Hal Hastings's first impulse was to accept the offer of the car. Yet
Mlle. Nadiboff's acting was so perfect, her air so unconcerned save for
mild curiosity, that any suspicion Hal may have felt for a second or two
was quickly banished.

"No, though I thank you, Mademoiselle," he replied. "Captain Benson
will doubtless be here before we could make a fair start."

Nodding pleasantly, the Russian vanished through the ladies' entrance.
Hal went back to his companions.

"Say," broke in Eph, presently, "if she left Jack to go several miles
for her luncheon, she got it and returned mighty quick."

"Probably used a woman's privilege, and changed her mind about driving
to that other hotel," suggested Mr. Farnum.

For some minutes more the party waited, then went down into the road,
but there was no sign of Jack coming along.

"Mighty strange!" muttered Hal, uneasily. "Well, we've got to aboard,
now," announced Jacob Farnum, after glancing at his watch. "Sorry
we can't very well invite you to go with us, Mr. Hennessy."

"I shall see you, if you come ashore in the evening," replied the
reporter. "In the meantime I shall be about the hotel. If I see
Benson, I'll tell him where you all are."

Being well provided with cigars, Reporter Hennessy did not quit the
veranda after he had once taken his seat there. So it happened that