"By the way, Mr. Highwood," said Jermyn, with the idea that he might get some clue to the course of the letter, "I ought to tell you that your daughter is flirting most outrageously with one of the finest gentlemen at the Point. He is a retired admiral--Allison--perhaps you may have heard his name?" "Heard of him?" echoed Phil; "all Americans are proud of him. That isn't all; he acted as Trixy's amanuensis a day or two ago, and I suspect that some of the funny things in the letter which I received were devised by him; I've played that trick myself with Trixy's missives at times." "Possibly you are right," was the reply, "for he is as full of fun as any one I know." "Perhaps the Admiral was the artist who drew that sketch?" Phil suggested. "H'm! No, I think not. I know his style." "Would you mind asking him on your return?" persisted Phil. "Not in the least. I probably shall see him to-morrow night, and----" "What! Is he, too, coming to New York?" "Oh, no. He had intended to come, but I came instead." "But how can you see him to-morrow night?" "Easily. I shall take the morning train, which will get me to the fort by nine o'clock, at the latest." "Excuse me, but didn't I understand you to say that you would be here several days?" "Er--I had intended to remain several days, but I've had the bad manners to think occasionally about business while we've been talking, and something has come to mind which will compel my return at once. 'Tis a mean thing to admit, but greatly though I've enjoyed meeting you here--and I assure you that I never in my life met any one more gladly--my personal business, which brought me here, has persisted in popping into my head. I left the fort in great haste--so great that I left some of the threads of my business behind me." Phil Highwood was a gentleman, so he detested any one who pried into the private affairs of others, but for a moment he wished himself a mind-reader, or hypnotist, or something of the sort. Meanwhile, Jermyn, who felt that he must be alone, said: "Won't you honor me with some message to your family?" "Tell my wife to write me who drew that sketch, please?" The two men separated, and Jermyn hurried up Broadway, feeling younger than he had at any time in the last ten years. CHAPTER XIII. A PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. During his trip from Washington back to Old Point, the Admiral promised himself several times that he never again would endeavor to complete a letter begun by any other person. He also resolved that, on reaching the hotel, he would make a full and frank explanation to Mrs. Highwood, and would offer to make reparation, so far as was in his power, by acting as an ally in the lady's campaign to effect the capture of Kate and Jermyn by each other. He had done some discreet match-making in his time, so he felt justified in assuring Trif that there were ways in which he might be useful.