see!" So Phyllis
continued to have faith in the young officer. She never reflected on
what the box in her trunk contained, but she never left the trunk
unlocked for a moment. Nor did she ever fail to wear a small brass key
about her person.

On the evening appointed for the performance of "The Decision" all
personal differences were apparently forgotten. Madge thought no more
of her trouble with Flora Harris. She had tried to be as polite to her
as possible and Flora had appeared to accept her apology. Flora Harris
had determined that it was the wisest thing that she could do to appear
to be friendly with Madge. It would make the revenge which she had
planned against Madge the more complete. Then, if she let it be known
that Miss Morton had withdrawn the accusation against herself and
Alice, no one could possibly believe there had been any truth in it in
the beginning. Her act would appear to be inspired only by her own
chagrin over defeat in the race.

The day of the play Lillian and Madge were radiant over the prospect of
the evening's gayety. Eleanor, Phil and Miss Jenny Ann were equally
interested. The four girls sewed and talked the entire morning. They
had not had such a good time together since the beginning of their
second houseboat holiday. In a few days "The Merry Maid" would be sent
up the bay to be looked after for the winter; the four comrades would
return to Miss Tolliver's school; Miss Jenny Ann would be turned from
chaperon to teacher. The girls were enthusiastic about their winter. Of
course, they would study harder and accomplish more than they ever had
before, they promised themselves.

The private ballroom in her hotel, which Mrs. Curtis had engaged for
the performance of the little drama, was delightfully arranged. A small
stage was erected at one end of it, and low-growing flowers and palms
banked about it. There was little light in the back of the room, where
the audience sat, but the miniature stage was brilliant with the glow
of delicately shaded electric lights.

Mrs. Curtis had invited about fifty guests, her friends from the nearby
hotels and cottages, and a number of Army and Navy officers with their
families. The season was almost at an end. Mrs. Curtis, Madeleine and
Tom would leave for New York in ten days. They wished their last
entertainment to be a memorable one.

Miss Jenny Ann sat in one of the front row chairs with Eleanor and
Phyllis. In their dressing room, Madge was trying