his friend.

"I suppose we couldn't leave it alone? Is it our business after
all?"

"If we don't act we become accessories, and besides we leave that
girl to fight her own battles."

Merriman clenched his fists and once more silence reigned. Presently
he spoke again:

"You had something in your mind?"

"I think we must do one of two things. Either continue our
investigations until we learn what is going on, or else clear out
and tell the police what we have learned."

Merriman made a gesture of dissent.

"Not that, not that," he cried. "Anything rather than the police."

Hilliard gazed vacantly on the long line of the coast.

"Look here, old man," he said, "Wouldn't it be better if we discussed
this thing quite directly? Don't think I mean to be impertinent -
God knows I don't - but am I not right in thinking you want to save
Miss Coburn all annoyance, and her father also, for her sake?"

"We needn't talk about it again," Merriman said in a hard voice,
looking intently at the stem of the mast, "but if it's necessary to