as well as not. Leave it to me. It's the Empire Garage, I
think you said, where it is to be sent."

"Yes, that's the place. And thank you very much, mother. There's the
bill. It's quite large, I know, but it's the first I've had to pay for
some time."

He laid the paper upon the table, and was about to leave the room, when
a heavy step was heard upon the verandah. In another minute an excited
woman stood before them. She was panting heavily, and her hair was in
much disorder.

"Why, Mrs. Tobin, what's the matter?" Mrs. Hampton asked, alarmed at
her visitor's agitation.

"They've left me! They've left me!" she wailed, sinking down exhausted
in the nearest chair. "Oh, to think that I have come to this!"

"Who have left you, Mrs. Tobin?" John asked. "What do you mean?"

"Sam'l an' Eben, of course. They sailed right by, and never stopped.
What do you think of that?"

"That's nothing to worry about, Mrs. Tobin. They must have some good
reason which they will no doubt explain later."

"You think so, do you?" the visitor demanded. "What makes you think
there is a reason why they should go by without stopping?"

"I have no idea at all," the young man replied. "I only said that
perhaps they had a reason."

"H'm, is that all you know about it? But I tell you there _is_ a
reason, and I'm going to find out. If it wasn't for leaving Flo alone
I'd foot it every step of the way to the quarry this blessed night;
that's what I'd do."

"Come, come, Mrs. Tobin, there is nothing to worry about," Mrs. Hampton
comforted. "Surely you can trust your husband. Don't get so excited.
Think of those poor people who lost their only daughter last night;
drowned herself at Benton's wharf. What is your trouble compared to
theirs?"

"Drowned herself, did you say?" and Mrs. Tobin held up her hands in
horror. "Who was she? and why did she drown herself?"

"She was Mr. Henry Randall's daughter, who was greatly worried over
some love affair, so I understand."

"Is that so? My lands! What's going to happen next? A girl drowned,
and my husband and only son running away from me. It is terrible!"

With considerable effort John kept from smiling as he listened to Mrs.
Tobin. What to her was a very serious matter, was to him cause for
amusement. He was quite sure why the captain had sailed by Beech Cove
without stopping as was his custom. Neither could he blame him. Any
man would do the same who might have the misfor