This was the second time Paul had spoken of Jack Percy to Elithe, who had listened with a good deal of interest to his description of the Ralston House, and had experienced a kind of weird, uncanny feeling as she thought of the smugglers’ room where one could hide from justice. Paul never seemed to tire of talking of the house, which he said had been made over with a tower and bow windows and balconies until the old sea captain would never recognize it if he were to come sailing back some day in his ship. The big chimney was left, he told her, and built round it in the roof was a platform inclosed by a high balustrade, with seats where one could sit and look out on the water, and where the smuggler captain’s men used to watch for the first sight of the Vulture, as it came slowly into the harbor at Still Haven, with the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes floating from the masthead if their services were wanted that night, and only the Stars and Stripes if there was nothing to conceal. “You can see the top of our house with the look-out on the roof among the trees as we get near Oak City. I’ll show it to you,” he said. They were now moving slowly into the Basin, on the long pier of which a group of people were waiting. “Hello! There’s Clarice! I didn’t really believe she’d be here,” Paul exclaimed. “Excuse me, please,” and he hurried away, leaving Elithe alone. Her first impulse was to go below and see that her trunk was not carried on shore by mistake. Then, reflecting that she could watch from the boat and give the alarm in time if necessary, she kept her seat and watched the passengers as they came on board. There were several ladies and among them a tall, queenly looking girl, waving first her red parasol and then kissing her hand to some one on the boat. Everything about her dress was in perfect taste and the latest style, especially the sleeves, which were as large as the fashion would admit. At these Elithe looked admiringly, thinking with a pang of her small ones which Miss Tibbs had declared “big enough for anybody.” They were not half as big as those of the young lady in the gray dress, Eton jacket and pretty shirt waist, looking as fresh and cool as if no ray of the hot sun or particle of dust had fallen upon her since she left Boston in her new toilet. Elithe wondered who she was and if she wasn’t one of the few _swells_ who frequented Oak City and if Paul Ralston knew her. If so she might possibly know her in time. He had been so very kind and friendly that he would surely come to see her and bring his acquaintances. A moment later she heard his voice as he came out upon the deck, and with him the _swell_ young lady to whom he was talking, with his face lighted up and the smile upon it which she had thought so attractive.