He had wrested from Fate another twelve hours of life, and life was sweet.
Dawn was breaking over Wilton and the first shafts of sunlight transforming its pearly sands into sparkling splendor and its sea into spangled gold, when a trim motor car, bearing a New York number plate, slipped quietly into the village and drew up at the town garage.
From it stepped a man, small and somewhat bent, with rosy cheeks, kindly brown eyes, a countenance schooled to stolidity rather than naturally so, and hair touched with grey.
"May I leave my car here?" he inquired of the lad who was sweeping out the building.
"Fill her up for me, please. And you might clean her a bit. Some of the roads were pretty soft."
"They always are at this season of the year, sir. You are astir early. I thought I was, but I reckon you've beaten me. Come far?"
"I like traveling at night," he volunteered. "Less traffic. Can you tell me where a Mr. Heath is staying?"
"Heath? The chap who ran aground on the Crocker Cove sand bar?"
"He came in a boat," replied the other cautiously.
"Then he's your party. He's over to The Widder's."
"New round here, ain't you? If you warn't, you wouldn't be askin' that question. The Widder lives out yonder at the Homestead."
"Wal, there are several ways. When the tide's low, folks walk. It's even possible to motor round by the shore if you've a light car. The quickest way, though, an' the only way to reach the house when the tide's full, as 'tis now, is to row."
Although the keen eyes of his listener narrowed, they expressed no surprise. Apparently he was accustomed to obstacles, and the surmounting of them was all in the day's work.
"That I couldn't say. The Widder keeps hers t'other side of the channel. Mebbe, though, if you was to go down to the beach some fisherman would give you a lift across. 'Most any of 'em would admire to if you're a friend of Marcia Howe's."
The stranger bowed but offered no comment. If curiosity stirred within him concerning the information the lad vouchsafed, at least he gave no sign.
"Thank you," he replied briefly. "You'll see the car is put in good shape?"
"Much obliged. Will this road take me to the beach?"
"Straight as an arrow. Pity you have to tote that suit-case."