put it down in the log with
a red ink circle around it. No, sir-ee! You've been OUR skipper from the
start."

Even Zoeth smiled now and Mary laughed aloud.

"But you haven't objected; you haven't minded being--what shall I call
it?--skipped--by me, have you?" she asked.

The Captain grinned. "Mind it!" he exclaimed. "Umph! The only time when
we really minded it was these last two years when we ain't had it. We
minded missin' it, that's what we minded."

"Well, you won't miss it any more. Now help me put these things back in
the safe and we'll go home. Yes, home! Tomorrow morning--this morning,
I mean--we'll talk and I'll tell you some of my plans. Oh, yes! I
have plans and I am in hopes they may do great things for Hamilton and
Company. But no more talk tonight. Remember, the skipper is back on
board!"

So to the house they went and to bed, the Captain and Mr. Hamilton under
protest.

CHAPTER XX

Neither Mary nor the Captain nor Mr. Hamilton slept much of the few
hours until daylight, and Captain Shadrach, who was devoured with
curiosity concerning the plans, would have asked particulars before
breakfast, but Mary would not listen to questions. It was not until
breakfast was over and they were back in the store that she consented to
discuss the subject.

The safe was reopened and the books and papers spread out upon the desk.
Mary took up one of the sheets of paper; it was covered with rows of
figures in her handwriting.

"Now," she said, "it seems to me that the first thing is to find out
exactly where we stand. When I say 'we,'" she added, with a nod of great
importance, "I mean 'we,' because, as I told you last night, I am a
silent partner in the business now."

"Don't seem to be so terrible much silence," observed Shadrach dryly.

"Hush! Another remark of that kind and I shall set you to sweeping out,
Uncle Shad. Now, Uncle Zoeth, according to the books this is what we
owe."

She read from the paper in her hand.

"That is the total, Uncle Zoeth, isn't it?" she asked. Zoeth groaned and
admitted that he cal'lated it was nigh enough.

"Yes. But this," holding up another sheet of paper, "is what is owed us,
and it is almost as much as the other."

It was Shadrach's turn to groan. "'Tis if we could get a-hold of it,"
he muttered. "The heft of the gang on that list ain't got a cent and the
bulk of the rest of 'em wouldn't have if they paid what they owed."

Mary nodded determinedly.

"There