minded missin' it, that's what we minded."

"Well, you won't miss it any more. Now help me put these things back in
the safe and we'll go home. Yes, home! Tomorrow morning--this morning,
I mean--we'll talk and I'll tell you some of my plans. Oh, yes! I
have plans and I am in hopes they may do great things for Hamilton and
Company. But no more talk tonight. Remember, the skipper is back on
board!"

So to the house they went and to bed, the Captain and Mr. Hamilton under
protest.




CHAPTER XX


Neither Mary nor the Captain nor Mr. Hamilton slept much of the few
hours until daylight, and Captain Shadrach, who was devoured with
curiosity concerning the plans, would have asked particulars before
breakfast, but Mary would not listen to questions. It was not until
breakfast was over and they were back in the store that she consented to
discuss the subject.

The safe was reopened and the books and papers spread out upon the desk.
Mary took up one of the sheets of paper; it was covered with rows of
figures in her handwriting.

"Now," she said, "it seems to me that the first thing is to find out