He ignored all of us but the P.T.S., who turned and saw him, and went straight into his arms in the most unmaidenly fashion.

“By Heaven,” he said, “I thought that elderly lunatic had taken you off and killed you!”

He kissed her quite frantically before all of us; and then, with one arm round her, he confronted Tish.

“I’m through!” he said.  “I’m done!  There isn’t a salary in the world that will make me stay within gunshot of you another day.”  He eyed her fiercely.  “You are a dangerous woman, madam,” he said.  “I’m going to bring a charge against you for abduction and assault with intent to kill.  And if there’s any proof needed I’ll show my canoe, full of water to the gunwale.”

Here he kissed the girl again.

“You—­you know her?” gasped Mr. McDonald, and dropped on a tree-trunk, as though he were too weak to stand.

“It looks like it, doesn’t it?”

Here I happened to glance at Hutchins, and she was convulsed with mirth!  Tish saw her, too, and glared at her; but she seemed to get worse.  Then, without the slightest warning, she walked round the camp-fire and kissed Mr. McDonald solemnly on the top of his head.

“I give it up!” she said.  “Somebody will have to marry you and take care of you.  I’d better be the person.”

* * * * *

“But why was the detective watching Hutchins?” said Charlie Sands.  “Was it because he had heard of my Aunt Letitia’s reckless nature?  I am still bewildered.”

“You remember the night we got the worms?”

“I see.  The detective was watching all of you because you stole the worms.”

“Stole nothing!” Tish snapped.  “That’s the girl’s house.  She’s the Miss Newcomb you read about in the papers.  Now do you understand?”

“Certainly I do.  She was a fugitive from justice because the cat found dynamite in the woods.  Or—­perhaps I’m a trifle confused, but—­Now I have it!  She had stolen a gold-mounted traveling-bag and given it to McDonald.  Lucky chap!  I was crazy about Hutchins myself.  You might tip her the word that I’m badly off for a traveling-case myself.  But what about the P.T.S.?  How did she happen on the scene?”

“She was engaged to the detective, and she was camping down the river.  He had sent her word where he was.  The red flag was to help her find him.”

Tish knows Charlie Sands, so she let him talk.  Then:—­

“Mr. McDonald was too wealthy, Charlie,” she said; “so when she wanted him to work and be useful, and he refused, she ran off and got a situation herself to teach him a lesson.  She could drive a car.  But her people heard about it, and that wretched detective was responsible for her safety.  That’s why he followed her about.”

“I should like to follow her about myself,” said Charlie Sands.  “Do you think she’s unalterably decided to take McDonald, money and all?  He’s still an idler.  Lend me your car, Aunt Tish.  There’s a theory there; and—­who knows?”