His parents were worthless, dissolute characters, who lived on the sands north of the village, where a low community of squatters and fishermen resided. Tim had been twice in jail for stealing, and was avoided by all respectable boys in Millville. Unconscious of the discovery his enemy had made, Dean Mercer walked with rapid steps in the direction of the more attractive portion of the town, where the better class of dwellings were to be found. One of the finest of these was the residence of Judge Oglesby, and hither he was shaping his course. He soon came in sight of the well-kept grounds with groves of maples and birches, under whose cooling shade a brawling stream ran zigzag across one corner. The owner of this beautiful estate had left its surroundings in their natural state, as far as it had been possible without sacrificing his convenience. The concrete driveway ran under an iron arch hung with electric lights of different colors and supported by two massive stone posts. A pair of huge stone dogs, as if on guard duty, crouched near the entrance to the magnificent retreat inside. A bright boy of a dozen years was astride of one of these mute sentinels as Dean approached, while a pretty miss of fifteen, his sister, was warning him against falling from his perch. At sight of the newcomer, the active youngster called out with boyish friendliness that put to rout all pretension to polite manners: “Hello, Dean! Papa is waiting for you.” Nodding to the youthful speaker, Dean bowed courteously to the sister, as he met her gaze with a look of admiration. “Yes; you will find papa in the library, Dean,” she said, with a smile of welcome. “He told me to tell you to come right in, though he has company. He is such a strange-looking and acting man, too.” “Indeed, Miss Eva. Did you learn his name?” “No; but papa said he was a fine sailor. He looks and acts more like a big brown bear. And don’t you think instead of ringing the door bell----” “He yelled like a pirate to the servants: ‘Avast there, you lubbers! Ship ahoy!’” broke in the boy, with enthusiasm. “Do be still, Manly,” admonished his sister. “What is the mystery of all this, Dean?” she asked. “I am sure you know, for papa hinted that he had enlisted you in some new enterprise of his.” “And he also pledged me to secrecy, Miss Eva. If you will watch the lake a few days, I think you will discover the key to the mystery.” As she did not seem inclined to reply to this, Dean continued his approach to the fine residence of his wealthy friend. The owner must have been watching for him, as he met him at the door and ushered him into his spacious library without delay. “I am glad to see you, Dean. There is an important matter of which I wish to speak, and besides, I wish to introduce you to the captain of the _Spray_, who is just now in the dining room doing justice to the viands spread before him. You have notified Mr. Montague of your intentions?”