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by the time they reached the landing. A sailor from the yacht was in waiting for them with a motor-equipped tender, similar to that of _The Isabel_. The man had already made his painter fast to the disabled boat, ready for towing it back to the yacht. Very quickly, the detective and fisherman were aboard, and the little boat was chugging sturdily toward _The Hialdo_. Van Dusen reflected, almost with a sigh of regret, that his work was practically at an end. There remained only to make a report to the Collector of the Port and the Justice of the Peace at Beaufort. He would exhibit to them the cap and the accompanying note, and thus the case would be done with. The evidence would eliminate Doctor Garnet from further consideration. Ichabod regarded the detective as a man of extraordinary experience and ability. He proposed to avail himself of the wisdom here ready to his need. "Mr. Van Dusen," he demanded suddenly, "air ye a fambly man?" "I suppose," was the answer, given with a smile, "you mean by that, am I so lucky as to have a wife and children." "That's it!" Ichabod agreed. "No, my friend, I am sorry to say that I am not. I suspect I'm one of those fellows that will keep putting it off until it's too late. But, why do you ask?" "I reckon the reason is," the old man said very solemnly, "cause I'm goin' to be, myself, an' that right soon. An' I thought if ye was, ye might be able to give me a little advice 'bout the pre-nuptals, as Sarey calls 'em. She mentioned it, an', to tell ye the truth, I didn't know the meanin' o' the remark. Is it something pertain' to weddin' frocks an' things, or air ye like me, igornant? She said, jest before I left, that it'd take a little time for the pre-nuptals, an' since I ag'in realized how unsartin life is, I sorter thought I'd like to have it over with to-morrer." Van Dusen smiled. "I don't think you need to worry, Captain Ichabod," he declared soothingly. "I think the pre-nuptials will be satisfactorily adjusted by you without any trouble. All you need to do is to walk up to your girl to-morrow, and wave before her the five-thousand-dollar check Roy Morton's going to give you as your reward. So long as you have the wherewithal for the post-nuptials you don't need to worry about the pre-. Then you might tell her that there's a fine yacht all ready to take the two of you north for a honeymoon trip." Van Dusen dropped his bantering tone and spoke with great cordiali
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