an apprehensive
shudder passed over her. Flora continued to walk the entire length of
the room, speaking to no one. When she came to Madge she halted,
staring at her through insolent, half-closed eyes.

Tom looked at Flora Harris in angry amazement. He knew she was about to
make a disagreeable speech, but he wondered what had actuated her to do
so. He frowned over the heads of the girls at Alfred Thornton. He tried
to signal to him to steer Miss Harris in some safer direction, but
Alfred would not return his glance.

"Miss Morton," began Flora, in an unusually high voice, "I wish to
congratulate you on your success to-night. There is no doubt about your
talent as an actress." Flora laid such stress on the word "actress"
that Madge blushed hotly.

"Thank you," she answered, fighting back her temper.

Alfred Thornton leaned over to whisper to Flora, "Don't, Flora, please,
don't."

Flora Harris tossed her head angrily. For some time she had been
stealthily planning her revenge against Madge. Now that she had an
unusually good opportunity to put her plan into action, she did not
intend to allow the little captain to escape her unscathed.

"It is a matter of surprise to me, Miss Morton, that you could have the
temerity to come here to Old Point Comfort, knowing it to be a military
post," she continued.

Madge started slightly. The movement of her body was scarcely
perceptible, yet Flora saw it.

"Oh, I see you understand me," she sneered, "but as it is very bad form
to exchange confidences when others are present, let us have done with
confidences. I am sure everyone here will be deeply interested in my
story, which is this: Once upon a time there was an officer in the Navy
whose name was Robert Morton. He proved himself unworthy to be a naval
officer and was dismissed from the service in disgrace and disappeared.
Miss Morton will tell you the rest of the story. As Robert Morton was
her father, it is just possible that she can tell us something further
about him." Flora's face shone with cruel triumph.

Madge looked at her tormentor with unseeing eyes. For the instant she
was stunned by the blow. Then reason returned. White to the lips, she
fixed Flora with the stern question, "Where did you hear this story?"

The others of the party sat staring in horrified silence.

Flora shrugged her shoulders. "Anything to oblige you," she retorted,
"but don't attempt to say the story isn't true. I know it to be true
becau