"And I don't wish to stop and listen to you." "You would if you knew all I had to tell." "Well, as I don't know all you've got to tell, and as I don't desire to listen to you, I'll bid you good-night." "You always were down on me, Renie, but I'm a friend of your'n arter all, and I've collared the secret of your life, and I'd tell it to you, only you're so darn uppish when I go to speak to you." The detective saw the girl advance toward the rough-looking man, and overheard her say: "You know the secret of my life?" "Yes." "What secret is there of my life?" "Tom Pearce is not your daddy, but I know how you came to be his adopted child." The girl trembled from head to foot. "Sol Burton, tell me all you know." "Ah! you will listen to me, my pretty bird?" "Yes, I will." CHAPTER II. The man chuckled as he said: "I thought you would listen to me when I let on what I know'd." "Tell me the secret!" commanded the girl. "Oh, yes, Renie! but I've a condition." "A condition? What condition would you exact?" "You must become my wife. There, the thing's out; so now, what have you got to say?" "I say, no!" "That's your decision?" "That's my decision." "Be careful, gal. I only asked you to marry a me to give you a chance; remember you're nobody's child, and I've hooked on to the secret." "You're a mean man, Sol Burton, to threaten me!" "Well, the fact is, Renie, I like you! I'm dead in love with you, and I'm willing to marry yer, and that's more than most of the fellows round here would do, knowing all I know." "Good-night, Sol Burton, I'll not stop to talk with you, nor will I tell my father that you said insulting words to me." "What do you suppose I care about Tom Pearce? I can whisper a few words in his ear that will take some of the starch out of him! He's been mighty uppish about you, although he's let you run round the beach barefoot these sixteen years." "Go talk to Tom Pearce, and do not be the coward to repeat your threats to me!" The girl started to move away, when the man suddenly leaped forward and grasped her in his arms, but the same instant he received a blow which sent him reeling, as the girl was snatched from his rude grasp. A curse fell from the man's lips, and he arose to his feet and advanced toward the man who had struck him. "Run home, little girl!" whispered the detective; "I will take care of this brute!" "Thank you!" said the girl, and she glided away along the beach. "See here, you're the man who struck me?" "Yes; I'm the man." "I think I've seen you before." "I think we've met before." "What did you hit me for?" "I struck you because you put your hands rudely upon the girl." "Yer did, eh?" "Yes." The man leaned toward the detective with the remark: "Well, it's my turn now!" And his turn it proved to be, as he received a rap, which caused him to turn clean over.