hat girl
and throw _me_ out. Why, I believe I've seen her before. Somehow,
she looks familiar," she added, her sharp gaze fixed on Sheila
again. "Well, wherever it was, she was up to no good, I'll be
bound."

"Are you coming with me willingly, and now?" put in Tunis more
harshly. "You are taking a chance, young woman, in talking this
way."

"Oh, she's got _you_ going. That's plain to be seen! I thought you
was a nice fellow. But I guess you're like other sailors. I always
heard they was a bad lot--running after women--"

"Will you come without any more words?" interrupted Tunis grimly.

"I'll have to go back to the town, I suppose. But remember! This
ain't the end of this," she weakly blustered.

"This your bag?" said Tunis calmly, picking up Ida May's satchel.
"All right. We'll go."

He did not attempt to look at Sheila again, nor at Cap'n Ira and
Prudence. He walked behind Ida May, but rather hustled her out of
the door. She might have cast back some final defiance, but he gave
her no chance.

It was almost twilight when they went out at the kitchen door. They
left the trio in the sitting room speechless for the moment. But
Sheila Macklin's speechlessness arose through different thoughts
from those of the Balls.

The girl left behind realized that this almost unexpected outcome
was but the momentary triumph of falsehood.

CHAPTER XXII

A WAY OUT

"Ida May, you'd better sit down. You look like you'd had a stroke,"
declared the captain.

"Why wouldn't she, the dear child?" cried Prudence. "What do you
suppose is the matter with that girl? Is she crazy?"

"Crazy ain't no name for it," her husband rejoined. "Her top-hamper
is all askew, I cal'late. I never see the beat."

But just now Sheila could not endure any discussion of the strange
girl. She rose as quickly as she had seated herself.

"I must fix supper," she said briskly. "You sit still, Aunt
Prudence. You're flustered, I can see. There is nothing for you to
do."

"That's right," put in Cap'n Ira. "Get a bite ready against Tunis
comes back. He'll want something fillin' after handling that crazy
gal."

He winked at Prudence and nudged her. The outstanding incident for
the old man was the unmistakable signs Tunis and Sheila had given
that they were in love with each other.

"What did I tell ye when that gal first come here?" whispered Cap'n
Ira hoarsely, when the girl had left the room. "I knowed that the
hull generation here on th