The girl’s hands trembled slightly as she took the paper, and ran her eyes rapidly over the article.  Her face turned somewhat pale as she read, and her heart beat fast.  It was not the first time that the seriousness of the situation had come into her mind.  But she had always excused herself by the justness of her cause.  Any girl with the least spark of spirit would do the same, she reasoned.  Her parents had no right to force her to marry a man she hated.  But the thought of the men searching for her body was horrible.  What would the papers say if the truth became known, as it surely would in time?  She was much relieved, however, to learn that no one suspected that she was alive, not even her parents.  Anyway, she had taken matters into her own hands, and she did not intend to turn back now.  She longed to speak to the captain alone, and this opportunity was soon afforded when Mrs. Tobin took Mrs. Hampton into the garden to show her some special flowers.  Thus the captain and Jess were left together for a few minutes.

“Oh, Captain, I want to thank you for your kindness,” the girl impetuously began.  “I was almost frightened out of my senses when I saw you last night.”

“So I looked as bad as all that, did I?” The captain chuckled as he looked at his fair visitor.  “No, Miss, I wouldn’t give ye away.  But I was afraid that Martha might pump the secret out of ye.”

“And you will keep the secret, won’t you?” the girl pleaded.  “You will not tell anyone, not even your wife?”

“I’ll try to, Miss,” and the captain sighed.  “But Eben knows, and I’m expectin’ him home shortly.  How did ye git that cut on yer head?” he suddenly asked.

“Why, don’t you know?” and Jess looked her surprise.  “A stone came through the window as John and I were sitting by that injured man at the quarry.”

“But who threw the stone?”

“I have not the least idea.  John wanted to have a search made at the quarry in order to find the one who did it.  But I would not let him.  I was afraid it would make too much talk, and it might get into the papers.”

“D’ye intend to stay here, Miss?” the captain asked.  “Yer dad’s sure to know of yer whereabouts, even though ye call yerself Betty Bean.  How in time did ye think of sich a name as that?”

Jess laughed, although her eyes expressed anxiety.

“I am afraid I cannot stay here long, Captain.  But I wish I could. 
Mrs. Hampton seems just like my own mother, she is so kind and loving. 
Perhaps you will take me again on your boat.  That is the safest place
I can think of now.”

“I guess ye wouldn’t find it very safe thar, Miss.  It served as a refuge fer a time, but please don’t try it on agin, unless ye want to git me into trouble.”

Jess smiled, more at the peculiar expression on the captain’s face than at his words of warning.  She understood perfectly well what he meant, for she had met his wife.  For a few seconds there was silence.  Then the captain looked into the bright face before him, and his eyes twinkled.