GALUSHA THE MAGNIFICENT

By Joseph C. Lincoln

GALUSHA THE MAGNIFICENT

CHAPTER I

Mr. Horatio Pulcifer was on his way home. It was half-past five of afoggy, gray afternoon in early October; it had rained the previous dayand a part of the day before that and it looked extremely likely to rainagain at any moment. The road between Wellmouth Centre, the village inwhich Mr. Pulcifer had been spending the afternoon, and East Wellmouth, the community which he honored with his residence, was wet and sloppy;there were little puddles in the hollows of the macadam and the ruts anddepressions in the sand on either side were miniature lakes. The grovesof pitch pines and the bare, brown fields and knolls dimly seen throughthe fog looked moist and forsaken and dismal. There were no houses insight; along the East Wellmouth road there are few dwellings, for no onebut a misanthrope or a hermit would select that particular section asa place in which to live. Night was coming on and, to accent theloneliness, from somewhere in the dusky dimness a great foghorn groanedat intervals. 

It was a sad and deserted outlook, that from the seat of Mr. Pulcifer's"flivver" as it bounced and squeaked and rattled and splashed its wayalong. But Mr. Pulcifer himself was not sad, at least his appearancecertainly was not. Swinging jauntily, if a trifle ponderously, with theroll of the little car, his clutch upon the steering wheel expressedserene confidence and his manner self-satisfaction quite as serene. His plaid cap was tilted carelessly down toward his right ear, the tiltbeing balanced by the upward cock of his cigar toward his left ear. Thelight-colored topcoat with the soiled collar was open sufficiently atthe throat to show its wearer's chins and a tasty section of tie andcameo scarf-pin below them. And from the corner of Mr. Pulcifer's mouthopposite that occupied by the cigar came the words and some of the tuneof a song which had been the hit of a "Follies" show two seasonsbefore. No, there was nothing dismal or gloomy in Mr. Horatio Pulcifer'sappearance as he piloted his automobile toward home at the close of thatOctober afternoon. 

And his outward seeming did not belie his feelings. He had spenta pleasant day. At South Wellmouth, his first port of call, he hadstrengthened his political fences by dropping in upon and chatting withseveral acquaintances who prided themselves upon being "in the know"concerning local political opinion and drift. Mr. "Raish" Pulcifer--noone in Ostable county ever referred to him as Horatio--had already heldthe positions of town clerk, selectman, constable and postmaster. Now, owing to an unfortunate shift in the party vote, the public was, temporarily, deprived of his services. However, it was rumored that hemight be persuaded to accept the nomination for state representative ifit were offered to him. His acquaintances at South Wellmouth had thatday assured him there was "a good, fair fightin' chance" that it mightbe. 

Then, after leaving South Wellmouth, he had dined at the Rogers' Housein Wellmouth Centre, "matching" a friend for the dinners and "sticking"the said friend for them and for the cigars afterward. Following this hehad joined other friends in a little game in Elmer Rogers' back room andhad emerged from that room three dollars and seventy-two cents ahead. No wonder he sang as he drove homeward. No wonder he looked quite carefree. And, as a matter of fact, care free he was, that is, as care freeas one is permitted to be in this care-ridden world. Down underneath hisbright exterior there were a few cankers which might have gnawed hadhe permitted himself to think of them, but he did not so permit. Mr. Pulcifer's motto had always been: "Let the other feller do theworryin'. " And, generally speaking, in a deal with Raish that, sooner orlater, was what the other fellow did. 

The fog and dusk thickened, Mr. Pulcifer sang, and the flivver wheezedand rattled and splashed onward. At a particularly dark spot, where themain road joined a cross country byroad, Raish drew up and climbed outto light the car lamps, which were of the old-fashioned type requiringa gas tank and matches. He had lighted one and was bending forward withthe match ready to light the other when a voice at his elbow said:

"I beg your pardon, but--but will you kindly tell me where I am?"

It was not a loud, aggressive voice; on the contrary, it was hesitatingand almost timid, but when one is supposedly alone at twilight on theEast Wellmouth road any sort of voice sounding unexpectedly just aboveone's head is startling. Mr. Pulcifer's match went out, he startedviolently erect, bumping his head against the open door of the lampcompartment, and swung a red and agitated face toward his shoulder. 

"I--beg your pardon, " said the voice. "I'm afraid I startled you. I'mextremely sorry. Really I am. "

"What the h-ll?" observed Raish, enthusiastically. 

"I'm very sorry, very--yes, indeed, " said the voice once more. Mr. Pulcifer, rubbing his bumped head and puffing from surprise and theexertion of stooping, stared wide-eyed at the speaker. 

The latter was no one he knew, so much was sure, to begin with. Thefirst impression Raish gained was of an overcoat and a derby hat. Thenhe caught the glitter of spectacles beneath the hat brim. Next hisattention centered upon a large and bright yellow suitcase which thestranger was carrying. That suitcase settled it. Mr. Pulcifer's keenmind had diagnosed the situation. 

"No, " he said, quickly, "I don't want nothin'--nothin'; d'you get me?"

"But--but--pardon me, I--"

"Nothin'. Nothin' at all. I've got all I want. "

The stranger seemed to find this statement puzzling. 

"Excuse me, " he faltered, after a moment's hesitation, during whichRaish scratched another match. "I--You see--I fear--I'm sure you don'tunderstand. "

Mr. Pulcifer bent and lighted the second lamp. Then he straightened oncemore and turned toward his questioner. 

"_I_ understand, young feller, " he said, "but you don't seem to. I don'twant to buy nothin'. I've got all I want. That's plain enough, ain'tit?"

"But--but--All you want? Really, I--"

"All I want of whatever 'tis you've got in that bag. I never buy nothin'of peddlers. So you're just wastin' your time hangin' around. Trot alongnow, I'm on my way. "

He stepped to the side of the car, preparatory to climbing to thedriver's seat, but the person with the suitcase followed him. 

"Pardon me, " faltered that person, "but I'm not--ah--a peddler. I'mafraid I--that is, I appear to be lost. I merely wish to ask the wayto--ah--to Mr. Hall's residence--Mr. Hall of Wellmouth. "

Raish turned and looked, not at the suitcase this time, but at theface under the hat brim. It was a mild, distinctly inoffensive face--anintellectual face, although that is not the term Mr. Pulcifer would haveused in describing it. It was not the face of a peddler, the ordinarykind of peddler, certainly--and the mild brown eyes, eyes a triflenearsighted, behind the round, gold-rimmed spectacles, were not thoseof a sharp trader seeking a victim. Also Raish saw that he had madea mistake in addressing this individual as "young feller. " He was ofmiddle age, and the hair, worn a little longer than usual, above hisears was sprinkled with gray. 

"Mr. Hall, of--ah--of Wellmouth, " repeated the stranger, seeminglyembarrassed by the Pulcifer stare. "I--I wish to find his house. Can youtell me how to find it?"

Raish took the cigar, which even the bump against the lamp door hadfailed to dislodge, from the corner of his mouth, snapped the ash fromits end, and then asked a question of his own. 

"Hall?" he repeated. "Hall? Why, he don't live in Wellmouth. EastWellmouth's where he lives. "

"Dear me! Are you sure?"

"Sure? Course I'm sure. Know him well. "

"Oh, dear me! Why, the man at the station told me--"

"What station? The Wellmouth depot, do you mean?"

"No, the--ah--the South Wellmouth station. You see, I got off the trainat South Wellmouth by mistake. It was the first Wellmouth called, youknow, and I--I suppose I caught the name and--ah--rushed out of the car. I thought--it seemed to be a--a sort of lonely spot, you know--"

"Haw, haw! South Wellmouth depot? It's worse'n lonesome, it'sGod-forsaken. "

"Yes--yes, it looked so. I should scarcely conceive of the Almighty'swishing to remain there long. "

"Eh?"

"Oh, it's not material. Pardon me. I inquired of the young man in chargeof the--ah--station. "

"Nelse Howard? Yes, sure. "

"You know him, then?"

Mr. Pulcifer laughed. "Say, " he observed, patronizingly, "there's mightyfew folks in this neighborhood I don't know. You bet that's right!"

"The young man--the station man--was very kind and obliging, very kindindeed. He informed me that there was no direct conveyance from theSouth Wellmouth station to Wellmouth--ah--Centre, but he prevailed uponthe driver of the station--ah--vehicle--"

"Eh? You mean Lem Lovett's express team?"

"I believe the driver's name was Lovett--yes. He prevailed upon him totake me in his wagon as far as a crossroads where I was to be left. From there I was to follow another road--ah--on foot, you know--until Ireached a second crossroad which would, he said, bring me directly intoWellmouth Middle--ah--Centre, I should say. He told me that Mr. Halllived there. "

"Well, he told you wrong. Hall lives up to East Wellmouth. But whatI can't get a-hold of is how you come to fetch up way off here. TheCentre's three mile or more astern of us; I've just come from there. "

"Oh, dear me! I must have lost my way. I was quite sure of it. It seemedto me I had been walking a very long time. "

Mr. Pulcifer laughed. "Haw, haw!" he guffawed, "I should say you had!I tell you what you done, Mister; you walked right past that crossroadNelse told you to turn in at. THAT would have fetched you to the Centre. Instead of doin' it you kept on as you was goin' and here you be 'wayout in the fag-end of nothin'. The Centre's three mile astern and EastWellmouth's about two and a ha'f ahead. Haw, haw! that's a good one, ain't it!"

His companion's laugh was not enthusiastic. It was as near a groan asa laugh could well be. He put the yellow suitcase down in the mud andlooked wearily up and down the fog-draped road. There was little of itto be seen, but that little was not promising. 

"Dear me!" he exclaimed. "Dear me!" And then added, under his breath:"Oh, dear!"

Mr. Pulcifer regarded him intently. A new idea was beginning to dawnbeneath the plaid cap. 

"Say, Mister, " he said, suddenly, "you're in a bad scrape, ain't you?"

"I beg your pardon? What? Yes, I am--I fear I am. Is it--is it a VERYlong walk back to Wellmouth?"

"To the Centre? Three good long Cape Cod miles. "

"And is the-ah--the road good?"

"'Bout as you see it most of the way. Macadam ain't so bad, but if youstep off it you're liable to go under for the third time. "

"Dear me! Dear me!"

"Dear me's right, I cal'late. But what do you want to go to the Centrefor? Hall don't live there. He lives on ahead here--at East Wellmouth. "

"Yes--that's true, that's true. So you said. But the South Wellmouthstation man--"

"Oh, never mind Nelse Howard. He's a smart Aleck and talks too much, anyhow. He made a mistake, that's all. Now I tell you, Mister, I'm goin'to East Wellmouth myself. Course I don't make a business of carryin'passengers and this trip is goin' to be some out of my way. Gasoline andile are pretty expensive these days, too, but--Eh? What say?"

The pale face beneath the derby hat for the first time showed a ray ofhope. The eyes behind the spectacles were eager. 

"I--I didn't say anything, I believe, " was the hurried answer, "but Ishould like to say that--that if you COULD find it possible to take mewith you in your car--if you COULD do me so great a favor, I should beonly too happy to pay for the privilege. Pay--ah--almost anything. Iam--I have not been well and I fatigue easily. If you could--"

Mr. Pulcifer's hand descended squarely upon the shoulder of the darkovercoat. 

"Don't say nothin' more, " he ordered, heartily. "I'm only too glad to doa feller a favor any time, if it's a possible thing. That's me, that is. I shouldn't think of chargin' you a cent, but of course this cruise is alittle mite off my track and it's late and--er--well, suppose we call itthree dollars? That's fair, ain't it?"

"Oh, yes, quite, quite. It's very reasonable. Very generous of you. I'mextremely grateful, really. "

This prompt and enthusiastic acceptance of his offer was a bitdisconcerting. Raish was rather sorry that he had not said five. However, to do him justice, the transaction was more or less whathe would have called "chicken-feed stuff. " Mr. Pulcifer was EastWellmouth's leading broker in real estate, in cranberry bog property, its leading promoter of deals of all kinds, its smartest trader. Ordinarily he did not stoop to the carrying of passengers for profit. But this particular passenger had been delivered into his hand andgasoline WAS expensive. 

"Jump right in, Mister, " he said, blithely. "All aboard! Jump right in. "

His fare did not jump in, exactly. He climbed in rather slowly andpainfully. Raish, stowing the suitcase between his feet, noticed thathis shoes and trouser legs above them were spattered and daubed withyellow mud. 

"You HAVE had some rough travelin', ain't you, Mister?" he observed. "Oh--er--what did you say your name was? Mine's Pulcifer. "

"Oh, yes--yes. Ah--how do you do, Mr. Pulcifer? My name is Bangs. "

"Bangs, eh? That's a good Cape name, or used to be. You any relation toSylvanus Bangs, over to Harniss?"

"No--no, not that I am aware. Ours is a Boston branch of the family. "

"Boston, eh? Um-hm. I see. Yes, yes. What's your first name?"

"Mine? Oh, my name is Galusha. "

"Eh? Ga--WHAT did you say 'twas?"

"Galusha. It IS an odd name. "

"Yes, I'd say 'twas. Don't cal'late as I ever heard tell of it afore. Ga--Ga--"

"Galusha. "

"Galushy, eh? I see. Strange what names folks 'll christen ontochildren, ain't it? There's lots of queer things in the world; did youever stop to think about that, Mister--Mister Bangs?"

Mr. Bangs, who was leaning back against the upholstered seat as if hefound the position decidedly comforting, smiled faintly. 

"We have all thought that, I'm sure, " he said. "'There are more thingsin heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. '"

Mr. Pulcifer was not easily startled, but his jerk of surprise sent thecar perilously near the side of the road. 

"How in the devil did you know my name?" he demanded. 

"Your name? Why, you told me. It is Pulcifer, isn't it?"

"No, no. My first name--Horatio. I never told you that, I'll swear. "

Mr. Bangs smiled and the smile made his face look younger. 

"Now that's rather odd, isn't it?" he observed. "Quite a coincidence. "

"A what?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing. I didn't know your name, Mr. --ah--Pulcifer. Myusing it was an accident. I was quoting--ah--from Hamlet, you know. "

Mr. Pulcifer did not know, but he thought it not worth while advertisingthe fact. Plainly this passenger of his was a queer bird, as queerwithin as in dress and appearance. He turned his head slightly andlooked him over. It was growing too dark to see plainly, but one or twopoints were obvious. For instance, the yellow leather suitcase was brandnew and the overcoat was old. It was shiny about the cuffs. The derbyhat--and in October, in Wellmouth, derby hats are seldom worn--the derbyhat was new and of a peculiar shade of brown; it was a little too smallfor its wearer's head and, even as Raish looked, a gust of wind liftedit and would have sent it whirling from the car had not Mr. Bangs savedit by a sudden grab. Raish chuckled. 

"Come pretty nigh losin' somethin' overboard that time, didn't you?" heobserved. 

Mr. Bangs pulled the brown derby as far down upon his head as it wouldgo. 

"I--I'm afraid I made a mistake in buying this hat, " he confided. "Itold the man I didn't think it fitted me as it should, but he said thatwas because I wasn't used to it. I doubt if I ever become used to it. And it really doesn't fit any better to-day than it did yesterday. "

"New one, ain't it?" inquired Raish. 

"Yes, quite new. My other blew out of the car window. I bought this oneat a small shop near the station in Boston. I'm afraid it wasn't a verygood shop, but I was in a great hurry. "

"Where was you comin' from when your other one blew away?"

"From the mountains. "

"White Mountains?"

"Yes. "

Raish said that he wanted to know and waited for his passenger to saysomething more. This the passenger did not do. Mr. Pulcifer whistled abar or two of his "Follies" song and then asked another question. 

"You any relation to Josh?" he asked. 

"I beg your pardon?"

"Eh? Oh, that's all right. I just asked you if you was a relation ofJosh's--of Hall's, I mean, the folks you're goin' to see. "

"Oh, no, no. We are not related. Merely friends. "

"I see. I thought there wan't any Bangses in that family. His wife was aCahoon, wan't she?"

"I--I BEG your pardon?"

"I asked you if she wan't a Cahoon; Cahoon was her name afore shemarried Hall, wan't it?"

"Oh, I don't know, I'm sure. .. . Now, really, that's very funny, very. "

"What's funny?"

"Why, you see, I--" Mr. Bangs had an odd little way of pausing in themiddle of a sentence and then, so to speak, catching the train of histhought with a jerk and hurrying on again. "I understood you to ask ifshe was a--a cocoon. I could scarcely believe my ears. It WAS funny, wasn't it?"

Raish Pulcifer thought it was and said so between roars. His convictionthat his passenger was a queer bird was strengthening every minute. 

"What's your line of business, Mr. Bangs?" was his next question. 

"I am not a business man. I am connected with the ArchaeologicalDepartment of the National Institute at Washington. "

If he had said he was connected with the interior department of aBrontosaurus the statements would have conveyed an equal amount ofunderstanding to the Pulcifer mind. However, it was a fixed principlewith Raish never to admit a lack of knowledge of any subject whatsoever. So he said:

"From Washin'ton, eh? I see. Yes, yes. Cal'latin' to stay here on theCape long, Mr. Bangs?"

"Why, I don't know, I'm sure. I have not been--ah--well of late. Thedoctors advise rest and--ah--outdoor air and all that. I tried severalplaces, but I didn't care for them. The Halls invited me to visit themand so I--well, I came. "

"Never been here to the Cape afore, then?"

"No. "

"Well, sir, you've come to the right place when you came to Wellmouth. Iwas born right here in East Wellmouth and I've lived here for fifty-twoyear and if anybody should ask me what I thought of the place I'd tell'em--"

He proceeded to tell what he would tell 'em. It was a favorite topicwith him, especially in the summer and with visitors from the city. Usually the discourse ended with a suggestion that if the listenershould ever think of investing a little money in real estate "that'llbe wuth gold dollars to you--yes, sir, gold dollars--" he, Horatio G. Pulcifer, would be willing to point out and exhibit just the particularbit of real estate to invest in. He did not reach the climax this time, however. A gentle nasal sound at his shoulder caused Raish to turn hishead. Mr. Bangs had fallen asleep. Awakened by a vigorous nudge, heapologized profusely. 

"Really, " he declared, with much embarrassment, "I--I am quite ashamedof myself. I--you see--I have, as I say, been somewhat unwell of late, and the fatigue of walking--I DO hope you will excuse me. I was verymuch interested in what you were saying. What--ah--what was it?"

Before Raish could have repeated his real estate sermon, even had he sodesired, the car came to the top of a hill, emerged from the clumps ofpines shutting in the road on both sides, and began to descend a longslope. And through the fog and blackness at the foot of the slope thereshone dimly first one and then several lights. Mr. Bangs leaned forwardand peered around the edge of the wet windshield. 

"Is that it?" he asked, in much the same tone that Mrs. Noah may haveused when her husband announced that the lookout had sighted Ararat. 

Raish Pulcifer nodded. "Yes, sir, " he declared, proudly. "Yes, sir, that's East Wellmouth. "

The fog in the valley was thicker even than that upon the hill andEast Wellmouth was almost invisible. Mr. Bangs made out a few houses, acrossroads, a small store, and that was about all. From off to the righta tremendous bellow sounded. The fog seemed to quiver with it. 

"WHAT is that?" asked Mr. Bangs, nervously. "I've heard it ever since Ileft the train, I believe. Some sort of a--ah--steam whistle, isn't it?"

"Foghorn over to the light, " replied Raish, briskly. "Well, sir, hereyou be. "

The car rolled up to the side of the road and stopped. 

"Here you be, Mr. Bangs, " repeated Mr. Pulcifer. "Here's where Halllives, right here. "

Mr. Bangs seemed somewhat astonished. "Right here?" he asked. "Dear me, is it possible!"

"Possible as anything ever you knew in your life. Why not? Ain't sorry, are you?"

"Oh, no--no, indeed, I'm very glad. I was--ah--a trifle surprised, that is all. You said--I think you spoke of Mr. Hall's cottage asbeing--ah--off the track and so I--well I scarcely expected to reach hishouse so easily. "

Raish had forgotten his "off the track" statement, which was purely acommercial fiction invented on the spur of the moment to justify thehigh price he was charging for transportation. He was somewhat takenaback, but before he could think of a good excuse his companion spokeagain. He was leaning forward, peering out at the house before which thecar had stopped. It was a small, gray-shingled dwelling, sitting backfrom the road in the shadow of two ancient "silver-leafs, " and Mr. Bangsseemed to find its appearance surprising. 

"Are you--are you SURE this is the Hall cottage?" he stammered. 

"Am I sure? Me? Well, I ought to be. I've lived in East Wellmouth all mylife and Josh Hall's lived in this house ever since I can remember. "

This should have been reassuring, but it did not appear to be. Mr. Pulcifer's passenger drew a startled breath. 

"What--WHAT is his Christian name?" he asked. "The--the Mr. Hall wholives here?"

"His name is--Why? What's the matter?"

"I'm afraid there has been a mistake. Is this Mr. Hall an entomologist?"

"Eh? He ain't nothin' in particular. Don't go to meetin' much, Joshdon't. His wife's a Spiritu'list. "

"But--but, I mean--Dear me, dear me!" Mr. Bangs was fumbling in theinside pocket of his coat. "If I--Would you mind holding this for me?"he begged. "I have a photograph here and--Oh, thank you very much. "

He handed Pulcifer a small pocket electric lamp. Raish held it and intoits inch of light Mr. Bangs thrust a handful of cards and papers takenfrom a big and worn pocketbook. One of the handful was a postcard with aphotograph upon its back. It was a photograph of a pretty, old-fashionedcolonial house with a wide porch covered with climbing roses. Beneathwas written: "This is our cottage. Don't you think it attractive?"

"Mrs. Hall sent me that--ah--last June--I think it was in June, "explained Mr. Bangs, hurriedly. "But you SEE, " he added, wavingan agitated hand toward the gray-shingled dwelling beneath thesilver-leafs, "that CAN'T be the house, not if"--with a wave of thephotograph in the other hand--"if THIS is. "

Mr. Pulcifer took the postcard and stared at it. His brows drew togetherin a frown. 

"Say, " he said, turning toward his passenger, "is this the house you'vebeen tryin' to find? This is a picture of the old Parker place over toWellmouth Centre. I thought you told me you wanted to be took to JoshuaHall's house in East Wellmouth. "

"Joshua? Oh, no, I'm sure I never could have said Joshua. That isn't hisname. "

"Then when I said 'Josh Hall' why didn't you say so?"

"Oh, good gracious! Did you say 'Josh?' Oh, dear, that explains it; Ithought you said 'George. ' My friend's name is George Hall. He is anentomologist at the New York Museum of Natural History. I--"

"Say, " broke in Raish, again, "is he a tall, bald-headed man withwhiskers; red whiskers?"

"Yes--yes, he is. "

"Humph! Goes gallopin' round the fields chasin' bugs and grasshopperslike a young one?"

"Why--why, entomology is his profession, so naturally he--"

"Humph! So THAT'S the feller! Tut, tut, tut! Well, if you'd only saidyou meant him 'twould have been all right. I forgot there was a Halllivin' in the Parker place. If you'd said you meant 'Old Bughouse' I'dhave understood. "

"Bughouse?"

"Oh, that's what the Wellmouth post-office gang call him. Kind of a joke'tis. And say, this is kind of a joke, too, my luggin' you 'way overhere, ain't it, eh? Haw, haw!"

Mr. Bangs' attempt at a laugh was feeble. 

"But what shall I do now?" he asked, anxiously. 

"Well, that's the question, ain't it? Hum. .. Hum. .. Let's see. Sorry Ican't take you back to the Centre myself. Any other night I'd be gladto, but there's a beans and brown-bread supper and sociable up to themeetin' house this evenin' and I promised the old woman--Mrs. Pulcifer, I mean--that I'd be on hand. I'm a little late as 'tis. Hum. .. Let'ssee. .. Why, I tell you. See that store over on the corner there? That'sErastus Beebe's store and Ras is a good friend of mine. He's got anextry horse and team and he lets 'em out sometimes. You step into thestore and ask Ras to hitch up and drive you back to the Centre. Tellhim I sent you. Say you're a friend of Raish Pulcifer's and that I saidtreat you right. Don't forget: 'Raish says treat me right. ' You say thatto Ras and you'll be TREATED right. Yes, SIR! If Ras ain't in the storehe'll be in his house right back of it. Might as well get out here, Mr. Bangs, because there's a hill just ahead and I kind of like to get arunnin' start for it. Shall I help you with the suitcase? No, well, allright. .. Sorry you made the mistake, but we're all liable to make 'emsome time or another. Eh? haw, haw!"

Poor Mr. Bangs clambered from the automobile almost as wearily andstiffly as he had climbed into it. The engine of the Pulcifer car hadnot stopped running so Raish was not obliged to get out and crank. Hetook a fresh grip on the steering wheel and looked down upon his latepassenger. 

"Well, good-night, Mr. Bangs, " he said. 

"Good-night--ah--good-night, Mr. Pulcifer. I'm very much obliged to you, I am indeed. I'm sorry my mistake made you so much trouble. "

"Oh, that's all right, that's all right. Don't say a word. .. Well--er--good-night. "

"Good-night, sir. .. Good-night. "

But still the little car did not start. It's owner's next remark wasexplanatory of the delay. 

"Course I HOPE you and I'll meet again, Mr. Bangs, " said Raish. "Maysee you in Wellmouth, you know. Still, such things are--er--kind ofuncertain and--er--sendin' bills is a nuisance, so perhaps 'twould bebetter--er--easier for both of us--if we settled that little matter ofours right now. Eh?"

"I beg your pardon. Little matter? I'm afraid I don't quite--"

"Oh, that little matter of the three dollars for fetchin' you over. Course it don't amount to nothin', but I kind of like to get them littlethings off my mind, don't you? Eh?"

Mr. Bangs was very much "fussed. " He hurriedly dragged forth the bigpocketbook. 

"I beg your pardon--really I BEG your pardon, " he stammered over andover again. "I quite forgot. It was inexcusable of me. I'm SO sorry. "

Evidently he felt that he had committed a crime. Mr. Pulcifer took thethree one dollar bills and waved the apologies aside with them. 

"Don't say a word, Mr. Bangs, " he called, cheerily, as the car beganto move. "Anybody's liable to forget. Do it myself sometimes. Well, solong. Hope to see you again one of these days. Good-night. "

The flivver moved rapidly away, gaining speed as it rushed for thehill. Galusha Bangs watched its tail-light soar and dwindle until itdisappeared over the crest. Then, with a weary sigh, he picked up theheavy suitcase, plodded across the road and on until he reached the stepand platform of Erastus Beebe's "General and Variety Store. " There wasa kerosene lamp burning dimly upon the counter within, but the door waslocked. He pounded on the door and shook it, but no one answered. Then, remembering Mr. Pulcifer's instructions, he entered the yard behind thestore, found the door of Mr. Beebe's house and knocked upon that. Therewas not even a light in the house. The Beebes had gone--as most ofEast Wellmouth had gone--to the baked beans and brown-bread supper andsociable at the church. Galusha Bangs was not aware of this, of course. What he was aware of--painfully, distressingly aware--was the factthat he was alone and supperless, very, very weak and tired, and almostdiscouraged. 

However, there was no use in standing in the wet grass of the Beebe yardand giving way to his discouragement. Galusha Bangs was a plucky littlesoul, although just now a weak and long-suffering one. He waded andslopped back to the store platform, where he put down his suitcase andstarted on a short tour of exploration. Through the fog and darkness hecould dimly perceive a signpost standing at the corner of the crossroadwhere the store was located. He tramped over to look at it. 

There were two signs affixed to the post. By the aid of thepocket flashlight he read them. That at the top read thus: "TO THELIGHTHOUSE--1 1/2 MILES. " There was an arrow pointing along thecrossroad and off to the right. Galusha paid little attention to thissign; it was the other nailed beneath it which caught and held hisattention. It was a rather gaudy sign of red, white, and blue, and itread thus: "THE RESTABIT INN AT GOULD'S BLUFFS--1 MILE. " And the arrowpointed in the same direction as the other. 

Mr. Bangs uttered his favorite exclamation. 

"Dear me! Why, dear me!"

He read the sign again. There was no mistake, his first reading had beencorrect. 

He trotted back to the platform of Mr. Beebe's store. Then, oncemore dragging forth the big pocketbook, he fumbled in its variouscompartments. After spilling a good many scraps of paper upon theplatform and stopping to pick them up again, he at length found whathe was looking for. It was an advertisement torn from the Summer Resortadvertising pages of a magazine. Holding it so that the feeble lightfrom Mr. Beebe's lamp fell upon it, Galusha read, as follows:

THE RESTABIT INN at Beautiful Gould's Bluffs, East Wellmouth, Mass. Rest, sea air, and pleasant people: Good food and plenty of it. Reasonable prices. NO FRILLS. 

He had chanced upon the advertisement in a tattered, back numbermagazine which a fellow passenger had left beside him in a car seata month before. He had not quite understood the "NO FRILLS" portion. Apparently it must be important because the advertiser had put it incapital letters, but Mr. Bangs was uncertain as to just what it meant. But there was no uncertainty about the remainder of the "ad. "

Rest! His weary muscles and aching joints seemed to relax at the verywhisper of the word. Food! Well, he needed food, it would be welcome, ofcourse--but rest! Oh, rest!!

And food and rest, not to mention reasonable prices and pleasant peopleand no frills, were all but a mile away at the Restabit Inn at Gould'sBluffs--beautiful Gould's Bluffs. No wonder they called them beautiful. 

He returned the pocketbook to his inside pocket and the flashlight to anoutside one, turned up his coat collar, pulled the brown derby downas tightly upon his brow as he could, picked up the heavy suitcase andstarted forth to tramp the mile which separated his tired self from foodand rest--especially rest. 

The first hundred yards of that mile cut him off entirely from theworld. It was dark now, pitch dark, and the fog was so thick as to bealmost a rain. His coat and hat and suitcase dripped with it. The dropsran down his nose. He felt as if there were almost as much water in theair as there was beneath him on the ground--not quite as much, for hisfeet were wetter than his body, but enough. 

And it was so still. No sound of voices, no dogs barking, no murmur ofthe wind in trees. There did not seem to be any trees. Occasionally heswept a circle of his immediate surroundings with the little flashlight, but all its feeble radiance showed was fog and puddles and wet weeds andruts and grass--and more fog. 

Still! Oh, yes, deadly still for a long minute's interval, and thenout of the nowhere ahead, with a suddenness which each time caused hisweakened nerves to vibrate like fiddle strings, would burst the bellowof the great foghorn. 

Silence, the splash and "sugg" of Galusha's sodden shoes moving up anddown, up and down--and then:

"OW--ooo--ooo---ooo--OOO!!"

Once a minute the foghorn blew and once a minute Galusha Bangs jumped asif he were hearing it for the first time. 

The signboard had said "1 MILE. " One hundred miles, one thousand miles;that was what it should have said to be truthful. Galusha plodded on andon, stopping to put down the suitcase, then lifting it and pounding onagain. He had had no luncheon; he had had no dinner. He was weak fromillness. He was wet and chilled. And--yes, it was beginning to rain. 

He put down the suitcase once more. 

"Oh, my soul!" he exclaimed, and not far away, close at hand, the word"soul" was repeated. 

"Oh, dear!" cried Galusha, startled. 

"Dear!" repeated the echo, for it was an echo. 

Galusha, brandishing the tiny flashlight, moved toward the sound. Something bulky, huge, loomed in the blackness, a building. Theflashlight's circle, growing dimmer now for the battery was almostexhausted, disclosed steps and a broad piazza. Mr. Bangs climbed thesteps, crossed the piazza, the boards of which creaked beneath him. There were doors, but they were shut tight; there were windows, but theywere shuttered. Down the length of the long piazza tramped Galusha, hisheart sinking. Every window was shuttered, every door was boarded up. Evidently this place, whatever it was, was closed. It was uninhabited. 

He came back to the front door again. Over it was a sign, he had notlooked as high before. Now he raised the dimming flashlight and read:

"THE RESTABIT INN. Open June 15 to September 15. "

September 15!!! Why, September was past and gone. This was the 3rd ofOctober. The Restabit Inn was closed for the season. 

Slowly, Galusha, tugging the suitcase, stumbled to the edge of thepiazza. There he collapsed, rather than sat down, upon the upperstep. Above him, upon the piazza roof, the rain descended heavily. Theflashlight dimmed and went out altogether. 

"OW--ooo---ooo--ooo--OOO!!" whooped the foghorn. 

Later, just how much later he never knew exactly, Mr. Bangs awoke fromhis faint or collapse or doze, whichever it may have been, to hear someone calling his name. 

"Loosh! Loosh! Loosh!"

This was odd, very odd. "Loosh" was what he had been called at college. That is, some of the fellows had called him that, those he liked best. The others had even more offensive nicknames. He disliked "Loosh" verymuch, but he answered to it--then. 

"Loosh! Loosh! Loosh, where are you?"

Queer that any one should be calling him "Loosh"--any one down herein. .. Eh? Where was he? He couldn't remember much except that he wasvery tired--except--

"Loosh! Looshy! Come Looshy!"

He staggered to his feet and, leaving the suitcase where it was, stumbled away in the direction of the voice. The rain, pouring down uponhim, served to bring him back a little nearer to reality. Wasn't that alight over there, that bright yellow spot in the fog?

It was a light, a lighted doorway, with a human figure standing in it. The figure of a woman, a woman in a dark dress and a white apron. Itmust be she who was calling him. Yes, she was calling him again. 

"Loosh! Loosh! Looshy! Oh, my sakes alive! Why don't you come?"

Mr. Bangs bumped into something. It was a gate in a picket fence andthe gate swung open. He staggered up the path on the other side of thatgate, the path which led to the doorway where the woman was standing. 

"Yes, madam, " said Galusha, politely but shakily lifting the brownderby, "here I am. "

The woman started violently, but she did not run nor scream. 

"My heavens and earth!" she exclaimed. Then, peering forward, she staredat the dripping apparition which had appeared to her from the fog andrain. 

"Here I am, madam, " repeated Mr. Bangs. 

The woman nodded. She was middle-aged, with a pleasant face and a figureof the sort which used to be called "comfortable. " Her manner of lookingand speaking were quick and businesslike. 

"Yes, " she said, promptly, "I can see you are there, so you needn't tellme again. WHY are you there and who are you?"

Galusha's head was spinning dizzily, but he tried to make matters clear. 

"My name is--is--Dear me, how extraordinary! I seem to have forgottenit. Oh, yes, it is Bangs--that is it, Bangs. I heard you calling me, so--"

"Heard ME calling YOU?"

"Yes. I--I came down to the hotel--the rest--Rest--that hotel overthere. It was closed. I sat down upon the porch, for I have been illrecently and I--ah--tire easily. So, as I say--"

The woman interrupted him. She had been looking keenly at his face as hespoke. 

"Come in. Come into the house, " she commanded, briskly. 

Mr. Bangs took a step toward her. Then he hesitated. 

"I--I am very wet, I'm afraid, " he said. "Really, I am not sure that--"

"Rubbish! It's because you are wet--wet as a drowned rat--that I'maskin' you to come in. Come now--quick. "

Her tone was not unkind, but it was arbitrary. 

Galusha made no further protest. She held the door open and he precededher into a room, then into another, this last evidently a sitting room. He was to know it well later; just now he was conscious of little exceptthat it was a room--and light--and warm--and dry. 

"Sit down!" ordered his hostess. 

Galusha found himself standing beside a couch, an old-fashioned sofa. Ittempted him--oh, how it tempted him!--but he remembered the condition ofhis garments. 

"I am very wet indeed, " he faltered. "I'm afraid I may spoil your--yourcouch. "

"Sit DOWN!"

Galusha sat. The room was doing a whirling dervish dance about him, buthe still felt it his duty to explain. 

"I fear you must think this--ah--very queer, " he stammered. "I realizethat I must seem--ah--perhaps insane, to you. But I have, as I say, beenill and I have walked several miles, owing to--ah--mistakes in locality, and not having eaten for some time, since breakfast, in fact, I--"

"Not since BREAKFAST? Didn't you have any dinner, for mercy sakes?"

"No, madam. Nor luncheon. Oh, it is quite all right, no one's fault butmy own. Then, when I found the--the hotel closed, I--I sat down to restand--and when I heard you call my name--"

"Wait a minute. What IS your name?"

"My name is Bangs, Galusha Bangs. It seems ridiculous now, as I tell it, but I certainly thought I heard you or some one call me by the name myrelatives and friends used to use. Of course--"

"Wait. What was that name?"

Even now, dizzy and faint as he was, Mr. Bangs squirmed upon the sofa. 

"It was--well, it was Loosh--or--ah--Looshy" he admitted, guiltily. 

His hostess' face broke into smiles. Her "comfortable" shoulders shook. 

"Well, if that doesn't beat everything!" she exclaimed. "I was callin'my cat; his name is Lucy--Lucy Larcom; sometimes we call him 'Luce' forshort. .. . Eh? Heavens and earth! Don't do THAT!"

But Galusha had already done it. The dervish dance in his head hadculminated in one grand merry-go-round blotting out consciousnessaltogether, and he had sunk down upon the sofa. 

The woman sprang from her chair, bent over him, felt his pulse, andloosened his collar. 

"Primmie, " she called. "Primmie, come here this minute, I want you!"

There was the sound of scurrying feet, heavy feet, from the adjoiningroom, the door opened and a large, raw-boned female, of an age whichmight have been almost anything within the range of the late teens orearly twenties, clumped in. She had a saucer in one hand and a dishclothin the other. 

"Yes'm, " she said, "here I be. " Then, seeing the prone figure upon thesofa, she exclaimed fervently, "Oh, my Lord of Isrul! Who's that?"

"Now don't stand there swearin' and askin' questions, but do as I tellyou. You go to the--"

"But--but what AILS him? Is he drunk?"

"Drunk? What put such a notion as that in your head? Of course he isn'tdrunk. "

"He ain't--he ain't dead?"

"Don't be so silly. He's fainted away, that's all. He's tired out andhalf sick and half starved, I guess. Here, where are you goin'?"

"I'm a-goin' to fetch some water. They always heave water on faintedfolks. "

"Well, this one's had all the water he needs already. The poor thing issoaked through. You go to the pantry and in the blue soup tureen, theone we don't use, you'll find a bottle of that cherry rum Cap'n Halletgave me three years ago. Bring it right here and bring a tumbler andspoon with it. After that you see if you can get Doctor Powers on thetelephone and ask him to come right down here as quick as he can. HURRY!Primmie Cash, if you stop to ask one more question I--I don't know whatI'll do to you. Go ALONG!"

Miss Cash went along, noisily along. Her mistress bent over the wet, pitiful little figure upon the sofa. 

And thus, working by devious ways, did Fate bring about the meeting ofGalusha Cabot Bangs, of the National Institute, Washington, D. C. , andMiss Martha Phipps, of East Wellmouth, which, it may be said in passing, was something of an achievement, even for Fate. 

CHAPTER II

And in order to make clear the truth of the statement just made, namely, that Fate had achieved something when it brought Galusha Bangs to thedoor of Martha Phipps' home that rainy night in October--in order toemphasize the truth of that statement it may be well, without waitingfurther, to explain just who Galusha Cabot Bangs was, and who and whathis family was, and how, although the Bangses were all very well intheir way, the Cabots--his mother's family--were "the banking Cabots ofBoston, " and were, therefore, very great people indeed. 

"The banking Cabots" must not be confused with any other branch of theCabots, of which there are many in Boston. All Boston Cabots are "nicepeople, " many are distinguished in some way or other, and all aredistinctly worth while. But "the banking Cabots" have been deep infinance from the very beginning, from the earliest of colonial times. The salary of the Reverend Cotton Mather was paid to him by a Cabot, andanother Cabot banked whatever portion of it he saved for a rainy day. In the Revolution a certain Galusha Cabot, progenitor of the line ofGalusha Cabots, assisted the struggling patriots of Beacon Hill to paytheir troops in the Continental army. During the Civil War his grandson, the Honorable Galusha Hancock Cabot, one of Boston's most famous bankersand financiers, was of great assistance to his state and nation in thesale of bonds and the floating of loans. His youngest daughter, DorothyHancock Cabot, married--well, she should, of course, have married afinancier or a banker or, at the very least, a millionaire stockbroker. But she did not, she married John Capen Bangs, a thoroughly estimableman, a scholar, author of two or three scholarly books which few readand almost nobody bought, and librarian of the Acropolis, a library thatBostonians and the book world know and revere. 

The engagement came as a shock to the majority of "banking Cabots. " JohnBangs was all right, but he was not in the least "financial. " He wasrespected and admired, but he was not the husband for Galusha HancockCabot's daughter. She should have married a Kidder or a Higginson orsome one high in the world of gold and securities. But she did not, shefell in love with John Bangs and she married him, and they were happytogether for a time--a time all too brief. 

In the second year of their marriage a baby boy was born. His mothernamed him, her admiring husband being quite convinced that whatever shedid was sure to be exactly the right thing. So, in order to keep up thefamily tradition and honors--"He has a perfect Cabot head. You see it, don't you, John dear"--she named him Galusha Cabot Bangs. And then, butthree years afterward, she died. 

