g at us from behind Eleanor and Lillian."

Readers of "MADGE MORTON, CAPTAIN OF THE 'MERRY MAID'," will remember the
delightful fashion in which Madge Morton, Eleanor Butler, Lillian Seldon
and Phyllis Alden spent a summer on a houseboat, which they evolved from
an old canal boat and named the "Merry Maid."

How they anchored at quiet spots along Chesapeake Bay, made the
acquaintance of Mrs. Curtis, a wealthy widow, and what came of the
friendship that sprang up between her and Madge Morton made a story well
worth the telling.

In "MADGE MORTON'S SECRET" the scene of their second houseboat adventure
found them at Old Point Comfort, where, as Mrs. Curtis's guests, they
partook of the social side of the Army and Navy life to be found there.
The origin of Captain Madge's secret, and of how she kept it in spite of
the humiliation and sorrow it entailed, the mysterious way in which the
"Merry Maid" slipped her cable and drifted through heavy seas to a
deserted island, where her crew lived the lives of girl Crusoes for many
weeks, form a narrative of lively interest.

In "MADGE MORTON'S TRUST" the further adventures of the "Merry Maid" were
fully related. For the sake of the trip the happy houseboat girls saddled
themselves with Miss Betsey Taylor, a crotchety spinster, who was
troubled with nerves, and who offered to pay liberally for her passage on
their cosy "Ship of Dreams."

Madge's faith and unshakable trust in David Brewster, a poor young man
who did the work on Tom Curtis's yacht, which made the trip with the
"Merry Maid," her championing of David when suspicion pointed darkly
toward him as a thief, and her unswerving loyalty to the unhappy youth
until his innocence was established, revealed the little captain in the
light of a staunch true comrade and doubly endeared her to all her
companions.

Madge heard Miss Matilda Tolliver announce that the valedictory would be
delivered by Miss Madge Morton. Phyllis gave her companion a little
nudge, and somehow Madge arrived at the front of the stage and stood
under a huge arch of flowers. Just above her head swung a great bell.
Everyone was smiling at her. Madge was seized with a dreadful case of
stage fright. Her tongue felt dry and parched. She tried to speak, but no
sound came forth.

Mrs. Curtis's lovely face, with its crown of soft, white hair, smiled
encouragingly at her. Tom was crimson with embarrassment. Lillian and
Eleanor held each other's hands. Would Madg