eated
the scene that I did at the boat race yesterday. It was not very
diplomatic in me, and I am afraid I destroyed everyone's pleasure in
the party."

Flora Harris favored Madge with the merest fraction of a glance. "I
thought you would soon see your mistake," she answered coolly.

"My mistake?" For an instant Madge's blue eyes glittered with anger.
Then, rallying her self-control, she said sweetly, "I suppose it _was_
a mistake to speak openly. It must have been very disagreeable for you.
It would have been kinder to remain silent."

Flora Harris turned scarlet. Mrs. Curtis bit her lips to keep from
smiling. Madge bowed distantly to Flora. Then she rose and said
demurely: "Are you ready to go, Mrs. Curtis? Good afternoon, Miss
Harris."

There was a distinct note of constraint in Mrs. Curtis's voice as she
said good-bye to Flora Harris. She was heartily disgusted with the
cavalier manner which the officer's daughter had exhibited, and
privately registered a vow that after the play she would invite Miss
Harris to her hotel but little.

Madge stayed to luncheon with Mrs. Curtis and Madeleine. In the
afternoon Tom came in with the news that the Army headquarters at
Fortress Monroe were ringing with the story of the disappearance of
Lieutenant Jimmy Lawton. It was rumored that he had started for
Washington, where he was to appear before a body of naval experts
selected to judge the value of his invention. Up to that time he had
not arrived in Washington. He had made no report in regard to his
failure to appear. Gossip was beginning to whisper that Lieutenant
Jimmy was not such a patriot after all. Possibly he had run away to a
foreign country to sell his model to the highest bidder. He might never
again be allowed to wear his uniform as an officer in the United States
Navy.

Madge wondered what she ought to tell Phil in regard to the strange
rumors. She was afraid Phyllis would be grieved, and be sadly worried.
What had the two girls concealed in the mysterious package left in
their charge by the vanished officer, who had evidently foreseen that
gossip would follow his mysterious departure?

Madge need not have troubled herself on Phil's account. That young
woman took the report of Lieutenant Jimmy's disappearance with perfect
calmness. "He will be back very soon," she asserted to Madge. "Then he
will be able to explain everything to everyone's satisfaction.
Lieutenant Lawton is not a traitor. Just you wait and