ainst my father?"

"I--I don't know! Something seems to be the matter with me." He wrenched
at his throat with his hand.

"And after what I did--my wicked foolishness--those papers--"

"Go on! I propose to get to the bottom of this thing," declared Marston.

The young man drove his hand into his pocket, pulled out the sealed
packet, and forced it into the girl's hands. Marston promptly seized it.

"You have not opened it?"

"No, sir."

"I did not open it, either," cried the girl. "I sealed it, just as it
was tied up."

Marston ripped off the strings and the wax.

Outside a loud voice was hailing the yacht. "Compliments of Captain Wass
to Captain Mayo, and will he please say when he is coming back aboard
his schooner?"

The financier paid no attention; he was busy with the papers. His face
was white with rage. He threw them about him on the floor.

"Every sheet is blank--it is waste-paper!" he shouted. "What confounded
trick is this?"

"You'd better ask the man who gave that packet to your daughter,"
suggested Mayo. He seemed to be less astonished than Marston and the
girl. "I might have known that your man, Bradish, would be that kind of
a sneak."

"What do you know about Bradish being concerned in this?"

"I'm guessing it. Probably your daughter can say."

"I'll have no more of your evasions, Alma. I'm going to the bottom of
this matter now. Did Bradish give you this packet?"

"Yes, father."

"How did it get to this man here?"

"I gave it to a man named Captain Wass."

Again they heard the voice outside. "I don't care if he is busy! I tell
you to take word to Captain Mayo that he is wanted right away on his
schooner. Tell him it's Captain Wass."

"The devil has sent that man along at about the right time," declared
Marston. He strode to the companion-way. "Inform Captain Wass that he is
wanted on board here! Hide those bars till he is below!"

He came back, raging, and stood between Mayo and the girl, who had
seemed to find words inadequate during the short time they had been left
together.

"I don't believe anything you tell me! There's an infernal trick, here.
The papers are missing. Somebody has them."

His fury blinded his prudence.

He strode toward Captain Wass when the old mariner came stumping down
the companionway.

"Is your name Wass?"

"Captain Wass, sir."

"You took papers from my daughter and brought them to this man!"

"Correct."

Marston stepped back and kicked at