far cry to Broadway from any point of the
compass, after all, is it?" and he smiled engagingly down at her.

"You evidently do not remember me, Mr. Bane?" she said, returning his
smile. "Aboard the Anders Liner, coming up from Jamaica, two years ago
this last winter? Professor Ernest Grayling is my father."

"Indeed!" he exclaimed. "You are Miss Grayling? I remember you and
your father clearly. Fancy meeting you here!" and Mr. Bane insisted on
taking her hand. "And how is the professor? No need to ask after your
health, Miss Grayling."

As they walked on together Louise took more careful note of the actor.
He had the full habit of a well-fed man, but was not gross. He was
athletic, indeed, and his head was poised splendidly on broad
shoulders. Louise saw that his face was massaged until it was as pink
and soft as a baby's, without a line of close shaving to be detected.
The network of fine wrinkles at the outer corners of his eyes was
scarcely distinguishable. That there was a faint dust of powder upon
his face she noted, too.

Judson Bane was far, however, from giving the impression of effeminacy.
Quite the contrary. He looked able to do heroic things in real life as
well as in the drama. And as their walk and conversation developed,
Louise Grayling found the actor to be an interesting person.

He spoke well and without bombast upon any subject she ventured on.
His vocabulary was good and his speaking voice one of the most pleasing
she had ever heard.

So interested was Louise in what Mr. Bane said that she scarcely
noticed Lawford Tapp who passed and bowed to her, only inclining her
head in return. Therefore she did not catch the expression on
Lawford's face.

"A fine-looking young fisherman," observed Mr. Bane patronizingly.

"Yes. Some of them are good-looking and more intelligent than you
would believe," Louise rejoined carelessly. She had put Lawford Tapp
aside as inconsequential.

CHAPTER XII

THE DESCENT OF AUNT EUPHEMIA

It was mid forenoon the following day, and quite a week after Louise
Grayling's arrival at Cap'n Abe's store on the Shell Road, that the
stage was set for a most surprising climax.

The spirit of gloom still hovered over Betty Gallup in the rear
premises where she was sweeping and dusting and scrubbing. Her idea of
cleanliness indoors was about the same as that of a smart skipper of an
old-time clipper ship.

"If that woman ain't holystonin' the deck ev'ry