st evening chasing
you by 'phone. And I was prepared to begin again this morning."

"So? That's why you're on deck so early? Didn't sleep here, did you?
Well, I cal'late I know what you want to talk about. You ain't the only
one that reads the newspapers."

"The newspapers? Great heavens! it isn't in the newspapers, is it? It
can't be!"

He seemed much perturbed. Captain Elisha looked puzzled.

"Course it is," he said. "But I heard it afore I saw it. Perhaps you
think I take it pretty easy. Maybe I act as if I did. But you expected
it, and so did I, so we ain't exactly surprised. And," seriously, "I
realize that it's no joke as well as you do. But we've got a year to
fight in, and now we must plan the campaign. I did cal'late to see
Caroline this mornin'. Then, if I heard from her own lips that 'twas
actually so, I didn't know's I wouldn't drop in and give Sister
Corcoran-Queen-Victoria-Dunn a few plain facts about it not bein' a
healthy investment to hurry matters. You're wantin' to see me headed me
off, and I come here instead."

The lawyer looked at him in astonishment.

"See here, Captain Warren," he demanded, "what do you imagine I asked
you to come here for?"

"Why, to talk about that miserable engagement, sartin. Poor girl! I've
been awake ha'f the night thinkin' of the mess she's been led into. And
she believes she's happy, I suppose."

Sylvester shook his head. "I see," he said, slowly. "You would think it
that, naturally. No, Captain, it isn't the engagement. It's more serious
than that."

"More serious than--_more_ serious! Why, what on earth? Hey? Mr.
Sylvester, has that rock-lighthouse business come to somethin' after
all?"

The lawyer nodded. "It has," he replied.

"I want to know! And I'd almost forgot it, not hearin' from you. It's
a rock, too, I judge, by the looks of your face. Humph!... Is it very
bad?"

"I'm afraid so."

The captain pulled his beard. "Well," he said, wearily, after a moment,
"I guess likely I can bear it. I've had to bear some things in my time.
Anyhow, I'll try. Heave ahead and get it over with. I'm ready."

Instead of answering, Sylvester pushed an electric button on his desk.
The office boy answered the ring.

"Have Mr. Kuhn and Mr. Graves arrived?" asked the lawyer.

"Yes, sir. Both of them, sir."

"Tell them Captain Warren is here, and ask them to join us in the inner
room. Remind Mr. Graves to bring the papers. And, Tim, remember that
none of us is to be