utton."

"But she got married, of course, didn't she?" asked a stranger, who was
en route to Europe on his wedding tour and was full of romance.

"Why, no. You see, she was having such fun fishing, she never stopped
till they stopped biting--that is, the snappy bass that she liked to
ketch. She landed a lot, but just kept throwing back, probably waiting
for some whale in the shape of a Duke to land on one of the steamers,
but those Dukes that pass through Hoboken are terribly long on trousers,
and generally bring 'em over by the trunk-load. They all passed right
through, at any rate. Instead of a whale coming along, the next to bite
were a lot of old skates--a regular lot of tramps. They had come into
the trousers second hand, usually got for the asking, when preparing to
start into New York for the slumming season; but, of course, they had to
make for Mary's house just as soon as they put 'em on and the charm got
to working. So she has been spending the balance of her life shooing
away tramps. The chances are the pet lamb will never quite wear
out--excuse me, gentlemen, I think I hear the bell ringing."

CHAPTER XIII

Gabrielle did not find it necessary to confide immediately in Hygeia,
who cared for us both, but as Jim progressed more favorably than I, and
was able to sit up in bed propped with pillows, he became talkative and
inclined to drop remarks that might create suspicion in the mind of the
nurse. Unless Hygeia became her confidante, Gabrielle feared Jim's
identity might become known and his whereabouts learned by the officers
of the law, who were now apparently searching for him on misleading
clues.

"You will be my good friend, will you not?" asked Gabrielle, as she drew
Hygeia closely to her one morning about a week after our entrance to the
hospital. "I want you to help me, and I know you now so well that I feel
I may safely ask you to. May I?"

"My dear Miss Marshall, there is nothing I will not do for you, believe
me. I rejoice that your brother is showing such rapid improvement. How
much more fortunate he is than the poor fellow in the next room--his
friend, I believe you said?"

"Yes, Mr. Hopkins is his friend. But Mr. Marshall is not my brother,
and--"

"Tut, tut! Didn't I know it, my dear! Have I not watched you both? I am
already keeping your secret, never fear. Tell me only what you please,
but you need not tell me to have your good-will, for my heart is with
you, my dear."

"Oh,