Part 31 (1/2)

What would he expect her to do? To admit the truth of Ida May's claim and give up without a battle? If she did this, she would expose him as well as herself to infamy. It was a situation that would have appalled a person of much stronger character than Sheila Macklin, and she was no weakling.

No! She could not give up--not without a struggle. As she had first decided, she must confront the new girl boldly and deny, if she could, any claim Ida May Bostwick put forward. She must do this for Tunis even more than for herself.

She arose determinedly. With this thought, strength surged back into her limbs as well as into her mind. For a time she had been weak, undecided. Once more she gathered her energies to oppose the sea of adversity which threatened to overwhelm her.

She crossed the hall and opened the sitting room door. Cap'n Ira sat in his usual chair, leaning forward, with his hands clasped over the k.n.o.b of his cane. Prudence, with a wondering look on her face, sat beside him, and just as far from the new girl as the length of the room would allow. The latter had been speaking with her usual vehemence, and she did not even glance at Sheila when the latter came quietly into the room.

”Oh, Ida May!” gasped Prudence, and almost ran to her. ”Do you know what she is saying? I never heard of such a thing!”

”I tell you she _ain't_ Ida Bostwick,” cried the other. ”Don't you dare call her that. I'll--”

”Hoity-toity, young woman! Avast there!” said the captain gruffly.

”We won't get to the rights of this by quarreling. Wait!”

He looked at Sheila, and his weatherhued countenance was as kindly of expression as usual.

”You know what this young woman says?” he asked.

Sheila nodded, but she held Prudence closely. The old woman was sobbing.

”This won't do, you know,” said Cap'n Ira. ”I swan! It beats my time. I expect you've got friends somewhere, young woman, and you ought to be given into their charge. I'm real sorry for you, but what you say don't sound sensible. Ain't you made a mistake? I cal'late you heard about us and Ida May--”

”I tell you,” cried the girl, starting to her feet again, the brown eyes flas.h.i.+ng spitefully, ”that that thing there is an impostor.

She's got my place. She's took my name. Why, I'll--I'll have her arrested. Ain't there no police in this awful place?”

”There's a constable all right,” said Cap'n Ira calmly. ”But I wouldn't want to call him in. Not just now, anyway. It looks to me you wanted a doctor more than you wanted a constable.”

”You think I'm crazy!” gasped Ida May.

”Well, it looks as though you was a leetle off your course,” the old man told her calmly. ”You don't talk with sense, to say the least.

Making the claim you do would make most anybody think you was a little flighty. Yes, a little flighty, to say the least.” And he wagged his head.

”Look here,” he pursued soothingly. ”Have you been sick, perhaps?

You ain't quite yourself, be ye? I knowed a feller once that thought he was the angel Gabriel and went around with a tin fish horn, tooting it at all hours of the day and night. But no graves opened for him and n.o.body was resurrected. They finally put him in the b.o.o.by hatch, poor feller.”

”I'm your niece, I tell you,” interrupted Ida May, pointing at Prudence, who shrank from her immediately in undeniable fear. ”My mother was Sarah Honey before she was married. I guess there must be enough people in this Big Wreck Cove place who knew her and remember her to prove who I am.”

”I wouldn't try to do that,” said Cap'n Ira thoughtfully. ”Telling such a thing as this among the neighbors would be the surest way of getting into trouble. That's right. If Prudence--Mrs. Ball--don't know ye, do you think strangers would be likely to back you up?

Don't you think it would be better to sit down quietly and rest a while? Maybe you'd better stay with us overnight.”

”Oh, Ira!” gasped his wife. ”I wouldn't scurce dare have her stay.

She--she's out of her head. She might do something.”

”I'll do something fast enough!” cried Ida May, stamping her foot.

”I'll do something to that hussy!”

”You hear her, Ira?” murmured Prudence, trying to draw Sheila away from the enraged girl.

”Threatening damage never broke no bones yet,” said the captain calmly.