en he broke off in anger when he saw the
girl's face, and exclaimed: "But, I swan! They'll keep you dodging,
and that's a fact! Ought to be some way of shutting her up, Tunis."

"I don't know how that is going to be done. Not just at first,
anyway. Perhaps something will turn up. And, anyway, she hasn't
begun to talk yet."

"It's like being tied down to one o' them railroad tracks and
waiting for the fast express to come along and crunch ye," grumbled
the old man. "I know how Ida May feels. But you keep a stiff upper
lip, my gal. You've got plenty of friends that won't listen to any
such crazy notions as that other gal's got in her noodle."

In this manner the old folks comforted themselves in part. But
nothing that was said could comfort Sheila. Tunis smoked a pipe with
Cap'n Ira after supper, while the girl cleared off the table and
washed and dried the dishes. Then he got her outside just after he
had bidden Cap'n Ira and Prudence good night.

They walked away silently from the kitchen door into the deep murk
of a starless night. The moaning of a rising sea upon the outer
reefs was the requiem of Sheila's hopes. One thing, she saw clearly,
she must do. If she remained and fought for her place with the
Balls, she must stand alone. Whether or not she held her place, she
must not allow Tunis to be linked with her in this situation. As she
slipped deeper and deeper into the morass, she could not cling to
him and drag him as well into infamy and disgrace.

Away from the house, fully out of earshot from the kitchen, she
halted. Tunis had taken her hand in his warm, encouraging grasp. She
let it remain, but she did not return his pressure.

"Dear, this is dreadful," he whispered, "I know. But leave it to me.
I'll find some way out."

"There is no way out, Tunis," she said confidently.

"Cat's-foot! Don't say that," he cried in exasperation. "There is
always a way out of every jam."

"This girl will do one of two things," said Sheila firmly. "Either
she will prove her claim, or she will give up and go back to Boston.
You know that."

"She'll fight hard, I guess" he admitted.

"Either way, Tunis," the girl pursued, "there is bound to be much
doubt cast upon my character--upon _me_. If the truth becomes known,
I am utterly lost. If it is hushed up, I must go on living a
lie--if I stay here."

"Don't talk that way!" he exclaimed gruffly. "Of course you'll stay
here. If not with the Balls, then with me."

"Stop