d up
with her, and, on the way, told her of his discovery of her secret, and
of his interview with "Web" Saunders. It was exactly as the Captain had
surmised. The note she had received on the evening of the return from
the life-saving station was from the proprietor of the billiard
saloon, and in it he hinted at some dire calamity that overshadowed her
grandfather, and demanded an immediate interview. She had seen him that
night and, under threat of instant exposure, had promised to pay the sum
required for silence. She had not wished to use her grandfather's money
for this purpose, and so had taken the position as teacher.

"Well," said the Captain, "I wish you'd have come to me right away, and
told me the whole bus'ness. 'Twould have saved a pile of trouble."

The young lady stopped short and faced him.

"Captain Eri," she said, "how could I? I was sure grandfather had set
the fire. I knew how ill he was, and I knew that any shock might kill
him. Besides, how could I drag you into it, when you had done so much
already? It would have been dreadful. No, I thought it all out, and
decided I must face it alone."

"Well, I tell you this, Elsie; pretty gin'rally a mean dog 'll bite if
he sees you're afraid of him. The only way to handle that kind is to run
straight at him and kick the meanness out of him. The more he barks
the harder you ought to kick. If you run away once it 'll be mighty
uncomf'table every time you go past that house. But never mind; I
cal'late this p'tic'lar pup won't bite; I've pulled his teeth, I guess.
What's your plans, now? Goin' to keep on with the school, or go back to
Boston?"

Miss Preston didn't know; she said she had not yet decided, and, as the
schoolhouse was reached by this time, the Captain said no more.

There was, however, another question that troubled him, and that seemed
to call for almost immediate settlement. It was: What should be done
with Mrs. Snow? The housekeeper had been hired to act as such while
John Baxter was in the house. Now he was gone, and there remained the
original marriage agreement between Captain Jerry and the widow, and
honor called for a decision one way or the other. Mrs. Snow, of course,
said nothing about it, neither did Captain Jerry, and Captain Eri felt
that he must take the initiative as usual. But, somehow, he was not as
prompt as was his wont, and sat evening after evening, whittling at the
clipper and smoking thoughtfully. And another week went by