an just believe the Cardhaven Inn
won't see _me_ passin' biscuits and clam chowder for long."

In the midst of the rehearsal Louise saw a figure striding along the
shore from the direction of Tapp Point, and her heart leaped. Already
there seemed to be a change in the appearance of Lawford.

His sisters, who came frequently to see Louise at Cap'n Abe's, had told
her their brother, was actually working in one of his father's
factories. He had not even obtained a position in the office, but in
the factory itself. He ran one of the taffy cutting machines, for one
thing, and wore overalls!

"Poor Ford!" Cecile said, shaking her head. "He's up against it. I'm
going to save up part of my pocket money for him--if he'll take it. I
think daddy's real mean, and I've told him so. And when Dot Johnson
comes I'm not going to treat her nice at all."

Lawford, however, did not look the part of the abused and disowned
heir. He seemed brisker than Louise remembered his being before and
his smile was as winning as ever.

"Miss Grayling!" he exclaimed, seizing both her hands.

"Lawford! I am _so_ glad to see you," she rejoined frankly. And then
she had to pull her hands away quickly and raise an admonitory finger.
"Walk beside me--and be good," she commanded. "Do you realize that two
worlds are watching us--the world of The Beaches and the movie world as
well?"

"Hang 'em!" announced Lawford with emphasis, his eyes shining. "Think!
I've never even thanked you for what you did for me that day. I
thought Betty Gallup hauled me out of the sea till Jonas Crabbe at the
lighthouse put me wise."

"Never mind that," she said. "Tell me, how do you like your work? And
why are you at home again?"

"I'm down here for the week-end---to get some more of my duds, to tell
the truth. I'm going to be a fixture at the Egypt factory--much to
dad's surprise, I fancy."

"Do you like it?" she asked him, watching his face covertly.

"I hate it! But I can stick, just the same. I have a scheme for
improving the taffy cutting machines, too. I think I've a streak in me
for mechanics. I have always taken to engines and motors and other
machinery."

"An inventor!"

"Yes. Why not?" he asked soberly, "Oh! I'm not going to be one of
those inventors who let sharp business men cheat them out of their
eye-teeth. If I improve that candy cutter it will cost I. Tapp real
money, believe me!"

Louise's eyes danced at him in admiration an