John Capen Bangs remained in Boston until his son was nine. Then hishealth began to fail. Years of pawing and paring over old volumes amidthe dust and close air of book-lined rooms brought on a cough, a coughwhich made physicians who heard it look grave. It was before the daysof Adirondack Mountain sanitariums. They told John Bangs to go South, to Florida. He went there, leaving his son at school in Boston, butthe warm air and sunshine did not help the cough. Then they sent him toColorado, where the boy Galusha joined him. For five years he and theboy lived in Colorado. Then John Capen Bangs died. 

Dorothy Hancock Cabot had a sister, an older sister, Clarissa PeabodyCabot. Clarissa did not marry a librarian as her sister did, nor didshe marry a financier, as was expected of her. This was not her faultexactly; if the right financier had happened along and asked, it isquite probable that he would have been accepted. He did not happenalong; in fact, no one happened along until Clarissa was in her thirtiesand somewhat anxious. Then came Joshua Bute of Chicago, and when wooedshe accepted and married him. More than that, she went with him toChicago, where stood the great establishment which turned out "Bute'sBanner Brand Butterine" and "Bute's Banner Brand Leaf Lard" and "Bute'sBanner Brand Back-Home Sausage" and "Bute's Banner Brand Better BakedBeans. " Also there was a magnificent mansion on the Avenue. 

Aunt Clarissa had family and culture and a Boston manner. Uncle Joshuahad a kind heart, a hemispherical waistcoat and a tremendous deal ofmoney. Later on the kind heart stopped beating and Aunt Clarissa wasleft with the money, the mansion and--but of course the "manner" hadbeen all her own all the time. 

So when John Bangs died, Aunt Clarissa Bute sent for the son, talkedwith the latter, and liked him. She wrote to her relative, AugustusAdams Cabot, of Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot, in Boston, who, althoughstill a young man, was already known as a financier, and looked out forher various investments, saying that she found young Galusha "a niceboy, though rather odd, like his father, " and that she thought of takinghis rearing and education into her own hands. "I have no children ofmy own, Augustus. What do you think of the idea?" Augustus thought it agood one; at least he wrote that he did. So Aunt Clarissa took charge ofGalusha Bangs. 

The boy was fourteen then, a dreamy, shy youngster, who wore spectaclesand preferred curling up in a corner with a book to playing baseball. Itwas early spring when he came to live with Aunt Clarissa and before thesummer began he had already astonished his relative more than once. On one occasion a visitor, admiring the Bute library, asked how manyvolumes it contained. Aunt Clarissa replied that she did not know. "Ihave added from time to time such books as I desired and have discardedothers. I really have no idea how many there are. " Then Galusha, fromthe recess by the window, looked up over the top of the huge firstvolume of Ancient Nineveh and Its Remains which he was reading andobserved: "There were five thousand six hundred and seventeen yesterday, Auntie. "

Aunt Clarissa started so violently that her eyeglasses fell from heraquiline nose to the end of their chain. 

"Good heavens, child! I didn't know you were there. What did you say?"

"I said there were five thousand six hundred and seventeen books on theshelves here yesterday. "

"How do you know?"

"I counted them. "

"COUNTED them? Mercy! What for?"

Galusha's spectacles gleamed. "For fun, " he said. 

On another occasion his aunt found him still poring over Ancient Ninevehand Its Remains; it was the fifth volume now, however. 

"Do you LIKE to read that?" she asked. 

"Yes, Auntie. I've read four already and, counting this one, there arefive more to read. "

Now Aunt Clarissa had never read Ancient Nineveh herself. Her booksellerhad assured her that it was a very remarkable set, quite rare andcomplete. "We seldom pick one up nowadays, Mrs. Bute. You should buyit. " So Aunt Clarissa bought it, but she had never thought of readingit. 

She looked down over her nephew's shoulder at the broad page with itsdiagram of an ancient temple and its drawings of human-headed bulls inbas-relief. 

"Why do you find it so interesting?" she asked. 

Galusha looked up at her. His eyes were alight with excitement. 

"They dig those things up over there, " he said, pointing to one ofthe bulls. "It's all sand and rocks--and everything, but they send anexpedition and the people in it figure out where the city or the templeor whatever it is ought to be, and then they dig and--and find it. Andyou can't tell WHAT you'll find, exactly. And sometimes you don't findmuch of anything. "

"After all the digging and work?"

"Yes, but that's where the fun comes in. Then you figure all overagain and keep on trying and trying. And when you DO find 'em there aresculptures like this--oh, yards and yards of 'em--and all sort of queer, funny old inscriptions to be studied out. Gee, it must be great! Don'tyou think so, Auntie?"

Aunt Clarissa's reply was noncommittal. That evening she wrote a letterto Augustus Cabot in Boston. "He is a good boy, " she wrote, referring toGalusha, "but queer--oh, dreadfully queer. It's his father's queernesscropping out, of course, but it shouldn't be permitted to develop. Ihave set my heart on his becoming a financier like the other Galushas inour line. Of course he will always be a Bangs--more's the pity--buthis middle name is Cabot and his first IS Galusha. I think he had bestcontinue his schooling in or near Boston where you can influencehim, Augustus. I wish him well grounded in mathematics and--oh, youunderstand, the financial branches. Select a school, the right sort ofschool, for him, to oblige me, will you, Gus?"

Augustus Cabot chose a school, a select, aristocratic and expensiveschool near the "Hub of the Universe. " Thither, in the fall, wentGalusha and there he remained until he was eighteen, when he enteredHarvard. At college, as at school, he plugged away at his studies, and he managed to win sufficiently high marks in mathematics. But hismathematical genius was of a queer twist. In the practical dollars andcents sort of figuring he was almost worthless. Money did not interesthim at all. What interested him was to estimate how many bricks therewere in "Mem" and how many more there might have been if it had beenbuilt a story higher. 

"This room, " he said to a classmate, referring to his study in oldThayer, "was built in ----" naming the year. "Now allowing that adifferent fellow lived in it each year, which is fair enough becausethey almost always change, that means that at least so many fellows, "giving the number, "have occupied this room since the beginning. Thatis, provided there was but one fellow living in the room at a time. Nowwe know that, for part of the time, this was a double room, so--"

"Oh, for the love of Mike, Loosh!" exclaimed the classmate, "cut it out. What do you waste your time doing crazy stunts like that for?"

"But it's fun. Say, if they had all cut their initials around on thedoor frames and the--ah--mop boards it would be great stuff to puzzle'em out and make a list of 'em, wouldn't it? I wish they had. "

"Well, I don't. It would make the old rat hole look like blazes and itis bad enough as it is. Come on down and watch the practice. "

One of young Bangs' peculiar enjoyments, developed during his senioryear, was to visit every old cemetery in or about the city and examineand copy the ancient epitaphs and inscriptions. Pleasant springafternoons, when normal-minded Harvard men were busy with baseball ortrack or tennis, or the hundred and one activities which help to keepyoung America employed in a great university, Galusha might havebeen, and was, seen hopping about some grass-grown graveyard, likea bespectacled ghoul, making tracings of winged death's-heads orlugubrious tombstone poetry. When they guyed him he merely grinned, blushed, and was silent. To the few--the very few--in whom he confidedhe made explanations which were as curious as their cause. 

"It's great fun, " he declared. "It keeps you guessing, that's it. Now, for instance, here's one of those skull jiggers with wings on it. See?I traced this over at Copp's Hill last spring, a year ago. But there aredozens of 'em all about, in all the old graveyards. Nobody ever saw askull with wings; it's a--a--ah--convention, of course. But who made thefirst one? And why did it become a convention? And--and--why do someof 'em have wings like this, and some of 'em crossbones like a pirate'sflag, and some of 'em no wings or bones, and why--"

"Oh, good Lord! I don't know. Forget it. You make a noise like a hearse, Loosh. "

"Of course you don't know. _I_ don't know. I don't suppose anybodyknows, exactly. But isn't it great fun to study 'em up, and see thedifferent kinds, and think about the old chaps who carved 'em, andwonder about 'em and--"

"No, I'll be banged if it is! It's crazy nonsense. You've got pigeons inyour loft, Loosh. Come on out and give the birds an airing. "

This was the general opinion of the class of 19--, that old "Loosh hadpigeons in his loft. " However, it was agreed that they were harmlessfowl and that Galusha himself was a good old scout, in spite of hisaviary. 

He graduated with high honors in the mathematical branches and inlanguages. Then the no less firm because feminine hand of Aunt Clarissagrasped him, so to speak, by the collar and guided him to the portalsof the banking house of Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot, where "Cousin Gussie"took him in charge with the instructions to make a financier of him. 

"Cousin Gussie, " junior member of the firm, then in his early thirties, thrust his hands into the pockets of his smart tweed trousers, tiltedfrom heels to toes of his stylish and very shiny shoes and whistledbeneath his trim mustache. He had met Galusha often before, but thatfact did not make him more optimistic, rather the contrary. 

"So you want to be a banker, do you, Loosh?" he asked. 

Galusha regarded him sadly through the spectacles. 

"Auntie wants me to be one, " he said. 

The experiment lasted a trifle over six months. At the end of that timethe junior partner of Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot had another interviewwith his firm's most recent addition to its list of employees. 

"You're simply no good at the job, that's the plain truth, " said thebanker, with the candor of exasperation. "You've cost us a thousanddollars more than your salary already by mistakes and forgetfulnessand all the rest of it. You'll never make your salt at this game in amillion years. Don't you know it, yourself?"

Galusha nodded. 

"Yes, " he said, simply. 

"Eh? Oh, you do! Well, that's something. "

"I knew it when I came here. "

"Knew you would be no good at the job?"

"At this job, yes. "

"Then for heaven's sake why did you take it?"

"I told you. Aunt Clarissa wanted me to. "

"Well, you can't stay here, that's all. I'm sorry. "

"So am I, for Auntie's sake and yours. I realize I have made you a lotof--ah--trouble. "

"Oh, that's all right, that's all right. Hang it all, I feel like abeast to chuck you out this way, but I have partners, you know. Whatwill you do now?"

"I don't know. "

Cousin Gussie reflected. "I think perhaps you'd better go back to AuntClarissa, " he said. "Possibly she will tell you what to do. Don't youthink she will?"

"Yes. "

"Humph! You seem to be mighty sure of it. How do you know she will?"

For the first time a gleam, a very slight and almost pathetic gleam, ofhumor shone behind Galusha's spectacles. 

"Because she always does, " he said. And thus ended his connection withthe banking profession. 

Aunt Clarissa was disgusted and disappointed, of course. She expressedher feelings without reservation. However, she laid most of the blameupon heredity. 

"You got it from that impractical librarian, " she declared. "Why didDorothy marry him? She might have known what the result would be. "

Galusha was more downcast even than his relative. 

"I'm awfully sorry, Aunt Clarissa, " he said. "I realize I am a dreadfuldisappointment to you. I tried, I honestly did, but--"

And here he coughed, coughed lengthily and in a manner which caused hisaunt to look alarmed and anxious. She had heard John Capen Bangs coughlike that. That very afternoon the Bute family physician saw, questionedand examined Galusha. The following day an eminent specialist did thesame things. And both doctors looked gravely at each other and at theirpatient. 

Within a week Galusha was on his way to an Arizona ranch, a place wherehe was to find sunshine and dry climate. He was to be out of doors asmuch as possible, he was to ride and walk much, he was to do all sortsof distasteful things, but he promised faithfully to do them, for hisaunt's sake. As a matter of fact, he took little interest in the matterfor his own. His was a sensitive spirit, although a quiet, shy and"queer" one, and to find that he was "no good" at any particularemployment, even though he had felt fairly certain of that factbeforehand, hurt more than he acknowledged to others. Galusha went toArizona because his aunt, to whose kindness and generosity he owed somuch, wished him to do so. For himself he did not care where he went orwhat became of him. 

But his feelings changed a few months later, when health began to returnand the cough to diminish in frequency and violence. And then came tothe ranch where he lodged and boarded an expedition from an easternmuseum. It was an expedition sent to explore the near-by canyon fortrace of the ancient "cliff dwellers, " to find and, if need be, excavatethe villages of this strange people and to do research work among them. The expedition was in charge of an eminent scientist. Galusha met andtalked with the scientist and liked him at once, a liking which was togrow into adoration as the acquaintanceship between the two warmed intofriendship. The young man was invited to accompany the expedition uponone of its exploring trips. He accepted and, although he did not thenrealize it, upon that trip he discovered, not only an ancient cliffvillage, but the life work of Galusha Cabot Bangs. 

For Galusha was wild with enthusiasm. Scrambling amid the rocks, wading or tumbling into the frigid waters of mountain streams, sleepinganywhere or not sleeping, all these hardships were of no consequencewhatever compared with the thrill which came with the first glimpse of, high up under the bulging brow of an overhanging cliff, a rude wall anda cluster of half ruined dwellings sticking to the side of the precipiceas barn swallows' nests are plastered beneath eaves. Then the climband the glorious burrowing into the homes of these long dead folk, thehallelujahs when a bit of broken pottery was found, and the delightfullyarduous labor of painstakingly uncovering and cleaning a bit of rudecarving. The average man would have tired of it in two days, a week ofit would have bored him to distraction. But the longer it lasted andthe harder the labor, the brighter Galusha's eyes sparkled behind hisspectacles. Years before, when his aunt had asked him concerning hisinterest in the books about ancient Nineveh, he had described to her thework of the explorers and had cried: "Gee, it must be great!" Well, now he was, in a very humble way, helping to do something of the sorthimself, and--gee, it WAS great!

Such enthusiasm as his and such marked aptitude, amounting almost togenius, could not help but make an impression. The distinguished savantat the head of the expedition returned the young man's liking. Beforereturning East, he said:

"Bangs, next fall I am planning an expedition to Ecuador. I'd like tohave you go with me. Oh, this isn't offered merely for your sake, it isquite as much for mine. You're worth at least three of the average youngfellows who have trained for this sort of thing. There will be a salaryfor you, of course, but it won't be large. On the other hand, there willbe no personal expense and some experience. Will you go?"

Would he GO? Why--

"Yes, I know. But there is your health to be considered. I can't affordto have a sick man along. You stay here for the present and put in yourtime getting absolutely fit. "

"But--but I AM fit. "

"Um--yes; well, then, get fitter. "

Galusha went to Ecuador. Aunt Clarissa protested, scolded, declared himinsane--and capitulated only when she found that he was going anyhow. Hereturned from the expedition higher than ever in favor with his chief. He was offered a position in the archeological department of the museum. He accepted first and then told Aunt Clarissa. 

That was the real beginning. After that the years rolled placidly along. He went to Egypt, under his beloved chief, and there found exactly whathe had dreamed. The desert, the pyramids, the sculptures, the ancientwritings, the buried tombs and temples--all those Galusha saw and took, figuratively speaking, for his own. On his return he settled down tothe study of Egyptology, its writings, its history, its every detail. Hemade another trip to the beloved land and distinguished himself and hismuseum by his discoveries. His chief died and Galusha was offered thepost left vacant. He accepted. Later--some years later--he was called tothe National Institute at Washington. 

When he was thirty-seven his Aunt Clarissa died. She left all herproperty to her nephew. But she left it in trust, in trust with CousinGussie. There was a letter to the latter in the envelope with the will. "He is to have only the income, the income, understand--until he isforty-five, " Aunt Clarissa had written. "Heaven knows, I am afraideven THAT is too young for a child such as he is in everything exceptpyramids. "

Cousin Gussie, now the dignified and highly respected senior partnerof Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot, took charge of the Bute--now theBangs--property. There was not as much of it as most people hadsupposed; since Uncle Joshua passed on certain investments had gonewrong, but there was income enough to furnish any mortal of ordinarytastes with the means of gratifying them and still have a substantialresidue left. Galusha understood this, in a vague sort of way, but hedid not care. Outside of his beloved profession he had no tastes andno desires. Life for him was, as Cousin Gussie unfeelingly put it, "onedamned mummy after the other. " In fact, after the arrival of the firstinstallment of income, he traveled posthaste to the office of his Bostonrelative and entered a protest. 

"You--you mustn't send any more, really you mustn't, " he declared, anxiously. "I don't know what to do with it. "

"DO with it? Do with the money, you mean?"

"Yes--yes, that's it. "

"But don't you need it to live on?"

"Oh, dear me, no!"

"What DO you live on?"

"Why, my salary. "

"How much is your salary, if you don't mind telling us?"

Galusha did not in the least mind. The figure he named seemed a smallone to his banking relative, used to big sums. 

"Humph!" grunted the latter; "well, that isn't so tremendous. They don'toverpay you mummy-dusters, do they? And you really don't want me to sendyou any more?"

"No, not if you're sure you don't mind. "

"Oh, I don't mind. Then you want me to keep it and reinvest it for you;is that it?"

"I--I think so. Yes, reinvest it or--ah--something. "

"But you may need some of it occasionally. If you do you will notify me, of course. "

"Oh, yes; yes, indeed. Thank you very much. It's quite a weight off mymind, really it is. "

Cabot could not help laughing. Then a thought struck him. 

"Did you bring back the check I sent you?" he asked. Galusha lookedsomewhat confused. 

"Why, why, no, I didn't, " he admitted. "I had intended to, but yousee--Dear me, dear me, I hope you will feel that I did right. You see, our paleontological department had been hoping to fit out an expeditionto the Wyoming fossil fields, but it was lamentably short of funds, appropriations--ah--and so on. Hambridge and I were talking of thematter. A very adequate man indeed, Hambridge. Possibly you've read someof his writings. He wrote Lesser Reptilian Life in the Jurassio. Are youacquainted with that?"

Cousin Gussie shook his head. "Never have been introduced, " he observed, with a chuckle. Galusha noted the chuckle and smiled. 

"I imagine not, " he observed. "I fear it isn't what is calleda--ah--best seller. Well--ah--Dear me, where was I? Oh, yes! Hambridge, poor fellow, was very much upset at the prospect of abandoning hisexpedition and I, knowing from experience what such a disappointmentmeans, sympathized with him. Your check was at that moment lying on mydesk. So--so--It was rather on the spur of the moment, I confess--I--"

The banker interrupted. 

"Are you trying to tell me, " he demanded, "that you handed that checkover to that other--that other--"

He seemed rather at a loss for the word. 

Galusha nodded. 

"To finance Hambridge's expedition? Yes, " he said. 

"ALL of it?"

"Yes--ah--yes. "

"Well, by George!"

"Perhaps it was impulsive on my part. But, you see, Hambridge DID needthe money. And of course I didn't. The only thing that troubles me isthe fact that, after all, it was money Aunt Clarissa left to me and Ishould prefer to do what she would have liked with it. I fear she mightnot have liked this. "

Cabot nodded, grimly. He had known Aunt Clarissa very, very well. 

"You bet she wouldn't, " he declared. 

"Yes. So don't send me any more, will you? Ah--not unless I ask for it. "

"No, I won't. " Then he added, "And not then unless I know WHY you askfor it, you can bet on that. "

Galusha was as grateful as if he had been granted a great favor. As theywalked through the outer office together he endeavored to express hisfeelings. 

"Thank you, thank you very much, Cousin Gussie, " he said, earnestly. Hisrelative glanced about at the desks where rows of overjoyed clerks weretrying to suppress delighted grins and pretend not to have heard. 

"You're welcome, Loosh, " he said, as they parted at the door, "but don'tyou ever dare call me 'Cousin Gussie' again in public as long as youlive. "

Galusha Bangs returned to his beloved work at the National Instituteand his income was reinvested for him by the senior partner of Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot. Occasionally Galusha requested that a portion ofit be sent him, usually for donation to this department or that or toassist in fitting out an expedition of his own, but, generally speaking, he was quite content with his modest salary. He unwrapped his mummiesand deciphered his moldering papyri, living far more in ancient Egyptthan in modern Washington. The Great War and its demands upon the youthof the world left the Institute short-handed and he labored harder thanever, doing the work of two assistants as well as his own. It was theonly thing he could do for his country, the only thing that countrywould permit him to do, but he tried to do that well. Then theHindenburg line was broken, the armistice was signed and the civilizedworld rejoiced. 

But Galusha Bangs did not rejoice, for his health had broken, like theenemy's resistance, and the doctors told him that he was to go away atonce. 

"You must leave all this, " commanded the doctor; "forget it. You mustget away, get out of doors and stay out. "

For a moment Galusha was downcast. Then he brightened. 

"There is an expedition from the New York museum about to start forSyria, " he said. "I am quite sure I would be permitted to accompany it. I'll write at once and--"

"Here, here! Wait! You'll do nothing of the sort. I said forget thatsort of thing. You can't go wandering off to dig in the desert; youmight as well stay in this place and dig here. Get away from it all. Gowhere there are people. "

"But, Doctor Raymond, there are people in Syria, a great many of them, and most interesting people. I have--"

"No. You are to forget Syria and Egypt and your work altogether. Keepout of doors, meet people, exercise--play golf, perhaps. The maintrouble with you just now is nerve weariness and lack of strength. Eat, sleep, rest, build up. Eat regular meals at regular times. Go to bed ata regular hour. I would suggest your going to some resort, either in themountains or at the seashore. Enjoy yourself. "

"But, doctor, I DON'T enjoy myself at such places. I am quite wretched. Really I am. "

"Look here, you must do precisely as I tell you. Your lungs are quiteall right at present, but, as you know, they have a tendency to becomeall wrong with very little provocation. I tell you to go away at once, at once. And STAY away, for a year at least. If you don't, my friend, you are going to die. Is that plain?"

It was plain, certainly. Galusha took off his spectacles and rubbedthem, absently. 

"Dear me!. .. Dear me!--ah--Oh, dear!" he observed. 

A resort? Galusha knew precious little about resorts; they were placeshe had hitherto tried to avoid. He asked his stenographer to name aresort where one would be likely to meet--ah--a good many people andfind--ah--air and--ah--that sort of thing. The stenographer suggestedAtlantic City. She had no idea why he asked the question. 

Galusha went to Atlantic City. Atlantic City in August! Two days ofcrowds and noise were sufficient. A crumpled, perspiring wreck, heboarded the train bound for the mountains. The White Mountains were hisdestination. He had never visited them, but he knew them by reputation. 

The White Mountains were not so bad. The crowds at the hotels were notpleasant, but one could get away into the woods and walk, and there wasan occasional old cemetery to be visited. But as the fall season drew onthe crowds grew greater. People persisted in talking to Galusha whenhe did not care to be talked to. They asked questions. And one had todress--or most DID dress--for dinner. He tired of the mountains; therewere too many people there, they made him feel "queerer" than ever. 

On his way from Atlantic City to the mountains he happened upon thediscarded magazine with the advertisement of the Restabit Inn in it. Just why he had torn out that "ad" and kept it he was himself, perhaps, not quite sure. The "rest" and "sea air" and "pleasant people" wereexactly what the doctor had prescribed for him, but that was not thewhole reason for the advertisement's retention. An association of ideaswas the real reason. Just before he found the magazine he had receivedMrs. Hall's postcard with its renewal of the invitation to visit theHall cottage at Wellmouth. And the Restabit Inn was at East Wellmouth. 

His determination to accept the Hall invitation and make the visit wasas sudden as it was belated. The postcard came in August, but it was notuntil October that Galusha made up his mind. His decision was brought toa focus by the help of Mrs. Worth Buckley. Mrs. Buckley's help hadnot been solicited, but was volunteered, and, as a matter of fact, itseffect was the reverse of that which the lady intended. Nevertheless, had it not been for Mrs. Buckley it is doubtful if Galusha would havestarted for Wellmouth. 

She came upon him first one brilliant afternoon when he was sitting upona rock, resting his weary legs--they wearied so easily nowadays--andlooking off at the mountain-side ablaze with autumn coloring. Shewas large and commanding, and she spoke with a manner, a very decidedmanner. She asked him if--he would pardon her for asking, wouldn'the?--but had she, by any chance, the honor of addressing Doctor Bangs, the Egyptologist. Oh, really? How very wonderful! She was quite certainthat it was he. She had heard him deliver a series of lectures--oh, the most WONDERFUL things, they were, really--at the museum someyears before. She had been introduced to him at that time, but he hadforgotten her, of course. Quite natural that he should. "You meet somany people, Doctor Bangs--or should I say 'Professor'?"

He hoped she would say neither. He had an odd prejudice of his ownagainst titles, and to be called "Mister" Bangs was the short road tohis favor. He tried to tell this woman so, but it was of no use. Ina little while he found it quite as useless to attempt telling heranything. The simplest way, apparently, was silently and patiently toendure while she talked--and talked--and talked. 

Memories of her monologues, if they could have been taken in shorthandfrom Galusha's mind, would have been merely a succession of "I" and"I" and "I" and "Oh, do you really think so, Doctor Bangs?" and "Oh, Professor!" and "wonderful" and "amazing" and "quite thrilling" and muchmore of the same. 

She followed him when he went to walk; that is, apparently she did, forhe was continually encountering her. She came and sat next him on thehotel veranda. She bowed and smiled to him when she swept into thedining room at meal times. Worst of all, she told others, many others, who he was, and he was aware of being stared at, a knowledge which madehim acutely self-conscious and correspondingly miserable. There was aMr. Worth Buckley trotting in her wake, but he was mild and inoffensive. His wife, however--Galusha exclaimed, "Oh, dear me!" inwardly or aloudwhenever he thought of her. 

And she WOULD talk of Egypt. She and her husband had visited Cairo onceupon a time, so she felt herself as familiar with the whole Nile basinas with the goldfish tank in the hotel lounge. To Galusha Egypt was anenchanted land, a sort of paradise to which fortunate explorers mighteventually be permitted to go if they were very, very good. To havethis sacrilegious female patting the Sphinx on the head was more than hecould stand. 

So he determined to stand it no longer; he ran away. One evening Mrs. Buckley informed him that she and a little group--"a really selectgroup, Professor Bangs"--of the hotel inmates were to picnic somewhereor other the following day. "And you are to come with us, Doctor, and tell us about those wonderful temples you and I were discussingyesterday. I have told the others something of what you told me and theyare quite WILD to hear you. "

Galusha was quite wild also. He went to his room and, pawing amid thechaos of his bureau drawer for a clean collar, chanced upon the postcardfrom Mrs. Hall. The postcard reminded him of the advertisement of theRestabit Inn, which was in his pocketbook. Then the idea came to him. He would go to the Hall cottage and make a visit of a day or two. If heliked the Cape and Wellmouth he would take lodgings at the RestabitInn and stay as long as he wished. The suspicion that the inn mightbe closed did not occur to him. The season was at its height in themountains, and Atlantic City, so they had told him there, ran at fullblast all the year. So much he knew, and the rest he did not thinkabout. 

He spent most of that night packing his trunk and his suitcase. He leftword for the former to be sent to him by express and the latter he tookwith him. He tiptoed downstairs, ate a hasty breakfast, and took theearliest train for Boston, The following afternoon he started upon hisCape Cod pilgrimage, a pilgrimage which was to end in a fainting fitupon the sofa in Miss Martha Phipps' sitting room. 

CHAPTER III

The fainting fit did not last long. When Galusha again became interestedin the affairs of this world it was to become aware that a glasscontaining something not unpleasantly fragrant was held directly beneathhis nose and that some one was commanding him to drink. 

So he drank, and the fragrant liquid in the tumbler descended to hisstomach and thence, apparently, to his fingers and toes; at all eventsthose chilled members began to tingle agreeably. Mr. Bangs attempted tosit up. 

"No, no, you stay right where you are, " said the voice, the same voicewhich had urged him to drink. 

"But really I--I am quite well now. And your sofa--"

"Never mind the sofa. You aren't the first soakin' wet mortal that hasbeen on it. No, you mind me and stay still. .. . Primmie!"

"Yes'm. Here I be. "

"Did you get the doctor on the 'phone?"

"Yes'm. He said he'd be right down soon's ever he could. He was kind offussy 'long at fust; said he hadn't had no supper and was wet through, and all such talk's that. But I headed HIM off, my savin' soul, yes!Says I, 'There's a man here that's more'n wet through; he ain't had athing but rum since I don't know when. '"

"Heavens and earth! WHAT did you tell him that for?"

"Why, it's so, ain't it, Miss Marthy? You said yourself he was starved. "

"But what did you tell him about the rum for? Never mind, never mind. Don't stop to argue about it. You go out and make some tea, hot tea, andtoast some bread. And hurry, Primmie--HURRY!"

"Yes'm, but--"

"HURRY!. .. And Primmie Cash, if you scorch that toast-bread I'll scrapeoff the burned part and make you eat it, I declare I will. Now you lieright still, Mr. --er--Bangs, did you say your name was?"

"Yes, but really, madam--"

"My name is Phipps, Martha Phipps. "

"Really. Mrs. Phipps--"

"Miss, not Mrs. "

"I beg your pardon. Really, Miss Phipps, I cannot permit you to takeso much trouble. I must go on, back to the village--or--or somewhere. I--Dear me?"

"What is it?"

"Nothing, nothing, my head is rather confused--dizzy. I shall be allright again, shortly. I am ashamed of myself. "

"You needn't be. Anybody that has walked 'way down here, a night likethis, on an empty stomach--" She paused, laughed, and exclaimed, "Ofcourse, I don't mean you walked on your stomach, exactly, Mr. Bangs. "

Galusha smiled, feebly. "There were times when I began to think I shouldbe forced to, " he said. 

"I don't doubt it. There, there! now don't try to talk any more tillyou've had something to eat. Doctor Powers will be here pretty soon; itisn't very far--in an automobile. I'm afraid he's liable to have a queernotion of what's the matter with you. The idea of that Primmie tellin'him you hadn't had anything but rum for she didn't know how long! My, my! Well, 'twas the truth, but it bears out what my father used to say, that a little truth was like a little learnin', an awfully dangerousthing. .. . There, there! don't talk. I'll talk for both of us. I have afaculty that way--father used to say THAT, too, " she added, with a broadsmile. 

When Doctor Powers did arrive, which was about fifteen minutes later, he found the patient he had come to see drinking hot tea and eatingbuttered toast. He was sitting in a big rocker with his steaming shoespropped against the stove. Miss Phipps introduced the pair and explainedmatters to the extent of her knowledge. Galusha added the lackingdetails. 

The doctor felt the Bangs' pulse and took the Bangs temperature. Theowner of the pulse and temperature made feeble protests, declaringhimself to be "perfectly all right, really" and that he must be goingback to the village. He couldn't think of putting every one to so muchtrouble. 

"And where will you go when you get back to the village?" asked DoctorPowers. 

"Why, to the--ah--hotel. I presume there is a hotel. "

"No, there isn't. The Inn across the road here is the only hotel in EastWellmouth, and that is closed for the season. "

"Dear me, doctor! Dear me! Well, perhaps I may be able to hirea--ah--car or wagon or something to take me to Wellmouth. I havefriends in Wellmouth; I intended visiting them. Do you know ProfessorHall--ah--George Hall, of New York?"

"Yes, I know him well. He and his family are patients of mine. But theHalls are not in Wellmouth now. "

"They are not?"

"No, they went back to New York two weeks or more ago. Their cottage isclosed. "

"Dear me!. .. Oh, dear!. .. Why, but--but there IS a hotel at Wellmouth?"

"Yes, a kind of hotel, but you mustn't think of going there to-night. "Then, with a motion of his hand, he indicated to Miss Phipps that hewished to speak with her alone. She led the way to the kitchen and hefollowed. 

"Martha, " he said, when the door closed, "to be absolutely honest withyou, that man in there shouldn't go out again to-night. He has been halfsick for some time, I judge from what he has told me, and he is weak andworn out from his tramp and wetting. "

Miss Phipps shook her head impatiently. 

"The idea of Raish Pulcifer's cartin' him 'way over here and thenleavin' him in the middle of the road, " she said. "It's just likeRaish, but that doesn't help it any; nothin' that's like Raish helpsanything--much, " she added. 

The doctor laughed. 

"I'm beginning to believe you're right, Martha, " he agreed. 

"I'm pretty sure I am. I think I know Raish Pulcifer by this time; Ialmost wish I didn't. Father used to say that if ignorance was bliss thehome for feeble-minded folks ought to be a paradise. But I don'tknow; sometimes I wish I wasn't so wise about some things; I might behappier. "

Her pleasant, comely face had clouded over. Doctor Powers thought heunderstood why. 

"Haven't heard anything hopeful about the Wellmouth Development Company, have you?" he asked. 

"Not a word. I've almost given up expectin' to. How about you?"

"Oh, I've heard nothing new. Well, I've got only ten shares, so theloss, if it is a loss, won't break me. But Cap'n Jethro went in ratherheavily, so they say. "

"I believe he did. "

"Yes. Well, it may be all right, after all. Raish says all we need istime. "

"Um-hm. And that's all the Lord needed when He made the world. He madeit in six days. Sometimes when I'm out of sorts I wonder if onemore week wouldn't have given us a better job. .. . But there, that'sirreverent, isn't it, and off the track besides? Now about this littleBangs man. What ought to be done with him?"

"Well, as I say, he shouldn't go out to-night. Of course he'll have to. "

"Why will he have to?"

"Because he needs to go to bed and sleep. I thought perhaps I could gethim down to the light and Cap'n Jethro and Lulie could give him a room. "

"There's a room here. Two or three of 'em, as far as that goes. He isn'tvery big; he won't need more than one. "

"But, Martha, I didn't know how you would feel about taking a strangeman into your house, at night, and--"

Miss Phipps interrupted him. 

"Heavens and earth, doctor!" she exclaimed, "what DO you think I am? I'mforty-one years old next August and I weigh--Well, I won't tell youwhat I weigh, but I blush every time I see the scales. If you think I'mafraid of a little, meek creature like the one in the sittin' room younever made a bigger mistake. And there's Primmie to help me, in case Ineed help, which I shan't. Besides he doesn't look as if he would runoff with the spoons, now does he?"

Doctor Powers laughed heartily. "Why, no, he doesn't, " he admitted. "Ithink you'll find him a quiet little chap. "

"Yes. And he isn't able to half look after himself when he's well, tosay nothin' of when he's sick. Anybody--any woman, anyhow--could tellthat just by lookin' at him. And I've brought up a father, so I've hadexperience. He'll stay right here in the spare bedroom to-night--yes, and to-morrow night, too, if you think he'd better. Now don't talk anymore rubbish, but go in and tell him so. "

Her hand was on the latch of the sitting room door when the doctor askedone more question. 

"Say, Martha, " he asked, "this is not my business, but as a friend ofyours I--Tell me: Cap'n Jim--your father, I mean--didn't put more moneythan he could spare in that Development scheme, did he? I mean you, yourself, aren't--er--likely to be embarrassed in case--in case--"

Miss Phipps interrupted hastily, almost too hastily, so Doctor Powersthought. 

"No, no, of course not, " she said. 

"Truly, Martha? I'm only asking as a friend, you know. "

"Why, of course. There now, doctor, don't you worry about me. You knowwhat father and I were to each other; is it likely he would leave mein trouble of any kind? Now come in and see if Primmie has talked thislittle sick man of ours into another faintin' fit. "

Primmie had not, but the "little sick man" came, apparently, very nearto fainting when told that he was to occupy the Phipps' spare bedroomovernight. Oh, he could not possibly do such a thing, really he couldn'tthink of it! "Dear me, Miss Phipps, I--"

Miss Phipps paid absolutely no heed to his protests. Neither did thedoctor, who was giving her directions concerning some tablets. "One tobe taken now and another in the morning. Perhaps he had better stay inbed until I come, Martha. I'll be down after breakfast. "

"All right, doctor. Do you think he's had enough to eat?"

"Enough for to-night, yes. Now, Mr. Bangs, " turning to the stillprotesting Galusha, "you and I will go upstairs and see that you get tobed. "

"But, really, doctor, I--"

"What's troublin' me, doctor, " broke in Miss Phipps, "is what on earthto give him to sleep in. There may be a nightshirt of father's aroundin one of the trunks somewhere, but I doubt it, for I gave away almosteverything of that kind when he died. I suppose he might use one ofPrimmie's nightgowns, or mine, but either one would swallow him whole, I'm afraid. "

Doctor Powers, catching a glimpse of the expression on his patient'sface, was obliged to wait an instant before venturing to reply. Galushahimself took advantage of the interval. 

"Why--why--" he cried, "I--Dear me, dear me, I must have forgotten itentirely. My suitcase! I--ah--it must be on the veranda of that hotel. Ileft it there. "

"What hotel? The Restabit Inn?"

"Yes. I--"

He got no further. His hostess began issuing orders. A few minuteslater, Primmie, adequately if not beautifully attired in a man's oilskin"slicker, " sou'wester, and rubber boots, clumped forth in search of thesuitcase. She returned dripping but grinning with the missing property. Its owner regarded it with profound thankfulness. He could at leastretire for the night robed as a man and a brother. 

"Everything in there you need, Mr. Bangs?" asked Doctor Powers, briskly. 

"Oh, yes, quite, quite--ah--thank you. But really--"

"Then you and I will go aloft, as old Cap'n Jim would have said. Cap'nJim Phipps was Miss Martha's father, Mr. Bangs, and there may have beenfiner men, but I never met any of 'em. All ready? Good! Here, here, don't hurry! Take it easy. Those stairs are steep. "

They were steep, and narrow as well. Galusha went first but before hereached the top he was extremely thankful that the sturdy physicianwas behind to steady him. Miss Martha called to say that she had left alighted lamp in the bedroom. Beyond the fact that the room itself was ofgood size Galusha noticed little concerning it, little except the bed, which was large and patchwork-quilted and tremendously inviting. 

Doctor Powers briskly helped him to undress. The soaked shoes andstockings made the physician shake his head. 

"Your feet are as cold as ice, I suppose, eh?" he inquired. 

"Why, a trifle chilled, but nothing--really nothing. "

Miss Martha called up the stairs. 

"Doctor, " she called, "here's a hot-water bag. I thought probably'twould feel comfortable. "

Doctor Powers accepted the bag and returned to the room, shaking hishead. 

"That woman's got more sense than a--than a barn full of owls, "he declared, solemnly. "There, Mr. Bangs, that'll warm up yourunderpinning. Anything more you want? All right, are you?"

"Oh, yes, quite, quite. But really, doctor, I shouldn't permit this. Ifeel like a trespasser, like--a--a--"

"You feel like going to sleep, that's what I want you to feel like. Lucky the rain has driven off the fog or the foghorn would keep youawake. It sounds like the crack of doom down here. Perhaps you noticedit?"

"Yes, I did--ah--at least that. "

"I shouldn't wonder. Anybody but a graven image would notice the Gould'sBluffs foghorn. Matches right there by the lamp, in case you want 'em. If you feel mean in the night sing out; Martha'll hear you and come in. I'll be on hand in the morning. Good-night, Mr. Bangs. "

He blew out the lamp and departed, closing the door behind him. The rainpoured upon the roof overhead and splashed against the panes of the twolittle windows beneath the eaves. Galusha Bangs, warm and dry for thefirst time in hours, sank comfortably to sleep. 

He woke early, at least he felt sure it was early until he looked athis watch. Then he discovered it was almost nine o'clock. He had had awonderful night's rest and he felt quite himself, quite well again, he--

Whew! That shoulder WAS a trifle stiff. Yes, and there was a little morelameness in his ankles and knees than he could have wished. Perhaps, after all, he would not get up immediately. He would lie there alittle longer and perhaps have the hotel people send up his breakfast, and--Then he remembered that he was not at the hotel; he was occupyinga room in the house of a total stranger. No doubt they were waitingbreakfast for him. Dear me, dear me!

He climbed stiffly out of bed and began to dress. This statement is notquite correct; he prepared to begin to dress. Just as he reachedthe important point where it was time to put something on he made astartling discovery: His clothes were gone!

It was true, they were gone, every last item of them with theunimportant exceptions of crumpled collar and tie. Galusha lookedhelplessly about the room and shivered. 

"Oh, dear me!" he cried, aloud. "Oh, dear!"

A voice outside his chamber door made answer. 

"Be you awake, Mr. Bangs?" asked Primmie. "Here's your things. DoctorPowers he come up and got 'em last night after you'd fell asleep and meand Miss Martha we hung 'em alongside the kitchen stove. They're driedout fine. Miss Martha says you ain't to get up, though, till the doctorcomes. I'll leave your things right here on the floor. .. . Or shall I put'em inside?"

"Oh, no, no! Don't, don't! I mean put them on the floor--ah--outside. Thank you, thank you. "

"Miss Martha said if you was awake to ask you if you felt better. "

"Oh, yes--yes, much better, thank you. Thank you--yes. "

He waited in some trepidation, until he heard Primmie clump downstairs. Then he opened the door a crack and retrieved his "things. " They werenot only dry, but clean, and the majority of the wrinkles had beenpressed from his trousers and coat. The mud had even been brushed fromhis shoes. Not that Galusha noticed all this just then. He was busydressing, having a nervous dread that the unconventional Primmie mightfind she had forgotten something and come back to bring it. 

When he came downstairs there was no one in the sitting room and he hadan opportunity to look about. It was a pleasant apartment, that sittingroom, especially on a morning like this, with the sunshine streaming inthrough the eastern windows, windows full of potted plants set upon wireframes, with hanging baskets of trailing vines and a canary in a cageabout them. There were more plants in the western windows also, for thesitting room occupied the whole width of the house at that point. The pictures upon the wall were almost all of the sea, paintings ofschooners, and one of the "Barkentine Hawkeye, of Boston. Captain JamesPhipps, leaving Surinam, August 12, 1872. " The only variations from thesea pictures were a "crayon-enlarged" portrait of a sturdy man with anabundance of unruly gray hair and a chin beard, and a chromo labeled"Sunset at Niagara Falls. " The portrait bore sufficient resemblance toMiss Martha Phipps to warrant Galusha's guess that it was intended toportray her father, the "Cap'n Jim" of whom the doctor had spoken. Thechromo of "Sunset at Niagara Falls" was remarkable chiefly for its lackof resemblance either to Niagara or a sunset. 

