“I’m so glad to know that you are stationed at Fort Dale,” greeted Elaine.  “I hope it will be for all summer.”

“I can’t say how long it will be, but I shall make every effort to make it all summer,” he replied gallantly.  “Let me present my friend, Professor Arnold.”

The professor bowed low and unprofessionally over Elaine’s hand and a moment later followed Woodward out into the next room as the other guests arrived to be greeted by Elaine.  For a moment, however, she looked after him curiously.  Once she started to follow as though to speak to him.  Just then, however, Del Mar entered.

“Good evening,” he interrupted, suavely.

He stood for a moment with Elaine and talked.

One doorway in the house was draped and a tent had been erected in the room.  Over the door was a sign which read:  “The past and the future are an open book to Ancient Anna.”  There Aunt Josephine held forth in a most effective disguise as a fortune teller.

Aunt Josephine had always had a curious desire to play the old hag in amateur dramatics and now she had gratified her desire to the utmost.  Probably none of the guests knew that Ancient Anna was in reality Elaine’s guardian.

Elaine being otherwise occupied, I had selected one of the prettiest of the girls and we were strolling through the house, seeking a quiet spot for a chat.

“Why don’t you have your fortune told by Ancient Anna?” laughed my companion as we approached the tent.

“Do you tell a good fortune reasonably?” I joked, entering.

“Only the true fortunes, young man,” returned Ancient Anna severely, starting in to read my palm.  “You are very much in love,” she went on, “but the lady is not in this tent.”

Very much embarrassed, I pulled my hand away.

“How shocking!” mocked my companion, making believe to be very much annoyed.  “I don’t think I’ll have my fortune told,” she decided as we left the room.

We sauntered along to the veranda where another friend claimed my companion for a dance which she had promised.  As I strolled on alone, Del Mar and Elaine were already finishing a dance.  He left her a moment later and I hurried over, glad of the opportunity to see her at last.

Del Mar made his way alone among the guests and passed Aunt Josephine disguised as the old hag seated before her tent.  Just then a waiter came through with a tray of ices.  As he passed, Del Mar stopped him, reached out and took an ice.

Under the ice, as he had known, was a note.  He took the note surreptitiously, turned and presented the ice to Ancient Anna with a bow.

“Thank you, kind sir,” she curtsied, taking it.

Del Mar stepped aside and glanced at the little slip of paper.  Then he crumpled it up and threw it aside, walking away.

No sooner had he gone than Aunt Josephine reached out and picked up the paper.  She straightened it and looked at it.  There was nothing on the paper but a crude drawing of a sunrise on the ocean.