ecome of him.

Madge caught Tom by the sleeve and looked at him with beseeching eyes.
"Please don't go, Tom," she begged, with a catch in her voice, "I am sure
your mother won't mind. She has Mr. Holt with her, and I can't bear to
see you go."

Tom and Madge were near the gangplank of the houseboat and Tom was trying
to make up his mind what he should do, when he and Madge caught sight of
a gray-clad figure walking toward them through the twilight mists.

"It's Mother," explained Tom in a relieved tone. "Now I can make it all
right with her."

"And that horrid Philip Holt isn't along," declared Madge delightedly,
"so I can tell her about poor little Tania."

Mrs. Curtis caught Madge, who had run out to meet her, by the hand. "My
dear child, what is the matter with you?" the older woman asked
immediately. "Even in this half-light I can see that your face is pale as
death and you look utterly worn out. If one of you is ill, why have you
not sent for me?"

When Madge faltered out her story of the lost Tania Mrs. Curtis hugged
her to her in the old sympathetic way that the little captain knew and
loved.

"I am so sorry, dear," soothed Mrs. Curtis, "but I am sure than Tom and
Philip Holt will find her. I suppose that is why they have both been away
all day."

"Philip Holt!" exclaimed Tom in surprise. "He hasn't been with us. I
thought he was at home with you."

Mrs. Curtis shook her head indifferently. "No; he hasn't been at the
cottage all day. Have any of you thought to send word to Captain Jules to
ask him about Tania? It may be that the child is with him. In any event,
I know Captain Jules would give us good advice."

"Bully for you, Mother!" cried Tom, glad to catch a straw as he saw the
shadow on Madge's face lighten. "As soon as I have had a bite of supper
with the girls I'll get hold of a boat and go after the captain."

Tom did not have to make his journey up the bay to "The Anchorage" that
night. While he and his mother were at supper with the girls they heard
the sound of Captain Jules's voice calling to them over the water. He had
to come ashore lower down the bay, where the water was deeper than it was
near the houseboat, but he always hallooed as he approached.

"O Jenny Ann!" faltered Madge, trembling like a leaf, "it is our captain.
Perhaps he has brought Tania back with him. I--I--hope nothing dreadful
has happened to her."

Without a word Tom fled off the houseboat. A moment later he espied