He was inspecting this work of art when Miss Phipps entered the room. She was surprised to see him. 

"Mercy on us!" she exclaimed. "WHAT in the world are you doin'downstairs here?"

Galusha blushed guiltily and hastened to explain that he was feelingquite himself, really, and so had, of course, risen and--ah--dressed. 

"But I do hope, Miss Phipps, " he added, "that I haven't kept you waitingbreakfast. I'm afraid I have. "

She laughed at the idea. "Indeed you haven't, " she declared. "If youdon't mind my sayin' so, Mr. Bangs, the angel Gabriel couldn't keep mewaitin' breakfast till half past nine on a Saturday mornin'. Primmie andI were up at half-past six sharp. That is, I got up then and Primmie washelped up about five minutes afterward. But what I want to know, " shewent on, "is why you got up at all. Didn't the doctor say you were tostay abed until he came?"

"Why--why, yes, I believe he did, but you see--you see--"

"Never mind. The main thing is that you ARE up and must be pretty nearlystarved. Sit right down, Mr. Bangs. Your breakfast will be ready in twoshakes. "

"But Miss Phipps, I wish you wouldn't trouble about my breakfast. Ifeel--"

"I know how you feel; that is, I know how _I_ should feel if I hadn'teaten a thing but toast-bread since yesterday mornin'. Sit down, Mr. Bangs. "

She hastened from the room. Galusha, the guilty feeling even morepronounced, sat down as requested. Five minutes afterward she returnedto tell him that breakfast was ready. He followed her to the diningroom, another comfortable, sunshiny apartment, where Primmie, grinningbroadly, served him with oatmeal and boiled eggs and hot biscuits andcoffee. He was eating when Doctor Powers' runabout drove up. 

The doctor, after scolding his patient for disobeying orders, gave thesaid patient a pretty thorough examination. 

"You are in better shape than you deserve to be, " he said, "but you arenot out of the woods yet. What you need is to gain strength, and thatmeans a few days' rest and quiet and good food. If your friends, theHalls, were at their cottage at the Centre I'd take you there, Mr. Bangs, but they're not. I would take you over to my house, but my wife'ssister and her children are with us and I haven't any place to put you. "

Galusha, who had been fidgeting in his chair, interrupted. "Now, DoctorPowers, " he begged, "please don't think of such a thing. I am quite wellenough to travel. "

"Excuse me, but you are not. "

"But you said yourself you would take me to Wellmouth if the Halls werethere. "

"I did, but they're not there. "

"I know, but there is a hotel there, Mr. --ah--Pulcifer said so. "

The doctor and Miss Phipps looked at each other. 

"He said there was a hotel there, " went on Galusha. "Now if you would beso kind as to--ah--take me to that hotel--"

Dr. Powers rubbed his chin. 

"I should like to have you under my eye for a day or two, " he said. 

"Yes--yes, of course. Well, couldn't you motor over and see meoccasionally? It is not so very far, is it?. .. As to the additionalexpense, of course I should expect to reimburse you for that. "

Still the physician looked doubtful. 

"It isn't the expense, exactly, Mr. Bangs, " he said. 

"I promise you I will not attempt to travel until you give yourpermission. I realize that I am still--ah--a trifle weak--weak in theknees, " he added, with his slight smile. "I know you must consider meto have been weak in the head to begin with, otherwise I shouldn't havegotten into this scrape. "

The doctor laughed, but he still looked doubtful. 

"The fact is, Mr. Bangs, " he began--and stopped. "The fact is--thefact--"

Martha Phipps finished the sentence for him. 

"The fact is, " she said, briskly, "that Doctor Powers knows, just asI or any other sane person in Ostable County knows, that Elmer Rogers'hotel at the Centre isn't fit to furnish board and lodgin' for a healthypig, to say nothin' of a half sick man. You think he hadn't ought to gothere, don't you, doctor?"

"Well, Martha, to be honest with you--yes. Although I shouldn't wantElmer to know I said it. "

"Well, you needn't worry; he shan't know as far as I am concerned. Nowof course there's just one sensible thing for Mr. Bangs here to do, andyou know what that is, doctor, as well as I do. Now don't you?"

Powers smiled. "Perhaps, " he admitted, "but I'd rather you said it, Martha. "

"All right, I'm goin' to say it. Mr. Bangs, " turning to the nervousGalusha, "the thing for you to do is to stay right here in this house, stay right here till you're well enough to go somewhere else. "

Galusha rose from his chair. "Oh, really, " he cried, in great agitation, "I can't do that. I can't, really, Miss Phipps. "

"Of course I realize you won't be as comfortable here as you would be ina hotel, in a GOOD hotel--you'd be more comfortable in a pigsty than youwould at Elmer's. But--"

"Miss Phipps--Miss Phipps, please! I AM comfortable. You have made mevery comfortable. I think I never slept better in my life than I didlast night. Or ate a better breakfast than this one. But I cannot permityou to go to this trouble. "

"It isn't any trouble. "

"Excuse me, I feel that it is. No, doctor, I must go--if not to theWellmouth hotel, then somewhere else. "

Doctor Powers whistled. Miss Martha looked at Galusha. Galusha, whoseknees were trembling, sat down in the chair again. Suddenly the ladyspoke. 

"If this was a hotel you would be willin' to stay here, wouldn't you, Mr. Bangs?" she asked. 

"Why, yes, certainly. But, you see, it--ah--isn't one. "

"No, but we might make it one for three or four days. Doctor, what doesElmer Rogers charge his inmates--his boarders, I mean--a day?"

"Why, from three to five dollars, I believe. "

"Tut, tut, tut! The robber! Well, I presume likely he'd rob Mr. Bangshere as hard as he'd rob anybody. Mr. Bangs, I take it that whattroubles you mostly is that you don't want to visit a person you'venever met until last night. You've never met Elmer Rogers at all, butyou would be perfectly willin' to visit him if you could pay for theprivilege. "

"Why--why, yes, of course, Miss Phipps. You have been very kind, so kindthat I don't know how to express my gratitude, but I can't accept anymore of your hospitality. To board at a hotel is quite a differentthing. "

"Certainly it is. I appreciate how you feel. I should probably feel justthe same way. This house of mine isn't a hotel and doesn't pretend tobe, but if you think you can be comfortable here for the next few daysand it will make you feel happier to pay--say, three dollars a day forthe privilege, why--well, I'm satisfied if you are. "

Galusha gazed at her in amazement. The doctor slapped his knee. 

"Splendid!" he exclaimed. "Martha, as usual you've said and done justthe right thing. Now, Mr. Bangs, I'll see you again to-morrow morning. Take the tablets as directed. You may go out for an hour or so by and byif the weather is good, but DON'T walk much or get in the least tired. Good-morning. "

He was at the door before his patient realized what he was about. 

"But, doctor, " cried Galusha, "I--I--really I--Oh, dear!"

The door closed. He turned to Miss Phipps in bewildered consternation. She smiled at him reassuringly. 

"So THAT'S all settled, " she said. "Now sit right down again, Mr. Bangs, and finish your breakfast. .. . Primmie, bring Mr. Bangs some hot coffee. HOT coffee I said, remember. "

Later, perhaps ten minutes later, Galusha ventured another statement. 

"Miss Phipps, " he said, "I--I--Well, since you insist upon doing thisfor me, for a person whom you never met until yesterday, I think thevery least I can do is to tell you who--or--ah--what I am. Of courseif the Halls were here they would vouch for me, but as they are not, I--Well, in a case of this kind it is--ah--customary, isn't it, to givereferences?"

"References? As to your bein' able to pay the three dollars a day, doyou mean?"

"Why, no, perhaps that sort of reference may not be necessary. I shallbe glad to pay each day's board in advance. "

"Then what sort of references did you mean, references about yourcharacter?"

"Why--why, yes, something of the sort. "

Her eyes twinkled. 

"Mr. Bangs, " she asked, "do you really think I ought to have 'em?"

Galusha smiled. "For all you know to the contrary, " he said, "I may be adesperate ruffian. "

"You don't look desperate. Do you feel that way?"

"Not now, but I did last--ah--evening. "

"When you were camped out on that Inn piazza in a pourin' rain, youmean? I don't blame you for feelin' desperate then. .. . Well, Mr. Bangs, suppose we don't worry about the references on either side of thisbargain of ours. I'll take you on trust for the next two or threedays, if you'll take me. And no questions asked, as they say in theadvertisements for stolen property. Will that suit you?"

"Perfectly, except that I think you are taking all the risk. I, certainly, am not taking any. "

"Hum, don't be too sure. You haven't tried much of Primmie's cookin'yet. .. . Oh, by the way, what IS your business, Mr. Bangs?"

"I am an archaeologist. "

"Yes--oh--yes. .. . A--a what, did you say?"

"An archaeologist. I specialize principally in Egyptology. "

"Oh. .. . Oh, yes. "

"Yes. "

"Yes. .. . Well, I must run out to the kitchen now. Make yourself right athome, Mr. Bangs. "

CHAPTER IV

Galusha Cabot Bangs' first day in East Wellmouth was spent for themost part indoors. He was willing that it should he; the stiffness andlameness in various parts of his body, together with the shakiness atthe knees which he experienced when he tried to walk, warned him thata trip abroad would not be a judicious undertaking. The doctor havinggranted him permission, however, he did go out into the yard for a briefperiod. 

Gould's Bluffs and their surroundings were more attractive on thispleasant October afternoon than on the previous evening. The Phippshouse was a story and a half cottage, of the regulation Cape Cod type, with a long "L" and sheds connecting it with a barn and chicken yards. The house was spotlessly white, with blinds conventionally green, asmost New England houses are. There was a white fence shutting it offfrom the road, the winding, narrow road which even yet held puddlesand pools of mud in its hollows, souvenirs of the downpour of the nightbefore. Across the road, perhaps a hundred yards away, was the long, brown--and now of course bleak--broadside of the Restabit Inn, itsveranda looking lonesome and forsaken even in the brilliant light ofday. Behind it and beyond it were rolling hills, brown and bare, exceptfor the scattered clumps of beach-plum and bayberry bushes. There wereno trees, except a grove of scrub pine perhaps a mile away. Between thehigher hills and over the tops of the lower ones Galusha caught glimpsesof the sea. In the opposite direction lay a little cluster of roofs, with a church spire rising above them. He judged this to be EastWellmouth village. 

The road, leading from the village, wound in and out between the hills, past the Restabit Inn and the Phipps homestead until it ended at anotherclump of buildings; a house, with ells and extensions, several otherbuildings and sheds, and a sturdy white and black lighthouse. He wasleaning upon the fence rail peering through his spectacles when Primmiecame up behind him. 

"That's a lighthouse you're lookin' at, Mr. Bangs, " she observed, withthe air of one imparting valuable information. 

Galusha started; he had not heard her coming. 

"Eh? Oh! Yes, so I--ah--surmised, " he said. 

"Hey? What did you do?"

"I say I thought it was a lighthouse. "

"'Tis. Ever see one afore, have you?"

Galusha admitted that he had seen a lighthouse before. "Kind ofinterestin' things, ain't they? You know I never realized till I comedown here to live what interestin' things lighthouses was. There's somuch TO 'em, you know, ain't there?"

"Why--ah--is there?"

"I should say there was. I don't mean the tower part, though that'sinterestin' of itself, with them round and round steps--What is it MissMartha said folks called 'em? Oh, yes, spinal stairs, that's it. I neversee any spinal stairs till I come here. They don't have 'em up to NorthMashpaug. That's where I used to live, up to North Mashpaug. Ever beento North Mashpaug, Mr. Bangs?"

"No. "

"Well, a good many folks ain't, far's that goes. Where _I_ lived wasway off in the woods, anyhow. My family was Indian, way back. Not allIndian, but some, you know; the rest was white, though Pa he used tocal'late there might be a little Portygee strung along in somewhere. It's kind of funny to be all mixed up that way, ain't it? Hello, there'sCap'n Jethro! See him? See him?"

Bangs saw the figure of a man emerge from the door of the white houseby the light and stand upon the platform. There was nothing particularlyexciting about the man's appearance, but Primmie seemed to be excited. 

"See him, Mr. Bangs?" she repeated. 

"Yes, I see him. Who is he?"

"Don't you know? No, course you don't; why should you? He's Cap'n JethroHallett, keeps the lighthouse, he does--him and Lulie and Zach. "

"Oh, he is the light keeper, is he? What has he got his head tied upfor?"

"Hey? HEAD tied up?"

"Why, yes. Isn't there something gray--a--ah--scarf or something tiedabout his head? I think I see it flutter in the wind. "

"That? That ain't no scarf, them's his whiskers. He wears 'em long andthey blow consider'ble. Say, what do you think?" Primmie leaned forwardand whispered mysteriously. "He sees his wife. "

Galusha turned to look at her. Her expression was a combination of aweand excitement. 

"I--I beg your pardon, " he stammered, "but really I--What did you say hedid?"

"I said he sees his wife. Anyhow, he thinks he does. She comes to himnights and stands alongside of his bed and they talk. Ain't that awful?"

Galusha took off his spectacles and rubbed them. 

"Ain't it awful, Mr. Bangs?" repeated Primmie. 

Galusha's faint smile twitched the corners of his lips. "We-ll, " heobserved, "I--really I can't say. I never met the lady. "

"What difference does that make? If a dead woman come and stoodalongside of MY bed 'twouldn't make no difference to me whether I'd METher or not. Meetin' of her then would be enough. My Lord of Isrul!"

"Oh--oh, I beg your pardon. Do I understand you to say thatthis--ah--gentleman's wife is dead?"

"Um-hm. Been dead seven year, so Miss Martha says. That's what I meanwhen I say it's awful. Wouldn't you think 'twas awful if a woman thathad been dead seven year come and stood alongside of you?"

Galusha smiled again. "Yes, " he admitted, "I am inclined to thinkI--ah--should. "

"You bet you would! So'd anybody but Jethro Hallet. He likes it. Yes, sir! And he goes to every medium place from here to Boston, seems so, so's to have more talks with them that's over the river. "

"Eh? Over the--Oh, yes, I comprehend. Dead, you mean. Then this Mr. Hallet is a Spiritualist, I take it. "

"Um-hm. Rankest kind of a one. Course everybody believes in SpiritulismSOME, can't help it. Miss Martha says she don't much and Zach Bloomerhe says he cal'lates his doubts keep so close astern of his beliefs thatit's hard to tell which'll round the stake boat first. But there ain'tno doubt about Cap'n Jethro's believin', he's rank. "

"I see. Well, is he--is he rational in other ways? It seems odd to havea--ah--an insane man in charge of--"

"Insane? My savin' soul, what put that idea in your head? He ain'tcrazy, Jethro Hallet ain't. He's smart. Wuth consider'ble money, sothey say, and hangs on to it, too. Used to be cap'n of a four-mastedschooner, till he hurt his back and had to stay ashore. His back'sgot to hurtin' him worse lately and Zach and Miss Martha they cal'latethat's why Lulie give up her teachin' school up to Ostable and come downhere to live along with him. I heard 'em talkin' about it t'other dayand that's what they cal'late. Miss Martha she thinks a sight of Lulie. "

"And--ah--this Miss Lulie is the light keeper's daughter?" Bangs wasnot especially interested in the Hallett family, but he found Primmieamusing. 

"Uh-hm. All the child he's got. Some diff'rent from our tribe; there wasthirteen young ones in our family. Pa used to say he didn't care long'swe didn't get so thick he'd step on ary one of us. He didn't care abouta good many things, Pa didn't. Ma had to do the carin' and most of thework, too. Yes, Lulie's Jethro's daughter and he just bows down andworships her. "

"I see. I see. And is--ah--Miss Hallett as spookily inclined as herparent?"

"Hey?"

"Is she a Spiritualist, too?"

"No, no. Course she don't say much on her pa's account, but Zach saysshe don't take no stock in it. Lulie has to be pretty careful, 'causeever since Cap'n Jethro found out about Nelse he--Hey? Yes'm, I'ma-comin'. "

Miss Phipps had called to her from the kitchen door. Galusha stood bythe fence a while longer. Then he went in to supper. Before he went tohis room that night he asked his landlady a question. 

"That--ah--maid of yours has a peculiar name, hasn't she?" he observed. "Primmie. I think I never heard it before. "

Miss Martha laughed. 

"I should say it was peculiar!" she exclaimed. "Her Christian name isPrimrose, if you can call such a name Christian. I almost died when Iheard it first. She's a queer blossom, Primmie is, a little too much tarin her upper riggin', as father used to say, but faithful and willin' asa person could be. I put up with her tongue and her--queerness on thataccount. Some friends of mine over at Falmouth sent her to me; they knewI needed somebody in the house after father died. Her name is PrimroseAnnabel Cash and she comes from a nest of such sort of folks in theMashpaug woods. She provokes me sometimes, but I have a good deal of funwith her on the whole. You ought to see her and Zacheus Bloomer togetherand hear 'em talk; THEN you would think it was funny. "

"Is this Mr. --ah--Bloomer queer also?"

"Why, yes, I presume likely he is. Not foolish, you understand, or evena little bit soft like Primmie. He's shrewd enough, Zach is, but he'speculiar, that's about it. Has a queer way of talkin' and walkin'--yes, and thinkin'. He's put in the most of his life in out-of-the-way places, boat-fishin' all alone off on the cod banks, or attendin' to lobsterpots way down in the South Channel, or aboard lightships two miles fromnowhere. That's enough to make any man queer, bein' off by himself so. Why, this place of assistant light keeper here at Gould's Bluffs isthe most sociable job Zach Bloomer has had for ten years, I shouldn'twonder. And Gould's Bluffs isn't Washington Street, exactly, " she added, with a smile. 

"Have you lived here long, Miss Phipps?" inquired Galusha. 

"Pretty nearly all my life, and that's long enough, goodness knows. Father bought this place in 1893, I think it was. He was goin' coastin'voyages then. Mother died in 1900 and he gave up goin' to sea that year. He and I lived here together until two years ago next August; then hedied. I have been here since, with Primmie to help. I suppose likely Ishall stay here now until I die--or dry up with old age and blow away, or somethin'. That is, I shall stay provided I--I can. "

There was a change in her tone as she spoke the last words. Galusha, glancing up, saw that she was gazing out of the window. He waited forher to go on, but she did not. He looked out of the window also, butthere was nothing to be seen, nothing except the fields and hills, coldand bleak in the gathering dusk. After an interval she stirred and rosefrom her chair. 

"Ah, well, " she said, with a shrug, and a return to her usual briskmanner, "there isn't a bit of use in makin' today to-morrow, is there, Mr. Bangs? And today's been nice and pleasant, and they can't take itfrom us. "

Galusha looked very much surprised. "Why, dear me, dear me!" heexclaimed. "That's extremely odd, now really. "

"What?"

"Why, your--ah--remark about making to-day to-morrow. Almost preciselythe same thing was said to me at one time by another person. It is quiteextraordinary. "

"Oh, not so very, I guess. A million folks must have thought it and saidit since Adam. Who said it to you, Mr. Bangs?"

"A--ah--person in Abyssinia. He had stolen my--ah--shirt and I warnedhim that he should be punished on the following day. He laughed andI asked him what there was to laugh at. Then he made the remark aboutto-morrow's being afar off and that today the sun shone, or wordsto that effect. It seems strange that you should say it. Quite acoincidence, Miss Phipps, don't you think so?"

"Why--why, I suppose you might call it that. But WHAT did you say thisman had stolen?"

"My--ah--shirt. I had another, of course; in fact I was wearing it, butthe one he took was the only whole one remaining in my kit. I was quiteprovoked. "

"I should think you might have been. What sort of creature was he, forgoodness sakes?"

"Oh, he was an Arab camel driver. A very good man, too. "

"Yes, he must have been. Did you get your shirt back?"

"No--ah--no. The fact is, he had put it on and--as he was rather--well, soiled, so to speak, I let him keep it. And he really was a very goodman, I mean a good camel driver. "

Miss Martha regarded her guest thoughtfully. 

"Where did you say this was, Mr. Bangs?"

"In the Abyssinian desert. We were there at the time. "

"Abyssinia? Abyssinia? That's in Africa, isn't it?"

"Yes, northern Africa. "

"Mercy me, that's a long way off. "

"Oh, not so very, when one becomes accustomed to the journey. The firsttime I found it rather tiring, but not afterward. "

"Not afterward. You mean you've been there more than once?"

"Yes--ah--yes. Three times. "

"But why in the world do you go to such an outlandish place as thatthree times?"

"Oh, on research work, connected with my--ah--profession. There are somevery interesting remains in that section. "

"What did you say your business--your profession was, Mr. Bangs?"

"I am an archaeologist, Miss Phipps. "

"Oh!"

He went to his room soon afterwards. Martha went into the dining room. A suspicious rustle as she turned the door knob caused her to frown. Primmie was seated close to the wall on the opposite side of the roomindustriously peeling apples. Her mistress regarded her intently, aregard which caused its object to squirm in her chair. 

"It's--it's a kind of nice night, ain't it, Miss Martha?" she observed. 

Miss Martha did not answer. "Primmie Cash, " she said, severely, "you'vebeen listen in' again. Don't deny it. "

"Now--now Miss Martha, I didn't mean to, really, but--"

"Do you want to go back to the Mashpaug poorhouse again?"

"No'm. You know I don't, Miss Martha. I didn't mean to do it, butI heard him talkin' and it was SO interestin'. That about the camelstealin' his shirt--my soul! And--"

"If you listen again I WILL send you back; I mean it. "

"I won't, ma'am. I won't. Now--"

"Be still. Where is our dictionary? It isn't in the closet with theother books where it ought to be. Do you know where it is?"

"No'm. .. . Yes'm, come to think of it, I do. Lulie Hallet borrowed it theother day. Her and Zach Bloomer was havin' a lot of talk about how tospell somethin' and Lulie she got our dictionary so's to settle it--andZach. I'll fetch it back to-morrow mornin'. .. . But what do you want thedictionary for, Miss Martha?"

Martha shook her head, with the air of one annoyed by a puzzle theanswer to which should be familiar. 

"I'm goin' to find out what an archaeologist is, " she declared. "I oughtto know, but I declare I don't. "

"An arky-what? Oh, that's what that little Mr. Bangs said he was, didn'the? You know what _I_ think he is, Miss Martha?"

"No, I don't. You go to bed, Primmie. "

"_I_ think he's an undertaker. "

"Undertaker! Good heavens and earth, what put that in your head?"

"Everything. Look at them clothes he wears, black tail-coat and whiteshirt and stand-up collar and all. Just exactly same as Emulous Doddwears when he's runnin' a funeral. Yes, and more'n that--more'n that, Miss Martha. Didn't you hear what he said just now about 'remains'?"

"WHAT?"

"Didn't you ask him what he went traipsin' off to that--that camel placefor? And didn't he say there was some interestin' remains there. Uh-hm!that's what he said--'remains. ' If he ain't an undertaker what--"

Martha burst out laughing. "Primmie, " she said, "go to bed. And don'tforget to get that dictionary to-morrow mornin'. "

The next day was Sunday and the weather still fine. Galusha Bangs wasby this time feeling very much stronger. Miss Phipps commented upon hisappearance at breakfast time. 

"I declare, " she exclaimed, "you look as if you'd really had a goodnight's rest, Mr. Bangs. Now you'll have another biscuit and anotheregg, won't you?"

Galusha, who had already eaten one egg and two biscuits, was obliged todecline. His hostess seemed to think his appetite still asleep. 

After breakfast he went out for a walk. There was a brisk, cool windblowing and Miss Martha cautioned him against catching cold. Sheinsisted upon his wrapping a scarf of her own, muffler fashion, abouthis neck beneath his coat collar and lent him a pair of mittens--theywere Primmie's property--to put on in case his hands were cold. He hadone kid glove in his pocket, but only one. 

"Dear me!" he said. "I can't think what became of the other. I'm quitecertain I had two to begin with. "

Martha laughed. "I'm certain of that myself, " she said. "I never heardof anybody's buying gloves one at a time. "

Her guest smiled. "It might be well for me to buy them that way, " heobserved. "My brain doesn't seem equal to the strain of taking care ofmore than one. "

Primmie and her mistress watched him from the window as he meandered outof the yard. Primmie made the first remark. 

"There now, Miss Martha, " she said, "DON'T he look like an undertaker?Them black clothes and that standin' collar and--and--the kind of stillway he walks--and talks. Wouldn't you expect him to be sayin': 'Thefriends of the diseased will now have a chanct to--'"

"Oh, be still, Primmie, for mercy sakes!"

"Yes'm. What thin little legs he's got, ain't he?" Miss Phipps did notreply to her housemaid's criticism of the Bangs limbs. Instead, she madean observation of her own. 

"Where in the world did he get that ugly, brown, stiff hat?" shedemanded. "It doesn't look like anything that ever grew on land or sea. "

Primmie hitched up her apron strings, a habit she had. 

"'Twould have been a better job, " she observed, "if that camel thinghe was tellin' you about had stole that hat instead of his other shirt. Don't you think so, Miss Martha?"

Meanwhile Galusha, ignorant of the comments concerning his appearance, was strolling blithely along the road. His first idea had been to visitthe lighthouse, his next to walk to the village. He had gone but ashort distance, however, when another road branching off to the rightsuggested itself as a compromise. He took the branch road. 

It wound in and out among the little hills which he had noticed fromthe windows and from the yard of the Phipps' house. It led past a littlepond, hidden between two of those hills. Then it led to the top ofanother hill, the highest so far, and from that point Galusha paused tolook about him. 

From the hilltop the view was much the same, but more extensive. Theocean filled the whole eastern horizon, a shimmering, moving expanse ofblue and white, with lateral stretches of light and dark green. To thesouth were higher hills, thickly wooded. Between his own hill andthose others was a small grove of pines and, partially hidden by it, aweather-beaten building with a steeple, its upper half broken off. Thebuilding, Galusha guessed, was an abandoned church. Now an old church inthe country suggested, naturally, an old churchyard. Toward the buildingwith half a steeple Mr. Bangs started forthwith. 

There WAS a churchyard, an ancient, grass-grown burying ground, withslate gravestones and weather-worn tombs. There were a few new stones, gleaming white and conspicuous, but only a few. Galusha's trained eye, trained by his unusual pastime of college days, saw at once that theoldest stones must date from early colonial times. Very likely theremight be some odd variations of the conventional carvings, almostcertainly some quaint and interesting inscriptions. It would, of course, be but tame sport for one of the world's leading Egyptologists, but toGalusha Cabot Bangs research was research, and while some varieties werebetter than others, none was bad. A moment later he was on his kneesbefore the nearest gravestone. It was an old stone and the inscriptionand carving were interesting. Time paused there and then for Galusha. 

What brought him from the dead past to the living present was the factthat his hat blew off. The particular stone which he was examining atthe moment was on the top of a little knoll and, as Galusha clamberedup and stooped, the breeze, which had increased in force until it was ayoung gale, caught the brown derby beneath its brim and sent it flying. He scrambled after it, but it dodged his clutch and rolled and boundedon. He bounded also, but the hat gained. It caught for an instant on theweather side of a tombstone, but just as he was about to pick it up, afresh gust sent it sailing over the obstacle. It was dashed against theside of the old church and then carried around the end of the buildingand out of sight. Its owner plunged after it and, a moment later, foundhimself at the foot of a grass-covered bank, a good deal disheveledand very much surprised. Also, close at hand some one screamed, ina feminine voice, and another voice, this one masculine, uttered anemphatically masculine exclamation. 

Galusha sat up. The old church was placed upon a side-hill, its reartoward the cemetery which he had just been exploring, and its front dooron a level at least six feet lower. He, in his wild dash after the brownderby, had not noticed this and, rushing around the corner, had beenprecipitated down the bank. He was not hurt, but he was rumpled andastonished. No more astonished, however, than were the young couple whohad been sitting upon the church steps and were now standing, staringdown at him. 

Galusha spoke first. 

"Oh, dear!" he observed. "Dear me!" Then he added, by way of making thesituation quite clear, "I must have fallen, I think. "

Neither of the pair upon the church steps seemed to have recoveredsufficiently to speak, so Mr. Bangs went on. 

"I--I came after my hat, " he explained. "You see--Oh, there it is!"

The brown derby was stuck fast in the bare branches of an ancient lilacbush which some worshiper of former time had planted by the church door. Galusha rose and limped over to rescue his truant property. 

"It blew off, " he began, but the masculine half of the pair who hadwitnessed his flight from the top to the bottom of the bank, cameforward. He was a dark-haired young man, with a sunburned, pleasantface. 

"Say, that was a tumble!" he declared. "I hope you didn't hurt yourself. No bones broken, or anything like that?"

Galusha shook his head. "No-o, " he replied, somewhat doubtfully. "No, Ithink not. But, dear me, what a foolish thing for me to do!"

The young man spoke again. 

"Sure you're not hurt?" he asked. "Let me brush you off; you picked up alittle mud on the way down. "

Galusha looked at the knees of his trousers. 

"So I did, so I did, " he said. "I don't remember striking at all on theway, but I could scarcely have accumulated all that at the bottom. Thankyou, thank you!. .. Why, dear me, your face is quite familiar! Haven't wemet before?"

The young fellow smiled. "I guess we have, " he said. "I put you aboardLovetts' express wagon Friday afternoon and started you for WellmouthCentre. I didn't expect to see you over here in East Wellmouth. "

Galusha adjusted his spectacles--fortunately they were not broken--andlooked at the speaker. 

"Why, of course!" he cried. "You are the young man who was so kind to mewhen I got off at the wrong station. You are the station man at--ah--atSouth Wellmouth, isn't it?"

"That's right. "

"Dear me! Dear me! Well, I don't wonder you were surprised to haveme--ah--alight at your feet just now. We-ll, " with his quiet smile, "Iseem to have a habit of making unexpected appearances. I surprised MissPhipps on Friday evening almost as greatly. "

"Miss Phipps? Martha Phipps, Cap'n Jim's daughter; lives over here bythe light, do you mean?"

"Why--why, yes her name is Martha, I believe. "

"But how in the world did you get--"

His companion interrupted him. "Why, Nelson, " she cried, "he must bethe one--the man who is staying at Martha's. Don't you know I told youPrimmie said there was some one there who was sick?"

Galusha looked at her. She was young, not more than nineteen or twenty, slender, brown-haired and pretty. The young man spoke again. 

"But Lulie, " he said, "he isn't sick. You aren't sick, are you?"addressing Galusha. 

"My health has not been good of late, " replied the latter, "and aftermy long walk on Friday evening I was rather done up. But I'm not ill atpresent, although, " with a return of his faint smile, "I probably shallbe if I continue to--ah--fly, as I did just now. "

The young woman broke into an irresistible trill of laughter. The SouthWellmouth station agent joined her. Galusha smiled in a fatherly fashionupon them both. 

"I had quite a series of adventures after leaving you, " he went on. "Quite a series--yes. "

He told briefly of his losing his way, of his meeting with RaishPulcifer, of his tramp in the rain, and of his collapse in the Phipps'sitting room. 

"So that is--ah--my Odyssey, " he concluded. "You see, we--ah--I beg yourpardon, but I don't know that I learned your name when we met the otherday. Mine is Bangs. "

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Bangs. My name is Howard--Nelson Howard. Andthis is--"

He paused. The young woman was regarding him in a troubled way. 

"Nelson, " she said, "don't you think, perhaps, we had better not--"

They were both embarrassed. Galusha noticed the embarrassment. 

"Dear me! Dear me!" he said, hastily. "Please don't trouble. Ah--good-morning. I must go--really--yes. "

He was on his way toward the bank, but the young woman called his name. 

"Mr. Bangs, " she said. 

He turned. "Did you--did you wish to speak to me?" he asked. 

"Why--why, yes, I--Mr. Bangs, I--I want to ask a favor of you. I know, Nelson, but what is the use, after all? We've done nothing to be ashamedof. Mr. Bangs, my name is Hallett. My father is the keeper of thelighthouse. "

Galusha bowed. He had guessed her identity. Primmie had spoken of LulieHallett in their conversation by the fence the day before. 

"I am Lulie Hallett, " she went on, "and--and Mr. Howard and Iare--are--"

"We're engaged to be married, " broke in Howard. "The fact is, Mr. Bangs, I came over on my bicycle this morning to meet Lulie here where--whereno one would see us. You see--well, Cap'n Jethro--her father, youknow--is prejudiced against me and--and so to save her trouble and--andunpleasantness we--well, we--"

He was red and confused and stammering. Galusha was almost as muchembarrassed. 

"Oh--oh, all right--ah--dear me, yes, of course, " he said, hastily. "Iam very sorry I--I interrupted. I beg your pardon. Ah--good-morning. "

"But, Mr. Bangs, " Lulie pleaded, earnestly, "you won't misunderstandthis, will you? We meet in this way on my father's account. He is--yousee, he is not very well, and rather prejudiced and--and stubborn, I'mafraid. Please don't think that--that--"

"Of course he won't, " declared Howard. "Mr. Bangs won't think anythingthat he shouldn't. "

"Oh, no--no, " stammered Galusha, nervously. "I am--I am SO sorry Iinterrupted. I BEG your pardon. "

"And Mr. Bangs, " said Lulie, again, "I wonder if you will be kind enoughnot to tell any one you saw us? This is a small place, East Wellmouth, and people do talk--oh, dreadfully. If it got to father's earshe--PLEASE don't speak of it, will you, Mr. Bangs?"

"Oh, no; no, indeed, Miss Hallett. You may depend upon me. "

"I shall tell Martha Phipps myself the next time I see her. She is mybest friend, except--" with a becoming blush--"Nelson, and father, ofcourse--and she understands. I never have any secrets from her. "

Galusha began to climb the bank. As his head rose above its upper edgehe stopped. 

"Ah--dear me, there's some one coming in this direction, " he said. 

Howard started forward. "Coming? Coming here?" he cried. He sprang upthe bank beside Mr. Bangs and peered over its top. 

"Oh, confound it!" he exclaimed. "Lulie, it's your father. "

"Father? Coming here? Why, he started for church. He never comes to thecemetery on Sunday MORNING. "

"I can't help it, he's coming now. And there's some one with him, orcoming after him. It looks like--Yes, it's Raish Pulcifer. "

Miss Hallett was very much distressed. "Oh, dear, dear, dear!" shecried. "If father finds us there will be another dreadful time. AndI wouldn't have Raish Pulcifer see and hear it, of all people in theworld. Oh, WHAT made father come? Nelson, can't we run away before hegets here? Into the pines, or somewhere?"

"No chance, Lulie. He would see us sure. If he should stop at the otherend of the cemetery it might give us a chance, but he probably won't. He'll come to your mother's grave and that is close by here. Oh, hangthe luck!"

Galusha looked at the young people; he was almost as distressed as theywere. He liked young Howard; the latter had been very kind to him onthe fateful Friday afternoon when he had alighted at South Wellmouth. He liked Lulie, also--had fancied her at first sight. He wished he mighthelp them. And then he had an idea. 

"I wouldn't--ah--interfere in your affairs for the world, MissHallett, " he faltered, "but if I might--ah--offer a suggestion, supposeI--ah--meet your father and talk with him for a few moments. Then youmight--so to speak--ah--go, you know. "

"Yes, of course, of course. Oh, WILL you, Mr. Bangs? Thank you so much. "

Galusha climbed the bank. There was no one in sight, but he heardmasculine voices from the hollow beyond the farther end of the cemetery. He hastened to that end and, stooping, began to examine the inscriptionupon a tomb. 

The voices drew nearer as the men climbed the hill. The breeze now wasstronger than ever and was blowing more from the west. The conversation, borne by the gusts, came to Galusha's ears clearly and distinctly. Oneof the speakers seemed to be explaining, urging, the other peremptorilyrefusing to listen. 

"But, Cap'n Jeth, " urged the first voice, and Mr. Bangs recognized it asbelonging to his obliging guide and pilot of the fateful Friday evening, Mr. Horatio Pulcifer. "But, Cap'n Jeth, " said Mr. Pulcifer, "don't flyoff the handle for nothin'. I ain't tryin' to put nothin' over on you. I'm just--"

"I don't want to hear you, " broke in the second voice, gruffly. "Thisis the Lord's Day and I don't want to talk business with you or nobodyelse--especially with you. "

For some reason this seemed to irritate Mr. Pulcifer. His tone had losta little of its urbanity when he answered. 

"Oh, especially with me, eh?" he repeated. "Well, what's the 'especiallywith me' for? If you think I'm any more to blame than the rest, you'remistaken. I tell you when you and me and Cap'n Jim and all hands of usgot the Wellmouth Development Company goin' it looked like a cinch. Howwas I to know?"

"I tell you, Raish, I don't want to talk about it. "

"And I tell you, Jeth Hallett, I DO want to. You've hove in that'especially with me' and I don't like it. Look here, what are youpickin' on me for? How was I to--No, now you wait a minute, Cap'n Jeth, and answer me. I've chased you 'way over here and you can give me fiveminutes even if 'tis Sunday. Come, Cap'n, come, just answer me and thenI won't bother you any more. "

There was silence for a brief interval. Galusha, crouching behind thetomb and wondering if the time had come for him to show himself, waitedanxiously. But Captain Hallett's answer, when at last he did reply, sounded no nearer. Apparently the men were now standing still. 

"Well, " grunted the light keeper, "I'll listen to you for the fiveminutes, Raish, but no more. I hadn't ought to do that. This is Sabbathday and I make it a p'int never--"

"I know, " hastily, "I know. Well, I tell you, Cap'n Jeth, all's I wantedto say was this: What are we goin' to do with this Development stock ofours?"

"Do with it? Why, nothin' at present. CAN'T do anything with it, canwe? All we can do is wait. It may be one year or three, but some daysomebody will have to come to us. There ain't a better place for a coldstorage fish house on this coast and the Wellmouth Development Companyowns that place. "

"Yes, that's so, that's so. But some of us can afford to wait and somecan't. Now I've got more of the Development Company stock than anybodyelse. I've got five hundred shares, Cap'n Jeth; five hundred sharesat twenty dollars a share. A poor man like me can't afford to have tenthousand dollars tied up as long's this is liable to be. Can he now? Eh?Can he, Cap'n?"

"Humph! Well, I've got eight thousand tied up there myself. "

"Ye-es, but it don't make so much difference to you. You can afford towait. You've got a gov'ment job. "

"Ye-es, and from what I hear you may be havin' a state job pretty soonyourself, Raish. Well, never mind that. What is it you're drivin' at, anyhow?"

"Why, I tell you, Jeth. Course you know and I know that this is aperfectly sure investment to anybody that'll wait. I can't afford towait, that's what's the matter. It kind of run acrost my mind that maybeyou'd like to have my holdin's, my five hundred shares. I'll sell 'em toyou reasonable. "

"Humph! I want to know! What do you call reasonable?"

"I'll sell 'em to you for--for--well, say nineteen dollars a share. "

"Humph! Don't bother me any more, Raish. "

"Well, say eighteen dollars a share. Lord sakes, that's reasonableenough, ain't it?"

"Cruise along towards home, Raish. I've talked all the business I wantto on Sunday. Good-by. "

"Look here, Jethro, I--I'm hard up, I'm desp'rate, pretty nigh. I'lllet you have my five hundred shares of Wellmouth Development Companyfor just half what I paid for it--ten dollars a share. If you wasn't myfriend, I wouldn't--What are you laughin' at?"

Galusha Bangs, hiding behind the tomb, understanding nothing of thisconversation, yet feeling like an eavesdropper, wished this provokingpair would stop talking and go away. He heard the light keeper laughsardonically. 

"Ho, ho, ho, " chuckled Hallett. "You're a slick article, ain't you, Raish? Why, you wooden-headed swab, did you cal'late you was the onlyone that had heard about the directors' meetin' over to the DenboroTrust Company yesterday? _I_ knew the Trust Company folks had decidednot to go ahead with the fish storage business just as well as you did, and I heard it just as soon, too. _I_ know they've decided to put thetwelve hundred shares of Wellmouth Development stock into profit andloss, or to just hang on and see if it ever does come to anything. Butyou cal'lated I didn't know it and that maybe you could unload your fivehundred shares on to me at cut rates, eh? Raish, you're slick--but youain't bright, not very. "

He chuckled again. Mr. Pulcifer whistled, apparently expressingresignation. 

"ALL right, Cap'n, " he observed, cheerfully, "just as you say. No harmin tryin', was there? Never catch a fish without heavin' over a hook, as the feller said. Maybe somebody else that ain't heard will buy thatstock, you can't tell. "

"Maybe so, but--See here, Raish, don't you go tryin' anything like thison--on--"

"I know who you mean. No danger. There ain't money enough there to buyanything, if what I hear's true. "

"What's that?"

"Oh, nothin', nothin'. Just talk, I guess. Well, Jeth, I won't keep youany longer. Goin' to hang on to YOUR four hundred Development stock, Ipresume likely?"

