"I presume she told the same story to you that she did to me," pursued Elder Minnett. "I do not understand Tunis Latham's part in it, but the rest of her story seems quite reasonable." "Reasonable?" repeated Prudence, with some warmth. "Do you call it reasonable to say what she did about Ida May?" "In speaking of the young woman's reasonableness I mean in regard to the personal details she gave me. What she said in her anger to, or of, other people has no influence whatsoever on my judgment." "Well, it has on mine!" exclaimed Cap'n Ira. "I'd have drove out a dozen gals that spoke as she did to Prudence and Ida May--crazy or not!" "You would be wrong, Cap'n Ball," said the elder severely. "Well, let's have the p'ints the girl makes!" growled the old shipmaster. "I will listen to 'em." Elder Minnett bowed formally and began Ida May's story, checking off the several assertions she had made when she was at the Ball house far more clearly than the girl herself had done. As Sheila listened, her heart sank even lower. It was so very reasonable! How could the Balls fail to be impressed? But Cap'n Ira and Prudence listened with more of a puzzled expression in their countenances than anything else. It seemed altogether wild and improbable to them. Why! There sat Ida May before them. There could not be two Ida May Bostwicks! "Say!" exclaimed Cap'n Ira suddenly, after Elder Minnett had concluded, "that girl says she worked at Hoskin & Marl's?" "Yes." "Why, ain't that where you worked, Ida May?" "Yes," was Sheila's faint admission. "You never see her there, did you?" "I do not remember of having seen her until she came here," the girl said quite truthfully. "Ought to be some way of proving up that," muttered Cap'n Ira. "I have written to Hoskin & Marl, at the other young woman's instigation, and have asked about her," said Elder Minnett. "Well, I never!" gasped Prudence, and her withered, old face grew pink. "I hope you will not take offense," said the visitor evenly. "You must understand that the young woman has come to me in trouble, and it is my duty to aid her if I can--in any proper way. That is my office. _Any_ young woman"--he looked directly at Sheila again as he said it--"will find in me an adviser and a friend whenever she may need my help." "We all know how good you are, Elder Minnett," Prudence hastened to say. "But that girl--" "That girl," he interrupted, "is a human being needing help. I have advised her. Now I want to advise you." "Out with it, Elder," said Cap'n Ira. "Good advice ain't to be sneezed at--not as I ever heard." "I have the other young woman's promise that she will tell her story to nobody else--nobody at all--until I can hear from those whom she says are her employers. But with the understanding that you will do your part." "What's that?" asked Cap'n Ira quickly.