“He’s here fast enough,” was I. Tapp’s ungracious rejoinder.  “I supposed he’d come over to see you.”

“Perhaps he has,” she returned wickedly.  “He is a very faithful knight.”

“He’s a perfect ninny, if that’s what you mean,” snapped the Taffy King.  “He’s made a fool of me, too.  I shouldn’t wonder if he knew this all along,” and he shook the letter in his hand and scowled.

“You arouse my curiosity,” Louise said.  “I hope Lawford has done nothing more to cause you vexation.”

“I don’t know whether he has or not.  The young upstart!  I feel like punching him one minute, and then the next I’ve got to take off my hat to him, Miss Grayling.  D’you know what he’s done?”

“Something really fine, I hope.  I do not think you wholly appreciate Lawford, Mr. Tapp,” the girl told him firmly.

“Ha!  No.  I s’pose he’s got to go outside his immediate family to be appreciated,” he snarled.

But at that Louise merely laughed.  “You don’t tell me what he has done,” she urged.

“Why, the young rascal’s solved a problem in mechanics that has puzzled us candy makers for years.  I’m having a new cutting machine built after his suggestions.”

“I hope Lawford will be properly reimbursed for his idea,” she interrupted.  “You know, he and I are going to need the money.”

“Ha!” snorted I. Tapp again.  “Ford’s no fool, it seems, when it comes to a contract.  He’s got me tied hard and fast to a royalty agreement and a lump sum down if the machine works the way he says it will.”

“I’m so glad!” cried Louise.

“You are, eh?  What for?”

“Because we need not wait so long to be married,” she frankly told him.

I. Tapp stood squarely in the path and looked at her.

“So you are going to marry him, whether I agree or not?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Right in my very teeth?”

“I—­I hope you won’t be very angry, Mr. Tapp,” Louise said softly.  “You see—­we love each other.”

“Love!” began I. Tapp.  Then he stopped, turning the thick letter over and over in his hand.  “Well!” and he actually blew a sigh.  “Perhaps there is something in that.  Seems to be.  I set my heart on having my fortune and my partner’s joined by Ford and Dot Johnson—­and see what’s come of it.”

He suddenly thrust the missive into Louise’s hand.

“Look at that!”

With a growing suspicion of what it meant she opened the outer envelope and then the inner one, drawing out the engraved inclosure.  Before she could speak a commotion along the beach drew their attention.

“What can it be?” Louise cried.  “The lifesavers!”

“And their gear—­lifeboat and all,” Mr. Tapp agreed.  “Must be a wreck——­”

His gaze swept the sea and he seized Louise’s arm.  “There!  Don’t you see her?  A vessel in distress sure enough.  She’s drifting in upon Gull Rocks.  Bad business, Miss Grayling.”