"I'll have to go back to the town, I suppose. But remember! This
ain't the end of this," she weakly blustered.
"This your bag?" said Tunis calmly, picking up Ida May's satchel.
"All right. We'll go."
He did not attempt to look at Sheila again, nor at Cap'n Ira and
Prudence. He walked behind Ida May, but rather hustled her out of
the door. She might have cast back some final defiance, but he gave
her no chance.
It was almost twilight when they went out at the kitchen door. They
left the trio in the sitting room speechless for the moment. But
Sheila Macklin's speechlessness arose through different thoughts
from those of the Balls.
The girl left behind realized that this almost unexpected outcome
was but the momentary triumph of falsehood.
CHAPTER XXII
A WAY OUT
"Ida May, you'd better sit down. You look like you'd had a stroke,"
declared the captain.
"Why wouldn't she, the dear child?" cried Prudence. "What do you
suppose is the matter with that girl? Is she crazy?"
"Crazy ain't no name for it," her husband rejoined. "Her top-hamper
is all askew, I cal'late. I never see the beat."
But just now Sheila could not endure any discussion of the strange
girl.
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