"When I first read the story in the paper," thus Pendleton, "the fellow was still in the house. He was talking to my daughter in the drawing-room--a very gentlemanly, attractive sort of fellow you understand..." "So I understand," said Danner, glancing sidelong at Pen. "But there was something in his eye...!" Pen could not stand for this. "Why, father," she protested with as good-natured and offhand a smile as she could muster, "be fair! You never discovered that 'something' until you read the paper." "You are wrong, my dear. From the first I was aware of a curious prejudice against him. But of course I could not let it show while he was our guest." Pen smiling at whatever cost, let it go. "Where was I?" asked Pendleton. Danner prompted: "He was in the drawing-room." "Oh yes! For the moment I was at a loss. Frightfully awkward situation. By the time I had resolved on a course of action he had left the house _without bidding me good-night!_" "Without bidding you good-night!" echoed Danner. "Without bidding me good-night!" Danner turned to Pen. "Why do you suppose he didn't say good-night to your father?" "I don't know," said Pen carelessly. "I suppose he forgot." "Perhaps he had a glimpse of the newspaper?" "He couldn't see my father from where he was." "Did he seem agitated?" "Not in the least." "What did you do then?" Danner asked Pendleton. "My first plan was to get the lighthouse keeper to help me apprehend the fellow. But as I was setting out from the house my daughter had a sudden attack..." Danner had the grace not to look at Pen, but she was aware of his sharp spring to attention. "And as I was obliged to go to the Island for the doctor I decided to let him help me. But when we got back the fellow had struck his tent and pushed off." "That taken in connection with his failure to bid you good-night..." suggested Danner. "Exactly!" said Pendleton. Pen felt she would scream if she were obliged to listen to any more of this. Making believe to discover an errand in the kitchen, she left the room. When she came back Danner asked with hypocritical solicitude: "Are you quite well again this morning?" "Perfectly," said Pen. Useless to expect anything from Danner. Though he was clearly sensible to Pen's charm, the story was everything to him, and his nostrils were quivering now on the scent of a story much more dramatic than he had expected. Pendleton went on: "Doctor Hance is coming back in a motor-boat this morning, and we will search the bay shore.... We have an idea of the direction he took," he added mysteriously. "Wish you luck," said Danner. "We had a message from New York last night that a reward of five thousand dollars had been offered for Counsell's capture." He looked at Pen as he said it. She kept her eyes down, and rested her hands on the edge of the table that they might not shake. "What!" cried Pendleton. "Well! ... that lets me out then. No business for a gentleman, of course."