e. And I tried
the same thing on Mr. Bennett, only he was much more susceptible than
your husband and took me more seriously. I want you, one and all, to be
sure that I hate myself most cordially!"

"The end justified the means, I think," said Mrs. Congdon.

"I found a friend I'm not going to lose as one result," said Putney.
"And if the sick man across the bay recovers I hope I have another
lifelong friend there."

"Oh, it's all so strange!" cried Mrs. Congdon. "One might think that we
must suffer tribulation before we know what perfect happiness is! And I
never expect to understand all that has happened to you men. Is it
possible that you'll ever settle down again?"

"That depends--" Archie remarked, glancing meaningfully at Isabel,--a
glance which Mrs. Congdon detected and appraised with that prescience
which makes every woman a match-maker.

On the wharf they lingered, like a company of old friends reluctant for
even a brief parting; Ruth, lantern in hand, stood beside Mrs. Graybill,
looking like a child beside the stately woman. As Archie cried "All
aboard," Julia caught Ruth in her arms and kissed her.

"Good night, little girl!" she said softly.

It was like a benediction and the very graciousness of act and word
lightened Archie's vigil as all night he watched outside the Governor's
door.

V

On the eighth day Dr. Mosgrove announced that his visits were no longer
necessary; he ran up to Huddleston, he told Archie, for the pleasure of
meeting the agreeable people he found there. The Governor was making an
extraordinary recovery, and the bracing northern air would soon set him
up. Someone was always on the water between Leary's hotel and Heart o'
Dreams, and clouds no longer darkened the bay.

Dr. Mosgrove had made a careful examination of Carey, and recommended
that he be sent to a sanatorium for treatment. Perky undertook to carry
him to a private institution near Chicago suggested by the doctor, and
this became another of the series of strange errands that fell to the
lot of the _Arthur B. Grover_. Eliphalet Congdon had been importuning
Archie to release him, but it had seemed wise to give the erratic
millionaire more time in which to meditate upon his sins.

When the tug returned Archie found that the old gentleman had taken
advantage of a day's parole in Chicago to do considerable shopping. In a
new suit of clothes he really looked, as Perky said, like a white man;
but the change in him was no