"Yes. I shall sell that at a profit. Not a big profit, but a profit. "

"Sho! Is that so? Who told you?"

"It was, " the gruff voice became solemn, "it was revealed to me. "

"Revealed to you? Oh, from up yonder, up aloft, eh?"

"Raish, " sharply, "don't you dare be sacrilegious in my presence. "

"No, no, not for nothin', Cap'n. So you had a message from the speritworld about that stock, eh?"

"Yes. It bade me be of good cheer and hold for a small profit. When thatprofit comes, no matter how small it may be, I'll sell and sell quick, but not sooner. .. . But there, I've profaned the Lord's day long enough. I came over here this mornin' to visit Julia's grave. There was ascoffer in our pulpit, that young whippersnapper from Wapatomac hadexchanged with our minister and I didn't care to hear him. "

"Oh, I see. So you come over to your wife's grave, eh?"

"Yes. What are you lookin' like that for?"

"Oh, nothin'. I thought maybe you was chasin' after Lulie. I see hermeanderin' over this way a little while ago. "

"LULIE?"

"Um-hm. Looked like her. "

"Was there--was there anybody else?"

"We-ll, I wouldn't swear to that, Cap'n Jeth. I didn't SEE nobody, but--Godfreys mighty! What's that thing?"

The thing was the brown derby. Galusha, crouching behind the tomb, had been holding it fast to his head with one hand. Now, startled byPulcifer's statement that he had seen Miss Hallett, he let go his hold. And a playful gust lifted the hat from his head, whirled it like anaerial teetotum and sent it rolling and tumbling to the feet of the pairby the cemetery gate. 

Jethro Hallett jumped aside. 

"Good Lord! What is it?" he shouted. 

"It's a--a hat, ain't it?" cried Raish. 

From around the tomb hastened Mr. Bangs. 

"Will you gentlemen be good enough to--to stop that hat for me?" heasked, anxiously. 

The light keeper and his companion started at the apparition inspeechless astonishment. 

"It's--it's my hat, " explained Galusha. "If you will be kind enough topick it up before--Oh, DEAR me! There it GOES! Stop it, stop it!"

Another gust had set the hat rolling again. Captain Jethro made a grabat it but his attempt only lifted it higher into the air, where the windcaught it underneath and sent it soaring. 

"Oh, dear!" piped the exasperated Galusha, and ran after it. 

"Who in tunket IS he?" demanded Jethro. 

Mr. Pulcifer gazed at the thin little figure hopping after the hat. Thelight of recognition dawned in his face. 

"_I_ know who he is!" he exclaimed. "I fetched him over t'other nightin my car. But what in blazes is he doin' here NOW?. .. Hi, look out, Mister! Don't let it blow that way. If you do you'll--Head it OFF!"

The hat was following an air line due east. Galusha was following aterrestrial route in the same direction. Now Raish followed Galusha andafter him rolled Captain Jethro Hallett. As they say in hunting stories, the chase was on. 

It was not a long chase, of course. It ended unexpectedly--unexpectedlyfor Galusha, that is--at a point where a spur of the pine grove juttedout upon the crest of a little hill beyond the eastern border of thecemetery. The hat rolled, bounced, dipped and soared up the hill andjust clear of the branches of the endmost pine. Then it disappeared fromsight. Its owner breathlessly panted after it. He reached the crest ofthe little hill and stopped short--stopped for the very good reason thathe could go no further. 

The hill was but half a hill. Its other half, the half invisible fromthe churchyard, was a sheer sand and clay bluff dropping at a dizzyangle down to the beach a hundred and thirty feet below. This beach wasthe shore of a pretty little harbor, fed by a stream which flowed intoit from the southwest. On the opposite side of the stream was anotherstretch of beach, more sand bluffs, pines and scrub oaks. To the eastthe little harbor opened a clear channel between lines of creamingbreakers to the deep blue and green of the ocean. 

Galusha Bangs saw most of this in detail upon subsequent visits. Justnow he looked first for his hat. He saw it. Below, upon the sand of thebeach, a round object bounced and rolled. As he gazed a gust whirledalong the shore and pitched the brown object into the sparkling watersof the little harbor. It splashed, floated and then sailed jauntily outupon the tide. The brown derby had started on its last voyage. 

Galusha gazed down at his lost headgear. He rubbed his chinthoughtfully. Then he turned and looked back toward the hollow by thefront door of the old church. From the knoll where he stood he could seeevery inch of that hollow and it was untenanted. There was no sign ofeither human being or of a bicycle belonging to a human being. 

Mr. Bangs sighed thankfully. The sacrifice of the brown derby had notbeen in vain. 

CHAPTER V

An hour or so later when Martha Phipps, looking out of her dining roomwindow, saw her boarder enter the front gate, his personal appearancecaused her to utter a startled exclamation. Primmie came running fromthe kitchen. 

"What's the matter, Miss Martha?" she demanded. "Eh! My savin' soul!"

Mr. Bangs' head was enveloped in the scarf which his hostess had lenthim when he set forth upon his walk. It--the scarf--was tied underhis chin and the fringed ends flapped in the wind. His round face, surrounded by the yarn folds, looked like that of the small boy in thepictures advertising somebody-or-other's toothache cure. 

"My savin' soul!" cried Primmie, again. She was rushing to the door, buther mistress intervened. 

"Primmie, " she ordered, briskly, "stay where you are!"

She opened the door herself. 

"Come right in, Mr. Bangs, " she said. "No, don't stop to tell me aboutit, but come right in and sit down. "

Galusha looked up at her. His face was speckled with greenish brownspots, giving it the appearance of a mammoth bird's egg. Primmie saw thespots and squealed. 

"Lord of Isrul!" she cried, "he's all broke out with it, whatever 'tis!Shall I--shall I 'phone for the doctor, Miss Martha?"

"Be still, Primmie. Come in, Mr. Bangs. "

"Why, yes, thank you. I--ah--WAS coming in, " began Galusha, mildly. "I--"

"You mustn't talk. Sit right down here on the lounge. Primmie, get thatrum bottle. Don't talk, Mr. Bangs. "

"But, really, Miss Phipps, I--"

"Don't TALK. .. . There, drink that. "

Galusha obediently drank the rum. Martha tenderly untied the scarf. 

"Tell me if it hurts, " she said. Her patient looked at her in surprise. 

"Why, no, it--ah--it is very nice, " he said. "I--ah--quite like thetaste, really. "

"Heavens and earth, I don't mean the rum. I hope that won't HURTanybody, to say the least. I mean--Why, there isn't anything the matterwith it!"

"Matter with it? I don't quite--"

"Matter with your head. "

Galusha raised a hand in bewildered fashion and felt of his cranium. 

"Why--ah--no, there is nothing the matter with my head, so far as Iam aware, " he replied. "Does it look as if it were--ah--softening orsomething?"

Miss Martha ignored the pleasantry. "What have you got it tied up for?"she demanded. 

"Tied up?" Galusha's smile broadened. "Oh, I see, " he observed. "Well, Ilost my hat. It blew off into the--ah--sea. It was rather too cold to beabout bareheaded, so I used the scarf you so kindly lent me. "

Martha gazed at him for an instant and then burst into a hearty laugh. 

"Mercy on me!" she cried. "WHAT an idiot I am! When I saw you comeinto the yard with your head bandaged--at least I thought it wasbandaged--and your face--But what IS the matter with your face?"

"My face? Why, nothing. "

"Nonsense! It's a sight to see. You look the way Erastus Beebe's boy didwhen the cannon-cracker went off too soon. Primmie, hand me that littlelookin'-glass. "

Primmie snatched the small mirror from the wall. 

"See, Mr. Bangs, " she cried, holding the mirror an inch from his nose. "Look at yourself. You're all broke out with a crash--rash, I mean. Ain't he, Miss Martha?"

Galusha regarded his reflection in the mirror with astonishment. 

"Why, I--I seem to be--ah--polka-dotted, " he said. "I never saw anythingso--Dear me, dear me!"

He drew his fingers down his cheek. The speckles promptly becamestreaks. He smiled in relief. 

"I see, I see, " he said. "It is the lichen. "

This explanation was not as satisfying as he evidently meant it to be. Martha looked more puzzled than ever. Primmie looked frightened. 

"WHAT did he say 'twas?" she whispered. "'Tain't catchin', is it, MissMartha?"

"It is the lichen from the tombstones, " went on Galusha. "Most of themwere covered with it. In order to read the inscriptions I was obliged toscrape it off with my pocketknife, and the particles must have blown inmy face and--ah--adhered. Perhaps--ah--some soap and water might improvemy personal appearance, Miss Phipps. If you will excuse me I think Iwill try the experiment. "

He rose briskly from the sofa. Primmie stared at him open-mouthed. 

"Ain't there NOTHIN' the matter with you, Mr. Bangs?" she asked. "Is theway your face is tittered up just dirt?"

"Just dirt, that's all. It came from the old tombstones in thecemetery. "

Primmie's mouth was open to ask another question, but Miss Phipps closedit. 

"Stop, Primmie, " she said. Then, turning to Galusha who was on his wayto the stairs, she asked:

"Excuse me, Mr. Bangs, but have you been spendin' this lovely forenoonin the graveyard?"

"Eh? Oh, yes, yes. In the old cemetery over--ah--yonder. "

"Humph!. .. Well, I hope you had a nice time. "

"Oh, I did, I did, thank you. I enjoyed myself very much indeed. "

"Yes, I should think you must have. .. . Well, come down right awaybecause dinner's ready when you are. "

Galusha hastened up the stairs. His hostess gazed after him and slowlyshook her head. 

"Miss Martha, Miss Martha. "

Martha turned, to find Primmie excitedly gesticulating. "Didn't I tellyou? Didn't I tell you?" whispered Primmie. 

"Didn't you tell me what? Stop wigglin'. "

"Yes'm. Didn't I tell you 'undertaker'?"

"WHAT?"

"Undertaker. Him, the Bangs one. Yesterday 'twas remains, to-day it'sgraveyards. My savin' soul, I--"

"Hush, hush! Have you thought to get that dictionary from Lulie yet?"

"Oh, now, ma'am, I snum if I didn't forget it. I'll go right over thisminute. "

"No, you won't. I'll go myself after dinner. "

That Sunday dinner was a bountiful repast and Galusha ate more than hehad eaten in three meals at his mountain hotel. He was a trifle tiredfrom his morning's stroll and so decided to remain indoors until thefollowing day. After the table was cleared Miss Phipps, leaving Primmieto wash the dishes, went over to the light keeper's house. 

"I'll be back soon, Mr. Bangs, " she said. "If you get lonesome go outinto the kitchen and Primmie'll talk to you. Goodness gracious!" sheadded, laughing, "that's a dreadful choice I'm leavin' you--lonesomenessor Primmie. Well, I won't leave you to either long. "

During the meal he had told them of his chance discovery of the oldchurch and graveyard and of the loss of the brown derby. Primmie plainlyregarded the catastrophe to the hat as a serious matter. 

"Well, now, if that ain't too bad!" she exclaimed. "Blowed right out tosea, and 'most brand-new, too. My savin' soul, Miss Martha, folks oughtto be careful what they say, hadn't they?. .. Eh, hadn't they?"

"Oh, I guess so, Primmie. I don't know what you're talkin' about. Can'tI help you to a little more of the chicken pie, Mr. Bangs? Just a littleBIT more?"

Galusha had scarcely time to decline the third helping of chicken piewhen Primmie plunged again into the conversation. 

"Why, I mean folks ought to be careful what they say about--aboutthings. Now you and me hadn't no notion Mr. Bangs was goin' to lose hishat when we was talkin' about it this mornin', had we?"

Miss Phipps was much embarrassed. 

"Have a--a--Oh, do have a little potato or cranberry sauce or somethin', Mr. Bangs, " she stammered. "A--a spoonful, that's all. Primmie, beSTILL. "

"Yes'm. But you know you and me WAS talkin' about that hat when Mr. Bangs started out walkin'. Don't you know we was, Miss Martha?"

This was the final straw. Martha, looking about in desperation, tryingto look anywhere but into her guest's face, caught one transitoryglimpse of that face. There was a twinkle in Galusha's eye. 

"I never liked that hat myself, " he observed, dryly. 

Again their glances met and this time he smiled. Martha gave it up. 

"Oh, dear!" she exclaimed, with a laugh. "You know what they say aboutchildren and--other folks, Mr. Bangs. Primmie, if you say another wordwhile we're at this table I'll--I don't know what I'll do to you. STOP!You've said plenty and plenty more, as father used to say. Truly, Mr. Bangs, it wasn't as bad as it sounds. I honestly DIDN'T think the hatwas becomin', that's all. "

"Neither did I, Miss Phipps. I didn't think so when I bought it. "

"You didn't? Then for mercy sakes why did you buy it?"

"Well, the man said it was just the hat for me and--ah--I didn't wish toargue, that's all. Besides, I thought perhaps he knew best; selling hatswas his--ah--profession, you see. "

"Yes, SELLIN' 'em was. Do you always let folks like that pick out whatthey want to sell you?"

"No-o, not always. Often I do. It saves--ah--conversation, don't youthink?"

He said nothing concerning his meeting with Miss Hallett and the SouthWellmouth station agent, but he did mention encountering Captain Jethroand Mr. Pulcifer. Martha seemed much interested. 

"Humph!" she exclaimed. "I wonder what possessed Cap'n Jeth to go overto the cemetery in the mornin'. He almost always goes there Sundayafternoons--his wife's buried there--but he generally goes to church inthe mornin'. "

Galusha remembered having heard the light keeper refer to the exchangeof preachers. Miss Phipps nodded. 

"Oh, yes, " she said, "that explains it, of course. He's down on theWapatomac minister because he preaches against spiritualism. But whatwas Raish Pulcifer doin' in that cemetery? He didn't have anybody'sgrave to go to, and he wouldn't go to it if he had. There's preciouslittle chance of doin' business with a person after he's buried. "

"But I think it was business which brought Mr. Pulcifer there, " saidGalusha. "He and--ah--Captain Hallett, is it? Yes--ah--thank you. He andthe captain seemed to be having a lengthy argument about--about--well, I'm not exactly certain what it was about. You see, I was examininga--ah--tomb"--here Primmie shivered--"and paid little attention. Itseemed to be something about some--ah--stock they both owned. Mr. Pulcifer wished to sell and Captain Hallett did not care to buy. "

Martha's interest increased. "Stock?" she repeated. "What sort of stockwas it, Mr. Bangs?"

"I didn't catch the name. And yet, as I remember, I did catchsome portion of it. Ah--let me see--Could there be such a thing asa--ah--'ornamenting' stock? A Wellmouth ornamenting or decorating stock, you know?"

Miss Phipps leaned forward. "Was it Wellmouth Development Companystock?" she asked. 

"Eh? Oh, yes--yes, I'm quite certain that was it. Yes, I think it was, really. "

"And Raish wanted Cap'n Jeth to buy some of it?"

"That was what I gathered, Miss Phipps. As I say, I was more interestedat the time in my--ah--pet tomb. "

Primmie shivered again. Miss Martha looked very serious. She waspreoccupied during the rest of the dinner and, immediately afterward, went, as has been told, over to the Hallett house, leaving her guest thealternative of loneliness or Primmie. 

At first he chose the loneliness. As a matter of fact, his morning'sexercise had fatigued him somewhat and he went up to his room with theintention of taking a nap. But, before lying down, he seated himself inthe rocker by the window and looked out over the prospect of hills andhollows, the little village, the pine groves, the shimmering, tumblingsea, and the blue sky with its swiftly moving white clouds, the latterlike bunches of cotton fluff. The landscape was bare enough, perhaps, but somehow it appealed to him. It seemed characteristically plain andsubstantial and essential, like--well, like the old Cape Cod captains ofbygone days who had spent the dry land portion of their lives there andhad loved to call it home. It was American, as they were, American inthe old-fashioned meaning of the word, bluff, honest, rugged, real. Galusha Bangs had traveled much, he loved the out of the way, the unusual. It surprised him therefore to find how strongly thiscommonplace, 'longshore spot appealed to his imagination. He liked itand wondered why. 

Of course the liking might come from the contrast between the rest andfreedom he was now experiencing and the fevered chase led him at themountain hotel where Mrs. Worth Buckley and her lion-hunting sistershad their habitat. Thought of the pestilential Buckley female set himto contrasting her affectations with the kind-hearted and wholeheartedsimplicity of his present hostess, Miss Martha Phipps. It was somethingof a contrast. Mrs. Buckley was rich and sophisticated and--in her ownopinion--cultured to the highest degree. Now Miss Phipps was, in allprobability, not rich and she would not claim wide culture. As to hersophistication--well, Galusha gave little thought to that, in mostworldly matters he himself was unsophisticated. However, he was surethat he liked Miss Phipps and that he loathed Mrs. Buckley. And he likedEast Wellmouth, bareness and bleakness and lonesomeness and all. He rather wished he were going to stay there for a long time--weeksperhaps, months it might be; that is, of course, provided he couldoccupy his present quarters and eat at the Phipps' table. If he could dothat why--why. .. Humph!

Instead of lying down he sat by that window for more than half anhour thinking. He came out of his reverie slowly, gradually becomingconscious of a high-pitched conversation carried on downstairs. He hadleft his chamber door open and fragments of this conversation came upthe staircase. It was Primmie's voice which he heard most frequentlyand whatever words he caught were hers. There was a masculine grumble atintervals but this was not understandable on the second floor. 

"Now I know better. .. . My savin' soul, how you do talk, Zach Bloomer!. .. And I says to her, says I, 'Miss Martha, ' I says. .. . My Lord ofIsrul!. .. "

These were some of the "Primmieisms" which came up the staircase. Galusha rose to close his door but before he could accomplish this feathis own name was called. 

"Mr. Bangs!" screamed Primmie. "Mr. Bangs, be you layin' down? You ain'tasleep, be you, Mr. Bangs?"

If he had been as sound asleep as Rip Van Winkle that whoop would havearoused him. He hastened to assure the whooper that he was awake andafoot. 

"Um-hm, " said Primmie, "I'm glad of that. If you'd been layin' down Iwouldn't have woke you up for nothin'. But I want to ask you somethin', Mr. Bangs. Had you just as soon answer me somethin' if I ask it of you, had you, Mr. Bangs?"

"Yes, Primmie. "

"Just as soon's not, had you?"

"Yes, quite as soon. "

"All right. Then I--I. .. Let me see now, what was it I was goin' to ask?Zach Bloomer, stop your makin' faces, you put it all out of my head. It's all right, Mr. Bangs, I'll think of it in a minute. Oh, you'recomin' down, be you?"

Galusha was coming down. It seemed to be the advisable thing to do. MissCash was doing her "thinking" at the top of her lungs and the processwas trying to one with uneasy nerves. He entered the sitting room. Primmie was there, of course, and with her was a little, thin man, witha face sunburned to a bright, "boiled-lobster" red, and a bald headwhich looked amazingly white by contrast, a yellowish wisp of mustache, and an expression of intense solemnity, amounting almost to gloom. Hewas dressed in the blue uniform of the lighthouse service and a blue caplay on the table beside him. 

"Mr. Bangs, " announced Primmie, "this is Mr. Zach Bloomer. Zach, make you acquainted with Mr. Bangs, the one I was tellin' you about. Mr. --Mr. --Oh, my savin' soul, what IS your first name, Mr. Bangs?"

"Galusha, Primmie. How do you do, Mr. Bloomer?"

The little man rose upon a pair of emphatically bowed legs and shookhands. "I'm pretty smart, " he observed, in a husky voice. Then he satdown again. Galusha, after waiting a moment, sat down also. Primmieseemed to be wrestling with a mental problem, but characteristically shecould not wrestle in silence. 

"What was it I wanted to ask you, Mr. Bangs?" she said. "I snum I can'tthink! Zach, what was it I wanted to ask Mr. Bangs?"

Mr. Bloomer paid not the slightest attention to the question. His sadblue eye was fixed upon vacancy. 

"Galushy--Galushy, " he said, huskily. "Huh!"

Galusha was, naturally, rather startled. 

"Eh? I--ah--beg your pardon, " he observed. 

"I was thinkin' about names, " explained Mr. Bloomer. "Queer things, names are, ain't they? Zacheus and Galushy. .. . Godfreys!"

He paused a moment and then added:

 "'Zacheus he Did climb a tree His Lord to see. '

Well, if he wan't any taller'n I be he showed good jedgment. .. . Zacheusand Galushy and Primrose!. .. Godfreys!"

Primmie was shocked. "Why, Zach Bloomer!" she exclaimed. "The idea ofyour talkin' so about a person's name you never met but just now in yourlifetime. "

Zacheus regarded the owner of the name. 

"No offense meant and none given, Mr. Bangs, " he observed. "Eh? That'sright, ain't it?"

"Certainly, certainly, Mr. Bloomer. I'm not in the least offended. "

"Um-hm. Didn't cal'late you would be. Can't help our names, can we? Ifmy folks had asked me aforehand I'd a-been named plain John. As 'tis, myname's like my legs, growed that way and it's too late to change. "

Galusha smiled. 

"You're a philosopher, I see, Mr. Bloomer, " he said. 

"He's assistant keeper over to the lighthouse, " explained Primmie. Asbefore, Zach paid no heed. 

"I don't know as I'd go so far as to call myself that, " he said. "WhenI went to school the teacher told us one time about an old critter wholived in a--in a tub, seem's if 'twas. HE was one of them philosophers, wan't he?"

"Yes. Diogenes. "

"That's the cuss. Well, I ain't never lived in a tub, but I've spentconsider'ble time ON one; I was aboard a lightship for five or six year. Ever lived aboard a lightship, Mr. Bangs?"

"No. "

"Humph!. .. Don't feel disapp'inted on that account, do you?"

"Why--ah--no, I don't know that I do. "

"Ain't no occasion. 'Bout the same as bein' in jail, 'tis--only a jaildon't keep heavin' up and down. First week or so you talk. By the secondweek the talk's all run out of you, like molasses out of a hogshead. Then you set and think. "

"I see. And so much thinking tends to bring out--ah--philosophy, Isuppose. "

"Huh! Maybe so. So much settin' wears out overalls, I know that. "

Primmie interrupted. 

"I've got it!" she cried, enthusiastically. "_I_ know now!"

Galusha started nervously. Primmie's explosiveness was disturbing. Itdid not disturb Mr. Bloomer, however. 

"Posy here'd be a good hand aboard a lightship, " he observed. "Hertalk'd NEVER run out. "

Primmie sniffed disgust. "I wish you wouldn't keep callin' me 'Posy'and such names, Zach Bloomer, " she snapped. "Yesterday he called me 'OldBouquet, ' Mr. Bangs. My name's Primrose and he knows it. "

The phlegmatic Zacheus, whose left leg had been crossed above his right, now reversed the crossing. 

"A-ll right--er Pansy Blossom, " he drawled. "What is it you're trying totell us you know? Heave it overboard. "

"Hey?. .. Oh, I mean I've remembered what 'twas I wanted to ask you, Mr. Bangs. Me and Zach was talkin' about Miss Martha. I said it seemed tome she had somethin' on her mind, was sort of worried and troubled aboutsomethin', and Zach--"

For the first time the assistant light keeper seemed a trifle lesscomposed. 

"There, there, Primmie, " he began. "I wouldn't--"

"Be still, Zach Bloomer. You know you want to find out just as much as Ido. Well, Zach, he cal'lated maybe 'twas money matters, cal'lated maybeshe was in debt or somethin'. "

Mr. Bloomer's discomfiture was so intense as to cause him actually touncross his legs. 

"Godfreys, Prim!" he exclaimed. "Give you a shingle and apocket-handkercher and you'll brag to all hands you've got a full-riggedship. I never said Martha was in debt. I did say she acted worried tome and I was afraid it might be account of some money business. She wasover to the light just now askin' for Cap'n Jeth, and he's the one herdad, Cap'n Jim Phipps, used to talk such things with. They went into agood many trades together, them too. .. . But there, 'tain't any of youraffairs, is it, Mr. Bangs--and 'tain't any of Primmie's and my business, so we'd better shut up. Don't say nothin' to Martha about it, Mr. Bangs, if you'd just as soon. But course you wouldn't anyhow. "

This was a tremendously long speech for Mr. Bloomer. He sighed at itsend, as if from exhaustion; then he crossed his legs again. Galushahastened to assure him that he would keep silent. Primmie, however, hadmore to say. 

"Why, Zach Bloomer, " she declared, "you know that wan't only part ofwhat you and me was sayin'. That wan't what I wanted to ask Mr. Bangs. YOU said if 'twas money matters or business Miss Martha went to seeCap'n Jeth about you cal'lated the cap'n would be cruisin' up to Bostonto see a medium pretty soon. "

"The old man's Speritu'list, " exclaimed Zach. "Always goes to one ofthem Speritu'list mediums for sailin' orders. "

"Now you let me tell it, Zach. Well, then _I_ said I wondered if youwan't a kind of medium, Mr. Bangs. And Zach, he--"

Galusha interrupted this time. 

"_I_--a medium!" he gasped. "Well, really, I--ah--oh, dear! Dear me!"

"AIN'T you a kind of medium, Mr. Bangs?"

"Certainly not. "

"Well, I thought undertakin' was your trade till Miss Martha put herfoot down on the notion and shut me right up. You AIN'T an undertaker, be you?"

"An undertaker?. .. Dear me, Primmie, you--ah--well, you surprise me. Just why did you think me an undertaker, may I ask?"

"Why, you see, 'cause--'cause--well, you was talkin' yesterday aboutinterestin' remains and--and all this forenoon you was over in thecemetery and said you had such a good time there and. .. And I couldn'tsee why anybody, unless he was an undertaker, or--or a medium maybe, would call bein' around with dead folks havin' a good time. .. Quit yourlaughin', Zach Bloomer; you didn't know what Mr. Bangs' trade was anymore'n I did. "

Mr. Bloomer cleared his throat. "Mr. Bangs, " he observed sadly, "didn'tI tell you she'd make a ship out of a shingle? If you'd puffed smoke, and whistled once in a while, she'd have cal'lated you must be atugboat. "

Galusha smiled. 

"I am an archaeologist, " he said. "I think I told you that, Primmie. "

Primmie looked blank. "Yes, " she admitted, "you did, but--"

Zacheus finished the sentence. 

"But you didn't tell TOO much when you told it, " he said. "What kind ofan ark did you say?"

And then Galusha explained. The fact that any one in creation shouldnot know what an archaeologist was seemed unbelievable, but a fact itevidently was. So he explained and the explanation, under questioning, became lengthy. Primmie's exclamations, "My savin' soul" and "My Lord ofIsrul" became more and more frequent. Mr. Bloomer interjected a remarkhere and there. At length a sound outside caused him to look out of thewindow. 

"Here comes the old man and Martha, " he said. "Cal'late I'd better begettin' back aboard. Can't leave Lulie to tend light all the time. Much obliged to you, Mr. Bangs. You've cruised around more'n I give youcredit for. Um-hm. Any time you want to know about a lightship or--orlobsterin' or anything, I'd be pleased to tell you. Good-day, sir. Solong--er--Sweet William. See you later. "

The "Sweet William" was addressed to Primmie, of course. The bow-leggedlittle man, rolling from side to side like the lightship of which hetalked so much, walked out of the room. A moment later Martha Phipps andCaptain Jethro Hallett entered it. 

Both Miss Phipps and the light keeper seemed preoccupied. The former'sround, wholesome face was clouded over and the captain was tugging athis thick beard and drawing his bushy eyebrows together in a frown. Hewas a burly, broad-shouldered man, with a thin-lipped mouth, and a sharpgray eye. He looked like one hard to drive and equally hard to turn, thesort from which fanatics are made. 

Primmie scuttled away to the dining room. Galusha rose. 

"Good-afternoon, Captain Hallett, " he said. 

Jethro regarded him from beneath the heavy brows. 

"You know Mr. Bangs, Cap'n Jeth, " said Martha. "You met this mornin', didn't you?"

The light keeper nodded. 

"We run afoul of each other over to the graveyard, " he grunted. "Well, Martha, I don't know what more there is to say about--about that thing. I've told you all I know, I cal'late. "

"But I want to talk a little more about it, Cap'n Jeth. If Mr. Bangswill excuse us we'll go out into the dinin' room. Primmie's up in herroom by this time. You will excuse us, won't you, Mr. Bangs? There was alittle business matter the cap'n and I were talkin' about. "

Galusha hastened to say that he himself had been on the point of goingto his own room--really he was. 

Miss Martha asked if he was sure. 

"You needn't go on our account, " she protested. "We can talk in thedinin' room just as well as not, can't we Cap'n Jeth?"

The captain bowed his head. "We ain't cal'latin' to talk very longanyhow, " he said, solemnly. "This is the Lord's day, Mr. Bangs. "

Galusha hastily admitted that he was aware of the fact. He hurried intothe hall and up the stairs. As he reached the upper landing he heard theponderous boom of the light keeper's voice saying, "Martha, I tell youagain there's no use frettin' yourself. We've to wait on the Lord. Thenthat wait will be provided for; it's been so revealed to me. "

Miss Phipps sighed heavily. "Maybe so, Jethro, " she said, "but what willsome of us live on while we're waitin'? THAT hasn't been revealed toyou, has it?"

For the rest of that afternoon Galusha sat by his bedroom window, thinking. His thoughts were along the line of those interrupted byPrimmie's summons. When, at supper time, he again descended the stairs, his mind was made up. He was going to make a suggestion, a suggestionwhich seemed to him somewhat delicate. In one sense of the term it wasa business proposition, in another--well, he was not precisely certainthat it might not be considered presuming and perhaps intrusive. GalushaCabot Bangs was not a presuming person and he was troubled. 

After the supper dishes were washed and Primmie sent to bed--"sent"is the exact word, for Miss Cash, having had a taste of Egypt andthe Orient, was eagerly hoping for more--Miss Phipps and Galusha weretogether in the sitting room. Doctor Powers had paid a brief visit. Hefound his patient so much improved that he announced him well enough totravel if he wished. 

"If it is really necessary for you to go to-morrow, Mr. Bangs, " he said, "I think you're strong enough to risk it. "

"Thank you, Doctor, " said Galusha. Then he added, with his little smile, "I couldn't go before to-morrow. You see, I--ah--haven't any hat. "

In the sitting room, after supper, Galusha was idly turning the pagesof Camp, Battlefield and Hospital, a worn book of Civil War sketches, printed immediately after that war, which he had found upon the shelf ofthe closet in his room, along with another volume labeled Friendship'sGarland, a Nosegay of Verse. Of the two, although a peace-lovingindividual, he preferred the camp and battlefield to the Nosegay; thelatter's fragrance was a trifle too sweet. 

Suddenly Martha, who had been sitting quiet in the rocker, spoke. 

"Mr. Bangs, " she said, "I saw Lulie Hallett when I was over at the lightthis afternoon. We had a good talk together before Cap'n Jethro cameback. She told me about your bein' so kind to her and Nelson over by theold church this mornin'. She was real grateful to you and she says sheshall thank you herself when she sees you. She asked me to do it for hernow. "

Galusha was confused. "Oh, it was nothing, really, " he hastened toexplain. "I--ah--Well, I intruded upon them somewhat suddenly. I see shetold you of that. "

Miss Phipps was smiling to herself. She looked a little guilty. 

"Well, " she admitted, "Lulie did say that you kind of--er--flew overthe bank. She said no one was ever quite so surprised as she was at thatminute. "

Mr. Bangs thoughtfully shook his head. 

"Except myself, perhaps, " he observed. 

Martha's smile became a laugh. "Probably that's so, " she admitted. "But, Mr. Bangs, Lulie is awfully anxious that you shouldn't think there wasanything wrong about her meetin' Nelson Howard in that way. There isn't. She's a splendid girl and he's a fine young man. I think the world ofLulie and I like Nelson, too. "

She paused a moment and then went on. 

"It's Cap'n Jethro that makes all the trouble, " she said. "There's noreason in the world--that is, no sensible reason--why Lulie and Nelsonshouldn't be engaged to be married. Of course he isn't doin' very wellin a business way just now, but that's partly from choice on Lulie'saccount. Nelse was a telegraph operator up in Brockton before the war. When the war came he went right into the Navy and started in at theRadio School studyin' to be a wireless operator. Then he was taken downwith the 'flu' and had to give up study. Soon as he got well he wentinto the transport service. Lulie, you see, was teachin' school atOstable, but her father's health isn't what it used to be and then, besides, I think she was a little worried about his spiritualism. Jethroisn't crazy about it, exactly, but he isn't on an even keel on thatsubject, there's no doubt about that. So Lulie gave up teachin' and camehere to live with him. When Nelson was mustered out he took the stationagent's job at South Wellmouth so as to be near her. I think he doesn'tfeel right to have her here alone with her father. "

"But--ah--she isn't alone, is she? I gathered that Mr. --ah--Bloomer--"

"Zach Bloomer? Yes, he's there, but Zach isn't lively company, especially for a girl like Lulie. If Jethro was taken--well, with a fitor somethin', Zach would probably sit down and cross those bow legs ofhis and moralize for an hour or so before he got ready to help pick theold man up. Nelson knows that and so he refused two real good offershe had and took the position at the South Wellmouth depot. But he'sstudyin' at his wireless all the time and some day--but I'm afraid thatday will be a long way off. Cap'n Jeth is as set as the side of a stonewharf and you'd have to take him to pieces to move him. That was anotherof father's sayin's, " she added, "that about the stone wharf. "

"Why, why is the--ah--why is Captain Hallet so opposed to young Howard?"asked Galusha. 

"Spiritualism. Foolishness, that's all. Before his wife died he was assensible and shrewd a man as you'd care to see. He and father were oldchums and father used to ask his advice about investments and all suchthings. They went into lots of deals together and generally made 'empay, though Jethro usually made the most because he took more chances. He must be worth twenty or thirty thousand dollars, Cap'n Jeth Hallettis. "

She spoke as if these were enormous sums. Galusha, to whom allsums--sums of money, that is--were more or less alike, nodded gravely. 

"His wife's death broke Jethro dreadfully, " continued Martha. "Forsix months or so he hardly spoke to anybody except Lulie. Then someSpiritualist or other--I think it was Ophelia Beebe or some rattleheadlike her--got him to go to see a medium who was boardin' here at theRestabit Inn. He got--or thinks he got--a communication direct fromJulia--his wife. After that he kept goin' to the Spiritualist campmeetin's and to Boston and to mediums from Dan to Beersheba, so tospeak. A while ago one medium creature--and I wish she had been struckdumb before she could say it--told him that he must beware of a dark manwho was tryin' to work evil upon his daughter. As luck would have it, Nelson Howard was home on leave and callin' on Lulie when her father gotback from seein' that very medium. You can imagine what happened. AndJethro has been growin' more rabid on the subject ever since. "

She stopped. Her guest said nothing. He was thinking that if he were tomake the suggestion--the proposition which he had determined upon beforehe came down to supper, he must make it soon. And he did not know how tobegin. 

Martha went on talking. She apparently did not notice his silence. Itwas more as if she were thinking aloud. 

"If it wasn't for Lulie's bein' here, " she said, slowly, "I don't knowwhat I should do sometimes, I get so lonesome. When father lived it wasall so different. He was bright and cheerful and he and I were just asif we were the same age, as you might say. He never was cross and hedidn't fret and if he worried he didn't let me know it. He just lovedthis place. It was near the salt water, and he loved that, and he hadhis garden and his hens and he was interested in town affairs and all. We didn't have much money, but we had enough, seemed so. Before he diedhe told me he hoped he'd left me well enough off to get along. 'The onlything that troubles me, Martha, ' he said, 'is that some of the thingsI've put money into shouldn't turn out as I hoped. I've tried to becareful, but you can't always tell. If you want advice, ' he said, 'go toJethro Hallett. Jeth's a shrewd business man. ' Ah, well, he didn't knowthat the spirits were goin' to run Cap'n Jeth. About the last words hesaid to me, father, I mean, was, 'Martha, hang on to the old place ifyou can. I hate to think of your sellin' it. ' Of course I told him Inever should sell it. "

"Well--ah--well--" Galusha felt that he ought to say something, "youdon't intend selling it, do you, Miss Phipps?"

Martha did not answer immediately. And when she did speak it was not areply. 

"You must think we're a queer lot down here by the Bluffs, Mr. Bangs, "she said. "Primmie--you've seen what she is--and Zach Bloomer and Cap'nJethro with his 'spirit revelations. ' As I say, if it wasn't for LulieI don't know what I should do. Get to be cracked myself, I presumelikely. .. . But there, " she added, brightening, "do let's change thesubject, for mercy sakes! Mr. Bangs, what do you suppose I did whenI was over at the light this afternoon? Besides talkin' with Lulie, Imean. "

"Why--why, I don't know, I'm sure. "

"I don't believe you could guess, either. I looked up 'archaeologist' inthe dictionary. "

Mr. Bangs blinked surprise behind the spectacles. 

"In the--in the dictionary?" he repeated. "Oh--ah--dear me! Really!"

"Yes. I'm afraid you'll think I am awfully ignorant, but to save my soulI couldn't think what an archaeologist did, what sort of a businessit was, I mean. Of course, I knew I OUGHT to know, and that I did knowonce, but it seemed to be perfectly certain that I didn't know THEN. So I looked it up. It fits in with what you told Primmie and me abouttravelin'--that camel driver creature and all--and yet--and yet, youknow, I was surprised. "

"Surprised? Really? Yes, of course, but--but why?"

"Well, because somehow you don't look like that kind of man. I mean thekind of man who travels in all sorts of wild places and does dangerousthings, you know, and--"

Galusha's desire to protest overcame his politeness. He broke inhurriedly. 

"Oh, but I'm not, you know, " he cried. "I'm not really. Dear me, no!"

"But you said you had been to--to Africa, was it?--three or four times. "

"Oh, but those were my Abyssinian trips. Abyssinia isn't wild, ordangerous, any more than Egypt. "

"Oh, isn't it?"

"No, not in the least, really. Oh, dear me, no!"

"Not with darky camel drivers stealin' your--er--underclothes andgoodness knows what? It sounds a little wild to ME. "

"Oh, but it isn't, I assure you. And Egypt--ah--Egypt is a wonderfulcountry. On my most recent trip I. .. . May I tell you?"

He began to tell her without waiting for permission. For the next hourMartha Phipps journeyed afar, under an African sun, over desert sands, beside a river she had read of in her geography when a girl, underpalm trees, amid pyramids and temples and the buried cities of a buriedpeople. And before her skipped, figuratively speaking, the diminutivefigure of Galusha Bangs, guiding, pointing, declaiming, describing, theincarnation of enthusiastic energy, as different as anything could befrom the mild, dreamy little person who had sat opposite her at thesupper table so short a time before. 

The wooden clock on the mantel--it had wooden works and Martha wound iteach night before she went to bed--banged its gong ten times. Mr. Bangsdescended from Egypt as if he had fallen from a palm tree, alightingupon reality and Cape Cod with startled suddenness. 

"Oh, dear me!" he cried. "What was that? Goodness me, it CAN'T beten o'clock, can it? Oh, I must have talked you almost to death, MissPhipps. I must have bored you to distraction, I must really. Oh, I'm SOsorry!"

Miss Martha also seemed to be coming out of a dream, or trance. Shestirred in her chair. 

"You haven't bored me, Mr. Bangs, " she said, "Oh, but I must have, really. I should know better. You see. .. . Well, it's quite extraordinary my talking to you in this way, isn't it? Idon't do it often--ah--except to other members of my profession. Why, up there in the mountains--at the place where I spent the past monthor two, I scarcely talked of--ah--my work at all. And I was constantlybeing asked to do so. There was a dreadful--ah--that is, there was awoman who. .. . But I promise you I won't go on in this way again, MissPhipps, really I won't. "

Martha drew a long breath and shook her head. 

"I hope you won't promise any such thing, " she declared. "I feel as ifI had been readin' the most interestin' storybook that ever was. .. . My, my!" she added, with a sigh. "What a curious thing life is, isn't it?There's nothin' new in that thought, of course, but it comes to us allevery little while, I suppose. Just think of the difference there hasbeen in our two lives, for instance. Here are you, Mr. Bangs, you'vebeen everywhere, pretty nearly, and yet you're--well, you're not so verybig or strong-lookin'. The average person would say I was the one bestfitted to trot around the world, and all my life--or nearly all--I'vebeen keepin' house in this little corner of East Wellmouth. That'scurious, isn't it? Of course I can't see myself doin' the things youdo--ridin' a camel, for instance. "

"Oh, but it is quite easy, quite, " Galusha hastened to assure her. "Youcould do it very well, I'm sure, Miss Phipps. "

"Maybe so, but I'm afraid I'm a little bit doubtful. I should want mycamel on wheels, with a railin' around his hump. But YOU must feel lostenough down in this tame place, Mr. Bangs. The wildest thing around hereis a woodchuck. "

She laughed. Galusha smiled, but he answered promptly. 

"I like it here, Miss Phipps, " he said, earnestly. "I do, really. Ilike it very much indeed. In fact--in fact--Miss Phipps, would you mindanswering a question or two?. .. Oh, they're not personal questions, personal to you, I mean. Really they are not. May I ask them?"

She was puzzled and looked so. 

"Why, of course, " she said. 

