"Of a certain other lady?" appended his friend with perfect coolness. "I don't blame you for wondering about her. But never mind now. I want to tell you about my wedding. It was unique in the history of the Chesapeake, I promise you." His laugh had a ring of heartiness that surprised his listener. "Tom," he went on, "I'll be frank with you. I've been in more than one crooked path in my time, but I'm through with that sort of thing. Thank Heaven!" The other's amazement found expression. "I swear I don't know you. What's come over you?" "Love," said Danton simply. "Madge's love, and all that it means. She says she has told you of that tearing down the flag matter last year. That proved to me and to her that I owned _her_--I'd known for a long time that she owned _me_, you understand--but after that affair she sent me away, and I, in revenge, went after--I was a cad, I know. Well, I hope I'll never be again." "About your wedding, old man?" "I'm coming to that--and I'll skip the long story between. Last Saturday, after Madge met you and Betty on the road, she galloped to Sandywood Station, and sent me a reply to the wire I'd sent you." "A bit cool, that." "I've got it my pocket now. Here!" He read the bluish slip, smiling faintly the while. CHARLES DANTON The Club, Baltimore. Impossible to come, but understand. She promises to be _West Wind_ eight o'clock Sunday night, ready. "Hum! What did that mean?" "It meant that I thought I understood. I thought that you had discovered the--the Other Lady, in the farmhouse where she was hiding from me. I believed she'd told you to tell me she was ready--at last. I'd had the _Wisp_ stored for that very reason, you know, and then shifted to the _West Wind_ because it was larger and more seaworthy, in case _she_ wanted to go right across to Gibraltar." "Was it as near a thing as that?" "No matter now. The result of the telegram was that I was at Polocoke landing and aboard the _West Wind_ by eight o'clock Sunday night. I give you my word I never dreamed of a trick--who would?" "I don't see----" "You will in a moment. My skipper, Williams, met me as I came aboard. 'She's below, sir,' he said, 'and gave orders we were to put to sea just as soon as you turned up.' Faithful soul! He didn't know he'd been tricked either--doesn't know it yet, for that matter. He'd run away with the Queen of India if he thought I wanted it done. 'Right,' I told him. 'Shove off, and go full speed as soon as you're clear.' With that, I dived down into the main cabin. She wasn't there, and I looked into my stateroom. I couldn't see her there either, so I stepped to the inner stateroom--the two connect, you understand--where I thought she must be."