u to send a message to our friends. In the morning we wish to go
first to the Belleview Hotel. We wish to see a friend of ours who is
staying there. Her name is Mrs. Curtis."

"Mrs. Curtis is an old friend of mine," said Judge Hilliard in pleased
surprise. "I have known her ever since I was a little boy. Now I have
something to say to you that may interest you. I told you I was a
judge. It is my business to look into people's legal difficulties.
This trouble which concerns your friend looks to me as though it might
have a legal side to it. We are in the State of Maryland. Fisherman's
Island is in my jurisdiction. Suppose I issue an injunction forbidding
the marriage between Mollie and the sailor, and take you up to the
island in the morning to see it served. I have a steam yacht, and I
think I shall take along two court officers or policemen, who will
terrify your dreadful Captain Mike. At any rate, I'll see justice done
his afflicted daughter, if I have to take the law in my own hands."

Madge clapped her hands joyously. Tears stood in Phil's dark eyes.
"Oh, how splendid!" she breathed.

At this juncture Mrs. Hilliard entered the library, and after a little
further talk the two girls announced themselves as being quite ready to
retire.

"Be ready at seven o'clock," Judge Hilliard reminded them, as he bade
his guests good night. "We shall reach Captain Mike's shanty boat
before he has time to proceed with the marriage. They won't expect you
at your houseboat until after breakfast, and I hope to have three girls
to deliver aboard, instead of two."

Phyllis and Madge dropped asleep that night the instant their heads
touched their pillows. They had asked to share the same room, and as
they had sleepily undressed, they congratulated each other on the fact
that Mike Muldoon's cowardly act had resulted in nothing but good to
them. It looked as though it might even prove a boomerang to him.

By seven o'clock the next morning the girls had breakfasted and said
good-bye to Mrs. Hilliard, after promising to visit her at some future
time.

"Judge Hilliard," announced Madge, as the yacht "Greyhound" steamed out
from the pier, "we forgot to tell you last night that we think Mollie
is old enough to come away from her father if she wishes. She doesn't
know how old she is. That is one of the queer things about Mollie.
She seems quite sensible until you ask her to recall something, and
then she becomes confuse