"Well. .. Well, they're foolish questions, I suppose, for I think I knowthe answers already. But, you see, I want my conscience to be quiteclear before making a decision. .. . That is, the decision is alreadymade, but you see. .. Oh, no, you don't see, of course, do you?"

"Why not ask your questions, Mr. Bangs?" she suggested. 

"Yes--ah--thank you; yes, I will. The first one is about--ah--rest. Thisis a good spot for one to--ah--rest in, isn't it?"

She laughed. "Are you jokin', Mr. Bangs?" she asked. "Rest! I should saythe average person would find it easier to rest here than to do anythingelse. But you are jokin', of course?"

"No; no, indeed, I am quite serious. Second, the air about hereis--ah--good and--and fresh?"

"GOOD! Well, considerin' that most of it is blown over three or fourthousand miles of salt water before it gets here it ought to be fairlygood, I should say. As to its bein' fresh--well, if you were here whena February no'theaster was blowin' I'm afraid you might find it a littleTOO fresh. "

"That is satisfactory, that is very satisfactory indeed. Now what wasthe third thing the doctor said I must have? Oh, yes, people. And I knowthere are people here because I have met them. And very nice people, indeed. .. . Oh, this is VERY satisfactory, Miss Phipps. Now my conscienceis quite clear concerning my promise to the doctor and I can go on to myproposal to you. "

"Your--your WHAT?"

"My proposal--the--ah--proposition I want to make you, Miss Phipps. AndI DO hope you will consider it favorably. You see, I like East WellmouthVERY much. My doctor told me I must go where I could find fresh air, rest, and people. They are all here in East Wellmouth. And he said Imust have exercise, and behold my daily walks to that most interestingold cemetery of yours. Now, you have been VERY kind to me already, MissPhipps; could you be still more kind? Would you--ah--could you let mecontinue our present arrangement indefinitely--for a few months, letus say? Might I be permitted to board here with you until--well, untilspring, perhaps?"

Martha Phipps leaned back in her chair. She regarded him keenly. 

"Mr. Bangs, " she said, slowly, "has some one been tellin' you thatI needed money and are you makin' me this offer out of--well, out ofcharity?"

Galusha jumped violently. He turned quite pale. 

"Oh, dear, dear, dear!" he cried, in a great agitation. "Oh, dearme, dear me! No, INDEED, Miss Phipps! I am VERY sorry you should somisunderstand me. I--I--Of course I know nothing of your money affairs, nor should I presume to--to--Oh, I--I--Oh, dear!"

His distress was so keen that she was obliged to recognize it. 

"All right, all right, Mr. Bangs, " she said. "It wasn't charity, Ican see that. But what was it? Do I understand you to say that youlike--actually like this lonesome place well enough to want to stay hereall WINTER?"

"Yes--ah--yes. And it doesn't seem lonesome to me. "

"Doesn't it? Well, wait a little while. .. . And you really mean you wantto keep on boardin' here--with me, with us?"

"Yes, if--if you will be so very kind as to permit me to do so. If youwill be so good. "

"Good! To what? My soul and body!"

"No--ah--good to mine, " said Galusha. 

CHAPTER VI

It was not settled that evening. Martha declared she must have at leasta few hours in which to think it over and Galusha, of course, agreed. 

"It won't take too long, " she said. "Naturally, you want to know so thatyou can make your plans. "

Galusha smiled. "Please take as much time as you need, Miss Phipps, " heurged. "If you permit me to remain here while you are--ah--endeavoringto reach a decision I shall be quite satisfied, really. In that case, you know, I should be willing to wait for the decision until spring. Dear me, yes--even until summer. "

Martha laughed and declared she should decide long before that. "I thinkbreakfast time to-morrow will settle it, " she added. 

It did. After breakfast she informed him that he might stay if hewished. 

"Though WHY you want to I can't understand, " she said. "And of course itis part of the agreement that you'll feel free to give it up and go anytime you wish; as soon as you begin to get tired of the place and us, Imean. "

He beamed satisfaction. "I shall not be the one to tire first, " hedeclared. Then he added, earnestly, "Of course, Miss Phipps, you willbe perfectly frank and tell me at once if you change YOUR mind. And if Ishould become a--ah--well, a sort of nuisance, be irregular at meals, ornoisy or--What is it? I beg your pardon?"

She had laughed outright. She was still smiling when she apologized. 

"Please excuse me for laughin', Mr. Bangs, " she said, "but don't youthink yourself that that is funny? The idea of your bein' noisy, Imean. "

He stroked his chin. 

"We-ll, " he admitted, "perhaps it is. But sometimes I am quiteboisterous, really I am. I remember once, years ago, I was in an oldcemetery in New Hampshire and I suddenly discovered an inscription whichpleased me VERY much. MOST quaint and unusual it was--dear me, yes. Andquite unconsciously I burst into a shout--a cheer, as one may say. Theold sexton was quite scandalized and warned me not to do it again. Hesaid it would disturb people. I don't know whom he meant, there were noliving people to be disturbed. "

The question of terms was the cause of a supplementary discussion. Mr. Bangs insisted upon continuing the three dollars a day rate and MissMartha declared he should do nothing of the kind. 

"That three dollars a day was just a temporary thing, " she said. "Isaid it just because I was sure you would go over to Elmer Rogers' if Ididn't. Elmer Rogers is a robber and always was. Father used to say hewas the forty-first member of the Forty Thieves and that they didn'tboil him because he wasn't enough account to waste hot oil on. "

"But--ah--it seems to me that if the Rogers' House board is worth threedollars a day yours should be worth five at least. "

"Maybe so, but I never heard anybody but Elmer say his board was worthone dollar, let alone three. "

They compromised on a daily rate of two and a half per day, which eachdeclared to be ridiculous. 

Thus Galusha Cabot Bangs became no longer a transitory but a regularboarder and lodger at the Phipps' place. The fact became known to MissPrimrose Cash that forenoon, to the driver of the grocer's cart one hourlater, and to all of East Wellmouth before bedtime. It was news and, inOctober in East Wellmouth, one item of local news is a rare and blesseddispensation. 

Before another day had passed the news item had been embellished. Mr. Bangs visited the general store of Erastus Beebe to purchase headgearto replace the brown derby. Erastus happened to be busy at themoment--there were two customers in his store at the same time, an eventmost unusual--so Galusha's wants were supplied by no less a person thanMr. Horatio Pulcifer. 

Raish's greeting was condescendingly genial. 

"Well, well!" he exclaimed, pumping the little man's arm up and downwith one hand and thumping his shrinking shoulder blades with the other. "If it ain't the perfessor himself! How are you this mornin', Mr. Bangs?Right up and comin, eh?"

Galusha would have withdrawn his hand from the Pulcifer clutch ifwithdrawal had been possible. It being quite impossible, he murmuredthat he was--"ah--quite well" and, conscious that the eyes of Mr. Beebeand his two customers were fixed upon him, fixed his own gaze upon Mr. Pulcifer's assortment of watch charms and shivered with embarrassment. 

"Ain't it funny, now?" queried Raish, addressing the world in general. "Ain't it funny how things happen? When I fetched you over in my cart'other night didn't I say I hoped you and me'd meet again? That's whatI said. And now we've met twice since. Once in the old boneyard and nowhere, eh? And they tell me you like East Wellmouth so much you're goin'to stick around for a spell. Good business! Say, I'll be sellin' you apiece of Wellmouth property one of these days to settle down on. That'sthe kind of talk, eh, Perfessor? Haw, haw, haw!"

He pounded the Bangs' shoulder blades once more. Mr. Beebe and his twocustomers echoed the Pulcifer laugh. Galusha smiled painfully--as theman in the operating chair smiles at the dentist's jokes. 

"I--I--excuse me, " he faltered, turning to the grinning Erastus, "canI--That is, have you a--ah--hat or--or cap or something I might buy?"

Before the proprietor of the general store could answer, Mr. Pulciferanswered for him. Again the hand descended upon the Bangs' shoulder. 

"Haw, haw!" roared Raish, joyfully. "I get you, Mr. Bangs. The old lidblew out to sea and we've got to get a new one. Say, that was funny, wasn't it; that hat goin' that way? I don't know's I ever laughed morein my life. One minute she was jumpin' along amongst them gravestoneslike a hoptoad with wings, and then--Zing! Fsst! away she went a halfmile or so down into the breakers. Haw, haw, haw! And to see your face!Why--"

Galusha interrupted. 

"PLEASE don't do that, " he said, nervously. 

"Hey? Do what?"

"Ah--slap my back. I'd rather you wouldn't, if you don't mind. And--oh--I should like to see a--a cap or something. "

The last sentence was addressed to Mr. Beebe, who cleared his throatimportantly. 

"Jest a minute, jest a minute, " said Erastus. "Soon's I get throughwaitin' on these customers I'll 'tend to you. Jest a minute. Yeast cake, did you say, Mrs. Blount?"

"Ohh, pardon me, " faltered Galusha. "I'll wait, of course. "

"Wait?" It was Mr. Pulcifer who spoke. "You don't have to wait. I knowRas's stock as well as he does, pretty nigh. I'LL show you a cap, Mr. Bangs. "

"Oh--oh, I couldn't think of troubling you, really I couldn't. "

"No trouble at all. What's a little trouble amongst neighbors, eh? Andthat's what we are now--neighbors, eh? Sure, Mike! You and me are goin'to see a lot of each other from now on. There! There's a good, stylishcap, if I do say it. Try it on? What's your size, Perfessor?"

Five minutes later Galusha descended the steps of the Beebe store, wearing a cloth cap which was, to say the very least, out of theordinary. Its material was a fuzzy frieze of nondescript colors, a shadeof dingy yellow predominating, and its shape was weird and umbrellalike. With it upon his head little Galusha resembled a walking toadstool--anunhealthy, late-in-the-season toadstool. 

The quartet in the Beebe store watched his departure from the windows. All were hugely amused, but one, Mr. Pulcifer, was hilarious. 

"Haw, haw, haw!" roared Raish. "Look at him! Don't he look like abullfrog under a lily pad? Eh? Don't he now? Haw, haw, haw!"

Erastus Beebe joined in the laugh, but he shook his head. 

"I've had that cap in stock, " he said, "since--well, since GeorgeCahoon's son used to come down drummin' for that Boston hat store, andhe quit much as eight year ago, anyhow. How did he ever come to pickTHAT cap out, Raish?"

Mr. Pulcifer regarded the questioner with scornful superiority. 

"Pick it out!" he repeated. "He never picked it out, I picked it out forhim. You don't know the first principles of sellin', Ras. If you had meto help around here you wouldn't have so many stickers in your stock. "

Beebe, gazing after the retreating figure of Mr. Bangs, sniffed. 

"If I had your brass, Raish, " he observed, calmly, "I'd sell it to thejunk man and get rich. Well, maybe I won't have so many stickers, asyou call 'em, if that little critter comes here often. What's the matterwith him; soft in the head?"

"Isn't this his hat--the one he wore when he came in here?" queried Mrs. Jubal Doane, one of the two customers. 

Mr. Beebe picked it up. "Guess so, " he replied. "Humph! I've seen thathat often enough, too. Used to belong to Cap'n Jim Phipps, that hat did. Seen him wear it a hundred times. "

Mrs. Becky Blount, the other customer, elevated the tip of a long nose. "Well, " she observed, "if Martha Phipps is lendin' him her pa's hats SOearly, I must say--"

She did not say what it was she must say, but she had said quite enough. 

Martha herself said something when her boarder appeared beneath his newheadgear. When he removed it, upon entering the dining room, she took itfrom his hand. 

"Is THIS the cap you just bought, Mr. Bangs?" she asked. 

"Yes, " said Galusha, meekly. "Do you like it?"

She regarded the fuzzy yellow thing with a curious expression. 

"Do you?" she asked. 

The reply was astonishingly prompt and emphatic. 

"I loathe it, " said Galusha. 

She transferred the stare from the cap to its owner's face. 

"You do!" she cried. "Then why in the world did you buy it?"

Mr. Bangs squirmed slightly. "He said I ought to, " he answered. 

"Who said so?"

"That man--that Mr. Pulcifer. Mr. --ah--Deedee--Beebe, I mean--was busy, and Mr. Pulcifer insisted on showing me the caps. I didn't like this oneat all, but he talked so much that--that I couldn't stay and hear himany longer. He makes me very nervous, " he added, apologetically. "Isuppose it is my fault, but--ah--he does, you know. "

"And do you mean to say that you took this--this outrage because RaishPulcifer talked you into it?"

Galusha smiled sadly. "Well, he--he talked me into it--yes, " headmitted. "Into the--ah--cap and out of the store. Dear me, yes. "

Miss Martha drew a long breath. 

"My heavens and earth!" she exclaimed. "And what did you do withfather's hat, the one you wore down there?"

Her lodger gasped. "Oh, dear, dear!" he exclaimed. "Oh, dear me! I musthave left it in the shop. I'm SO sorry. How could I do such a carelessthing? I'll go for it at once, Miss Phipps. "

He would have gone forthwith, but she stopped him. 

"I'm goin' there myself in a little while, " she said. "I've got someother errands there. And, if you don't mind, " she added, "I'd like totake this new cap of yours with me. That is, if you can bear to partwith it. "

She went soon afterward and when she returned she had another cap, asane, respectable cap, one which was not a "sticker. "

"I took it on myself to change the other one for this, Mr. Bangs, " shesaid. "I like it lots better myself. Of course it wasn't my affair atall and I suppose I ought to beg your pardon. "

He hastened to reassure her. 

"Please don't speak so, Miss Phipps, " he begged. "It was very, very kindof you. And I like this cap VERY much. I do, really. .. . I ought to havea guardian, hadn't I?" he added. 

It was precisely what she was thinking at the moment and she blushedguiltily. 

"Why, what makes you say that?" she asked. 

"Oh, I'm not saying it, not as an original thought, you know; I'm merelyrepeating it. Other people always say it, they've said it ever since Ican remember. Thank you very much for the cap, Miss Phipps. "

He was sunnily cheerful and very grateful. There was not the slightestresentment because of her interference. And yet if she had notinterfered he would have worn the hideous yellow cap and been ascheerful under that. Pulcifer had imposed upon him and he realized it, but he deliberately chose being imposed upon rather than listening tothe Pulcifer conversation. He was certainly a queer individual, thislodger of hers. A learned man evidently, a man apparently at home andsure of himself in a world long dead, but as helpless as a child in thepractical world of to-day. She liked him, she could not help liking him, and it irritated her exceedingly to think that men like Raish Pulciferand Erastus Beebe should take advantage of his childlike qualities toswindle him, even if the swindles were but petty. 

"They shan't do it, " she told Lulie Hallett, the next morning. "Not if Ican help it, they shan't. Somebody ought to look out for the poor thing, half sick and with nobody of his own within goodness knows how manymiles. I'll look out for him as well as I can while he's here. Myconscience wouldn't let me do anything else. I suppose if I pick out hisother things the way I picked out that cap the whole of East Wellmouthwill be talkin'; but I can't help it, let 'em. "

For the matter of that, the Beebes and the Blounts and Doanes weretalking already. And within a fortnight Miss Phipps' prophecy wasfulfilled, the whole of East Wellmouth WAS talking of Galusha Bangs. Some of the talk was malicious and scandalous gossip, of course, butmost of it was fathered by an intense and growing curiosity concerningthe little man. Who was he? What was his real reason for coming to EastWellmouth to live--in the WINTER time? What made him spend so many hoursin the old cemetery? Was he crazy, as some people declared, or merely"kind of simple, " which was the opinion of others? Mr. Pulcifer'shumorous summing-up was freely quoted. 

"He may not be foolish now, " observed Raish, "but he will be if he livesvery long with that bunch down to the lighthouse. Old Cap'n Jethand Zach and Primmie Cash are enough to start anybody countin' theirfingers. My opinion is, if you want to know, that this Bangs feller isjust a little mite cracked on the subject of Egyptians and Indians andgravestones--probably he's read a lot about 'em and it's sprained hismind, as you might say. That would account for the big yarns he tellsPrim about Africa and such. As to why he's come here to live, I cal'lateI've got the answer to that. He's poorer'n poverty and it's cheap livin'down at Martha Phipps's. How do I know he's poor? Cripes t'mighty, lookat his clothes! Don't look much like yours or mine, do they?"

They certainly did not look much like Mr. Pulcifer's. Galusha'strunk had arrived at last, but the garments in it were as drab andold-fashioned and "floppy" as those he wore on his arrival. Horatio wasinvariably arrayed like a lily of the field--if by that term is meanta tiger lily. Raish generally finished his appraisal by adding, patronizingly:

"He's all right, though, old Galushy is. Nothin' harmful about him. Seehow easy I get along with him. I shake hands with him and hit him a clipon the back, and, gosh t'mighty, he thinks I'm his best friend on earth. He'd do anything for me, that old owl would. "

And, perhaps, because it was given forth with such authority from thePulcifer Mount Sinai, the fact that Bangs was very poor and was livingat Gould's Bluffs because of that poverty came to be accepted in EastWellmouth as a settled fact. So quickly and firmly was it settled that, a month later, Erastus Beebe, leaning over his counter in conversationwith a Boston traveling salesman, said, as Galusha passed the store:

"Queer-lookin' customer, ain't he? One of our town characters, as youmight say. Pretends he's been all over creation, but the truth is helives down here by the lighthouse and is poorer than the last pulletin Job's coop. Kind of an inventor, or book writer, or some such crazything. Queer how that kind get that way, ain't it?"

"Is that all he does for a living?" asked the salesman. 

"Don't do much of that, seems so, nowadays. Spends most of his timecopyin' off tombstone-writin' over in the old Baptist graveyard. Seemsto LIKE to be there, he does. Thunder sakes! a graveyard is the lastplace I'd spend MY time in. "

The Bostonian made the obvious retort that it was probably the lastplace Mr. Beebe WOULD spend his time in. 

Galusha, of course, was not in the least aware of the East Wellmouthestimate of himself, his fortune and his activities. He would nothave been interested had he known. He was enjoying himself hugely, was gaining daily in health, strength, and appetite, and was becomingthoroughly acquainted with Gould's Bluffs, its surroundings, and itspeople. 

He made many calls at the lighthouse nowadays. These calls were notespecially for the purpose of cultivating Captain Jethro's acquaintance, although the rugged, bigoted old light keeper afforded an interestingstudy in character. The captain's moods varied. Sometimes he talkedfreely and interestingly of his experiences at sea and as keeper of thelight. His stories of wrecks and life-saving were well told and Galushaenjoyed them. He cared less for Jethro's dissertations on investmentsand deals and shrewd trades. It was plain that the old man pridedhimself upon them, however. On one occasion Mr. Bangs happened tomention Martha Phipps and hinted at his own fear that his lodging atthe Phipps' home was in the nature of an imposition upon the lady's goodnature. The light keeper shook his shaggy head impatiently. 

"No, no, no, " he growled, "'tain't any such thing. Your boardin' there'sa good thing for Martha. She needs the money. "

Galusha was troubled. 

"I'm sorry to hear that, " he said. "She is not--ah--not pinched formeans, I hope. Not that that is my business, of course, " he added, hastily. 

Captain Jeth's reply was gruff and rather testy. 

"She'll come out all right, " he said, "if she's willin' to do as I doand wait. I know I'll come out right. Julia told me so, herself. "

Galusha had forgotten, momentarily. 

"Julia?" he repeated. 

"My WIFE. "

"Oh--oh, yes, yes, of course. "

In these conversations Bangs learned to steer the talk as far aspossible from the subjects of life beyond the grave or of spiritcommunications. The slightest touch here and the captain was off, his eyes shining beneath his heavy brows, and his face working withbelligerent emotion. A hint of doubt or contradiction and troublefollowed immediately. 

"Don't argue with me, " roared Cap'n Jethro. "I KNOW. "

Lulie and Galusha had many chats together. He had liked her at firstsight and soon she came to like him. 

"He's as funny and odd as can he, " she told Martha, "and you never cantell what he may say or do next. But he's awfully nice, just the same. "

Little by little she confided to him her hopes and doubts and fears, the hopes of her own love story and the doubts and fears concerning herfather. 

"He isn't well, " she said, referring to the latter. "He pretends he is, but he isn't. And all this consulting with mediums and getting messagesand so on is very bad for him, I know it is. Do you believe in it atall, Mr. Bangs?"

Galusha looked doubtful. 

"Well, " he replied, "it would be presumptuous for one like me to say itis all nonsense. Men like Conan Doyle and Lodge and Doctor Hyslop arenot easy dupes and their opinions are entitled to great respect. But itseems--ah--well, I am afraid that a majority of the so-called mediumsare frauds. "

"ALL of father's mediums are that kind, " declared Lulie, emphatically. "I know it. Most of them are frauds for money, but there are some, likethat ridiculous Marietta Hoag, who pretend to go into trances and getmessages just because they like to be the center of a sensation. Theylike to have silly people say, 'Isn't it wonderful!' Marietta Hoag's'control, ' as she calls it, is a Chinese girl. She must speak spiritChinese, because no Chinese person on earth ever talked such gibberish. Control! SHE ought to be controlled--by the keeper of an asylum. "

The indignation expressed upon Lulie's pretty face was so intense thatGalusha suspected an especial reason. 

"Is--ah--is this Marietta person the medium who--who--" he began. 

"Who set father against Nelson? Yes, she is. I'd like to shake her, mischief-making thing. Father liked Nelson well enough before that, buthe came home from that seance as bitter against him as if the poor boyhad committed murder. Marietta told him that a small dark man was tryingto take away his daughter, or some such silliness. Nelson isn't verysmall nor VERY dark, but he was the only male in sight that came nearanswering the description. As a matter of fact--"

She hesitated, colored, and looked as if she had said more than sheintended. Galusha, who had not noticed her embarrassment, asked her togo on. 

"Well, " she said, in some confusion, "I was going to say that if ithadn't been Nelson it would probably have been some one else. You see, Iam father's only child and so--and so--"

"And so he doesn't like the idea of giving you up to some one else. "

"Yes, that's it. But it wouldn't be giving me up. It would be merelysharing me, that's all. I never shall leave father and I've told him soever so many times. .. . Oh, dear! If you could have known him in the olddays, Mr. Bangs, before he--well, when he was himself, big and strongand hearty. He used to laugh then; he hardly ever laughs now. He andCap'n Jim Phipps--Martha's father--were great friends. You would haveliked Cap'n Jim, Mr. Bangs. "

"Yes, I am sure I should. "

"So am I. Martha is very much like him. She's a dear, isn't she?"

Galusha nodded. "She has been very kind to me, " he said. "Indeed, yes. "

"Oh, she is to every one. She is always just like that. I am very gladyou have decided to board with her this winter, Mr. Bangs. I have anidea that she has been--well, troubled about something; just what, of course, I don't know, although I think--but there, I mustn't guessbecause it is not my business. "

Galusha expressed a wish that he might become better acquainted withNelson Howard. 

"I am sure I should like him, " he said. "He seems like a very nice youngman. "

Lulie nodded radiantly. 

"Oh, he is, " she cried. "Truly he is, Mr. Bangs. Why, every one says--"Then, becoming aware of her enthusiasm, she blushed and begged pardon. "You see, I hear so much against him--from father, I mean--that Icouldn't help acting silly when you praised him. Do forgive me, won'tyou, Mr. Bangs?"

He would have forgiven her much more than that. 

"I shall make it a point to go over to the South Wellmouth station andcall upon him, " he told her. She thanked him. 

"I am hoping that you and Martha and Nelson and I may spend an eveningtogether pretty soon, " she said. "You see, father--but there, that'sanother secret. I'll tell you in a little while, next week, I hope. "

He learned the secret from Martha. On a day in the following week MissPhipps informed her lodger that he and she were to have supper at thelight keeper's that evening. 

"It's a real sort of party, " declared Martha. "Small but select, as theyused to say in books when I was a girl. There will be four of us, youand I and Nelson Howard and Lulie. "

Galusha was surprised. 

"Nelson Howard!" he repeated. "Why, dear me, I thought--I understoodthat Mr. Howard was persona non grata to Captain Hallett. "

Martha nodded. "Well, if that means what I suppose it does, he is, " shereplied. "If Cap'n Jeth knew Nelson was goin' to eat supper in his househe'd go without eatin' himself to stop it. But, you see, he doesn'tknow. Jethro is goin' spiritualizin' to-night. Marietta Hoag and OpheliaBeebe and their crowd of rattleheads have dug up a brand new medium whois visitin' over in Trumet and they've made up a party to go there andhold a seance. When they told Cap'n Jeth, of course nothin' would do buthe must go, too. So, WHILE he is gone Nelson is comin' over to supper. It's deceivin' the old man, in one way, of course, but it isn't doin'him a bit of harm. And it does give the young folks a pleasant time, andI think they deserve it. Lulie has been as kind and forbearin' with herfather as a daughter could be, and Nelson has been more patient than theaverage young fellow, by a good deal. "

Late that afternoon two automobiles laden with humanity, male andfemale, drove past the Phipps' gate, and Primmie, from the window, announced that it was "Marietta and 'Phelia and the rest of 'em. Mysavin' soul, ain't they talkin' though! Cal'late the sperits 'll havebusy times this evenin', don't you, Miss Martha?" A few minutes latershe proclaimed that Cap'n Jeth had just climbed aboard and that theautos were coming back. 

"See! See, Mr. Bangs!" she cried, pointing. "There's Cap'n Jeth, settin'between Marietta and 'Phelia Beebe. There's the three of 'em on the backseat. Cap'n Jeth's the one with the whiskers. "

At six o'clock Martha and her lodger walked over to the Hallett house. Miss Phipps was dressed in her best gown and looked the personificationof trim, comfortable New England femininity. Galusha was garbed in thesuit he wore the evening of his arrival, but it had been newly spongedand pressed. 

"It looks lots better, " observed Martha, inspecting him as they walkedalong. "It wouldn't have, though, if Primmie had finished the job. I wasso busy that I let her start on it, but when I saw what a mess she wasmakin' I had to drop everything else and do it myself. "

Galusha looked puzzled. 

"Yes?" he said, politely. "Oh, yes, yes. Yes, indeed. "

She shook her head. 

"I do believe you don't know what I'm talkin' about, " she said. "Now, doyou?"

"Why--ah--why, Miss Phipps, I confess I--I--"

"Well, I declare! I never saw a person like you in my life. Didn't younotice ANY difference in that suit of clothes?"

Mr. Bangs, looking downward, suddenly became aware of his immaculateappearance. He was very much upset. 

"I--I don't know what you must think of me, " he stammered. "I havebeen--that is, I was thinking of other things and I--Dear me! Oh, dear!I am VERY grateful to you. But you shouldn't take so much trouble. "

"It wasn't any trouble. The suit was hangin' in your closet and Inoticed how wrinkled and out of shape it was. And the stains on thetrousers--my!"

"Yes--ah--yes. I wore it over at the cemetery the other day andI--ah--imagine I must have gotten down on my knees to examine thetombstones. "

"I guess likely. It looked as if you might have crawled from here to thecemetery and back. Now don't say any more, Mr. Bangs. It was no troubleat all. I always used to take care of father's clothes. He used to say Ikept him all taut and shipshape. "

Lulie met them at the door. 

"Where is Primmie?" she asked. 

"She'll be over pretty soon, " replied Martha. "I knew you wouldn't needher yet to help with the supper and the longer she stays away the moretalk there will be for the rest of us. She is to eat in the kitchen, Lulie, remember that. I WON'T have her chatterin' all through our meal. "

"She and Zacheus are to eat together, " replied Lulie. "It is allsettled. Now if Nelson will only come. He is going to get away just assoon as the down train leaves. "

He arrived soon afterward, having bicycled over from South Wellmouth. Primmie arrived also and bursts of her energetic conversation, punctuated by grumblings in Mr. Bloomer's bass, drifted in from thekitchen. Supper was a happy meal. Young Howard, questioned by Martha andLulie--the latter evidently anxious to "show off" her lover--told of hisexperiences aboard one of Uncle Sam's transports and the narrow escapefrom a German submarine. Galusha, decoyed by Miss Phipps, was led intoEgypt and discoursed concerning that marvelous country. Lulie laughedand chatted and was engagingly charming and vivacious. Martha was herown cheerful self and the worried look disappeared, for the time, fromher face. 

After supper was over, the ladies helped Primmie clear the table whilethe men sat in the sitting room and smoked. The sitting room of thelight keeper's home was even more nautical than that at the Phipps'place. There was no less than six framed paintings of ships andschooners on the walls, and mantel and what-not bore salt-water curiosof many kinds handed down by generations of seafaring Halletts--whales'teeth, little ships in bottles, idols from the South Sea islands, beadand bone necklaces, Eskimo lance-heads and goodness knows what. Andbelow the windows, at the foot of the bluff on the ocean side, the greatwaves pounded and muttered and growled, while high above the chimneys ofthe little house Gould's Bluffs light thrust its flashing spear of flamedeep into the breast of the black night. 

It was almost half past eight when Martha Phipps, whose seat was nearthe front window of the sitting room, held up a warning hand. 

"Listen!" she cried. "Isn't that an automobile comin'?"

It undoubtedly was. Apparently more than one motor car was approachingalong the sandy road leading from the village to the lighthouse. 

"Who in the world is it?" asked Martha, drawing aside the window shadeand trying to peer out. "Lulie, you don't think it can be--"

Lulie looked troubled, but she shook her head. 

"No, it can't be, " she declared. "The seance was to be away over inTrumet and it is sure to last hours. They couldn't have gone as far asthat and--"

She was interrupted. From the dining room came the sound of rushingfeet. Primmie burst into the room. She was wildly excited. 

"My Lord of Isrul, Miss Martha!" she cried. "It's them come back. It is, it is, it is!"

"Who? Who, Primmie?" demanded Miss Phipps. "Stop flappin' yourwings--arms, I mean. Who's come back?"

"The sperit folks. All hands of 'em, Marietta and 'Phelia Beebe and AbeHardin' and Cap'n Jeth and all. And--and they're comin' in here--andhere's Nelson right where Cap'n Jeth can catch him. Oh, my savin' soul!"

From behind her agitated shoulder peered the countenance of Mr. Bloomer. 

"She's right, Lulie, " observed Zach, with calm emphasis. "The whole crewof ghost seiners is back here in port again, Cap'n Jeth and all. Betterbeat for open water, hadn't you, Nelse, eh? Be the divil to pay if youdon't. .. . Godfreys, yes!"

CHAPTER VII

The announcement exploded like a bomb in the midst of the little groupin the light keeper's sitting room. Lulie turned a trifle pale andlooked worried and alarmed. Martha uttered an exclamation, dropped thewindow shade and turned toward her young friend. Mr. Bangs looked fromone to the other and was plainly very anxious to help in some waybut not certain how to begin. Of the four Nelson Howard, the one mostconcerned, appeared least disturbed. It was he who spoke first and histone was brisk and businesslike. 

"Well, Lulie, " he said, "what do you want me to do? Shall I stay andface it out? I don't mind. There's nothing for us to be ashamed of, youknow. "

But Lulie shook her head. "Oh, no, no, Nelson, " she cried, "you mustn't. You had better go, right away. There will be a scene, and with all thosepeople here--"

Miss Phipps put in a word. "But perhaps Nelson's right, after all, Lulie, " she said. "There is no reason in the world why he shouldn'tcome to see you, and maybe he and Cap'n Jeth might as well have a plainunderstandin' now as any time. "

Miss Hallett's agitation increased. "Oh, no, " she cried, again. "Don'tyou see it mustn't happen, on father's account? You know how he--youknow how excited and--and almost violent he gets when any one crosseshim nowadays. I'm afraid something might happen to him. I'm afraid. Please go, Nelson, for my sake. "

The young man nodded. "Of course, Lulie, " he declared. "You're perfectlyright. I'm off. Good-night. "

He was hastening toward the dining room door, but Primmie, dancing upand down like a jumping jack, barred his way. 

"No, no, no, " she squealed, "you can't--you can't. They're almost to thedoor now. He'll catch you sure. He WILL. Oh, my Lord of Isrul!"

Sure enough, the latch of the door leading from the side porch to thedining room was rattling at that moment. Fortunately the door itself washooked on the inside. Nelson hesitated. 

"Humph!" he grunted. "Could I get through to the kitchen and out thatway, do you think, Zach?"

"Godfreys, no! Not with them winder curtains strung up higher'n Hamanthe way they be. No, no! Godfreys!"

Martha stepped across the sitting room and flung open another door onthe opposite side. As she did so there sounded a prodigious thumpingfrom the side porch and the bull-like voice of Captain Hallett bellowedhis daughter's name. 

"Go let 'em in, Lulie, " whispered Martha. "I'll look out for thingshere. Quick, Nelson, out this way, through the front hall and out thefront door. QUICK!"

Captain Jeth was accompanying his shouts by thumping upon the side ofthe house. Lulie, after one desperate glance at her lover, hurried tothe dining room. Young Howard hesitated a moment. 

"My hat and coat?" he whispered. "Where are they?"

They were hanging in the entry upon the door of which the captain wasthumping. Zach hastened to get them, but before he reached the diningroom they heard the outer door open and Jeth's voice demanding to knowwhy Lulie had kept him waiting so long. Nelson, with a somewhat ruefulsmile and a wave of the hand to Martha and Galusha, dodged into theblackness of the front hall. Miss Phipps closed the door after him. The conspirators looked at each other. Primmie's mouth opened but theexpansive hand of Mr. Bloomer promptly covered it and the larger part ofher face as well. 

"This ain't no time to holler about your savin' soul, " whisperedZacheus, hoarsely. "This is the time to shut up. And KEEP shut up. Yoube still, Dandelion!"

Primmie obeyed orders and was still. But even if she had shrieked it isdoubtful if any one in the dining room could have heard her. The "ghostseiners, " quoting from Mr. Bloomer, were pouring through the entry and, as all were talking at once, the clatter of tongues would have drownedout any shriek of ordinary volume. A moment later the Halletts, fatherand daughter, led the way into the sitting room. Lulie's first procedurewas to glance quickly about the apartment. A look of relief crossed herface and she and Martha Phipps exchanged glances. 

"Father has--he has come back, " was her somewhat superfluousexplanation. Captain Jethro noted the superfluity. 

"Cal'late they can see that for themselves, Lulie, " he observed. "Howare you, Martha? Evenin', Mr. Bangs. Everything all right about thelight, Zach?"

"Ay, ay, sir, " was Mr. Bloomer's nautical reply. The captain grunted. 

"Better go look at it, " he said. Turning, he called over his shoulder, "Come in, all hands. "

"All hands, " that is, the company in the dining room--came in. Therewere fourteen of them, all told, and, as Martha Phipps told GalushaBangs afterward, "If you had run a net from one end of Ostable County tothe other you wouldn't have landed more freaks than there were in thathouse at that minute. " The majority were women and the few men in theparty looked as if each realized himself a minority at home and abroad. 

"Set down, everybody, " commanded Captain Jethro. "Lulie, you better helpme fetch in them dining-room chairs. We'll need 'em. "

"But, father, " begged Lulie, "what are you going to do?"

"Do? We're goin' to have a meetin', that's what we're goin' to do. Setdown, all of you that can. We'll have chairs for the rest in a minute. "

"But, father--" began Lulie, again. The captain interrupted her. "Bestill, " he ordered, irritably. "Marietta, you set over here by themelodeon. That'll be about right for you, will it?"

Miss Marietta Hoag was a short, dumpy female with a face which had beendescribed by Zach Bloomer as resembling a "pan of dough with a couple ofcranberries dropped into it. " She wore a blue hat with a red bow and aprofusion of small objects--red cherries and purple grapes--bobbing onwires above it. The general effect, quoting Mr. Bloomer again, was "asif somebody had set off a firecracker in a fruit-peddler's cart. " Theremainder of her apparel was more subdued. 

She removed the explosive headgear and came forward in response to thelight keeper's command. She looked at the chair by the ancient parlororgan and announced: "Yes, indeed, it'll do real well, thank you, Cap'nJethro. " Her voice was a sharp soprano with liquid gurgles in it--"likepourin' pain-killer out of a bottle, " this last still another quotationfrom the book of Zacheus. 

"All right, " said Captain Jeth, "then we'll begin. We've wasted enoughtime cruisin' way over to Trumet and back for nothin'. No need to wasteany more. Set down, all hands, and come to order. Lulie, you and Marthaand the rest of you set down, too. "

"But, father, " urged his daughter again, "I don't understand. What areyou going to do?"

"Goin' to have a meetin', I tell you. "

"But what sort of a meeting?"

"A seance. We cruised clear over to Trumet to hear that Brockton mediumthat was stayin' at Obed Taylor's there and when we got to Obed'swe found she'd been called back home unexpected and had left on thisafternoon's train. So we came back here and Marietta's goin' to try toget in communication herself. That's all there is to it. .. . Now don'twaste any more time askin' fool questions. Set down. Martha Phipps, whatare you and Mr. Bangs standin' up for?"

Martha's answer was quietly given. 

"Why, good gracious, Jethro!" she observed, "why shouldn't we stand up?Mr. Bangs and I came over to spend the evenin' with Lulie. We didn'tknow you and Marietta and Ophelia and the rest were goin' to holdany--er--what do you call 'em?--seances. We'll run right along and leaveyou to enjoy yourselves. Come, Mr. Bangs. "

For some reason or other this reply appeared to irritate the lightkeeper exceedingly. He glared at her. 

"Set down, both of you, " he ordered. "I want you to. 'Twill do you good. No, you ain't goin', neither. Lulie, you tell 'em to stay here. "

His manner was so determined and the light in his eye so ominous thathis daughter was alarmed. 

"Oh, do stay, Martha, " she pleaded. "Won't you please stay, you and Mr. Bangs? I think it will be for the best, truly I do. Please stay. "

Martha looked at her lodger. Galusha smiled. 

"I shall be very glad to remain, " he observed. "Indeed yes, really. "

Miss Phipps nodded. "All right, Lulie, " she said, quietly. "We'll stay. "

They took chairs in the back row of the double circle. Primmie, eyes andmouth open and agog with excitement, had already seated herself. CaptainJethro looked about the room. 

"Are we all ready, " he growled. "Eh? Who's that comin'? Oh, it's you. Well, set down and keep quiet. "

It was Mr. Bloomer who had re-entered the room and was received sounceremoniously. He glanced at Galusha Bangs, winked the eye which thecaptain could not see, and sat down next to Primmie. 

"Now then, " said Captain Jeth, who was evidently master of ceremonies, "if you're all ready, Marietta, I cal'late we are. Cast off! Heaveahead!"

But Miss Hoag seemed troubled; evidently she was not ready to cast offand heave ahead. 

"Why--why, Cap'n Jeth, " she faltered, "I CAN'T. Don't you KNOW Ican't? Everybody's got to take hands--and the lights must be turned waydown--and--and we've GOT to have some music. "

The captain pulled his beard. "Humph!" he grunted. "That's so, I forgot. Don't know what's the matter with me to-night, seem to be kind of--ofupset or somethin'. Zach, turn them lamps down; more'n that, way downlow. .. . That'll do. Now all hands hold hands. Make a--a kind of ring outof yourselves. That's it. Now what else was it, Marietta?"

"Music, " faltered Miss Hoag, who seemed rather overawed by the captain'sintensity and savage earnestness. "We always have music, you know, toestablish the--the contact. Have somebody play the organ. 'Phelia, youplay it; you know how. "

Miss Ophelia Beebe, sister of the village storekeeper, was a tall, angular woman garbed in black. Her facial expression was as mournfulas her raiment. She rose with a rustle and moved toward the ancientmelodeon. Lulie spoke hurriedly. 

"No, no, Ophelia, " she protested, "it isn't any use. That old thing hasbeen out of order for--why, for years. No one could possibly play on it. No one has for ever and ever so long. Father knows it perfectly well. "

Again Captain Jethro tugged at his beard. 

"Humph!" he grunted. "'Tis out of order; I remember now. .. . Humph! I--Iforgot that. Well, we'll have to have some sort of music. Can anybodythat's here play on anything?"

There was silence for a moment. Then a thin masculine voice from thedimness made proclamation. 

"I can play on the fiddle, " it said; and then added, as if inafterthought, "some. "

There was a rustle in the corner from which the voice had come. Mutterings and whisperings arose. "Don't talk so foolish!" "Well, Sary, he asked if anybody could play on anything and I--" "Be still, I tellyou! I declare if there's any chance for a person to make a jumpin'numbskull out of himself in front of folks I'll trust you to be right ondeck. " "Now, Sary, what are you goin' on like this for? I only just--"

The dispute was growing louder and more violent. Captain Jethro roared acommand for silence. 

"What's all this?" he demanded. "Silence there for'ard!" He waited aninstant and then asked, "Who was it said they could play the fiddle? Wasit you, Abel Hardin'?"

Mr. Abel Harding, clam digger and fish purveyor, resident in SouthWellmouth, acknowledged his identity. 

"Yus, Cap'n Jeth, " he declared. "I said I could play the fiddle, and Ican, too. Sary B. , she says--"

"Sarah B. "--otherwise Mrs. Abel Harding--interrupted. "He can't playnothin' but two jig tunes and he plays them like the very Old Scratch, "she snapped, with emphasis. 

