Madcap

bled quite by accident on Thimble Island. There, to his delight, he had discovered the exact combination of rocks, foliage and barren he was looking for-the painter's

sed, he learned, as quarters for extra guests, which would exactly suit his purposes. Somewhat doubtfully, he made inquiries upon the mainland and communica

ay some theses of color which would in time prove to others that he knew Nature as well as he knew humanity; that the brutal truths people saw in his portraits were only brutal because they were true; and to prove to himself that somew

mystery of the half-light be gone. He stood upright painting at arm's length with a full brush and broad sweep of wrist and arm. Gobs of paint from the tubes melted into pearly-grays and purples in the middle of his palette to be quickly transposed and placed tone beside tone like a pale mosaic enriched and blended by the soft fingers of Time. His motive was simple-a rock, some tree

its identity. The speck moved toward the sea and then, making a wide turn over the beach, swept inland near the earth noiselessly, and deposited itself

e, iridescent with the dew, rich with the broken g

nd touched the leather shoulder, the aviator moved and then sat upright, facing him. At the same moment the sun, which had been hesitating for some moments on the brink of the horizon, came up with a rush and bathed the f

e guest weakly. "She missed fi

hurt?"

rs over her leather jerkin to reassure herself as

tangle at his brow. It was quite evident to Hermia Cha

Where did you come from? Where are you going?" The tone of his voice was not unkind-it was even solicitou

up and watched her, his arms a

ather unsteadily to her feet,

d toward the machine her face went white, and she wou

her up the hill to the cabin where he put her

he said gently. "I

ck at his unshorn face and shock of disorderly hair, the color rising slowly to her cheeks. But she obeyed him, and drank wha

you to so much tro

a bad shock. But there are no bones broken. Yo

at her for a moment, then crept over on tip-toe and peered at her secretively. He straightened and scratched his head, fumbling for his pipe, puzzled. She resembled somebody he knew or whom he had met. Where? When? He gave it up at last and strolled out of doors-lighted his pipe and sauntered down the hill toward the devilish thing of canvas and wire that had brought her here. He knew nothing of ar

nt-box and moved slowly up the hill toward the house, his mind protestingly adjusting itself to the situation. What was he to do with this surprising female until the boat arrived. Common decency demanded hospitality, and of course he must give it to her, his bed, his food, his time. That

autiously peered around the jamb of the door to find his unwelcome guest sitting on the edge of the bed smoking a

sked at last, for the

es, th

ked her cigarette

ou going?" h

to bre

ossi

hy

re no

yes I

s, you

y n

plane-it

glanced anxiously down the slop

is broken,

lowing. She stood before the broken

?" he

It will have to be repai

smi

I'm afraid you'll have to trust

toward hi

u m

ans of communication

rsd

her blue eyes were q

an't m

the

Does no one come her

be interrupted-" And hastily: "Of course, I'm glad to be of

my own volition." And then, as though aware of her discourtesy, she turned

ng left for me then but t

he brought out a wicker ch

ke yourself comfortable, I'll see

er curiosity. Last night after her guests had gone to bed she had sat alone for a long while on the porch which overlooked the bay, unconsciously surveying with her eye the water which separated Thimble Island from the mainland. But it was a mad impulse that had sent her over the sea this morning, a madder impulse that had sent her to Thimble Island of all places, upon which she had descended with an audacity and a recklessness which surprised even herself. She realized that a while ago she had lied glibly to Markham about her mishap. Her Bleriot had not missed fire. From the perch of her lofty reconn

ation of distance and the projecting branch of the tree which had been her undoing. She found it difficult to scorn the proffers of help of a man who helped without proffering. It was impossible to snub a man for taking advantage of a slight acquaintance when he refused to remember that such an acquaintance had ever exis

unished by being put alone in a corner. She listened to his footsteps within, the clattering of dishes, the tinkle of table servi