The Adventures of a Modest Man

l on his Dresser the Evening

.30

,' or whatever they call it, at Avalon Island. I had no idea he was really ill. Evidently he is alarmed, for we have only been here six days, and

e treatment, too!), and he says that nobody is received for less than a month's treatment, so I suppose that bars you even i

we had planned to do together! And there's my maid at

rine D

Catharine Delancy, Avalo

s Light, F

tions. It seems Avalon is an island, and they have to wait for the steamers to carry telegrams over from the mainland. So the reply has jus

men through the fog, rowing like the mischief plump into my decoys, and I shouted out, 'What the deuce are you about?' and they

d they came, and they turned out to be Jack Selden-the chap I

yed to shoot with me over my decoys, and our bag was

in the keeper's living-room, with his good little wife sewing by the fire and a half-dozen of his kids tumbling about on the floor. It's a pretty sight; I love children and firesides and that sort of thing. They've got hold o

it-jacket and I wouldn't care as long as [you were, crossed out]

rrow before dawn. The keeper's wife says it will blow too hard, but Selden

r father and every wish for

faith

s Har

book and Found in a Bottle in the Pock

ntic

h of Holy C

ruar

sea in a rowboat, and it's leaking. I only want to say good-by. Telegrap

s Har

y the Keeper while Search-boats Were still Out a

ly Cross Light, Fl

r sakes. Terrible storm on the coast re

rine D

n, Flo

nd Opened by the Keeper of the Lighthou

.

ur silence and the reports of t

hari

.

surely were not ass enough

Dela

.

raph to me that you ar

hari

Catharine Delancy

Cross

tharine

Selden blown out to sea. Search-boats re

ll, Ke

Delancy to Keeper

swe

unches as necessary. Don't give up the search.

James Harroll. You may draw on me for any amount necess

en Del

un rising in tropic splendor behind them, before

tlantic with both oars; a heavy flood-tide was doing the rest. Pr

r, and sighed deeply. "Except for the scare and the conf

e you didn't set that f

mess

you scribbling in

d w

e of gun-oil. If I was mistaken, k

Can't a man jot down impressions? Open a can of sa

e near those ducks," he said, "we'd better give them a b

ge-sacks for some dry shells, loa

oat drew near. "How tame they are! Look

silver-breasted bird paddled lazily out of the way, but the bulk of the flock floated seren

hat a scurry and rise might justify assassination. But the birds only watched him in perfect confidence. The boat drove on; the young

are you looking at?"-for Selden, using

aid slowly-"of all luck! W

re the dev

Ava

upidly. "Why, man, it's a hund

their dinky little temples shining among the tree

me came acro

not daring to hope for such fortune. "

I've h

t's

se run by a "doctor." He makes 'em all wear garments cut in the style of the humble bed-sheet, and then he turns 'em out to grass; and they may roll on it or frisk on it or eat it if they like. Incidentally, I believe, they're obliged to wallow in the ocean several times a day, run races afoot, chuck the classic discus, go b

!" muttere

re almost there. Look sharp! Stand by for

to the surf, smothering craft and crew in hissing foam. A second later two heads appeared, and two

t water oozing at every pore. H

" he in

. Where's

which lay in the shoals, heeled over. Selden followed; together they dragged

tching handfuls of hot sand. "Isn't this immense?" he said. "My! how nice and dry a

n dragging the guns and car

s here," he said

about ready to be killed with hospitality," observed Selden,

east-high, and forced a path through toward a bit of

Selden, in a low voice. "Better hit him wi

hade of a live oak. His attitude suggested ennui; he yawned at

head," said Harroll, "resemb

hose friends

ndals, wearing a wreath of flowers o

p boots aroused the gentleman in the tog

d Harroll, blandly, "I th

nd a monocle, screwed it firmly into his e

, Jim," he said, s

ack Selden-the Lenox Seldens, you know, sir."

Mr. Delancy. "Y

ch released the monocle. Then he touched his faded eyes with the

, Jim," he said. "Did you

s? No, si

," said Mr

out to sea, and that's how we came here. I fancy Selden wouldn

ly and modestly as Mr

villa in this forsaken place. The food I have to offer you might be relished by squirrels, perhaps; the clot

toga over one shoulder, and p

ke it here?"

repeated

y did y

cy slowly, "because I de

fell back out of ears

t your th

w you've shattered this-you

en, who stood watching two pretty g

to endure every species of tomfoolery, I've been fed on bird seed, deprived of cigars, and sent to bed at half past nine. And I'm as sound in limb and body

ets of oleander, wistaria, and Cherokee roses-where through the trees a placid lake lay reflecting the violet sky-where fallow-deer wandered, lipping young maple buds-where bene

aid, slowly, "with your permission-an

doubtless unconscious of the troub

epeated the young

y daughter and I be

lawn. "She is sitting under that pergola yonder, looking out to sea, and I'm afraid she's crying her eye

oked at one an

drowned," said Mr. Delancy, "b

ed Selden, who appeared to be fascinated by an attractive girl i

' she whispered. '

g woman with yellow hair and violet eyes who is playing handball with her sister, and w

ir and blue eyes!" murm

eaves to-night-unless you mean to

ntly. Bird-seed ha

id, "I'm rather

oung man was already half-way to the jasmine-covered arbor, whe

e into the shallows and a great tarpon fling its mass of silver into the sun. Paroquets gleaming like living jewels rustled and preened in the china-trees; black and gold butterflies, covered w

atiating surf purred, blinking with a million iridescent bubbles. The smug smile of nature appalled her;

" she whispered.

hari

d feet, the white folds of her

hari

name; she swayed, steadying hers

ble for t

, I looked at him

y for the defense. That's a fine story to tell a father o

appened,

ither. I'll explain to you

ng a story-and I didn't wish Alida and Dulcima to sympathize with young Harroll and tha