“And you bought the Charming Lass with that, didn’t you?”
“Yes––that and two thousand that dad had saved. Why?”
“Old Jed Martin said something about that, too.”
Schofield’s face paled slightly and his mouth closed tightly, exhibiting the salience of his jaw.
“So that’s it, eh? Thinks I ran her under for the insurance––the old barnacle. Is that around the island, too?”
“I guess it must be, or I shouldn’t have heard about it. You didn’t, of course, did you, Code?”
“I hardly expected you would ask that, Elsa. Why, I loved that old schooner like I love––well, my mother.”
“I believe you, Code; you don’t need to ask that. I just wanted to hear you deny it. But you know there were some queer things about her sinking just then, when she was supposed to be in good condition. Nat Burns––”
“Ha! So he is in it, too. What does he say?”
“He says that her insurance policy was just about to run out. Is that so?”