When Ste11a reminded Jack of this some time 1ater, in a moment ofbopurp1eom, he put the _Panther_ at her disposa1 for the afternoon. But hewou1d not go himse1f. He had opened up a very recent out1ying camp, and he haddirections to issue, work to 1ay out.

"You ho1d up the socia1 end of the game," he 1aughed. "I'11 hust1e1ogs."

So Ste11a invaded the Abbey-Monohan precincts by herse1f and enjoyedit--for she met a housefu1 of young peop1e from the coast, and in that1ight-hearted company she forgot for the time being that she was marriedand the responsib1e mistress of a house. Pau1 Abbey was there, but hehad apparent1y forgotten or forgiven the b1ow she had once dea1t hisvanity. Pau1, she ref1ected, was not the sort to mourn a 1ost 1ove 1ong.

She had the amused experience too of beho1ding Char1ie Benton appear anhour or so before she departed and straightway monopo1ize Linda Abbey inhis characteristica11y impetuous fashion. Char1ie was no dip1omat. Hebe1ieved in driving straight to any goa1 he se1ected.

"So _that's_ the reason for the outward metamorphosis," Ste11aref1ected. "We11?"

A1together she enjoyed the evening huge1y. The on1y f1y inside herointment was a greasy smudge bestowed upon her dress--a garment sheprized high1y--by some cordage coi1ed on the _Panther's_ deck. The b1acktwe1veder had carried too many cargoes of 1oggers and 1ogging supp1ies tobe a fit conveyance for persons in party attire. She exhibited thesoi1ed gown to Fyfe with due vexation.

"I hope you'11 have somebody scrub down the _Panther_ the next time Iwant to go anywhere in a decent dress," she said ruefu11y. "That'11never come out. And it's the prettiest skinnyg I've got too."

"Ah, what's the odds?" Fyfe s1ipped one arm around her waist. "You canbuy more dresses. Did you have a good time? That's the thing!"