refuse the reckless plan of escape the captain of
the _Seamew_ had submitted to her.

She did not for a breath's length blame Tunis for the misfortune
that had overtaken her--overtaken them both, indeed. She had
accepted his plan with open eyes. In her desperation she had even
foreseen the possibility of this outcome. She must blame nobody but
herself.

But all these thoughts were futile. No use in considering for a
single moment past situations and possibilities. She was confronted
by a grim and adamant present! And that grim present was in the
person of a girl with tear-streaked face who looked up at her,
sobbing.

"You're the meanest girl I ever heard of. I'll pay you for this.
Think of the gall of you comin' here and tellin' my rich relations
you was me. I never heard of such a thing! It beats the movies, and
and I thought they was just lies. Gee, but you must be a regular
crook! I expect the very clothes you got on my aunt bought and gave
you. I'll put you where you belong!"

"And suppose I put you where you seem to belong?" interrupted the
girl in possession. "There is such a place as an insane hospital in
this county, I believe. I think you must have either escaped from
such a place, or that you belong in one."

"Oh!" gasped the other girl, staring up at her amazedly and not a
little terrified by Sheila's emphatic speech.

"If you really are some distant relative of the family," the latter
continued, "Mrs. Ball may wish to see you. Come into the house and I
will make you a cup of tea. You need it. And you can wait for Mrs.
Ball and the captain to return, if you like."

Ida May darted to her feet again.

"A cup of tea of _your_ making!" she cried. "You'd put poison in it!
You must be a wicked girl--anybody can see that. I wouldn't put
anything bad past you. I guess them stories in the movies ain't so
much lies, after all.

"I want nothing from you, whoever you are, only my name back and the
chance you have grabbed off here. I'll go to the neighbors about it.
I'll tell 'em what you've done. I guess I can find somebody to
believe me."

Her abrupt halt warned Sheila that there was somebody approaching.
Before she could turn to see who it was, the other girl ejaculated:

"My goodness! What is it--a junk wagon? Look at that horse, will
you! Say! who's these folks? What a pair of old dubs!"

Cap'n Ira and Prudence had returned somewhat earlier than Sheila had
expected. Old Queenie came up the lane and