that the electrician seemed a trifle embarrassed when Miss Preston came
into the room, but as the young lady was not embarrassed in the least,
and had apparently forgotten the mistaken-identity incident, his
nervousness soon wore off.

But it came back again when Captain Eri said:

"Oh, I say, Mr. Hazeltine, I forgot to ask you, did 'Gusty come
yesterday?"

Ralph answered, rather hurriedly, that she did not. He endeavored to
change the subject, but the Captain wouldn't let him.

"Well, there!" he exclaimed amazedly; "if 'Gusty ain't broke her record!
Fust time sence Perez was took with the 'Naval Commander' disease that
she ain't been on hand when the month was up, to git her two dollars.
Got so we sort of reckoned by her like an almanac. Kind of thought she
was sure, like death and taxes. And now she has gone back on us. Blessed
if I ain't disapp'inted in 'Gusty!"

"Who is she?" inquired Mrs. Snow. "One of those book-agent critters?"

"Well, if you called her that to her face, I expect there'd be squalls,
but I cal'late she couldn't prove a alibi in court."

Now it may have been Mr. Hazeltine's fancy, but he could have sworn that
there was just the suspicion of a twinkle in Miss Preston's eye as she
asked, innocently enough:

"Is she a young lady, Captain Eri?"