rasped Lawford regarding the leading man's
attentions to Louise.

Lawford could not face the taunting glances of Marian and Prue. They
had come down to the beach on this particular morning he felt sure to
comment--and not kindly--upon Louise Grayling. He hoped that she was
not included in the director's plans for the day, and he was glad to
see that she had no make-up on, as had these other young women.

So he strolled on grimly with Miss Louder, who would not be called for
work for an hour. But the young man heard little of her chatter.

The tide was at the ebb and the two walked on at the edge of the
splashing surf, where the strand was almost as firm as a cement walk.
The curve of the beach took them toward the lighthouse and here,
approaching with bucket and clam hoe along the flats, was the very
lightkeeper who had watched the _Merry Andrew_ and her crew the day,
before when Lawford met with his accident.

"There ye be, Mr. Lawford," crowed the man, "as chipper as a sandpiper.
But I swanny, I didn't ever expect t' hail ye again this side o'
Jordan, one spell yest'day."

"You had your glass on us, did you?" Lawford said languidly.

"I did, young man--I did. An' when that bobbin' skiff walloped ye on
the side of the head I never 'spected t' see you come up again. If it
hadn't been for this little lady who------Shucks, now! This ain't her
'tall, is it?"

"Oh, Mr. Tapp, were you in a boating accident yesterday?" cried Miss
Louder.

"I was overboard--yes," responded Lawford, but rather blankly, for he
was startled by the lightkeeper's statement. "What do you mean,
Jonas?" to the lightkeeper. "Didn't Betty Gallup haul me inboard?"

"Bet Gallup--nawthin'!" exploded Jonas with disgust. "She handled that
sloop o' yourn all right. I give her credit for that. But 'twas that
there gal stayin' at Cap'n Abe's. Ye had her out with ye, eh?"

"Miss Grayling? Certainly."

"She's some gal, even if she is city bred," was the lightkeeper's
enthusiastic observation. "An' quick! My soul! Ye'd ought to seen
her kick off her skirt an' shoes an' dive after ye! I swanny, she was
a sight!"

"I should think she would have been!" gasped Miss Louder with some
scorn. "Goodness me, she must be a regular stunt actress!" and she
laughed shrilly.

But Lawford gave her small attention. "Jonas, do you mean that?" he
asked. "I thought it was Betty who saved me. Why, dad said this
morning he was going to send the ol