Johnny, animated by a sudden aggressiveness, clasped it tightly and
held it--captive--up to view.

At that interesting moment another sharp turn in the canal brought
them face to face with an approaching boat in which were Paul
Gresham and Jim Collaton!

"I said it was a girl," charged Collaton, studying the green pallor
of Gresham's face with wondering interest as they stepped out into
the glare of the million electric bulbs.

"That is not a topic for you to discuss," returned Gresham, looking
up the brilliantly lighted board walk around the bend of which
Johnny Gamble, with Constance on one arm and Winnie on the other,
was gaily following Polly, that young lady being escorted by the
attentive Loring and the submissive Sammy.

"That's what you said before," retorted Collaton, his eyebrows and
lashes even more invisible in this illumination than in broad day-
light. "It's time, though, for a showdown. You drag me into dark
corners and talk over schemes to throw the hooks into Johnny Gamble-
-and I tell you I'm afraid of him!"

"You're mistaken," asserted Gresham dryly. "It was I who told you
that you were afraid of him."

"I admitted it all right," sulkily answered Collaton. "He's awake
now, I tell you; and he's not a safe man to fool with. He turned our
last trick against us, and that's enough hint for me."