"Well, I never said I was anything great at it, did I? I said I can playsome, and I can. If you'd just keep your tongue to home and leave me beI--"

"SILENCE!" shouted the light keeper again. The domestic squabble brokeoff in the middle and some irreverent giggles from other sections ofthe circle subsided. Captain Jethro's indignant gaze swept the group. Primmie said afterward, "You couldn't see him glare at you, but youcould FEEL him doin' it. " When the stillness was absolute the captainasked, "Where is your fiddle, Abel?"

"Eh?" Mr. Harding paused and cleared his throat. "Why, " he stammered, "it's--it's to home. Er--er--that's where I keep it, you know. "

"Humph!" Captain Jethro's scorn was withering. "And home is eleven mileaway or such matter. How much good is your bein' able to play on itgoin' to do us when 'tain't here for you to play on?"

There were discreet snickers from the dimness. Mrs. Hardin's voice wasaudible, saying, "There, I told you so, foolhead. " The captain once moreordered and obtained silence. 

"We've had enough of this, " he growled. "This ain't a play-actin' showto laugh at. If we can't behave accordin' as we should we'll give it up. Marietta says she can't get into contact with the sperit world withoutmusic. Would it do if we was to sing somethin', Marietta?"

Miss Hoag faltered that she didn't know's she hardly believed 'twould. "I always HAVE had some sort of instrumental music, Cap'n Jethro. Don'tseem to me's if I could hardly get along without it. "

The captain grunted again. "Can't anybody play ANYTHING?" he demanded. "Anything that's within hailin' distance, I mean. "

Another silent interval. And then a voice said, timidly, "I can play themouth organ. "

It was Primmie's voice and as she was sitting next Zach Bloomer, who wasnext Galusha Bangs, the unexpectedness of it made the latter jump. MissPhipps, next in line on Galusha's left, jumped likewise. 

"Primmie, " she said, sharply, "don't be silly. "

"But I CAN, Miss Martha. You know I can. Zach knows it, too. You'veheard me, ain't you, Zach? Ain't you? Ain't you?"

Thus urged, Mr. Bloomer answered, "I've heard you, " he said. And added, fervently and under his breath, "Godfreys!"

"Primmie, " began Martha, again, but Captain Jethro broke in. 

"Quiet, Martha Phipps, " he ordered. "Stop your talkin', all hands. Marietta, do you cal'late you could get under way with mouth organmusic?"

"Why--why, I don't know. Maybe I could if--if it played church tunes. "

"Can you play hymn tunes, Primmie?"

"Yes, sir. I can play 'Sweet By and By' and 'Brighten the Corner WhereYou Be' and 'Pack up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag. ' No, that ain'tone, is it? But I can play--"

"Where's your mouth organ now?"

"It's in my jacket pocket out yonder in the kitchen. "

"Go fetch it. "

Sounds as of one individual falling over others, accompanied byexclamations and confusion, indicated that Miss Cash was going in searchof the instrument. Lulie made one more attempt at persuasion. 

"Father, " she pleaded, "what makes you try to hold a seance to-night?You've been 'way over to Trumet and back and you must be tired. Youaren't very well, you know, and all this excitement isn't good for you. Won't you please--"

Her father stamped his foot. "Set down, " he shouted. "I know what I'mdoin'. This is my house and I'll do as I please in it. Stop! I don'twant to hear any more. Where's that Cash girl?"

Primmie was returning bearing the mouth organ. She plowed through thecircle like an armored tank through a wire entanglement and reached thelight keeper's side. 

"Here I be, " she announced, "and here 'tis. Shall I commence to beginnow? Where do you want me to set?"

She was given a seat in the front row, facing the medium. CaptainHallett, after some final instructions to Zacheus concerning the turninglower of one of the lamps and a last order for stillness, gave thecommand. 

"All ready! Heave ahead!"

Miss Hoag leaned back in her rocking-chair and closed her eyes. Primmiedrew a long breath and the first bars of the "Sweet By and By" wereforcibly evicted from the harmonica. Zach Bloomer, the irrepressible, leaned over and breathed into his neighbor's ear. 

"Say, Mr. Bangs, " he whispered, "if you was a sperit would you leave acomf'table berth up aloft to come and anchor alongside THAT noise?"

The "noise" became more enthusiastic as the musician warmed to her work. Miss Hoag stirred uneasily in her chair. Captain Jethro bent toward her. 

"Tell her not to play so LOUD, " whispered Marietta. The captain obeyed. 

"Come, come, Primmie, " he said, irritably. "Go easy on it, soften herdown. Play low. And stop stompin' out the time with your foot. "

Thus cautioned Miss Cash played low, very low, and also very slowly. "The Sweet By and By" droned on, over and over, in the dark stuffinessof the crowded room. Galusha Bangs, who had been at first much amused, began to be bored. Incidentally he was extremely sorry for Lulie, poorgirl, who was compelled to be present at this ridiculous exhibition ofher father's obsession. Heavy breathing sounded near at hand, growingsteadily heavier until it became a snore. The snore broke off in themiddle and with a sharp and most unchurchly ejaculation, as if thesnorer had been awakened suddenly and painfully. Galusha fanciedhe recognized Mr. Harding's voice. Primmie ended her thirty-secondrendition of the "Sweet By and By" chorus and began the thirty-third. 

Then Miss Hoag began to groan. The first groan was so loud andunexpected that Miss Cash gasped "My savin' soul!" into the mouth organ. Marietta continued to groan, also to pound the floor with her heels. Inher capacity as "medium" she, like other mediums--mediums of her stripe, that is--was "getting under control. "

Then followed the usual sort of thing which follows at this sort ofseance. Miss Hoag, through her "control, " began to receive and transmit"messages. " The control spoke in a kind of husky howl, so to speak, and used a lingo most unusual on this plane, however common it may beelsewhere. 

Mr. Bangs was startled when first favored with a sample ofthis--literally--unearthly elocution. 

"Oh, dear me!" he exclaimed. "Oh, dear! WHY does she do that? Is--is sheill?"

Miss Beebe answered, from her place in the circle. "It's her speritcontrol talkin' now, " she whispered. "She's controlled by a Chinawoman. "

"Name of Little Cherry Blossom, " whispered Mr. Harding. 

"Sshh!" said several voices, indignantly. 

"Allee samee comee manee namee Johnee, " announced Little Cherry Blossom. "Anybody heree knowee manee Johnee?"

Several did, of course, and John was soon undergoing cross-examination. He proved to be the cousin of Mrs. Hannah Peters' first husband who wasdrowned on the Grand Banks fifteen or sixteen years before. "John-ee"was, like so many of his kind, a bit shaky on names and dates but strongon generalities. However, everybody except the few skeptics from thePhipps' place seemed satisfied and made no embarrassing comments. 

Everybody but Mr. Bloomer, that is; Zacheus, the philosopher who hadstudied his profession aboard a lightship, commented on everything. Sitting next Mr. Bangs, he put his lips close to the ear of thelast-named gentleman and breathed caustic sarcasm into it. Galusha foundit distracting and, at times, annoying, for Mr. Bloomer's mustache wasbristly. 

"Little Cherry Blossom talks's if she had a cold, " whispered Zach. "Better take a little cherry rum, hadn't she, eh?"

The control was loudly paging a person named Noah. 

"Sperit heree wantee talkee with Noah, " she cried. "Wheree isee Noah?"

"'Board the Ark, most likely, " whispered Mr. Bloomer. "Be hollerin' forJonah next, won't she? Cal'late so. Yus, yus. "

Message after message came and was recognized and acknowledged by thedevout. The group from the Phipps' house had so far been slighted, so, too, had Captain Jethro Hallett. There was a slight hubbub inthe circle, owing to the fact that two of its members simultaneouslyrecognized and laid claim to the same spirit, each declaring him tobe or have been an entirely different person when living. During thislittle controversy Zacheus whispered in his neighbor's ear. 

"Say, Mr. Bangs, " he whispered, "this is gettin' kind of tiresome, ain'tit? Must be worse for Nelse, though, eh?"

Galusha did not catch his meaning. "For--for whom?" he asked. "I begyour pardon. "

"Oh, you're welcome. Why, I mean Nelse Howard must be gettin' more tiredthan we be, shut up in that front hall the way he is. "

"Shut up--Why, really, I--Mr. Howard left the house long ago, didn't he?By the front door, you know. "

Zach chuckled. "That front door is locked and the key's been lost formore'n a fortn't. Cal'late Lulie forgot that when she told him to skipout that way. He can't GET out. He's in that front entry now and he'llhave to stay there till all hands have gone and the cap'n gone to bed. That's a note, ain't it!. .. Sshh! They're goin' to begin again. "

The identity of the spiritual visitor having been tentativelyestablished, the "communications" continued. Galusha paid little heedto them. The thought of young Howard a prisoner in the front hall wasuncomfortable of itself, but still more uncomfortable was the mentalpicture of what might happen should his presence there be discoveredby Captain Hallett. The old light keeper was bigoted and absurdlyprejudiced against his daughter's lover at all times. An encounterbetween them would always be most unpleasant. But this evening, when thecaptain was in his most fanatical mood, for him to find Nelson Howardhiding in his own house--well, the prospect was almost alarming. 

Galusha, much troubled in mind, wondered if Lulie had remembered thelocked door and the lost key. Did she realize her fiance's plight? Ifso, she must be undergoing tortures at that moment. Nelson, of course, could take care of himself and was in no danger of physical injury; thedanger was in the effect of the discovery upon Captain Jethro. He wasnot well, he was in a highly nervous and excited state. Galusha began tofidget in his chair. More than ever he wished the seance would end. 

However, it did not end. The messages continued to come. Apparently theline of spirits waiting to communicate was as long as that at the ticketoffice of a ball park on a pleasant Saturday. And suddenly Mr. Bangs wasstartled out of his fidgets by the husky voice of Little Cherry Blossomcalling the name which was in his mind at the moment. 

"Jethro, " wheezed Little Cherry Blossom. "Jethro. Some one heree wanteetalkee Jethro. "

Martha Phipps, sitting next to Galusha, stirred and uttered an impatientexclamation under her breath. From beyond, where Lulie sat, Galushacaught a quick gasp and a frightened "Oh, dear!" Zacheus whispered, "Godfreys!" Primmie bounced up and down with excitement. The circlerustled and then grew very still. 

"Well, " growled Captain Jethro, a quaver in his deep voice, "I'm here. It is--is it you, Julia?"

Little Cherry Blossom said that it was. Mr. Bangs heard another sniff ofdisgust from Miss Phipps. He was himself thoroughly disgusted and angry. This mockery of a great sorrow and a great love seemed so wicked andcruel. Marietta Hoag and her ridiculous control ceased to be ridiculousand funny. He longed to shake the fat little creature, shake her untilher silly craze for the limelight and desire to be the center of asensation were thoroughly shaken out of her. Marietta was not wicked, she was just silly and vain and foolish, that was all; but at least halfof humanity's troubles are caused by the fools. 

"Julia, " said Captain Jethro, his big voice trembling as he said it, "I--I'm here, Julia. What is it?"

"Julia she say she gladee you heree, " gurgled Little Cherry Blossom. Martha Phipps drew a breath between her teeth as if in pain. Her handsqueezed Lulie's tight. She was suffering with the girl. As forGalusha, sensitive soul that he was, he blushed all over in sympatheticembarrassment. 

"I'm glad to be here, Julia, " said the captain. "You know it, too, Iguess likely. Is all well with you, Julia?"

Cherry Blossom in horrible pidgin English affirmed that all was well, all was happiness and delight and bliss in the realm beyond. Galusha didnot hear much of this, he was suffering too acutely to listen. Then heheard Captain Jethro ask another question. 

"Is there any special message you've got for me, Julia?"

Yes, there was. "Daughter, daughter. " There was some message about adaughter. 

"Lulie? Is there somethin' you want to tell me about Lulie, Julia?"

"Father!" It was Lulie herself who uttered the exclamation. "Father, "she cried. "Don't! Oh, don't! Please don't!"

Her father's reply was a furious roar. 

"Stop!" he thundered. "Be still! Don't you say another word!"

"But, father, PLEASE--"

"Stop!. .. Julia, Julia. .. Are you there? What is it about Lulie? Tellme. "

Little Cherry Blossom herself seemed a bit nervous, for her next messagewas given with a trifle less assurance. It was an incoherent repetitionand re-repetition of the word "daughter" and something about "lookingout" and "danger. "

Captain Jethro caught at the word. 

"Danger?" he queried. "Danger for Lulie? Is that what you mean, Julia?I'm to look out on account of danger comin' for Lulie? Is that it, Julia?"

Lulie made one more desperate plea. 

"Father, " she begged, "please don't! Of course there isn't any dangerfor me. This is SO ridiculous. "

"Be still, I tell you. .. . Is that it, Julia? Is it?" Little CherryBlossom with some hesitation indicated that that was it. A rustle ofexcitement stirred the circle. 

"What kind of danger?" demanded the light keeper, eagerly. "Can't youtell me that, Julia?"

Apparently she could not, for there was no reply. The captain tried tohelp by suggestion. 

"Danger from--from her bein'--er--hurt?" he suggested. "Being runover--or--or--drowned or somethin'?"

No, that was not it. 

"Danger from somebody--some person?"

"Yes. " Another rustle of excitement in the circle. The light keepercaught his breath. 

"Julia, " he demanded, "do you mean that--that our girl's in danger fromsome--some MAN?"

"FATHER! I won't stand this. It's perfectly--"

"Lulie Hallett, you set down! Set DOWN!"

Martha Phipps laid a hand upon the girl's arm. "Don't excite him, " shewhispered. "I'd sit down if I were you, Lulie. "

Lulie, trembling with indignation, subsided under protest. Little CherryBlossom burst out with a gush of gibberish concerning some man, "bad, wicked manee, " who was trying to influence "daughter" in some wayor other, just how was not particularly intelligible. Captain Jethrooffered another suggestion. 

"Julia, " he demanded, "is it the outsider, the small, dark man you saidafore? Is it him?"

Yes, it was. The rustle in the circle was now so pronounced as to amountalmost to a disturbance. Mr. Abel Harding whispered audibly, "It'sNelson Howard she means, don't she?" His wife even more audibly orderedhim to "shut up, for the land sakes. " Primmie dropped the mouth organon the floor with a metallic clatter. Startled, she made her customaryappeal to the ruler of Israel. 

"It's him, eh?" growled the light keeper. "I thought so. I've got my eyeon him, Julia, and he knows it. What's he up to now? Where is he?"

"Near her. "

"Near her? Here?. .. In this HOUSE, do you mean?"

A moment's hesitation, and then, "Ye-es, I--I shouldn't wonder. "

This bit of information, even though unusually qualified consideringits spirit source, caused a genuine sensation. Almost every one saidsomething. Zach Bloomer whistled shrilly in Mr. Bangs' ear and said, "Godfreys!" Galusha said, "Oh, dear me!" with distressful emphasis. Martha Phipps and Lulie clutched each other and the latter uttereda faint scream. Primmie Cash, who had stooped to pick up the droppedharmonica, fell on her knees beside it. Captain Jethro stamped androared for silence. 

"Be still!" he shouted. "Stop! STOP! By the everlastin', I'll--I'll--Julia! Julia!"

But Julia did not answer this time. Neither did Little Cherry Blossom. Whether Miss Hoag was frightened at the effect of her message or whethershe figured that she had caused sensation sufficient for one day arematters for conjecture. At all events she stirred in her chair andannounced faintly, and in her natural, everyday tones and accent, thatshe wished a drink of water. 

"Where--where be I?" she gasped. "I--Oh, fetch me a drink, somebody, won't you, please?"

The light keeper, paying no need whatever, was shouting his wife's name. 

"Julia! Julia!" he cried. "Don't go! I want you! I need you!"

Lulie called "Father" and hastened toward him. Zacheus whispered inGalusha's ear that he cal'lated 'twouldn't do no harm to turn on theglim and proceeded forthwith to turn up the wick of one of the lamps. The sudden illumination showed Captain Jethro standing in the middleof the floor, his face flushed, his brows drawn together and his lipstwitching. He was glaring about the room and the expression upon hisface was so fierce that Mr. Bangs said, "Oh, dear me!" again when he sawit. 

Lulie put her arm about the light keeper's shoulder. "Father, father, "she pleaded, "please don't look that way. Come and sit down. Please do!"

But sitting down was far from the captain's thoughts just then. Heimpatiently tossed his daughter's arm aside. 

"So he's here, is he, " he growled, between his teeth. "He's in my house, is he? By the everlastin', I'll show him!"

Martha Phipps pushed her way toward the pair. 

"There, there, Jethro, " she said, quietly, "don't act this way. Don'tyou see you're frightenin' Lulie half out of her wits? There's nothin'for you to look so savage about. Come over and sit down and rest. You'retired. "

"No, I ain't tired, either. Be quiet, woman. By the Lord, if he's inthis house I'll find him. And WHEN I find him--"

"Sshh, sshh! What in the world are you talkin' about? Marietta didn'tsay--"

"Julia--my spirit wife--told me that that skulkin' swab of a NelseHoward was here in this house. You heard her. Let go of me, both of you!Now where is he?"

He was turning directly toward the door leading to the front hall. Luliewas very white and seemed on the point of collapse. Even Miss Phipps, usually so calm and equal to the emergency, appeared to find this onea trifle too much for her, for she glanced desperately about as ifin search of help. Zach Bloomer repeated "Godfreys" several times andlooked, for him, almost excited. As for Primmie, she was so frightenedas to be speechless, a miracle far more amazing than any other which theseance had thus far produced. The remaining members of the circle werewhispering in agitation and staring wide-eyed at the captain and thoseabout him. 

Then a masculine voice, a very soft, gentle masculine voice, said, "Ibeg your pardon, Captain Hallett, but may I--ah--ask a question?"

The very gentleness of the voice and the calmness of its tone had moreeffect in securing the light keeper's attention than any shout couldpossibly have done. Captain Jethro stopped in his stride. 

"Eh?" he grunted. "Eh? What's that?"

Galusha Bangs moved forward, quietly elbowing his way from the backrow of the circle to the open space before the inner line of chairs andtheir excited occupants. 

"It is--ah--I, Captain Hallett, " he observed, calmly, "I wished to aska question. You see, I have been very much interested bythe--ah--manifestations here this evening. Very much so, really--indeed, yes. "

The light keeper interrupted. "Don't bother me!" he ordered, savagely. "I'm goin' to find that sneakin' rascal, and--Get out of my way, willyou?"

Somehow or other the little Egyptologist had moved forward until, without appearing to have made an effort to do so, he was directly inthe captain's way--that is, between the latter and the door of the fronthall. The command to get out of the way he acknowledged politely andwith caution. 

"Yes, yes, of course, " he said, hastily. "I'm very sorry. Very sorryindeed. I beg your pardon, Captain Hallett. Now there is one point inthis lady's--ah--messages--ah--communications, you know--which puzzlesme somewhat. You see--"

"I can't stop to talk to you now. I'm goin' to--WILL you get out of myway?"

"Was I in your way? I BEG your pardon. How clumsy of me! I--ah--You see, this lady's last message seemed to point so directly in my directionthat I felt constrained to speak. You see, when she, or her--control, isit?--mentioned my being here in your house and accused me of havingan evil influence upon your daughter, I--well, I was surprisedand--ah--hurt. "

A general gasp of astonishment from the circle behind him interrupted. Mr. Abel Harding shouted "Eh!" and, for a wonder, his wife did nottake him to task for it. For the matter of that, she had utteredan exclamation also. So had Ophelia Beebe and many others. Zacheuswhistled. Primmie once more referred to her saving soul. Martha Phippscried out. 

As for Jethro Hallett, he stared uncomprehendingly at the Bangs' facewhich looked so earnestly and gravely up into his. He drew a hand acrosshis forehead and breathed heavily. 

"Wha--what are you talkin' about?" he demanded. "Who--who said anythingabout you?"

Galusha transferred his gaze from the light keeper's countenance to thatof Miss Marietta Hoag. The medium's moonlike visage bore an expressionof intense surprise. 

"Why--ah--she did, " replied Galusha, gently. "This lady here. She saidthat an outsider, a small, dark man, was exerting an evil influence uponMiss Lulie--upon your daughter. Then she said this person was here inyour house. Now, as I am the only person present who answers to thatdescription, naturally I--well, I--really, I must protest. I have thehighest respect and regard for your daughter, Captain Hallett. I shouldbe the last, the very last, to wish to exert any such influence. "

"Nonsense!" The amazed captain shouted the word. "What are you talkin'about? 'Twan't you she said. 'Twas that Howard swab. He's been hangin'around Lulie for more 'n a year. "

"Ah--pardon me, Captain Hallett, but really I must make my point. Itcould not have been Mr. Howard to whom the--ah--control referred. Mr. Howard is somewhat dark, perhaps, but he is not small. I am both darkand small. And I am here, whereas Mr. Howard apparently is not. And Iam, beyond question, an outsider. Therefore--"

"Nonsense, I tell you! She said Nelson Howard was in this house. "

"Pardon me, pardon me, Captain Hallett. She said a small, dark man, anoutsider, was in this house. She mentioned no names. You mentioned nonames, did you, Miss--ah--Hoag?"

Marietta, thus unexpectedly appealed to, gasped, swallowed, turned redand stammered that she didn't know's she did; adding hastily that shenever remembered nothin' of what she said in the trance state. Afterthis she swallowed again and observed that she didn't see WHY shecouldn't have that drink of water. 

"So you see, Captain Hallett, " went on Mr. Bangs, with the same gentlepersistence, "being the only person present answering the descriptiongiven by the medium I feel somewhat--ah--distressed. I must insist thatI am unjustly accused. I must ask Miss Phipps here and your daughterherself to say whether or not my conduct toward Miss Lulie has not beenquite--ah--harmless and without--ah--malevolence. I shall be glad toleave it to them. "

Of the pair to whom this appeal for judgment was made Martha Phippsalone heeded it. Lulie, still white and trembling, was intent onlyupon her father. But Martha rose to the occasion with characteristicpromptness. 

"Of course, Mr. Bangs, " she declared, "you've behaved just as nice asany one could be in this world. I could hardly believe my ears whenMarietta said you were an evil influence towards Lulie. You ought to becareful about sayin' such things, Marietta. Why, you never met Mr. Bangsbefore this evenin'. How could you know he was an evil influence?"

Miss Hoag, thus attacked from an unexpected quarter, was thrown stillmore out of mental poise. "I never said he was one, " she declared, wildly. "I only just said there was a--a--I don't know what I said. Anyhow _I_ never said it, 'twas my control talkin'. I'll leave it to'Phelia Beebe. You know I don't know what I'm sayin' when I'm inthe trance state, don't you, 'Phelia? Anyhow, all I said was. .. . Oh, 'Phelia, " wildly, "why don't you help me out?. .. And--and I've asked noless'n four mortal times for that drink of water. I--I--Oh, oh--"

She became hysterical. The circle ceased to be a circle and became aseries of agitated groups, all talking at once. Mr. Bloomer seized theopportunity to turn up the wick of another lamp. Lulie, clinging to herfather's arm, led him toward a chair in a secluded corner. 

"Sit down, father, " she urged. "Sit down, and rest. Please do!"

The old light keeper's fiery rage seemed to be abating. He passed hishand across his forehead several times and his expression changed. Helooked like one awakening from a bad dream. 

"I--I cal'late I will set down for a minute or so, Lulie, " he faltered. "I do feel sort of tired, somehow or 'nother. I don't want to talk anymore, Mr. Bangs, " he added, wearily. "I--I'll have to think it all out. Lulie, I cal'late they'd better go home. Tell 'em all to go. I'm tired. "

Martha Phipps passed from group to group whispering. 

"I guess we'd better go, " she suggested. "He's pretty well worn out, I'mafraid. Everybody's things are there in the dinin' room or in the sideentry. We'd better go right away, it seems to me. "

Galusha had gotten his "things" already, his coat was over his arm. The others followed his example. A few minutes more and the last ofthe "ghost seiners" had left the house and were climbing into theautomobiles in the yard. Marietta Hoag's voice was the last distinctlyaudible. 

"I can't help it, " she wailed. "It wasn't my fault anyway. And--and, besides, that Bangs man hadn't any right to say 'twas him I meant. .. . Imean the control meant. It wasn't him at all. .. . I mean I don't believe'twas. Oh, dear! I WISH you'd stop askin' questions, Abe Hardin'. CAN'Tyou stop?"

Galusha and Primmie set out for the Phipps' homestead ahead of itsowner, but she caught up with them at the gate. 

"He's goin' right up to bed, " she said. "Zach will look out for thelight to-night. "

"And--" asked Galusha, with significant emphasis. 

Martha did not reply. She waited until they were in the sitting room andalone, Primmie having been sentenced to go to her own room and to bed. Miss Cash had no desire for bed; her dearest wish was to remain with hermistress and their lodger and unload her burden of conversation. 

"My savin' soul!" she began. "My savin' soul! Did you ever in your borndays! When that Marietta Hoag--or that Chinee critter--or Cap'nJeth's ghost's wife--or whoever 'twas talkin' that spirit jabber--whenshe--them, I mean--give out that a small, dark man was right there inthat house, I thought--"

"Primmie, go to bed. "

"Yes'm. And when I remembered that Nelse Howard was--"

"Go to bed this minute!"

"Yes'm. But how do you 'spose he's goin' to--"

Miss Phipps conducted her to the foot of the back stairs and, returning, closed each door she passed through behind her. Then she answered herlodger's unspoken question. 

"Lulie will go with her father and help him up to his room, " she said. "After he is out of the way Nelson can come out and Zach, I suppose, will let him out by the side door. "

Galusha smiled faintly. "The poor fellow must have been somewhatdisturbed when that--ah--medium person announced that the 'evilinfluence' was in the house, " he observed. 

Martha sniffed. "I guess likely we were all disturbed, " she said. "Especially those of us who knew. But how did Marietta know? That's whatI can't understand. Or did she just guess?"

Before Bangs could answer there was a rap on the windowpane. Martha, going to the door, admitted Nelson Howard himself. The young man's firstspeech was a question. 

"Do you know what became of my hat?" he asked. "Like an idiot I hung myhat and coat in that entry off the dining room when I went in. When Icame out just now the hat was gone. "

Martha looked troubled. 

"It wasn't that cap you wear so much, at the station and everywhere?"she asked. "I hope no one took THAT; they'd know whose 'twas in aminute. "

"Yes, that's what I'm afraid of. I. .. Eh? Why, there it is now. "

The cap was lying on the couch beside Mr. Bangs' overcoat. Howard pickedit up with an air of great relief. 

"You brought it over for me, Mr. Bangs, didn't you?" he cried. 

"Why--why, yes, I--I did, " stammered Galusha. "You see, I--"

The young man broke in enthusiastically. "By jingo, that was cleverof you!" he cried. "I was afraid some one had got that cap who wouldrecognize it. Say, " he went on, "I owe you about everything to-night, Mr. Bangs. When Marietta gave out her proclamation that the 'smalldark man' was in that house I came nearer to believing in her kind ofspiritualism than I ever thought I should. I was scared--not on my ownaccount, I hope--but for Lulie and her father. If the old cap'n hadfound me hiding in that front hall I don't know what he might have done, or tried to do. And I don't know what effect it might have had on him. He was--well, judging from what I could hear, he was in a state thatwas--that was pretty near to--to--"

While he was hesitating Martha Phipps finished the sentence. "To whatthey put people in asylums for, " she said, emphatically. "He was, thereis no doubt about that. It's a mercy he didn't find you, Nelson. And ifI were you I wouldn't take any such chances again. "

"I shan't, you needn't worry. When Lulie and I meet after this it willbe--Humph! well, I don't know where it will be. Even the graveyarddoesn't seem to be safe. But I must go. Tell Lulie I got away safe andsound, thanks to Mr. Bangs here. And tell her to 'phone me to-morrow. I'm anxious about Cap'n Jeth. Sometimes I think it might be just as wellif I went straight to him and told him--"

Again Martha interrupted. 

"My soul, no!" she exclaimed. "Not now, not till he gets that 'smalldark man' notion out of his head. "

"I suppose you're right. And Mr. Bangs has set him guessing on that, too. Honestly, Mr. Bangs, you've just about saved--well, if you haven'tsaved everybody's life you've come pretty near to saving the cap'n'sreason, I do believe. How Lulie and I can ever thank you enough I don'tknow. "

Galusha turned red. "Ah--ah--don't--ah--please don't, " he stammered. "Itwas just--ah--a silly idea of mine. On the spur of the moment it came tome that--ah--that the medium person hadn't said WHO the small, dark manwas. And as I am rather dark perhaps--and small, certainly--it occurredto me to claim identity. Almost every one else had received some sortof--ah--spirit message and, you see, I didn't wish to be neglected. "

"Well, it was the smartest dodge that I ever heard of. By jingo, it was!Say, you don't suppose Cap'n Jeth will take it seriously and begin toget down on YOU, do you?"

Martha looked grave. "I was wonderin' that myself, " she said. 

Galusha smiled. "Oh, dear no, " he said. "I think there is no danger ofthat, really. But, Mr. Howard, in regard to that--ah--cap of yours, I. .. Eh?. .. Um. .. Why, dear me, I wonder--"

"Why is it you wonder, Mr. Bangs?" asked Martha, after a moment's wait. 

"Why--ah--considering that that cap of Mr. Howard's is one which, soyou and he say, he is in the habit of wearing, and that many people haveoften seen him wear, I was wondering--Dear me, yes, that might explain. "

"Explain what?"

"Why, it occurred to me that as that cap was hanging inthe--ah--entry--the little hall off Captain Hallett's dining room--whenthe people came in, and as the medium person--Miss--ah--bless me, whatIS her name?--as she came in with the rest, it occurred to me that shemight have seen the cap and--"

Miss Phipps clapped her hands. "She saw it and knew whose it was, " shecried, excitedly. "Of course she did! THAT'S how she guessed thesmall, dark man was in the house. THAT'S how 'Little Toddy Blossom, ' orwhatever her name is, got so smart all at once. Well, well! Of course, of course!"

"It--ah--occurred to me that that might possibly explain, " observedGalusha, placidly. 

"It does. But, Nelson, what set Marietta and her spirits after you inparticular? Has she got any grudge against you?"

"Not that I know of, Martha. She knows I don't take any stock in herkind of spirit messages. I don't think she likes me very well on thataccount. "

"Well, perhaps, that is reason enough. Or perhaps she just happened thefirst time to mention the small dark man hit or miss and Cap'n Jethropinned the tag to you; after that she did her best to keep it there. Well, thanks to Mr. Bangs, the cap'n isn't as sure as he was, that'ssome comfort. "

Martha accompanied Nelson to the door. After he had gone and shereturned to the sitting room she found her lodger standing, lamp inhand, at the foot of the stairs. 

"Goin' to turn in, Mr. Bangs?" she asked. "Goin' to bed, I mean? Fatheralways used to call it turnin' in; it's a saltwater way of sayin' it, just as so many of his expressions were. I guess you must be prettytired. I know I am. Take it by and large--that is another of father'sexpressions--we've had an excitin' evenin'. "

Galusha admitted the fact. His landlady regarded him with an oddexpression. 

"Do you know, " she said, suddenly, "you are the most surprisin' person Iever met, Mr. Bangs?. .. There! I didn't mean to say that, " she added. "I was thinkin' it and it sort of spoke itself, as you might say. I begyour pardon. "

"Oh, that's quite all right, quite, Miss Phipps, " Galusha assured her. "I have no doubt you are perfectly correct. No doubt I am surprising;at least most people seem to find a peculiar quality in most ofmy--ah--actions. " He smiled his gentle smile, and added, "I presume itmust be a part of my profession. In books, you know--in novels--thefew I have read--the archaeologist or the scientific man or the collegeprofessor is always peculiar. "

She shook her head. "That isn't just what I meant, " she said. "So far asthat goes I've generally noticed that folks with little brains are fondof criticizin' those with bigger ones. Part of such criticisms is 'don'tunderstand' and the rest is plain jealousy. But what I meant by callin'you surprisin' was--was--Well, " with a half laugh, "I might just as wellsay it plain. Ever since you've been here, Mr. Bangs, the feelin' hasbeen growin' on me that you were probably the wisest man in the worldabout some things and the most simple and impractical about others. Overthere in Egypt you know everything, I do believe. And yet right downhere on Cape Cod you need somebody to keep Ras Beebe and Raish Pulciferfrom cheatin' you out of your last cent. That's what I thought. 'Mr. Bangs is wonderful, ' I said to myself, 'but I'm afraid he isn'tpractical. ' And yet to-night, over there, you were the only practicalone amongst us. "

Galusha protested. "Oh, no, Miss Phipps, " he said. "Dear me, no. Myclaiming to be the small, dark man was, as I said, merely a silly notionwhich came to me. I acted on the spur of the moment. It was nothing. "

"It was about everything, " stoutly. "It was your notion, as you call it, that saved Cap'n Jethro from findin' Nelson Howard in that front hall;and savin' him from that saved us from havin' a crazy man on our hands, I truly believe. And you did it so right on the instant, so matter offact and common sense. Really, Mr. Bangs, I--I don't know what to say toyou. "

Galusha smiled. "You said it before, " he observed, "when you said youwere surprised. I am surprised myself. Dear me, yes. "

"Don't! That was a foolish thing for me to say and you mustn't takeit the wrong way. And your bringing Nelson's hat over here instead ofleavin' it in that entry for more of Marietta's crowd to notice and, tento one, recognize! We all knew it was hangin' there. I saw Nelson hangit there, myself, when he came in. But did _I_ think to take it out ofsight? Did _I_--Why, what is it? What's the matter?"

Her lodger was protesting violently. "Don't, don't, don't, Miss Phipps, "he begged. "Please don't! You see, that hat--that cap of Mr. Howard's--"

"Yes, you brought it over here. "

"Yes, I--I brought it over. I brought it--but--"

"But what?"

"But I didn't know that I did. I must have been thinking of somethingelse when I went after my things and it is a mercy that I took my owncoat. It was only by accident that I took the--ah--young man's cap. Iwas under the impression that it was my own. I presume my own cap ishanging in the Hallett entry at this moment. .. . Ah--good-night, MissPhipps. Good night. I have had a very pleasant evening, very pleasantindeed. "

CHAPTER VIII

Martha Phipps and her lodger, to say nothing of Lulie Hallett, werefearful of the effect which the eventful seance might have upon thelight keeper. It was with considerable foreboding that Martha calledLulie up on the telephone the next morning. But the news she receivedin answer to her call was reassuring. Captain Jethro, so Lulie said, wasapparently quite himself again, a little tired and a trifle irritable, but otherwise all right. 

"The only unusual thing about him, " said his daughter, "is that he hasnot once mentioned the seance or anything that happened there. Ifit wasn't too ridiculous to be possible I should almost think he hadforgotten it. "

"Then for the land sakes don't remind him, " urged Martha, eagerly. "So long as HE is willin' not to remember you ought to be. Yes, andthankful, " she added. 

"I guess likely he hasn't forgotten, " she said afterwards, inconversation with her lodger. "I imagine he is a good deal upset in hismind; your bouncin' in and claimin' to be the 'evil influence' put him'way off his course and he hasn't got his bearin's yet. He's probablytryin' to think his way through the fog and he won't talk till he seesa light, or thinks he sees one. I wish to goodness the light would be sostrong that he'd see through Marietta Hoag and all her foolishness, butI'm afraid that's too much to expect. "

Her surmise was correct, for a few days later the captain met Galusha onthe road leading to the village and, taking the little man by the arm, became confidential. 

"Mr. Bangs, " he said, "I cal'late you must think it's kind of queer mynot sayin' a word to you about what happened t'other night over to thehouse. "

Galusha, who had been thinking of something else and was mentallythousands of miles away--on the banks of the Nile, in fact--regarded himrather vacantly. 

"Eh? Oh--um--yes, of course, " he stammered. "I beg your pardon. "

"No reason why you should beg my pardon. I don't blame you for thinkin'so. It's natural. "

"Yes--yes, of course, of course. But I don't know that I quitecomprehend. Of what were you speaking, Captain Hallett?"

The captain explained. "Of course you think it's queer that I haven'tsaid a word about what Julia told us, " he went on. "Eh? Don't you?"

"What--ah--what Miss Hoag said, you mean?"

"Plague take Marietta!" impatiently. "She wan't nothin' but thego-between. 'Twas my wife that said it. You understand 'twas Julia, mywife, talkin', don't you?"

"Why--ah--why--I suppose--"

"Suppose? Don't you KNOW 'twas?"

"Why--ah--no doubt, no doubt. "

"Course there ain't any doubt. Well then, Julia said there was a darkman heavin' a sort of evil influence over Lulie. "

"She said a SMALL dark man, a stranger. And she said he was presentamong us. So far as I can see I was the only small dark stranger. "

"But you ain't an evil influence, are you?"

"Well, I--ah--hope not. Dear me, no!"

"I hope not, too, and I don't believe you are. No, there is some mistakesomewheres. 'Twas Nelson Howard she must have meant. "

"But, Captain Hallett, Mr. Howard is not small. "

"No, and he wan't there that evenin', neither. But I'm bettin' 'twas himshe meant just the same. Just the same. "

"Do you think that is quite fair to Mr. Howard? If he isn't small, norvery dark, and if he was not in your house that evening, how--"

"I don't know--I don't know. Anyhow, I don't believe she meant you, Mr. Bangs. She couldn't have. "

"But--ah--why not?"

"Because--well, because you couldn't be an evil influence if you tried, you wouldn't know how. THAT much I'll bet on. There, there, don't let'stalk no more about it. Julia and me'll have another talk pretty soon andthen I'll find out more, maybe. "

So that was the end of this portion of the conversation. The lightkeeper positively refused to mention the subject again. Galusha was leftwith the uneasy feeling that his brilliant idea of claiming to bethe small, dark influence for evil had not been as productive of goodresults as he had hoped. Certainly it had not in the least shaken thecaptain's firm belief in his spirit messages, nor had it, apparently, greatly abated his prejudice against young Howard. On the other hand, Lulie found comfort in the fact that in all other respects her fatherseemed as rational and as keen as he had ever been. The exciting eveningwith the Hoag spook had worked no lasting harm. For so much she and herfriends were grateful. 

The autumn gales blew themselves out and blew in their successors, thehowling blasts of winter. Winter at Gould's Bluffs, so Galusha Bangsdiscovered, was no light jest of the weather bureau. His first Januaryno'theaster taught him that. Lying in his bed at one o'clock in themorning, feeling that bed tremble beneath him as the wind gripped thesturdy gables of the old house, while the snow beat in hissing tumultagainst the panes, and the great breakers raved and roared at the footof the bluff--this was an experience for Galusha. The gray dawn of themorning brought another, for, although it was no longer snowing, thewind was, if anything, stronger than ever and the seaward view from hisbedroom window was a picture of frothing gray and white, of flying sprayand leaping waves, and on the landward side the pines were bending andthreshing as if they were being torn in pieces. He came downstairs, somewhat nervous and a trifle excited, to find Mr. Bloomer, garbed inoilskins and sou'wester, standing upon the mat just inside the diningroom door. Zacheus, it developed, had come over to borrow some coffee, the supply at the light having run short. As Galusha entered, a morethan usually savage blast rushed shrieking over the house, threatening, so it seemed to Mr. Bangs, to tear every shingle from the roof. 

"Goodness gracious!" exclaimed Galusha. "Dear me, what a terrible stormthis is!"

Zacheus regarded him calmly. "Commenced about ten last night, " heobserved. "Been breezin' on steady ever since. Be quite consider'blegale if it keeps up. "

Mr. Bangs looked at him with amazement. 

"If it keeps up!" he repeated. "Isn't it a gale now?"

Zach shook his head. 

"Not a reg'lar gale, 'tain't, " he said. "Alongside of some gales I'veseen this one ain't nothin' but a tops'l breeze. Do you remember thestorm the night the Portland was lost, Martha?"

Miss Phipps, who had come in from the kitchen with a can of coffee inher hand, shuddered. 

"Indeed I do, Zacheus, " she said; "don't remind me of it. "

"Why, dear me, was it worse than this one?" asked Galusha. 

Martha smiled. "It blew the roof off the barn here, " she said, "and blewdown both chimneys on the house and both over at Cap'n Jeth's. So faras that goes we had plenty of company, for there were nineteen chimneysdown along the main road in Wellmouth. And trees--mercy! how the poortrees suffered! East Wellmouth lost thirty-two big silver-leafs andthe only two elms it had. Set out over a hundred years ago, those elmswere. "

"Spray from the breakers flew clear over the top of the bank here, " saidZach. "That's some h'ist for spray, hundred and odd feet. I wan't hereto see it, myself, but Cap'n Jeth told me. "

"You were in a more comfortable place, I hope, " observed Galusha. 

"Um--we-ell, that's accordin' to what you call comf'table. I was aboardthe Hog's Back lightship, that's where I was. "

"Dear, dear! Is it possible?"

"Um-hm. Possible enough that I was there, and one spell it lookedimpossible that I'd ever be anywheres else. Godfreys, what a night thatwas! Whew! Godfreys domino!"

Primmie, who had also come in from the kitchen, was listening, open-mouthed. 

"I bet you that lightship pitched up and down somethin' terrible, didn'tit, Zach?" she asked. 

Zacheus looked at her solemnly. "Pitched?" he repeated, after a moment'scontemplation. "No, no, she didn't pitch none. "

"Didn't? Didn't pitch up and down in such a gale's that? And with wavesa hundred foot high? What kind of talk's that, Zach Bloomer! How couldthat lightship help pitchin', I'd like to know?"

