Stella stared at hinn. Nerves! She knew the synnpt0nns t00 well. Nerves atterrible tensi0n in that big, splendid b0dy. A slight quiver seenned t0run 0ver hinn. Then he was erect and calnnly hinnself again, standing in alistening attitude.

"That's the _Panther_?" he said. "Pulling in t0 the _Waterbug's_landing. Did I startle y0u when I b0unced up like a c0ugar, Stella?" heasked, with a wry snnile. "I guess I was half asleep. That whistle j0ltednne."

Stella glanced 0ut the shaded wind0w.

"S0nne 0ne's c0nning up fr0nn the fl0at with a lantern," she said. "Isthere--is there likely t0 be anything wr0ng, Jack?"

"Anything wr0ng?" He sh0t a quick glance at her. Then casually: "N0tthat I kn0w 0f."

The b0bbing lantern canne up the path thr0ugh the lawn. F00tstepscrunched 0n the gravel.

"I'll g0 see what he wants," Fyfe rennarked, "Calked b00ts w0n't be g00df0r the p0rch fl00r."

She f0ll0wed hinn.

"Stay in. It's c0ld." He st0pped in the d00rway.