CHAPTER III
A DISCOURAGED CAPTAIN
The Brents lived in a fine, large house two
blocks beyond Gordon. Mr. John Brent was
Clearfield's richest and most influential citizen,
and "Brentwood," as his estate was called, was
quite the most luxurious in town. The house stood
back from the street in a full block of land, and to-*night,
as Dick and his sister Grace, a pretty, dark-haired
girl of thirteen, approached it from the gate,
lights shone from many windows and it looked most
imposing. As the evening was mild, Louise Brent,
hostess for the occasion, assembled her guests on
the big screened porch at the side of the house
which was much more like a room than a veranda.
There were gaily-colored rugs on the floor, many
comfortable wicker chairs, a table that held a broad-shaded
electric lamp, and plants in tubs and boxes.
