g clothes, some waving
handkerchiefs at friends they already recognized, all impatiently
awaiting the shipping of the gangplank.

Stott had come early. They had received word at Massapequa the day
before that the steamer had been sighted off Fire Island and that
she would be at her pier the next morning at 10 o'clock. Stott
arrived at 9.30 and so found no difficulty in securing a front
position among the small army of people, who, like himself, had
come down to meet friends.

As the huge vessel swung round and drew closer, Stott easily
picked out Shirley. She was scanning eagerly through a binocular
the rows of upturned faces on the dock, and he noted that a look
of disappointment crossed her face at not finding the object of
her search. She turned and said something to a lady in black and
to a man who stood at her side. Who they might be Stott had no
idea. Fellow passengers, no doubt. One becomes so intimate on
shipboard; it seems a friendship that must surely last a lifetime,
whereas--the custom officers have not finished rummaging through
your trunks when these easily-made steamer friends are already
forgotten. Presently Shirley took another look and her glass soon
lighted on him. Instantly she recognized her father's old friend.
She waved a handkerchief and Stott raised his hat. Then she turned
quickly and spoke again to her friends, whereupon they all moved
in the direction of the gangplank, which was already being
lowered.

Shirley was one of the first to come ashore. Stott was waiting for
her at the foot of the gangplank and she threw her arms round his
neck and kissed him. He had known her ever since she was a little
tot in arms, and bystanders who noticed them meet had no doubt
that they were father and daughter. Shirley was deeply moved; a
great lump in her throat seemed to choke her utterance. So far she
had been able to bear up, but now that home was so near her heart
failed her. She had hoped to find her father on the dock. Why had
he not come? Were things so bad then? She questioned Judge Stott
anxiously, fearfully.

He reassured her. Both her mother and father were well. It was too
long a trip for them to make, so he had volunteered.

"Too long a trip," echoed Shirley puzzled. "This is not far from
our house. Madison Avenue is no distance. That could not have kept
father away."

"You don't live on Madison Avenue any longer. The house and its
contents have been sold," replied Stott gravely, and i