else to believe. That is the only possible motive for his stealing the child, unless it was merely for revenge for what he might term an indirect injury received through you, and that is rather too far-fetched a theory to be really considered. But, anyway, there is no use in speculating about it, now that it is all over. He won't try it again, this turned out too much of a fiasco. And, besides, I'm going to take better care of you both from now on, and there is going to be absolutely no more pilikia;" and he leaned forward and smiled at her reassuringly.
The girl drew a long breath and released the youngster who had become weary of her confining arms; and they both sat looking at him silently as he raced about the lanai, chasing the great, brilliantly colored rubber ball and laughing hilariously.
At last Evalani turned to Dick again. "You said that Mrs. Sands was with you, that she helped you. What does she think? What does she know?"
Dick remained silent for a moment. "I am sorry," he said; "but I had no other choice than to tell her what had happened. There was no way to find out where the Morton girls had gone, without her help. I was absolutely at sea. But you may depend upon her silence. She will be a veritable closed book."
The girl sat contemplating her small brown hands. "But what does she know? What does she think—after seeing my child?" she persisted.
Dick hesitated. "Well—" he said, "We discussed
