine to
give I'd give it with my blessing."

"I owe it largely to you--you and your Lightning Conductor." It was to
me Peter spoke; but he looked at Pat, "I don't know what I should have
done without you."

That was nice of him, wasn't it? I love praise, even when I don't
deserve it. We _have_ taken an interest, if we've done nothing more. And
so have you, my kind Mercedes. Peter and Pat, and you and Monty, and
Jack and I, are Perfect Dears, if I do say it myself. And I know those
two are going to be as happy as we are.

I wish you could both be at the wedding. It will have to be soon, if
Jack and I are to throw rice and slippers.

Ever your loving old

MOLLY.

THE END

[Illustration: THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS GARDEN CITY, N. Y.]

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Transcriber's note:

The page numbers of illustrations have been changed to reflect
the new positions, and are no