TO THE DOT

Armitage gained next morning a very perfect idea of the regard which
the Wellington household held for the head of it. Mr. Wellington had
waited in New York for the _Mayfair_, and not only Anne, but Mrs.
Wellington and the boys took their post on the southeastern veranda
soon after nine o'clock, while Ronald glued his eyes to the big
telescope. After he had alternately picked up a white Lackawanna tug
and a Maine-bound steamship as the _Mayfair_, Anne lost patience.

"Mother," she said, "why not send for McCall? He used to be a sailor,
I believe, and will, no doubt, be able to pick up the yacht miles
farther away than we can."

Something resembling a smile crossed the mother's face.

"Very well, Anne; send for him."

A footman was summoned and within a few minutes Armitage was the centre
of an interested group. He swept the Narragansett shore for a few
minutes and then turned to Mrs. Wellington.

"There 's a large white yacht with a yellow funnel, which has a silver
band on top, this side of Point Judith," he said. "I can see the red
glint of her house flag."

"Why, that's the _Mayfair_!" cried Anne. "Come on, mother, Sara."

"She won't be up for three-quarters of an hour, Anne," said her mother.

"I don't care. Come, Sara, we 'll raise the flags on the landing
ourselves."

As Sara and Anne and the two boys trouped down the path to the cleft in
the cliffs, Mrs. Wellington nodded at Jack.

"Quinn reports that you captured a burglar last night, McCall."

Jack smiled.

"Yes, Mrs. Wellington. I caught him in the hall on the second floor.
I had him before he could lift a hand and turned him over to the
watchman."

"I am indebted to you. What were you doing on the second floor at that
hour?"

"I could n't sleep and was smoking in my room when I heard some one
pass my door. I went out and saw him flashing a dark lantern below.
My shoes were off and I had him before he heard me."

"That was really clever of you. Chief Roberts has informed me that he
is a professional, wanted on several other charges. When he sends word
I want you to press the charge for me. Of course this will not appear
in the newspapers, so please say nothing to any one about it."

As Armitage nodded, she looked at him closely.

"How long do you intend to stay with us, McCall?"

Armitage started.

"Why--I--I--" he paused.

"Oh, no matter. I thought, perhaps, you might be ambitious to join the
police force