The day passed without any reappearance of Ida May upon Wreckers' Head, but just after nightfall and while the supper dishes were being cleared away, Zebedee Pauling knocked at the kitchen door. All three of the Ball household looked upon the young fellow expectantly when he stepped in.
"I was just passing by and thought I'd look in and see how you all were," said Zeb, with his usual shy manner and apologetic smile.
"Come in and set down, Zeb," said the captain eagerly. "I cal'late you've got some news for us."
"I don't know," said Zeb thoughtfully, "but what you've got some news that might satisfy mom and me. That is, about that girl Tunis brought to the house."
"What about her, Zeb?" queried Prudence anxiously.
"Mom and I would be glad to know what you know about her," said Zebedee. "She—she 'pears to have a—a great imagination."
"I shouldn't wonder," Cap'n Ira snorted.
"She don't act crazy, but she certainly talks crazy," the visitor went on emphatically. "Why, she says the most ridiculous things about—about Miss Bostwick!" He bowed and blushed as he spoke the name and looked penitently toward Sheila. "Why, she declares her name is Bostwick!"
"That's what she done up here," said Cap'n Ira grimly. "I cal'late she means to kick up a fuss. Is she still stopping with your mother, Zeb?"
"Yes. She paid a week's board money down. I expect mom wouldn't have taken her, or it, if Tunis hadn't brought her."