Dialstone Lane, Complete

t the coffee-pot, and at the same time to maintain an air of cheerful innocence as to the cause of her behaviour, being almost beyond his powers. He chippe

circumstances, and, that there might be no mistake as to her own feelin

eating, my dear,

g it would choke

shivering despite himself, as he noticed the elaborate care which Mrs. Chalk displayed in rinsing out the cup and fil

ourself," ventured Mr

ved the inform

aid the thoughtful husband, making

Mrs. Chalk. "But if you think that that's an

hing to the effect that

When that girl came whistling over the fence l

halk, hastily takin

amed. "What sort of

lied her husband, w

lk left

thought. A little natural curiosity as to the identity of the fair whistler would, however, not be denied, and the names of

tastes," he said to himse

ng, brushing his hat, preparatory to taking his usual walk. Mrs. Chalk, upstairs

He read all the notices pasted on the door of the Town Hall and bought some stamps at the post-office, but the morning drag

fable mood. He pushed his papers aside at once, and, motion

I want you to come round to my place at eight o'clock

I can," sai

d the other, serious

id Mr. Chalk.

rious smile. "I've sent Edward off to town on busine

m to the door; Chalk, after a vain attempt

hat evening, and was admitted by his host. The latter, with a somewhat trite remark abo

is," he a

and revealed to the astonished Mr. Chalk the expressive features of Miss Selina Vickers; fa

f mine," said Tredgold,

said "Good

"I was down at the bottom of your garden whistling for over ten

of disappointment quite beyond his control. "What do you mean

kers, calmly, "but it's just as well. I went

ing at her. "She came to me, as one of the ordinar

corroborated

oked round in amazement. "Wha

"My client is not a

bell. "The airs and graces that girl wi

xious to obtain," continued Mr. Tredgold, with a

die first," interposed

t," said Tredgold, meeting

one it," retorted the d

aring friend. "And you must swear to keep it if it's told

h he had protested in vain, came as confirmation. Then the marvelling Mr. Chalk rose, and instructed by Mi

l about?" he inqu

ned to Mr. Chalk. With a cry of amazement he recognised the identical map of Bowers's Island, which he had last seen in the hands

said that he had b

him coldly. "Burnt

," was t

dgold. "You told me

er, then?" inq

aid Miss Vic

ad burnt his, this must b

it, then?" inq

disbelieve Captain B

id the brooding Stobel

ill and eyed the

Bowers had," said Tredgold, with the air of one making a generous admission. "My

to," put in Miss Vick

dgold. "Now, we want you to join us in fitting out a ship

ain Bowers?" inq

se," said Tredgold. "You know he gave us permission to

t, if you remember," said St

any way," said Tredgold, impressively. "I should like to think there was someb

or you, Selina," said Mr. Stobell,

sed little face upon him an

school," she remarked; "and don't you call me

the first three words of Mr. Stobell's retort, but he

m join, now. A man that used to work for him once told me tha

rust himself, got up and

eed, then," said Tre

th this map you've all got to sign a paper promising

at dazed by the events of the evening, blinked at him solemn

OUNDS!" h

four hundred shillings, if you like it bette

the calculation. "Twelve noughts are nought," she said, in a gabb

rformance with astonished disapproval. "You shall have the twe

opening her small, sharp eyes again, "only, if

ument and expanding it, fared no better; and Mr. Stobell, opening his m

make up your minds; Mr. Stobell can have six, because thinking takes him longer. And if you agree to do what's right-and

ght with her arms folded, awaited their decision. Before the time was up the terms were accepte

gue terms to a treasure quest in the Southern Seas on the strength of a map provided by Miss Vickers, promised one-fifth of the sum recovered to that la

nd rather a good signature for him than otherwise. Miss Vickers, viewing it with her head on one side, asked whether he couldn't make his mark instead; a question which Mr. Stobell, at the pressing instance of his friends, le

opening the door, paused with her ha

ervously. "It was no good to anybody laying id

aid Tredgol

t belong to anybody, so nobody can be hurt by our taking it, and we can do a lot of good with it, i

ice for the document,

now," said Mr. Tr

ight," said Mr. Ch

now you will," she said, graciously,

Mr. Stobell, coldly, "and the draugh

sdained one at all. She contented herself instead by going outside and clos

, as the three bent exultingly over the map. "I c

ur head about it,"

with some severity. "We're going for a cruise

r; "and, talking about the voyage, what

said that lady's propr

thing the better. You're not to divulge a word of the cruise to anybody. When it does leak out it must be un

features in anxious perpl

'll take the train to Biddlecombe and have a look round. My idea is to buy a small, stout saili

-glasses, and trade with the natives in the different islands we pass," he sai

. Stobell and Chalk, after a final glance at the map and a fina

e latter gentleman, as they

o' the same sort," said Mr. Stobell, as

nued Mr. Chalk, uneasily. "But my w

d. "I've got a wif

, "but it ain't quite the same thing. I've got a wife a

way home. He came to the conclusion that the events o