Mr. Bloomer adjusted the tin cover on the can in which Martha had putthe coffee, then he put the can in the pocket of his slicker. 

"We-ll, I tell you, Primmie, " he drawled. "You see, we had prettytoler'ble long anchor chains on that craft and when the captain see how'twas blowin' he let them chains out full length. The wind blowed sostrong it lifted the lightship right out of the water up to the ends ofthem chains and kept her there. Course there was a dreadful sea runnin'underneath us, but we never felt it a mite; that gale was holdin' us uptwenty foot clear of it!"

"Zacheus Bloomer, do you mean to say--"

"Um-hm. Twenty foot in the air we was all that night and part of nextday. When it slacked off and we settled down again we was leakin' like asieve; you see, while we was up there that no'thwester had blowed 'mostall the copper off the vessel's bottom. Some storm that was, Posy, some storm. .. . Well, so long, all hands. Much obliged for the coffee, Martha. "

He tugged his sou'wester tighter on his head, glanced at Miss Cash'sface, where incredulity and indignation were written large andstruggling for expression, turned his head in Mr. Bangs' direction, winked solemnly, and departed. The wind obligingly and enthusiasticallysaved him the trouble of closing the door. 

Galusha was not called upon to endure any such experiences as thosedescribed by the veracious Mr. Bloomer in his record-breaking gale, butduring that winter he learned a little of what New England coast weathercould be and often was. And he learned, also, that that weather was, like most blusterers, not nearly as savage when met squarely face toface. He learned to put on layer after layer of garments, topping offwith oilskins, sou'wester and mittens, and tramp down to the village forthe mail or to do the household errands. He was growing stronger allthe time and if the doctor could have seen him plowing through drifts orshouldering his way through a driving rain he would have realized thathis patient was certainly obeying the order to "keep out of doors. "Martha Phipps was perfectly certain that her lodger was keeping out ofdoors altogether too much. 

"You aren't goin' out to-day, Mr. Bangs, are you?" she exclaimed. "It'sas cold as the North Pole. You'll freeze. "

Galusha smiled beneath his cap visor and between the ear-laps. 

"Oh, no, indeed, " he declared. "It's brisk and--ah--snappy, that's all. A smart walk will do me good. I am accustomed to walking. In Egypt Iwalk a GREAT deal. "

"I don't doubt it; but you don't have much of this sort of weather inEgypt, if what I've heard is true. "

Mr. Bangs' smile broadened. "I fear I shall have to admit that, " hesaid; "but my--ah--physician told me that a change would be good for me. And this IS a change, now isn't it?"

"I should say it was. About as much change as a plate of ice cream aftera cup of hot coffee. Well, if you're bound to go, do keep walkin' fast. Don't forget that it's down to zero or thereabouts; don't forget thatand wander over to the old cemetery and kneel down in front of a slatetombstone and freeze to death. "

"Oh, I shall be all right, Miss Phipps. Really I shall. Don't worry, Ibeg of you. "

He had begged her not to worry on many other occasions and she had beenaccustomed to answer him in a manner half joking and half serious. Butthis time she did not answer at all for a moment, and when she did therewas no hint of a joke in her tone. 

"No, " she said, slowly. "I won't. I couldn't, I guess. Don't seem as ifI could carry any more worries just now, any more than I am carryin', Imean. "

She sighed as she said it and he looked at her in troubled alarm. 

"Oh, dear me!" he exclaimed. "I--I'm so sorry. Sorry that you areworried, I mean. Is there anything I can do to--to--I should be veryglad to help in any way if--"

He was hesitating, trying to say the right thing and very fearfulof saying too much, of seeming to be curious concerning her personalaffairs, when she interrupted him. She was standing by the kitchen door, with one hand upon the knob, and she spoke without looking at him. 

"There is nothin' you or anybody can do, " she said. "And there isn't asingle bit of use talkin' about it. Trot along and have your walk, Mr. Bangs. And don't pay any attention to what I said. It was justsilliness. I get a little nervous, sometimes, but that's no reason formy makin' other people that way. Have a good walk. "

He did not have a very good walk and his thoughts while walking were notas closely centered about ancient inscriptions, either Egyptian or EastWellmouthian, as was usually the case upon such excursions. Miss MarthaPhipps was worried, she had said so, herself. Yes, and now that hethought of it, she looked worried. She was in trouble of some sort. Adreadful surmise entered his mind. Was it possible that he, his presencein her house, was the cause of her worry? He had been very insistentthat she take him as boarder and lodger. The sum he paid each weekwas ridiculously small. Was it possible that, having consented to theagreement, she had found it a losing one and was too kind-hearted andconscientious to suggest a change? He remembered agreements which he hadmade, and having made, had hesitated to break, even though they turnedout to be decidedly unprofitable and unpleasant. He had often beentalked into doing things he did not want to do, like buying the yellowcap at Beebe's store. Perhaps he had talked Miss Phipps into taking himas boarder and lodger and now she was sorry. 

By the time Galusha returned from his walk he was in what might bedescribed as a state of mind. 

As he entered the Phipps' gate he met some one coming down the pathtoward it. That some one, it developed, was no less a person than Mr. Horatio Pulcifer. Raish and Galusha had not encountered each other forsome time, weeks, in fact, and Mr. Bangs expected the former's greetingto be exuberant and effusive. His shoulders and his spirit were alikeshrinking in anticipation. 

But Raish did not shout when he saw him, did not even shake hands, tosay nothing of thumping the little man upon the back. The broad andrubicund face of East Wellmouth's leading politician and dealer inreal estate wore not a grin but a frown, and when he and Galusha cametogether at the gate he did not speak. Galusha spoke first, which wasunusual; very few people meeting Mr. Horatio Pulcifer were afforded theopportunity of speaking first. 

"Ah--good-morning, Mr. Pulcifer, " said Galusha, endeavoring to open thegate. 

"Huh!" grunted Raish, jerking the gate from Mr. Bangs' hand and pushingit somewhat violently into the Bangs' waistcoat. "Mornin'. "

"It is a nice--ah--cool day, isn't it?" observed Galusha, backing fromthe gateway in order to give Horatio egress. Mr. Pulcifer's answer wasirrelevant and surprising. 

"Say, " he demanded, turning truculently upon the speaker, "ain't womenhell?"

Galusha was, naturally, somewhat startled. 

"I--I beg your pardon?" he stammered. 

"I say ain't women hell? Hey? Ain't they, now?"

Galusha rubbed his chin. 

"Well, " he said, doubtfully, "I presume in--ah--certain instancesthey--My experience has been limited, but--"

"Humph! Say, they make me sick, most of 'em. They haven't any morebusiness sense than a hen, the heft of 'em ain't. Go into a deal withtheir eyes open and then, when it don't turn out to suit 'em, lay downand squeal. Yes, sir, squeal. "

"Ah--I see. Yes, yes, of course. Squeal--yes. The--the hens, you mean. "

"HENS? No, women. They make me sick, I tell you. .. . And now a lot of dumfools are goin' to give 'em the right to vote! Gosh!"

He strode off along the road to the village. Galusha wonderingly gazedafter him, shook his head, and then moved slowly up the path to thehouse. Primmie opened the door for him. Her eyes were snapping. 

"Hello, Mr. Bangs!" she said. "I 'most wisht he'd drop down dead andthen freeze to death in a snowbank, that's what I wish. "

Galusha blinked. 

"Why, bless my soul!" he exclaimed. "Of whom are you speaking?"

"That everlastin' Raish Pulcifer. I never did like him, and now if he'scomin' around here makin' her cry. "

"Eh? Making her cry?"

"Sshh! She'll hear you. Makin' Miss Martha cry. She's up in her roomcryin' now, I'll bet you on it. And he's responsible. .. . Yes'm, I'mcomin'. Don't say nothin' to her that I told you, will you, Mr. Bangs?"

She hurried away in response to her mistress' hail. Galusha said nothingto Miss Phipps nor to any one else, but during the rest of that dayhe did a great deal of thinking. Martha Phipps was worried, she wastroubled, she had been crying; according to Primmie Horatio Pulcifer wasresponsible for her tears. Galusha had never fancied Mr. Pulcifer, nowhe was conscious of a most extraordinary dislike for the man. He hadnever disliked any one so much in all his life, he was sure of that. Also he was conscious of a great desire to help Martha in her trouble. Of course there was a certain measure of relief in learning thatPulcifer and not he was responsible for that trouble, but the relief wasa small matter in comparison with the desire to help. 

He could think of but one way in which Horatio Pulcifer could causeworry for Martha Phipps and that was in connection with some businessmatter. Certain fragments of conversations occurred to him, certainthings she had said to him or to Captain Hallett in his hearing whichwere of themselves sufficient to warrant the surmise that her troublewas a financial one. He remembered them now, although at the time theyhad made little impression upon his mind. But Raish Pulcifer's name wasnot mentioned in any of those conversations; Captain Jethro's had been, but not Raish's. Yet Primmie vowed that the latter had made Miss Marthacry. He determined to seek Primmie and ask for more particulars thatvery evening. 

But Primmie saved him the trouble of seeking her. Miss Phipps and hermaid left him alone in the sitting room as soon as supper was over andneither came back. He could hear the murmur of voices in the kitchen, but, although he sat up until ten o'clock, neither Primmie nor hermistress joined him. So he reluctantly went up to his room, but hadscarcely reached it when a knock sounded on the door. He opened it, lampin hand. 

"Why, Primmie!" he exclaimed. 

Primmie waved both hands in frantic expostulation. 

"Sshh! shh! shh!" she breathed. "Don't say nothin'. I don't want herto hear you. PLEASE don't let her hear you, Mr. Bangs. And PLEASE comeright downstairs again. I want to talk to you. I've GOT to talk withyou. "

More bewildered than he had before been, even on that bewildering day, Galusha followed Miss Cash down the stairs, through sitting room anddining room to the kitchen. Then Primmie put down the lamp, which shehad taken from his hand, carefully closed the door behind them, turnedto her companion and burst out crying. 

"Why--why, Primmie!" exclaimed Galusha. "Oh, dear me! What is it?"

Primmie did not answer. She merely waved her hands up and down and stoodthere, dripping like a wet umbrella. 

"But--my soul, Primmie!" cried Mr. Bangs. "Don't! You--you mustn't, youknow. "

But Primmie did, nevertheless. Galusha in desperation turned toward thedoor. 

"I'm going to call Miss Phipps, " he declared. Primmie, the tears stillpouring down her cheeks, seized him by the arm. 

"Don't you do it!" she commanded. "Don't you dast to do it! I'll--I'llstop cryin'. I--I'm goin' to if you'll only wait and give me a chance. There! There! See, I'm--I'm stoppin' now. "

And, with one tremendous sniff and a violent rub of her hand across hernose, stop she did. But she was still the complete picture of misery. 

"Why, what IS the matter?" demanded Galusha. 

Primmie sniffed once more, gulped, and then blurted forth theexplanation. 

"She--she's canned me, " she said. 

Galusha looked at her uncomprehendingly. Primmie's equipment of Cape Codslang and idiom, rather full and complete of itself, had of late beenamplified and complicated by a growing acquaintance with the new driverof the grocery cart, a young man of the world who had spent two hecticyears in Brockton, where, for a portion of the time, he worked in a shoefactory. But Galusha Bangs, not being a man of the world, was not up inslang; he did not understand. 

"What?" he asked. 

"I say she's canned me. Miss Martha has, I mean. Oh, ain't it awful!"

"Canned you? Really, I--"

"Yes, yes, yes! Canned me, fired me. Oh, DON'T stand there owlin' atme like that! Can't you see, I--Oh, please, Mr. Bangs, excuse me fortalkin' so. I--I didn't mean to be sassy. I'm just kind of loony, Iguess. Please excuse me, Mr. Bangs. "

"Yes, yes, Primmie, of course--of course. Don't cry, that's all. But what is this? Do I understand you to say that Miss Phippshas--ah--DISCHARGED you?"

"Um-hm. That's what she's done. I'm canned. And I don't know where to goand--and I don't want to go anywheres else. I want to stay here along ofher. "

She burst into tears again. It was some time before Galusha could calmher sufficiently to get the story of what had happened. When told, flavored with the usual amount of Primmieisms, it amounted to this:Martha had helped her with the supper dishes and then, instead of goinginto the sitting room, had asked her to sit down as she had somethingparticular to say to her. Primmie obediently sat and her mistress didlikewise. 

"But she didn't begin to say it right off, " said Primmie. "She startedfour or five times afore she really got a-goin'. She said that whatshe'd got to say was dreadful unpleasant and was just as hard for her tosay as 'twould be for me to hear. And she said I could be sartin' sureshe'd never say it if 'twan't absolutely necessary and that she hadn'tmade up her mind to say it until she'd laid awake night after nighttryin' to think of some other way out, but that, try as she could, shedidn't see no other way. And so then--so then she said it. Oh, my savin'soul! I declare I never thought--"

"Hush, hush, Primmie. Ah--control yourself, please. You promised not tocry, you know. "

"Cry! Well, ain't I tryin' not to cry, for mercy sakes? She was cryin', too, I tell you, afore she finished. If you'd seen the pair of ussettin' there bellerin' like a couple of young ones I cal'late you'd athought so. "

"Bellowing? Miss Phipps?"

"Oh, I don't mean bellerin' out loud like a--like a heifer. I guesslikely I was doin' that, but she wan't. She was just cryin' quiet, youknow, but anybody could see how terrible bad she was feelin'. And thenshe said it--oh, dear, dear! How CAN I tell it? How CAN I?"

Galusha groaned, in harassed desperation. 

"I don't know, " he admitted, "But I--really I wish you would. "

Miss Phipps had, it seemed, told her maidservant that, owing to thesteadily increasing cost of living, of food and clothes and every itemof daily expense, she was finding it more and more hard to get along. She said her income was very small and her bills continually growinglarger. She had cut and scrimped in every possible way, hoping againsthope, but at last she had been driven to the point where even the smallwage she was paying Primmie seemed more than she could afford. Much asshe hated to do it, she felt compelled to let the girl go. 

"She said she'd help me get another place, " said Primmie, "and that Icould stay here until I did get one, and all sorts of things like that. I told her I didn't want no other place and I didn't care a bit aboutthe wages. I said I'd rather work here without a cent of wages. She saidno, she wouldn't let me do that. If she couldn't pay me I couldn't workhere. I said I could and I should and she said I couldn't and shouldn't. And--and we both cried and--and that's the way it ended. And that's whyI come to you, Mr. Bangs. I CAN'T go away and leave her. I CAN'T, Mr. Bangs. She can't keep this whole house a-goin' without somebody to help. I've GOT to stay. You make her keep me, Mr. Bangs. I don't want no payfor it. I never was no hand to care for money, anyhow. Pa used to say Iwan't. None of our folks was. Matter of that, we never had none to carefor. But you make her keep me, Mr. Bangs. "

She began to sob once more. Poor Galusha was very much distressed. Thecause of Martha Phipps' worry was plain enough now. And her financialstress must be very keen indeed to cause her to take such drastic actionas the discharge of Primmie the faithful. 

"You'll make her keep me, won't you, Mr. Bangs?" pleaded Primmie, oncemore. 

Galusha rubbed his chin. "Dear me, " he said, perplexedly, "I--Well, Ishall be glad to do all I can, of course, but how I can make her keepyou when she has made up her mind not to, I--really, I don't see. You don't think, do you, " he added, "that my being here is in any wayresponsible for a portion of Miss Phipps' financial trouble? You don'tthink it might be--ah--easier for her if I was to--ah--go?"

Primmie shook her head. "Oh, no, no, " she declared, with decision, "Youain't a mite of bother, Mr. Bangs. I've heard Miss Martha say more'n adozen times what a nice man you was and how easy 'twas to providefor you. She likes you, Miss Martha does, and I do, too. Even when wethought you was an undertaker huntin' 'round for remains we liked youjust the same. "

Galusha could not help feeling a certain satisfaction in thiswhole-hearted declaration. It was pleasant to learn that he was likedand that his hostess considered him a nice man. 

"Thank you, Primmie, " he said. "But what I meant was--was--Well, Ipay what seems to me a ridiculously small sum for board and lodging. Ibegged to be allowed to pay more, but Miss Phipps wouldn't permit it. Now I am sure she must be losing money in the transaction and if I wereto go--ah--elsewhere perhaps it might be--ah--easier for her. Candidly, don't you think so, Primmie?"

Miss Cash appeared to consider. Then she shook her head again. "No, " shesaid, "I don't. You pay your board and I've heard her say more'n oncethat she felt as if you was payin' too much. No, 'tain't that. It'smore'n that. It ain't anything to do really with you or me, Mr. Bangs. Miss Martha's lost some money somehow, I believe. She ain't got enoughto get along on, 'cause she told me she hadn't. Now, she used to haveand I believe she's lost some of it somewheres. And I believe that--"

Galusha felt it his duty to interrupt. 

"Primmie, " he continued, "you mustn't tell me anything which Miss Phippswouldn't wish told. I wouldn't for the world have you think that I amunduly curious concerning her personal affairs. If there is any traitwhich I--ah--detest above others it is that of unwarranted curiosityconcerning the--ah--private affairs of one's acquaintances. I. .. Why doyou look at me like that? Were you about to speak?"

Primmie was staring at him in what seemed to be awe-stricken admiration. She drew a long breath. 

"My Lord of Isrul!" she exclaimed, fervently, "I never heard anybodystring talk along the way you can in all my born days, Mr. Bangs. I betyou've said as many as seven words already that I never heard afore, never heard ary one of 'em, I ain't. Education's wonderful, ain't it? Paused to say 'twas, but all he had he picked up off fishin' and clammin'and cranberrin' and around. All our family had a kind of picked-upeducation, seemed so. "

"Yes, yes, Primmie, but--"

"But why don't I mind my own business and stick to what I was goin' tosay, you mean? All right, I will. I was goin' to say that I believe MissMartha's lost money somehow and I believe that dressed-up stuffed imageof a Raish Pulcifer is responsible for her losin' it, that's what Ibelieve. "

"Mr. Pulcifer! Why, Primmie, why do you say that? What proof have you?"

"Ain't got no proof. If folks could get proof on Raish Pulcifer he'dhave been in jail long ago. Zach Bloomer said that only the other day. But a body can guess, can't they, even if they ain't got proof, andthat's what I'm doin'--guessin'. Every once in a while Miss Martha goesup to the village to see this Pulcifer thing, don't she? Yes, she does. Went up twice inside of a fortni't that I know of. Does she go 'causeshe likes him? I cal'late she don't. She likes him about the way I doand I ain't got no more use for him than a hen has for a toothbrush. Andt'other day she sent for him and asked him to come here and see her. Howdo I know she did? 'Cause she telephoned him and I heard her doin' it, that's how. And he didn't want to come and she just begged him to, saidshe would try not to bother him again if he would come that once. And hecame and after he went away she cried, same as I told you she did. "

"But, Primmie, all that may be and yet Mr. Pulcifer's visit may have noconnection with Miss Martha's monetary trouble. "

"I want to know! Well, if that's so, why was she and him talkin' so hardwhen he was here this afternoon? And why was she askin' him to pleasesee if he couldn't get some sort of an offer? I heard her ask that. "

"Offer for what?"

"Search me! For somethin' she wanted to sell, I presume likely. And hesays to her, 'No, I can't, ' he says. 'I've told you so a dozen times. If I could get anybody to buy I'd sell my own, wouldn't I? You bet yourlife I would!' And she waited a minute and then she says, kind of lowand more as if she was talkin' to herself than to him, 'What SHALL Ido?' she says. And he heard her and says he--I'd like to have choppedhis head off with the kindlin' hatchet when I heard him say it--says he, '_I_ don't know. How do you s'pose _I_ know what you'll do? I don't knowwhat I'll do, myself, do I?' And she answered right off, and kind ofsharp, 'You was sure enough what was goin' to be done when you gotfather into this thing. ' And he just swore and stomped out of the house. So THAT sounds as if he had somethin' to do with it, don't it?"

Galusha was obliged to admit that it did so sound. And when heremembered Mr. Pulcifer's remark at the gate, that concerning womenand business, the evidence was still more convincing. He did not tellPrimmie that he was convinced, however. He swore her to secrecy, madeher promise that she would tell no one else what she had told him oreven that she had told him, and in return promised to do what he couldto bring about her retention in the Phipps' home. 

"Although, as I said, Primmie, " he added, "I'm sure I can't at presentsee what I can do. "

Another person might have found little encouragement in this, butPrimmie apparently found a good deal. 

"You'll see a way, I'll bet you you will, Mr. Bangs, " she declared. "Anybody that's been through the kind of times you have, livin' alongwith critters that steal the shirt off your back, ain't goin' to leta blowed-up gas balloon like Raish Pulcifer stump you. My savin' soul, no!"

Mr. Bangs smiled faintly. 

"The shirt wasn't on my back when it was stolen, " he said. 

Primmie sniffed. "It didn't have no chance to be, " she declared. "Thatcamel thing got it onto HIS back first. But, anyhow, I feel better. Ithink now we're goin' to come out all right, Miss Martha and me. I don'tknow why I feel so, but I do. "

Galusha was by no means as confident. He went back to his room and tobed, but it was long before he fell asleep. Just why the thought ofMartha Phipps' trouble should trouble him so greatly he still didnot understand, exactly. Of course he was always sorry for any one introuble, and would have gone far out of his way to help such a person, had the latter appealed to him. But Martha had not appealed to him; as amatter of fact, it was evident that she was trying to keep knowledgeof her difficulty from him and every one else. Plainly it was not hisbusiness at all. And yet he was filled with an intense desire, even adetermination, to make it his business. He could not understand why, buthe wasted no time trying to understand. The determination to help wasstrong when at last he did fall asleep and it was just as strong when heawoke the next morning. 

CHAPTER IX

He endeavored, while dressing, to map out a plan of campaign, butthe map was but a meaningless whirligig of lines leading nowhere whenPrimmie called from the foot of the stairs that breakfast was ready. During breakfast he was more absent-minded than usual, which is saying agood deal, and Martha herself was far from communicative. After themeal he was putting on his hat and coat preparatory to going out for hisusual walk when Primmie came hurrying through the hall. 

"She wants you, " said Primmie, mysteriously, her eyes shining withexcitement. "She wants to see you in the settin' room. Come on, come on, Mr. Bangs! What are you waitin' for?"

As a general rule Galusha's thoughts started upon the morning ramblesome little time before he did and recalling them was a rather slow andpatience-taxing process. In this case, however, they were already in thesitting room with Martha Phipps and so had a shorter road home. But theycame slowly enough, for all that. 

"Eh?" queried Galusha, peering out between the earlaps of his cap. "Eh?What did you say, Primmie?"

"I say Miss Martha wants to see you a minute. She's in there a-waitin'. I bet you she's goin' to tell you about it. Hurry! hurry!"

"Tell me?. .. About what?"

"Why, about what 'tis that's worryin' her so. About that Raish Pulciferand all the rest of it. .. . Oh, my Lord of Isrul! Don't you understandNOW? Oh, Mr. Bangs, won't you PLEASE wake up?"

But Galusha was beginning to understand. 

"Dear me! Dear me!" he exclaimed, nervously. "Do you think that--Did shesay she wished to see me, Primmie?"

"Ain't I been tellin' you she did? Now you talk right up to her, Mr. Bangs. You tell her I don't want no wages. Tell her I'll stay rightalong same as ever and--You TELL her, Mr. Bangs. "

Martha was standing by the stove in the sitting room when her lodgerentered. She turned to greet him. 

"I don't know as I'm doin' right to keep you from your walk, Mr. Bangs, "she said. "And I won't keep you very long. But I did want to talk withyou for just a minute or two. I wanted to ask your advice about--about abusiness matter. "

Now this was very funny indeed. It would have been hard to find a richerjoke than the idea of consulting Galusha Bangs concerning a matter ofbusiness. But both parties to this consultation were too serious to seethe joke at that moment. 

Galusha nodded solemnly. He faltered something about being highlyhonored and only too glad to be of service. His landlady thanked him. 

"Yes, " she said, "I knew you would be. And, as I say, I won't keep youvery long. Sit down, Mr. Bangs. Oh, not in that straight up-and-downthing. Here, in the rocker. "

Galusha lifted himself from the edge of the straight-backed chair uponwhich he had perched and sat upon the edge of the rocking-chair instead. Martha looked at him sitting there, his collar turned up, his cap brimand earlaps covering two thirds of his face and his spectacles at leasthalf of the remaining third, his mittened hands twitching nervously inhis lap, and, in spite of her feelings, could not help smiling. But itwas a fleeting smile. 

"Take off your things, Mr. Bangs, " she said. "You'll roast alive if youdon't. It's warm in here. Primmie forgot and left the dampers open andthe stove was pretty nearly red-hot when I came in just now. Yes, takeoff your overcoat and cap, and those mittens, for mercy sakes. "

Galusha declared that he didn't mind the mittens and the rest, but sheinsisted and he hastily divested himself of his wrappings, droppingthem upon the floor as the most convenient repository and being greatlyfussed when Miss Phipps picked them up and laid them on the table. 

"I--I beg your pardon, " he stammered. "Really, I DON'T know why I amso thoughtless. I--I should be--ah--hanged or something, I think. Thenperhaps I wouldn't do it again. "

Martha shook her head. "You probably wouldn't in that case, " she said. "Now, Mr. Bangs, I'm going to try to get at that matter I wanted toask your opinion about. Do you know anything about stocks--stockmarketstocks, I mean?"

Her lodger looked rather bewildered. 

"Dear me, no; not a thing, " he declared. 

She did not look greatly disappointed. 

"I didn't suppose you did, " she said. "You--well, you don't look likea man who would know much about such things. And from what I've seenof you, goodness knows, you don't ACT like one! Perhaps I shouldn't saythat, " she added, hastily. "I didn't mean it just as it sounded. "

"Oh, that's all right, that's all right, Miss Phipps. I know I ama--ah--donkey in most matters. "

"You're a long way from bein' a donkey, Mr. Bangs. And I didn't sayyou were, of course. But--oh, well, never mind that. So you don't knowanything about stocks and investments and such?"

"No, I don't. I am awfully sorry. But--but, you see, all that sort ofthing is so very distasteful to me. It bores me--ah--dreadfully. And soI--I dodge it whenever I can. "

Martha sighed. "Some of the rest of us would like to dodge it, too, " shesaid, "if we only could. And yet--" she paused and regarded him with theodd expression she had worn more than once when he puzzled her--"and yetI--I just can't make you out, Mr. Bangs. You say you don't know anythingabout money and managin' money, and yet those Egypt trips of yours mustcost a lot of money. And somebody must manage them. SOMEBODY must 'tendto payin' the bills and the wages and all. Who does that?"

Galusha smiled. "Why, I do, " he admitted, "after a fashion. But it is avery poor fashion. I almost never--I think I may safely say never comein from one of those trips without having exceeded the--ah--estimate ofexpenses. I always exceed it more or less--generally more. "

He smiled again. She looked more puzzled than ever. 

"But some one has to pay the extra, don't they?" she asked. "Who doespay it, the museum people?"

"Why--ah--no, not exactly. It is--ah--ah--generally provided. But, " headded, rather hastily, as if afraid she might ask more questions alongthis line, "if I might make a suggestion, Miss Martha--Miss Phipps, Imean--"

"Plain Martha will do well enough. I think you're the only one inEast Wellmouth that calls me anything else. Of course you can make asuggestion. Go ahead. "

"Well--ah--well, Miss Phipps--ah--Miss Martha, since you permit me tocall you so. .. . What is it?"

"Oh, nothin', nothin'. I was goin' to say that the 'Miss' wasn'tnecessary, but never mind. Go on. "

"Well--ah--Mar--ah--Miss Martha, I was about to suggest that you tell mewhat you intended telling me. I am very anxious to help--ah--even if Ican't, you know. Only I beg of you not to think I am actuated by idlecuriosity. "

She shrugged her shoulders. 

"Even if you were I don't know that I shouldn't want to tell you, justthe same, " she observed. "The fact is I've just GOT to talk this overwith some one. Mr. Bangs, I am so worried I don't know what to do. It isa money matter, of course, that's worryin' me, an investment father madea little while before he died. Mr. Bangs, I don't suppose it's likelythat you ever heard of the Wellmouth Development Company? No, of courseyou haven't. "

And yet, as she looked into her lodger's face, she was surprised at itsexpression. 

"Why, you never have heard of it, have you?" she demanded. 

Galusha stroked his chin. "That day in the cemetery, " he murmured. "Thatday when I was--ah--behind the tomb and heard Captain Hallett and Mr. Pulcifer speaking. I may be mistaken, but it seems to me that theymentioned the name of--ah--ah--"

"The Development Company? Of course they did and you told me so when yougot home. I remember now. Well, Cap'n Jeth and Raish were both mixed upin it along with father. Yes, and Doctor Powers and a lot more, thoughnot so much. Raish, of course, was at the back of it in the beginnin'. He got 'em all in it, got himself into it, as far as that goes. You see, it was this way. "

She told the story of the Wellmouth Development Company. It--thestory--began when the Eagle Fish Freezing Company of Denboro, a concernthen running and operating one large cold storage plant in that village, were looking about for a favorable spot upon which to build a second. The spot which appealed to their mind to purchase was the property atthe mouth of Skoonic Creek in East Wellmouth. 

"It's a real pretty place, " said Martha, "one of the prettiest spotsalongshore, and the view from the top of the bluff there is justlovely. You can see miles and miles out to sea and all up and down theshore--and back over the village, for that matter. But, come to think ofit, you know the place, Mr. Bangs. It's only a little way from the oldBaptist buryin' ground. "

Galusha nodded. "Isn't it where my--ah--late lamented hat set sail?" heasked. 

"Why, of course it is. Just there. Well, the Eagle Fish folks made theirplans to buy all that property, the hills on both sides, and the lowland down by the creek. It was just the place for 'em, you see. And theywere quietly makin' arrangements to pick up the different parcels ofland from the owners here and there, when Raish Pulcifer got wind of it. There's precious little goin' on down this part of the Cape that Raishdoesn't get wind of, particularly if it's somebody else's secret. He'sgot a reg'lar pig's nose for rootin' up other people's private concerns. Well, Raish found out what the Eagle Company was up to and he startedbein' up to somethin' himself. "

Mr. Pulcifer, so Miss Phipps went on to say, conceived the idea ofbuying the Skoonic Creek property before the Eagle Company could do so. The principal difficulty was that just then his own limited capital wastied up in various ways and he lacked ready money. So, being obliged toborrow, he sought out Captain Hallett, got the shrewd old light keeper'scupidity aroused--not a very difficult task at any time--and CaptainJethro agreed to help finance the deal. 

"It didn't need a whole lot of real money, " explained Martha. "Mostfolks that owned that land had owned it for mercy knows how long and haddone nothin' but pay taxes on it, so they were glad enough to sell forsomethin' down to bind what Raish and Jethro called 'options. ' Anyhow, when the Eagle people finally started in to put their grand plan intoworkin', they bumped bows on into a shoal, at least that's the wayfather used to tell about it. They found that all that Skoonic Creekland was in the hands of Raish Pulcifer and Cap'n Jeth Hallett; thosetwo either owned it outright or had options where they didn't own. "

At first the Eagle Company declined to have anything to do with the newowners. They declared the whole affair off, so far as the SkoonicCreek location was concerned, and announced their intention of goingelsewhere. But there was no sufficiently attractive "elsewhere" to go. There followed much proposing and counter-proposing and, at last, anentirely new deal. A new corporation was formed, its name The WellmouthDevelopment Company. 

"I don't know a great deal about it, " confessed Martha, "that is, notabout the reasons for it and all, but, as near as I can make out, Raishand Jethro wouldn't sell outright to the Eagle Company, but wanted tocome in on the profits from the cold storage business, which werepretty big sometimes. And they couldn't get into the reg'lar Eagle FishFreezing Company, the old one. So they and the Eagle folks togetherundertook to form this new thing, the Development Company, the namemeanin' nothin' or a whole lot, 'cordin' to how the developmentdeveloped, I presume likely. The capital stock--I know all this becauseCap'n Jethro and father used to talk it over so much between 'em andCap'n Jeth and I have talked so much since--was fifty thousand. An awfullot of money, isn't it, Mr. Bangs?"

Her tone was awe-stricken as she mentioned the amount. Galusha gravelyadmitted that it was an "awful lot of money. " All sums were awful tohim; he would have agreed if the Wellmouth Development Company had beencapitalized from one thousand to a million. Miss Phipps went on. 

"They put out the stock somethin' like this: The Eagle folks took prettynear half, somewhere around twelve hundred shares, I think they had. And Raish he took five hundred shares, and Cap'n Jeth four hundred, andfather--after listenin' to Jethro and Raish talk about dividends andprofit sharin' and such till, as he said, the tar on his top riggin'began to melt, he drew out money from the savin's bank and sold someother bonds and stocks he had and went in for two hundred and fiftyshares. Twenty dollars a share it was; did I tell you that? Yes, fivethousand dollars father put into that Development Company. It seemedlike a lot even then; but, my soul and body, WHAT a lot it seems to menow!"

She paused for an instant, then sighed, and continued. 

"If you've figured this all out in your head, Mr. Bangs, " she said, "which I suppose you haven't--?"

Galusha, surprised by the direct question, started, colored, andguiltily admitted the correctness of her supposition. 

"I--I haven't, " he faltered. "Dear me, no. In fact I--ah--doubt if I amcapable of doing such a thing. "

"Well, never mind, you don't have to. What it amounted to was that theEagle folks had twelve hundred shares and Raish and Jeth and father hadeleven hundred and fifty together. You see, neither side would let theother have more'n half, or even quite half, because then whichever hadit could control things. So the remainin' one hundred and fifty shareswas sold around Wellmouth and Trumet. Doctor Powers has a few sharesand Eben Taylor's got some, and so have lots of folks, scattered aroundhere. You see, all hands were anxious to get in, it looked like a realgood investment. 

"'But, ' says father--right here in this very room I heard him say itone night--'it's that one hundred and fifty shares that worry me. Ifthe Eagle crowd ever COULD buy up those shares they would control, afterall, and freeze us out. Freezin' is their business, anyhow, ' he said, and laughed that big laugh of his. Seems as if I could hear him laughnow. Ah, hum!. .. But there, let's get under way again or you'll go tosleep before the ship makes port. I declare, that was father's word, too, I'm always quotin' him. .. . Let me see. .. . Oh, yes. .. . When fathersaid that about the one hundred and fifty shares controllin' Cap'nJethro looked at Raish and Raish looked at him. Then Raish laughed, too, only his laugh isn't much like father's. 

"'_I_ got those extra shares taken up, ' he said, 'and I was particularwho took 'em. There's mighty few of those shares will be sold unlessI say the word. Most of the folks that bought those shares are underconsider'ble obligation to me. ' Just what he meant by that I don't know, of course, but I can guess. Raish makes it a point to have peopleunder what he calls 'obligations' to him. It comes in handy for him, inpolitics and other ways, to have 'em that way. He lends money and holdsmortgages and all that, and that's where the obligations come in. .. . Well, anyhow, that's what he said and, although father didn't look anytoo happy at the time and wouldn't talk about it afterward, it seemedto settle the objection about the hundred and fifty shares. So the newcompany got under way, the stockholders paid their money in, old Cap'nEbenezer Thomas of Denboro was made president and Raish Pulcifer wasvice president and Judge Daniel Seaver of Wellmouth Centre was secretaryand treasurer. The Judge was Wellmouth Centre's biggest gun, rich--atleast, that's what everybody thought then--and pompous and dignified andstraight-backed as an old-fashioned church pew. 

"Well, I'm pretty near to the end, although it may not seem that way. For the first few months all hands were talkin' about what great thingsthe Wellmouth Development Company was goin' to do. Then Judge Seavergave 'em somethin' else to talk about. He shot himself one night, andthey found him dead and all alone in the sittin' room of his big house. And when they came to look over his papers and affairs they found that, instead of bein' rich, he hadn't a cent in the world. He had lost allhis own money gamblin' in stocks, and, not only that, but he'd lost allthat other folks had given him to take care of. He was treasurer of theEagle Fish Freezin' Company and he'd stolen there until that company hadto fail. And, bein' secretary and treasurer of the Wellmouth DevelopmentCompany, he had sent the fifty thousand its stockholders paid in afterthe rest of his stealin's. All there was left of that new DevelopmentCompany was the land over here by Skoonic Creek. He couldn't steal thatvery well, although, when you think of the stealin' he did do, it's awonder he hadn't tried to carry it off by the wheelbarrow load. 

"It isn't worth while my tellin' you all the hullabaloo that came afterthe smash. It would take too long and I don't know the ins and outs ofit, anyway. But the way it stands now is this: The Eagle Fish Freezin'Company is out of business. Their factory is run now by another concernaltogether. The Wellmouth Development Company is still alive--at leastit's supposed to be, but nobody but a doctor could tell it wasn'tdead. The Denboro Trust Company has the Eagle Company's twelve hundredshares--I don't know how it got 'em; a long snarled-up tangle of loans, and security for loans, and I don't know what--and the rest of us havegot ours. All that's back of those shares--all that the DevelopmentCompany owns--is that Skoonic Creek property and that is goin' to beworth a lot some day--maybe. But I guess likely the some day will be along, long time after MY day. There, Mr. Bangs, that's the story of theWellmouth Development Company. And I presume likely you're wonderin' whyI tell it to you. "

Galusha, who had been faithfully endeavoring to grasp the details ofhis hostess' narrative, passed a hand in bewildered fashion across hisforehead. He murmured that the story was--ah--very interesting, veryinteresting indeed--yes. Martha smiled faintly. 

"I'm glad you think so, " she said. "It is interestin' enough to some ofus here in Wellmouth, those of us who have our money tied up in it, butI shouldn't think a stranger would find much in it to amuse him. But, you see, Mr. Bangs, I didn't tell it to amuse you. I told itbecause--because--well, because, I--I wondered if in any way you knew, or could find out, how I could sell my two hundred and fifty shares. You see, I--I've GOT to sell 'em. At least, I've got to get more moneysomehow or--or give up this house. And I can't tell you what it wouldmean to me to do that. "

Galusha murmured something, something meant to be sympathetic. MissPhipps' evident distress and mental agitation moved him extraordinarily. He wanted to say many things, reassuring things, but he could not at themoment think of any. The best he could do was to stammer a hope that shewould not be obliged to sell the house. 

She shook her head. "I'm afraid I shall, " she said. "I don't see howI can possibly keep it much longer. When father died he left me, so hethought, with enough income to get along on. It wasn't much--fact is, itwas mighty little--but we could and did get along on it, Primmie andI, without touchin' my principal. But then came the war and ever sincelivin' costs have been goin' up and up and up. Now my income is the sameas it was, but what it will buy is less than half. It doesn't cost muchto live down here, but I'm afraid it costs more than I can afford. If Ibegin to take away from my principal I'll have to keep on doin' it andpretty soon that will be all gone. After that--well, I don't want tolook any further than that. I shouldn't starve, I presume likely; whileI've got hands I can work and I'd manage to keep alive, if that was all. But it isn't all. I'd like to keep on livin' in my own home. And I can'tdo that, Mr. Bangs. I can't do that, as things are now. I must eitherget some more money somehow, or sell this house, one or the other. "

Galusha leaned eagerly forward. He had been waiting for an excuse andnow he believed he saw one. 

"Oh, Miss Phipps, " he cried, "I--I think I can arrange that. I doindeed. You see, I have--ah--more money than I need. I seldom spend mymoney, you know, and--"

She interrupted him and her tone was rather sharp. 

"Don't, Mr. Bangs, " she said. "Don't say any more. If you've got theidea that I'm hintin' for you to LEND me money--you or anybody else--younever was more mistaken in your life. Or ever will be. "

Galusha turned red. "I beg your pardon, " he faltered. "Of course I knowyou were not hinting, Miss Martha. I--I didn't dream of such a thing. Itwas merely a thought of my own. You see, it would be such a favor to meif you would permit me to--to--"

"Don't. "

"But, Miss Phipps, it would be doing me such a GREAT favor. Really, itwould. "

He was so very much in earnest that, in spite of her own stress of mind, she could not help smiling. 

"A great favor to help you get rid of your money?" she asked. "Youhavin' such a tremendous lot of it, I presume likely. "

"Yes--ah--yes, that's it, that's it. "

Her smile broadened. "And 'twas because you were so dreadfully rich thatyou came here to East Wellmouth to live, I suppose. Mr. Bangs, you'rethe kindest, best-hearted man that ever stepped, I do believe, but trulyI doubt if you know whether you're worth ten dollars or ten hundred. And it doesn't make the least difference, so far as I am concerned. I'llnever borrow money while I'm alive and I'll try to keep enough one sideto bury me after I'm dead. So don't say any more about lendin'. That'ssettled. "

Galusha reluctantly realized that it was. He tried a new idea. 

