SAM

"This—this is an outrage!" she stormed

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I Sam, the Boat Person
II Pajamaed Vulgarians
III Miss Accessory—After—the—Fact
IV Questions—and a Clue
V The Plot Curdles
VI "Pals!"
VII New Slants
VIII Who Copped the Buzz-Stuff?
IX The Ascending Scale
X What Reggy Drew
XI Treed!
XII Turning the Tables
XIII Ringing In
XIV What the Paul Jones Did
XV When Sam Came In Handy
XVI Rough Stuff
XVII Thickening Mystery
XVIII Who? What? Why? Where?
XIX Stung!
XX "Good Work Pal!"
XXI New Lights on Sam
XXII Footsteps Above
XXIII Unscrambling the Mystery
XXIV Curtain!

SAM

CHAPTER I

SAM, THE BOAT PERSON

Miss Chalmers stood on the wharf at Clayton, poised upon one foot, while she employed the other in executing alternate tap-taps, denoting impatience, and vigorous stamping, by which she registered rage. Even the half-grown boy who had volunteered to find her a boatman knew that she was angry.

Her free foot beat upon the rough flooring of the wharf with increasing vigor. The wharf did not care; it was old and stout, and did not pretend to be ornamental.

Miss Chalmers's shoe might have protested, had it possessed a voice, for it was new and spotless, and of delicate constitution. With its mate, it had cost Miss Chalmers twenty dollars, a fact which is set down to obviate the necessity of describing what else the lady wore. Her whole costume was in complete financial and artistic harmony with its twenty-dollar-shoe foundation.

It was dark and clear and warm—somewhat after nine o'clock of an August night. There were gleams of light upon the St. Lawrence, some in motion, some merely shimmering restlessly as they lay fixed upon the rippling surface. It was an evening for poetry and romance and beauty—if only the last steamer had not departed.

The boy came back and confirmed his previous impression that no other boat would stop that night at Witherbee's Island.

"It's absurd—inexcusable!" exclaimed Miss Chalmers sharply.

"Yes, ma'am," said the boy.

"How am I to get there, then? Well? Answer!"

"I got a man who'll take you."

"Where is he?"

"Down that way," replied the