His toilet was completed, and Pearl was redding up the front room while Cap'n Jonah was sitting around in his best suit in honor of the new quarters, when he saw from the window a small figure approaching briskly up the lane. "Here's Miss Sue," he observed. "She certainly is a spankin' craft. Ha! She's comin' to our side door." He went out into the hall as the doctor's sister tapped. Her smiling face greeted him like a dewy rose. "I am glad to see you stirring, Cap'n Hand," she said. "Can I see Pearl?" "You can, ma'am," agreed Cap'n Jonah, making his bow with a flourish. "Come right into my cabin, ma'am." "I want Pearl to help us decorate the chapel with the Christmas greens when they come next week," Miss Sue said, stepping into the hall. From kitchenward appeared the apprehensive Sarah, a portentous frown upon her brow. "Mornin', Miss Sue," she said harshly. "I don't see how I can spare Pearly. I expec' comp'ny, and we shall be up to our ears after they go, cleanin' after 'em." "You come right in this way, Miss Sue," interrupted Cap'n Jonah. "Pearl's in my cabin an' she can speak for herself. I reckon, Sarah, you can spare her for one-two hours; and the child'll like it, I haven't a doubt." Sarah, struck with amazement, for once failed to dominate the situation. She saw Miss Sue enter the front room and herself shut out by the captain before she could recover her aplomb. Cap'n Jonah certainly was carrying things with a high hand! The person who had prophetically suggested that he would be able to do just this, if the Pettys once believed him wealthy, chanced to approach the house a few minutes later. It was just twenty-four hours since Perry Baker had stopped at 'Liphalet Truitt's house with the steel strong box from the Paulmouth National Bank in his wagon. 'Liphalet was unable to smother his curiosity longer, and was wishful of talking the matter over with Cap'n Jonah. Although he had not been present when the plot was actually laid by Cap'n Jonah and the storekeeper, 'Liphalet was fully aware of the particulars. Cap'n Abe, whose influence with the bank officials was considerable, had arranged for the sending over of the steel chest in the expressman's care. The "securities" Cap'n Jonah had shown the easily gulled Tom Petty were for the most part supplied by the same bank officer who sent the box, and who had amused himself by making a large collection of such worthless and gaudy papers. Such evidences of the gullibility and cupidity of human nature often come into the hands of bankers in perfectly legitimate ways. 'Liphalet desired mightily to know how the conspiracy was coming on. The ex-steward might be "on the outs" with most of his neighbors; but his interest in Cap'n Jonah's affairs had not waned. He came smartly up the lane and started across the yard to ask for his crony at the back door, when he chanced to see that the shades of the parlor windows were raised half way.