"Who's there?" sang out a boyish voice within.

"Tush, tush, Tony! Wait till I come," said Simes from his little bedroom
at one side of the kitchen. He was off duty, Jotham Grimes having gone to
the light-house. "It may be some sailor who wants me," added Simes. Mr.
Walton, having heard a boy's voice, concluded its owner must still be at
the door, and he announced his errand.

"It's rather late to call, but I wanted to know if you wouldn't like to
come into our Sunday-school?"

"No, your old Sunday-school may go to the bottom of the sea," was the
gruff reply of the disappointed Simes, who did not know his caller.

Mr. Walton felt that it might be prudent at that hour to withdraw, but he
did not relinquish his intention to secure Tony; and Tony finally came to
school.

The boy exceedingly interested the minister. "Where have I seen that
face?" asked Mr. Walton, and with bowed head he sat in his study brooding
over the problem, looking intently down as if trying to make out a pearl
at the bottom of the sea.




CHAPTER IV.

THE PAMMERRAMMER.