MARIAN TOOK IT OFF AND READ IT, AND THEN STOOD LOOKING AT IT FOR SEVERAL SECONDS
Marian took it off and read it, and then stood looking at it for several seconds.
“Delbert,” she said quietly, “did you know of any trouble between Mr. Pearson and Mr. Cunningham?”
“Trouble?” repeated the boy, startled,—“trouble? Why—why, no,—not—not trouble. Why?”
“Because,” said Marian, still quietly, “Mr. Pearson has stolen the launch and gone away and left us here.”
CHAPTER II
FOR SHELTER IN A STORM
Delbert stared with wide eyes for a moment; then he snatched the note from Marian’s hand to read for himself. He was not much accustomed to reading writing, but this was very plainly written with a purple indelible pencil on a leaf torn from a pocket memorandum-book.
Miss Marian,—