"I fear, " he stammered, "that my being here may have been a contributorycause to your--ah--difficulties. Dear me, yes! I have realized since thebeginning that the amount I pay you is ridiculously small. "

"WHAT? The board you pay SMALL? Rubbish! You pay me altogether too muchand what I give you to eat isn't worth half of it. But there, I didn'tmean to go into all this at all. What I told you all this long rigmarolefor was to see if you could think of any way for me to turn thoseDevelopment Company shares of mine into money. Not what father paidfor them, of course, or even half of it. But SOME money at least. If Ithought they weren't worth anything I shouldn't think of tryin' to sell'em. I don't want to cheat--or steal. But they tell me they are worthsomethin', maybe will be worth quite a good deal some day and I mustwait, that's all. But, you see, that's what I can't do--wait. "

She had been, she said, to every one she could think of, to Pulcifer, who would not give her any encouragement, declaring that he was "stuck"worse than she was and was only hoping some one might make a bid for hisholdings; to Captain Jethro, who, relying as usual upon his revelationsfrom the beyond, blandly told her to wait as he was waiting. It had beencommunicated to him that he was to sell his own shares at a profit; ifshe waited she might do likewise. The president of the Denboro TrustCompany had been very kind, but his counsel was not too encouraging. The Development shares were nonsalable at the present time, he said, butthat did not mean that they were valueless. The Skoonic Creek propertywas good. Shore land on the Cape was becoming more valuable every year. Some time--perhaps ten years from now--she might--

"And where will I be in ten years?" asked Martha, sadly. "Goodnessknows, Mr. Bangs, I don't. I tried to get the Trust Company man to takemy shares at almost any price and do the waitin' for me, but he didn'tsee it that way. Said the bank was goin' to hold on to what it had, butit certainly didn't want any more. So there I am. .. . And yet, and yet ifI COULD sell--if I COULD get two thousand dollars, yes, or even fifteenhundred just now, it might tide me over until the cost of livin' comesdown. And everybody says they ARE comin' down. Mr. Bangs, can you seeany way out for me? Can you think of any one who would know about--Oh, my soul and body! Look OUT!"

She sprang to her feet with a little scream. Her lodger's rocking-chair, with its occupant, had suddenly tilted over backward. Fortunately hisproximity to the wall had prevented a complete overturn, but there satGalusha, the back of the chair against the wall and his knees elevatedat a very acute angle. The alarming part of it was that he made noeffort to regain his equilibrium, but remained in the unusual, not tosay undignified, posture. 

"What IS the matter?" demanded Miss Phipps, seizing him by the arm andpulling him forward. "What was it? What happened?"

Galusha's face was beaming. His eyes shone with excitement. 

"It--it struck me at that moment, " he cried. "At that very moment. "

"Struck you?" Miss Phipps looked about the room. "What struck you?Where? Are you hurt?"

Mr. Bangs' beaming smile broadened. 

"I mean the idea struck me, " he declared. "Dear me, how odd that itdidn't do so before. Yes, he is exactly the right person. Exactly. Oh, dear me, this is VERY good!"

Martha said afterward that she never in her life felt more like shakinga person. 

"What do you mean?" she demanded. "What was it that struck you?"

"Why, Cousin Gussie, " announced Galusha, happily. "Don't you see? Hewill be EXACTLY the one. "

CHAPTER X

When, at last--and it took some time--Martha Phipps was actuallyconvinced that her lodger's "Cousin Gussie" was no less a person thanthe senior partner of the famous banking firm of Cabot, Bancroft andCabot, she was almost as excited as he. 

"Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot, " she repeated. "Why, everybody knows aboutthem! They are the biggest bankers in New England. I have heard fathersay so ever so many times. And this Mr. Cabot, is he really yourcousin?"

Galusha nodded. "Oh, yes, " he said. "He is my cousin--really he is. Ihave always called him Cousin Gussie; that is, " he added, "except when Iworked for him, of course. Then he didn't like to have me. "

"Worked for him?"

"Yes, in his office, in the--ah--banking house, you know. "

"Do you mean to say you used to work for Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot? Wereyou a banker?"

Galusha shook his head. "No, " he said. "Dear me, no! But once I tried tobe. "

"Oh! And you gave it up?"

"_I_ was given up--as a bad job. If you don't mind, " he added, apologetically, "I'd rather not talk about that. I've gotten over ita long while ago, or I thought I had, but for a time I--I felt verybadly--ah--ungrateful, you know. "

Martha didn't know, nor did she in the least understand, but she didnot, of course, press the subject. 

"Why, I can hardly believe it, " she said. "That about your bein' thatMr. Cabot's cousin, I mean. But of course I do believe it, if you sayso, Mr. Bangs. And you think he would tell me what to do with thisDevelopment stock of mine, whether it is worth anything or not? He wouldknow, if anybody did, that's a fact. "

Galusha nodded assent. 

"He knows all about everything, " he declared; "everything of that kind, I mean. He is used to making all sorts of--ah--investments for people, and taking care of their money, and all that sort of thing. Why, " headded, as a final clincher, "he takes care of all my money, really, hedoes. "

Miss Phipps laughed. 

"And that I suppose is enough to keep one man busy, " she observed. 

Galusha was too much in earnest to notice the sarcasm. 

"I'm sure it must be, " he said. "I never could do it myself. "

"I can believe that without any trouble. Now what is your idea, Mr. Bangs; to write to your cousin, tell him everything I've told you, andthen ask his advice? Is that it?"

That was not exactly it, apparently. Galusha thought that perhaps hemight go to Boston forthwith, on the very next train, and consult CousinGussie in person. But Martha did not think this advisable. 

"I certainly shouldn't put you to all that trouble, " she said. "No, I shouldn't, so please don't let's waste time arguin' about it. And, besides, I think a letter would be a great deal better. "

Galusha said that a letter was so slow. 

"Maybe so, but it is sure. Truly now, Mr. Bangs, do you believe if youwent to your cousin that you could tell him this Development Companyyarn without gettin' it all tangled up? I doubt if you could. "

He reflected for a moment, and then ruefully shook his head. 

"I'm afraid you are right, " he admitted. "I presume I could learnit--ah--by rote, perhaps, but I doubt if ever I could understand itthoroughly. "

"Well, never mind. My plan would be to have you write your cousin aletter givin' him all the particulars. I'll help you write the letter, if you'll let me. And we'll ask him to write right back and tell us twothings: Number One--Is the Development stock worth anything, and what?Number Two--If it is worth anything, can he sell it for that? What doyou think of that idea?"

Naturally, Galusha thought it a wonderful idea. He was very enthusiasticabout it. 

"Why, Miss Phipps--Miss Martha, I mean, " he declared, "I really thinkwe--ah--may consider your troubles almost at an end. I shouldn't bein the least surprised if Cousin Gussie bought that stock of yourshimself. "

Martha smiled, faintly. "I should, " she said, "be very much surprised. But perhaps he may know some one who will buy it at some price orother. And, no matter whether they do or not, I am ever and ever so muchobliged to you, Mr. Bangs, for all your patience and sympathy. "

And, in spite of her professed pessimism she could not help feeling abit more hopeful, even sharing a bit of her lodger's confidence. And sowhen Primmie, in tears, came again that afternoon to beg to be retainedin service, Martha consented to try to maintain the present arrangementfor a few weeks more, at least. 

"Although the dear land knows I shouldn't, Primmie, " she said. "It'sjust postponin' what is almost sure to come, and that isn't right foreither of us. "

Primmie's grin extended from ear to ear. 

"You bet you it's right for one of us, Miss Martha, " she declared. "And you ain't the one, neither. My Lord of Isrul, if I don't feel somebetter'n I did when I come into this room! Whew! My savin' soul! ZachBloomer he says to me this mornin'. 'What's the matter, Posy?' he says. 'Seems to me you look sort of wilted lately. You better brace up, ' hesays, 'or folks'll be callin' you a faded flower. ' 'Well, ' says I, 'Imay be faded, but there's one old p'ison ivy around here that's freshenough to make up. ' Oh, I squashed HIM all righty, but I never took nocomfort out of doin' it. I ain't took no comfort for the last two, threedays. But now--Whew!"

The letter to Cousin Gussie was written that very afternoon. Mr. Bangswrote it, with helpful suggestions, many of them, from Miss Phipps. AtMartha's suggestion the envelope was marked "Personal. "

"I suppose it is foolish of me, " she said, "but somehow I hate to havemy affairs talked all over that office. Even when I was a little girl, and things went wrong in school, I used to save up my cryin' until I gothome. I'm the same now. This Development Company milk is spilled, and, whether any of it can be saved or not, there is no use callin' a crowdto look at the puddle. If your cousin thinks it's necessary to tellother Boston folks, I presume he will, but WE won't tell anybody buthim. "

Galusha hoped to receive an answer the following day, but none came. Nordid it come the next day, nor the next. That week passed and no replycame from Cousin Gussie. Galusha began to worry a little, but MissPhipps did not. 

"Perhaps he's away for a day or two, sick or somethin', " she suggested. "Perhaps he's lookin' up some facts about the Development Company. Perhaps he hasn't had time to read the letter at all yet. Mercy me, youmustn't expect as busy a man as the head of Cabot, Bancroft and Cabotto drop everything else and run around in circles attendin' to my littletwo-for-a-cent business!"

The relative of the great man admitted that there was reason in thisline of argument, but he was impatient, nevertheless. His daily walksnow included trips to the post office. On one of those trips he caught aglimpse of Mr. Pulcifer's hemispherical countenance through its wearer'soffice window, and, on the spur of the moment's impulse, went in. 

Horatio, who was smoking his customary cigar, reading a politicalcircular and humming "Beautiful Lady" all at the same time, looked upfrom the reading and greeted him boisterously. 

"Well, well, well!" exclaimed Raish. "If it ain't the Perfessoragain! Welcome to amongst our midst, as the feller said. Have a chair, Perfessor. How's things in the graveyard these days? Kind of dead aroundthere, eh? Haw, haw, haw!"

He enjoyed his joke and laugh and Galusha smiled because he felt thatpoliteness required it. When the laugh and smile had run their course, he endeavored to come to the point. 

"Mr. Pulcifer, " he said, "I--if you are not too greatly occupied Ishould like to ask--ah--a business question. Ah--may I?"

He most assuredly could. In fact, he was urged to ask it then and there. 

"Never too busy to talk business, a feller usually ain't; eh, Perfessor?Haw, haw! I'd say he wan't, eh? Set down, set down and ease your mind. What's the business question? Let 'er go. "

Mr. Bangs let her go to the extent of stammering a request to be givenhis companion's candid opinion concerning the shares of the WellmouthDevelopment Company. He was--ah--somewhat interested in them, so hesaid. 

Raish leaned back in his chair and scrutinized the questioner. He shotat least five deep-drawn puffs of smoke into the already murky air ofthe little office before replying. 

"Humph!" he grunted, after the fifth puff. "Wellmouth DevelopmentCompany, eh? You're interested in that, are you?"

"Why--ah--yes, yes. To a certain extent, yes, Mr. Pulcifer. "

"Humph! What d'you mean, interested? How interested?"

"Why, as--ah--as an investment, you know. As something to put one'smoney into. "

"Humph! Was you thinkin' of puttin' some of yours into it?"

"Why, not exactly. But, you see, a friend of mine--But, really, I thinkI shouldn't give any further particulars at the present time. You'llexcuse me under the circumstances, Mr. Pulcifer, I'm sure. Dear me, Ihope you will. "

He was forgiven. Mr. Pulcifer assured him to that effect. But Raishwas still uncertain just how to proceed. He continued to puff andscrutinize. 

"What I wish to know, " continued his caller, after another moment'sinterval, "is--well, in short, I should like to know your opinion ofWellmouth Development shares as an investment security. "

"Um--ye-es. Well, you said that before. "

"Did I? Dear me, I believe I did. Well, then, suppose, just suppose thatI actually did wish to buy some of those shares. Would you consider it agood thing for me to do?"

Here at last was something tangible--and promising. Mr. Pulcifer's puffylids drew nearer together to hide the gleam behind them. He took thecigar from his mouth and held it between the fingers of his right hand. During his next speech he gesticulated with it. 

"Would I consid--" he began, and then paused, apparently overcome by hisfeelings. The pause was not long, however. "Would I consider WellmouthDevelopment a good thing for you to put your money in? WOULD I?"

"Ah--yes. Would you?"

"Say, Perfessor, you listen to me. _I_ know all about WellmouthDevelopment. You've come to the right place. You listen. "

Galusha listened, listened for a long time. The red of the Pulcifercigar tip died out and that of the Pulcifer face brightened. 

"And so I say, " vowed Raish, in conclusion, "with all that propertybehind it and all that future ahead of it, if Development ain't a goodinvestment, what is?"

"I don't know, I'm sure, " confessed Galusha. "But--"

"Don't know? You bet you don't know! Nor nobody else. Not for quickreturns, maybe--though you can't never tell. But for a feller that'swillin' to buy and put away and hang on--say, how can you beat it?"

"I don't know, but--"

"You bet you don't know! The main thing is to buy right. And I'm goin'to put you wise--yes, sir, wise to somethin' I wouldn't let every Tom, Dick, and Harry in on, by a consider'ble sight. I think I can locate afair-sized block of that stock at--well, at a little bit underneath themarket price. I believe--yes, sir, I believe I can get it for you at--atas low as eighteen dollars a share. I won't swear I can, of course, butI MAY be able to. Only you'll have to promise not to tell anybody howyou got it. "

"Eighteen dollars a share? Is that a fair price, do you think, Mr. Pulcifer?"

"FAIR price?" Mr. Pulcifer was overcome by the absurdity of thequestion. "A fair price!" he repeated. "Man alive, it's a darned LOWprice! You buy Wellmouth Development at that price and then set back andhang on. Yes, sir, that's all you'll have to do, just hang on and wait. "

To his surprise, Mr. Bangs seemed to find something humorous in thissuggestion. Instead of appearing thrilled, as he certainly should, hesmiled. 

"Ah--yes, " he observed, quietly. "That is what my friend has been doing, I believe. Yes, indeed, just that. "

Raish did not smile. He looked puzzled and a bit perturbed. 

"What friend?" he demanded. "Been doin' what?"

"Hanging on and waiting, as you advise, Mr. Pulcifer. She hashad--ah--several shares of the Development stock and she--"

"Hold on! Did you come here to SELL somebody's stock for 'em?"

"Why, no, not exactly. But, as I say, a friend of mine has some and shewas anxious to know what it was worth at the present time. When I tellher that you will give eighteen dollars a share for it--"

"Here!" Raish's smile and his urbanity had vanished. "Here, " hedemanded, "what are you talkin' about? Who the devil said anything aboutmy givin' eighteen dollars a share?"

"Why, I understood you to say that the--ah--shares were cheap at thatfigure, that it was a very low price for them. You did say that, didn'tyou?"

Mr. Pulcifer seemed to find articulation difficult. He blew andsputtered like a stranded porpoise and his face became redder than ever, but he did not answer the question. 

"I understood--" began Galusha, again, but a roar interrupted him. 

"Aw, you understand too darn much, " shouted Raish. "You go back and tellMartha Phipps I say I don't know what them shares of hers are worthand I don't care. You tell her I don't want to buy 'em and I don't knowanybody that does. Yes, and you tell her that if I did know anybody thatwas fool enough to bid one dollar of real money for 'em I'd sell himmine and be darn glad of the chance. And say, you tell her not to botherme no more. She took her chance same as the rest of us, and if she don'tlike it she can go--Eh? What is it?"

His caller had risen, rather suddenly for him, and was standing besidethe desk. There was a peculiar expression on his thin face. 

"What's the matter?" demanded Mr. Pulcifer. Galusha's gaze was verydirect. 

"I wouldn't say that, " he said, quietly. 

"Eh? Say what? I was just goin' to say that if Martha Phipps didn't likewaitin' same as the rest of us she--"

"Yes, yes, " hastily, "I know. But I shouldn't say it, if I were you. "

"You wouldn't. Why not, for thunder sakes?"

"Because--well, I am sure you were speaking hastily--without thinking. "

"Is that so? How do YOU know I wasn't thinkin'?"

"Because I am sure no one who had stopped to think would send that sortof message to a lady. "

"Humph!. .. Well, I swear!. .. Wouldn't send--I want to know!"

"Yes--ah--and now you do know. Good-day, Mr. Pulcifer. "

He was at the door when the surprised and, to tell the truth, somewhatdisconcerted Horatio called after him. 

"Here! Hold on, Perfessor, " he hailed; "don't go off mad. I didn't meannothin'. Er--er--say, Perfessor, I don't know's there's any use in yourtellin' Martha what I said about them Development shares bein' cheapat eighteen. Of course, that was all--er--more or less of a joke, youunderstand, and--Eh? What say?"

"I said I understood, Mr. Pulcifer. "

"Yes--er--yes, yes. Glad you do; I thought you would. Now I tell youwhat to do: You tell Martha. .. You tell her. .. Say, what ARE you goin'to tell her?"

"Nothing. Good-day, Mr. Pulcifer. "

Galusha did not tell Martha of the interview in the real estate dealer'soffice, but the recollection of it did not tend to make him more easyin his mind concerning her investment in Wellmouth Development Company. And, as another week went by and still Cousin Gussie did not reply tothe letter of inquiry, his uneasiness grew with his impatience. Anotherand more practical person would have called the Boston bankers bytelephone, but Galusha did not think of that. Martha offered nosuggestions; her advice was to wait. 

"I don't think we ought to hurry your cousin, Mr. Bangs, " she said. "He's probably lookin' into things, and he'll write when the timecomes. "

Galusha devoutly wished the time would come soon. He somewhat felt agreat responsibility in the matter. This sense of responsibility causedhim to assume more and more optimism as his nervousness increased. Eachday of waiting found him covering his disappointment and anxiety with amore cheerful prophecy. 

"I've been thinking, Miss Martha, " he said, "that Cousin Gussie must beMOST interested in the--ah--Development Company. I really believe thathe may be considering going into it himself--ah--extensively, so tospeak. The more he delays replying to our letter, the more certain I amthat this is the case. You see, it is quite logical. Dear me, yes. If hewere not interested at all he would have replied at once, any one would. And if only a little interested, he would have replied--say, at the endof a week. But now he has taken almost three weeks, so--so--well, _I_think we may infer GREAT interest, personal interest on his part. Now, don't you think so, Miss Martha?"

Martha shrugged. "Accordin' to that reasonin, " she said, "if he neveranswers at all it'll be because he's interested to death. Well, itbegins to look as if that might be it. There, there, Mr. Bangs, Imustn't talk that way, must I? We won't give up the ship as long's thepumps work, as father used to say. "

It was the first symptom of discouragement she had shown. The nextmorning Galusha crept downstairs before daylight, left a note on thedining table saying he would be back next day, and started on his longtramp to the railway station. At noon of that day he entered the Bostonoffice of Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot. 

Disappointment met him at the threshold, so to speak. The young, extremely young, gentleman at the desk by the door, informed him thatMr. Augustus Cabot was not in. Pressed still further, he admitted thathe would not be in that day. No, he would not be in that week. No, hewas not in Boston. Where was he? Well, he had gone away and the date ofhis return was extremely uncertain. 

Galusha, his spirits at a low ebb, stroked his chin in sad perplexity. 

"Dear me! Dear me!" he observed. And then added:

"Is--is anybody in?"

Considering that the space behind the mahogany and brass railings wascrowded with clerks and that from the various inner offices peoplewere constantly coming and going, the question was peculiar. The youngguardian of the portal seemed to find it so. He regarded Mr. Bangswith the puzzled stare of one not certain whether he has to do with awould-be joker or an imbecile. 

"Say, who do you want to see?" he demanded. 

"Why, Mr. Cabot--Mr. Augustus Cabot. "

"Mr. Cabot's away, I tell you. He's out of town. "

A tall, thin man of middle age, who had just emerged from one of theprivate offices, paused beside them. He looked at Galusha through hiseyeglasses, and then held out his hand. 

"Why, Bangs!" he exclaimed. "It IS Bangs, isn't it? Glad to see you. Don't you know me? I'm Minor. How are you?"

Galusha remembered him, of course. Minor had been a young assistantbookkeeper in those far-off and dismal days when he, Galusha, hadworked--or attempted to work--in that very office. That was--mercy, thatwas a great many years ago! Minor had changed very much. 

They shook hands and Galusha was invited to come into Mr. Minor'sprivate office. 

"Let me see, " said the latter, "you are--you are--What is your businessnow? I did hear, but I've forgotten. "

Galusha told of his connection with the National Institute. 

"I do--ah--archaeological work, " he added. "Egyptology is my specialty. "

Minor nodded. "Yes, yes, " he said, doubtfully. "Just so. "

Plainly he regarded it as a weird sort of business. 

"And you are still a--ah--banker?" queried Galusha. 

"Yes. Very much so. I'm second vice president here now. "

"Dear me! dear me! You have been in this place ever since? Well, well!"

A pause, during which each regarded the other, trying not to show thepity they felt. Then Minor asked if there was anything he could do forhis former associate. Galusha explained that he had come to town tosee his cousin, Mr. Augustus Cabot, on a business matter. Mr. Minor wassurprised, momentarily. 

"That's so, " he said, "he is a relative of yours, isn't he? I hadforgotten. "

"Yes, yes, he is. He--ah--you see, he looks after things forme--investments and--all that. "

"Humph! Well, if you wanted to see him personally, you're out of luck. He is away out in the Sierras, somewhere. Been there for a month and hewon't come back till the doctors tell him he may. Goodness knows whenthat will be. "

Cousin Gussie had, it appeared, suffered a severe nervous breakdown. The physicians had ordered immediate dropping of business and businesscares. 

"He must drop everything, they said, and cut, if he wanted to head offsomething a good deal more serious. He must get out of doors and staythere; go to bed early at night--instead of early in the morning, whichhad been more in his line--and rough it generally. "

"Why--yes, yes, indeed. That was almost precisely what the doctors toldme I must do. Rest and--ah--good air, you know, and pleasant people. _I_was very fortunate, really. I am at--ah--Gould's Bluffs, Cape Cod, youknow. "

"Yes? Well, he's away out in California or Nevada or thereabouts. Hissecretary is with him--Thomas, the fellow he's had so many years; youremember him. Thomas has gone along to see that the chief--Mr. Cabot, I mean--doesn't get any business letters or wires or anything of thatsort. He looks out for those that do come, the personal matters. "

"Oh! Then perhaps my letter has been forwarded out there. That wouldexplain why I have received no answer. Yes, of course. "

"Sure! Thomas will write you by and by, no doubt. But now that you arehere, why don't you see Barbour? Barbour is in charge of the chief'soutside affairs while Thomas is away. That is, he is in charge ofeverything that can be handled here. The most important stuff goes toThomas, of course. But come in and see Barbour. Perhaps he can tell youwhat you want to know. "

Mr. Barbour was a bald-headed, worried-looking little man, who, in theseclusion of a rear office, sat behind a big desk. Minor introducedGalusha and Mr. Barbour extended a moist and flabby hand. Minor excusedhimself and hastened out to the really important matters of life. Galusha told Barbour the story of his letter to Cousin Gussie. He didnot tell what was in the letter, further than to say that it was aninquiry concerning a certain investment security. 

Barbour shook his head. 

"Everything marked 'Personal' I forward to Thomas, " he said. "He'llwrite you pretty soon, although I'm pretty sure he won't trouble thechief with your question. Doctors are mighty strict about that. Nothingwe here can do to help, is there? Perhaps Mr. Minor might answer yourquestion. "

Galusha was thinking of Minor that very moment, but he shook his head. Martha had asked that no one but Cousin Gussie be told of her trouble. No, he would wait, at least until he heard from the secretary in theWest. 

"Why, thank you, Mr. Barbour, " he said, rising. "I--I will wait, Ithink. "

"All right, sir. Sorry, but you see how it is. Drop in again, Mr. --er--Barnes. Barnes was the name, wasn't it?"

"Why, not exactly. My name is Bangs, but it really doesn't matter inthe least. Dear me, no. I am a relative of Mr. Cabot's. But that doesn'tmatter either. Good-morning, Mr. Barbour. "

But it did seem to matter, after all. At any rate, Mr. Barbour for thefirst time appeared actually interested. 

"Eh?" he exclaimed. "Bangs? Oh, just a minute, Mr. Bangs. Just a minute, if you please. Bangs? Why, are you--You're not the--er--professor?Professor Ga--Ga--"

"Galusha. Yes, I am Galusha Bangs. "

"You don't mean it! Well, well, that's odd! I was planning to write youto-day, Professor. Let me see, here's the memorandum now. We look afteryour business affairs, I believe, Professor?"

Galusha nodded. He was anxious to get away. The significance of CousinGussie's illness and absence and what those might mean to Martha Phippswere beginning to dawn upon him. He wanted to get away and think. Thevery last thing he wished to do was to discuss his own business affairs. 

"Yes, " he admitted; "yes, you--ah--do. That is, Cousin Gussie--ah--Mr. Cabot does. But, really, I--"

"I won't keep you but a moment, Professor. And what I'm going to tellyou is good news, at that. I presume it IS news; or have you heard ofthe Tinplate melon?"

It was quite evident that Galusha had not heard. Nor, hearing now, didthe news convey anything to his mind. 

"Melon?" he repeated. "Ah--melon, did you say?"

"Why, yes. The Tinplate people are--"

It was a rather long story, and telling it took longer than the minuteMr. Barbour had requested. To Galusha it was all a tangled and mostuninteresting snarl of figures and stock quotations and references to"preferred" and "common" and "new issues" and "rights. " He gatheredthat, somehow or other, he was to have more money, money which wascoming to him because the "Tinplate crowd, " whoever they were, were todo something or other that people like Barbour called "cutting a melon. "

"You understand, Professor?" asked Mr. Barbour, concluding hisexplanation. 

Galusha was at that moment endeavoring to fabricate a story of his own, one which he might tell Miss Phipps. It must not be too discouraging, itmust--

"Eh?" he ejaculated, coming out of his daydream. "Oh, yes--yes, ofcourse. "

"As near as I can figure, your share will be well over twelve thousand. A pretty nice little windfall, I should say. Now what shall I do withit?"

"Yes. .. . Oh, I beg your pardon. Dear me, I am afraid I was not attendingas I should. "

"I say what shall I do with the check when it comes. That was what Iintended writing you to ask. Do you wish me to reinvest the money, orshall I send the check to you?"

"Yes--ah--yes. If you will be so kind. You will excuse me, won't you, but really I must hurry on. Thank you very much, Mr. Barbour. "

"But I don't quite understand which you wish me to do, Professor. Ofcourse, Thomas usually attends to all this--your affairs, I mean--but Iam trying not to trouble him unless it is absolutely necessary. Shall Isend the check direct to you, is that it?"

"Yes--yes, that will do very nicely. Thank you, Mr. Barbour. Good-morning. "

He hurried out before Barbour could say any more. He cared nothing aboutTinplate melons or checks; in fact, he forgot them both almost beforehe reached the street. But Martha Phipps--he had assured and reassuredMartha Phipps that Cousin Gussie would help her out of her financialdifficulties. And Cousin Gussie had not as yet learned of thosedifficulties, nor, in all probability, would he be permitted ever tolearn of them. 

Galusha Bangs' trip back to East Wellmouth was by no means a pleasureexcursion. What should he say to Martha? How could he be truthful andyet continue to be encouraging? If he had not been so unreasonablyoptimistic it would be easier, but he had never once admitted thepossibility of failure. And--no, he would not admit it now. Somehow andin some way Martha's cares must be smoothed away. That he determined. But what should he say to her now?

He was still asking himself that question when he turned in at thePhipps' gate. And Fate so arranged matters that it was Primmie who heardthe gate latch click and Primmie who came flying down the path to meethim. 

"Mr. Bangs! Oh, Mr. Bangs!" she cried, breathlessly. "It's all right, ain't it? It's all right?"

Galusha, startled, stared at her. 

"Dear me, Primmie, " he observed. "How you do--ah--bounce at one, so tospeak. What is the matter?"

"Matter? I cal'late we both know what's the matter, but what _I_ want toknow is if it's goin' to keep ON bein' the matter. Is it all right? Haveyou fixed it up?"

"Fixed what up? And PLEASE speak lower. Yes, and don't--ah--bounce, ifyou don't mind. "

"I won't, honest I won't. But have you fixed up Miss Martha's trouble;you and them Bancroft folks, I mean? Have you, Mr. Bangs?"

"Bancroft folks?. .. How did you know I--"

"I seen it, of course. 'Twas in that note you left on the table. "

"Note? Why, Primmie, that note was for Miss Phipps. Why did you readit?"

"Why wouldn't I read it? There 'twas laid out on the table when I camedown to poke up the fire and set the kettle on. There wasn't no name onit, so 'twan't till I'd read it clear through that I knew 'twas for MissMartha. It said: 'Have gone to Boston to see--er--what's-his-name andSomebody-else and--' Never mind, Bancroft's all I remember, anyhow. Butit said you'd gone to them folks to see about 'stock matter. ' Well, thenI knew 'twas for Miss Martha. _I_ didn't have no stock matters for folksto see about. My savin' soul, no! And then you said, 'Hope to settleeverything and have good news when I come back. ' I remember THAT allright. .. . Oh, Mr. Bangs, have you settled it? HAVE you got good news forher?"

By this time she had forgotten all about the request to speak in a lowtone. Galusha glanced fearfully at the open door behind her. 

"Sshh! shh, Primmie, " he begged. 

"But have you? Have you, Mr. Bangs?"

"Why--why, perhaps, Primmie. I mean--that is to say--"

He stopped. Miss Phipps was standing in the doorway. 

"Why, Mr. Bangs!" she exclaimed. "Are you here so soon? I didn't expectyou till to-night. What are you standin' out there in the cold for? Comein, come in!"

And then Primmie, to make use of the expressive idiom of her friend, thedriver of the grocery cart, Primmie "spilled the beans. " She turned, sawher mistress, and ran toward her, waving both hands. 

"Oh, Miss Martha!" she cried, "he--he's done it. He says it's all right. He does! he does!"

"Primmie!"

"He says he's been to them--them Bancroft what's-his-name folks and he'sgot the good news for you. Oh, ain't it elegant! Ain't it!"

This wild perversion of his guarded statement took Galusha completelyby surprise. He started forward aghast. And then he saw Martha Phipps'face. Upon it were written such hope and relief and joy that the wordsof expostulation and protest remained unspoken. And it was Martha whospoke first. 

"Oh, Mr. Bangs!" she gasped. "Oh, Mr. Bangs!"

Galusha's chin quivered. His face became very red. 

"Why--why--why, Miss Martha, I--I--"

His agitation caused his teeth actually to chatter. Martha noticed thechatter and misinterpreted the cause. 

"Mercy me!" she cried. "You're standin' out there and freezin' to death. Of course you are. Come right in! Primmie, open those stove dampers. Put the kettle on front where it will boil quick. .. . No, Mr. Bangs, youmustn't tell me a word until you're warm and rested. You would like togo to your room, wouldn't you? Certainly you would. Primmie will bringyou hot water as soon as it's ready. No, don't try to tell me a worduntil after you are rested and washed up. "

It was a welcome suggestion, not because Galusha was so eager to "washup, " but because he was eager, very eager, to be alone where no onecould ask more embarrassing questions. Yet the last thing he saw as heclosed his room door was the expression upon Miss Phipps' face. Hope, relief, happiness! And what he had to tell would change them all. 

Oh, if he had not been so foolishly optimistic! What should he say? Ifhe told the exact truth--the whole truth--

But there, what was the whole truth? After all, he did not KNOW thatnothing would come of his letter to Cousin Gussie. Something mightcome of it. Yes, even something very good might come. If Cousin Gussiehimself never saw the letter, Thomas, the secretary, would see it andvery likely he would write encouragingly. He might--it was quitelikely that he would--give the names of other Boston financiers to whomWellmouth Development might be of interest. In this case, or eventhe probability of such a case, he, Galusha, would certainly not bejustified in making his story too discouraging. 

When, at last, he did descend to the sitting room, where Miss Phipps wasawaiting him, the tale he told her bore very little resemblance to thehopeless, despairful narrative he had, while on the way down in thetrain, considered inevitable and the telling of which he had so dreaded. In fact, when it was finished Martha's expression had changed butlittle. She still looked happy. 

She drew a long breath. "Well!" she exclaimed, "I can hardly believe it;it seems almost too good to believe. And so that secretary man told youthat he felt sure that your cousin, or his other secretary--how manysecretaries does one man have to have, for mercy sakes?--would attend tothe Development thing and it would be all right if we would just wait alittle longer? Was that it?"

Galusha, who, in his intense desire not to be discouraging, had notuntil now realized how far he had gone in the other direction, blinkedand wiped his forehead with his handkerchief. 

"That was it, wasn't it?" repeated Martha. 

"Why--why--ah--yes, about that, as--ah--one might say. Yes. "

It was the first lie Galusha Bangs had told for many, many years, one ofthe very few he had ever told. It was a very white lie and not told withdeliberation or malice aforethought. But, as so often happens, it wasdestined to be the father of a pestilential pack which were neitherwhite nor unintentional. 

CHAPTER XI

About the Phipps' home hung now the atmosphere of expectancy. It had sohung for several weeks, ever since the first letter to Cousin Gussie hadbeen posted, but now there was in it a different quality, a qualityof brightness, of cheer. Martha seemed more like herself, the capable, adequate self which Galusha had met when he staggered into that houseout of the rain and wind of his first October night on Cape Cod. She wasmore talkative, laughed more frequently, and bustled about her work withmuch, if not all, of her former energy. She, herself, was quite awareof the change and commented upon it rather apologetically in one of hertalks with her lodger. 

"It's ridiculous, " she said, "and I know it, but I can't help it. I'mas excited as a child and almost as sure everything is goin' to come outright as--well, as Primmie is. I wasn't so at all in the beginnin'; whenwe first sent that letter to your cousin I didn't think there was muchmore than one chance in a thousand that he would take any interest inWellmouth Development stock. But since you got back from your Bostoncruise, Mr. Bangs, I've felt altogether different. What the Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot folks said wasn't any too definite; when I sit rightdown and think about it I realize it wasn't. But it was encouraging, real encouraging. And that bit of real encouragement has made me over, like an old dress. Which reminds me that I've got to be makin' over someof MY old dresses pretty soon, or summer'll be here and I won't havea thing fit to wear. I declare, " she added, with a laugh, "this is thefirst time I've even thought about clothes since last fall. And when awoman forgets to be interested in dressmakin' she's pretty far gone. .. . Why, what makes you look so sorrowful? Is anything wrong?"

Galusha replied that nothing whatever was wrong; there was, he said, noreason in the world why he should appear sorrowful. Yet, this answerwas not the exact truth; there were reasons, and speeches such as MissMartha's reminded him of them. They awoke his uneasy conscience to thefear that the encouragement she found in his report from Cabot, Bancroftand Cabot was almost entirely due to his interpretation of that reportand not to the facts behind it. However, as she must on no accountguess this to be the case, he smiled and assumed an air more than evercarefree. 

One afternoon, when, on his way home after an unusually lengthy walk, hestopped at the post office, he found that the Phipps' mail had alreadybeen delivered. 

"Zach Bloomer stopped along in and took it, " explained Miss TamsonBlack, the postmaster's sister-in-law. "I told him I presumed likelyyou'd be here after it yourself pretty soon, but it didn't make nodifference. He said--but maybe I better not tell you. "

"Oh, yes--no doubt, " observed Galusha, who was, as usual, paying littleattention. 

Tamson, plainly disappointed at his lack of curiosity, elevated her thinnose. 

"Well, " she observed, "what he SAID was that, fur's things bein' herewas concerned, Christmas would be here, give it time enough. Prettysassy kind of talk, _I_ call it, but maybe you ain't so partic'lar, Mr. Bangs. "

"Dear me! Of course. Well, well!. .. Oh, were there any lettersfor--ah--for me, may I ask?"

"Why, yes, there was, two of 'em. That's what made me cal'late youmight like to get 'em first yourself. I knew you didn't get lettersvery often, Mr. Bangs; that is, I've noticed you ain't since I've beenhelpin' in this office. Anyhow, 'most anybody would rather get their ownmail private than have Zach Bloomer cartin' it from land-knows-where tonever-and-gone, smellin' it all up with old tobacco pipes and fish orwhatever else he carries 'round in his pockets. Course I don't mean helugs fish around in his pocket, 'tain't likely--He, he, he--but that oldcoat of his always smells like a--like a porgie boat. And I don't know'sI mean that those letters of yours were any more 'special private thancommon; anyhow, both envelopes was in MALE handwritin'--He, he, he! ButI noticed one was stamped from way out in--in Nevada, seems if 'twas, so--"

"Eh?" Galusha came to life with astonishing quickness. "From--fromNevada, did you say?"

"Um-hm. I remember it real plain now. You see, it kind of caught my eyeas I was sortin. ' We don't never get much mail from Nevada--not in thisoffice we don't never hardly. So when I see. .. Well, my good land!"

The exclamation was caused by the unceremonious suddenness of Mr. Bangs'exit. He was well across the road by the time Miss Black reached thewindow. 

"My good land!" exclaimed Tamson again. Later she told herbrother-in-law that she cal'lated that Nevada letter was maybe moreprivate than she cal'lated first, and that she bet you she was goin' tolook pretty hard at the handwritin' on the NEXT one that come. 

Primmie, apparently, had been watching through the kitchen window forGalusha to appear. At any rate, she opened the door for him. Hermouth opened also, but he, for perhaps the first time in theiracquaintanceship, spoke first. 

"I know--I know, Primmie, " he said, hastily; "or if I don't know you cantell me later on. Ah--please don't delay me now. "

Primmie was struggling between surprise and disappointment. 

"Well, " she observed, as the little man hurriedly shed his hat and coat;"well, all right, Mr. Bangs. Only Zach, he told me to be sure and tellyou, and tell you how sorry he was that it happened, and that he can'texactly figger out just how it did come to happen, neither. "

"Eh?" Galusha paused, with one arm still in the sleeve of his overcoat. "Happen? What has happened to--ah--Mr. Bloomer?"

"Ain't nothin' happened to him. 'Twas him that made it happen to yourletter. And THAT letter of all letters! You see, Zach he don't exactlyremember when 'twas he got it from the post office, but it must havebeen much as a week ago, sartin sure. Anyhow, when he took out thelighthouse mail he left this letter in the pocket, and to-day, just now, when he got them other letters of yours and put 'em in the same pocket, he found the first one. And when I see that 'Cabot, What-d'ye-call-itand Cabot' name printed out right on the envelope and it come over methat 'twas THAT letter he'd forgot and had been totin' 'round with him, 'WELL, ' says I. 'My Lord of Isrul!' I says--"

"Primmie! Primmie, stop! Stop--please! And tell me: Where are thoseletters?"

"Hey? I was goin' to tell you. _I_ put 'em right here on the dinin' roomtable, but Miss Martha she carted 'em off upstairs to your bedroom. Saidshe presumed likely you'd want to open 'em by yourself. _I_ don't seewhy--"

"Hush! Hush! Where is--ah--Miss Phipps?"

"She's in the settin' room. Told me not to disturb her, she wanted to bealone. I--"

Galusha hastened away, leaving the excited Miss Cash still talking. Fromthe foot of the stairs he caught a glimpse of Martha in the chair by thefront window of the sitting room, looking out. She must have heard him, but she did not turn her head. Nor did he speak to her. Time enough forthat when he had read what was in those letters. 

There they were, three of them, upon his bureau. He picked up the oneon top. It bore upon the envelope the words "National Institute, Washington, D. C. , " and was, he knew, merely a monthly report. Usuallysuch reports were of great interest to him; this one was not. He hadreally important matters to claim his attention. 

The second letter was, obviously, that which the forgetful Zacheus hadcarried about with him for a week. In the corner was the Cabot, Bancroftand Cabot name. He tore it open. An oblong slip of paper fell to thefloor. He did not even stoop to pick this up, for there was a letter, too. It began:

"Prof. Galusha Bangs, East Wellmouth, Mass. 

"DEAR SIR:

"Pursuant to your instructions in our conversation of recent date I amenclosing check representing your share of the new Tinplate re-issue, sale of rights, transfer of old stock, bonus, etc. The transfer hasbeen, as I told you I felt sure it would be, very advantageous andprofitable to stockholders like yourself. The amount due you, as shownin statement attached, is--"

Galusha read no further. What did he care for Tinplate, profits, business, or anything like that! There was not a word in the letterconcerning Wellmouth Development. It was a bitter disappointment. 

But there was the third letter, the letter from Nevada. He opened that. The first page which he looked at was that bearing the signature. Yes, the letter was from George L. Thomas, and George L. Thomas was CousinGussie's private secretary. At last!

The letter shook in Galusha's fingers as he began to read. Mr. Thomaswas glad to hear from him, glad to learn that he was in better health, etc. .. . All right enough, this beginning, but not at all important. Thomas also felt sure that he, Professor Bangs, would be grateful toknow that Mr. Cabot's condition was, so his physician seemed to think, steadily improving. The improvement was slow, of course, which was tobe expected, but. .. A long paragraph here which Galusha skipped. He washighly pleased to know that Cousin Gussie was better, but at presentthat was sufficient; he could not waste time in reading details of theconvalescence. WHY didn't the man get down to business?

Ah, here it was! Mr. Thomas wrote:

"In your letter to Mr. Cabot I note your inquiry concerning the stockof the Wellmouth Development Company, its desirability as an investment, the likelihood of present sale, and so on. I know nothing of the matterpersonally, and am not in a position to ascertain at the present time. Speaking in a general way, however, and with my only knowledge of thefacts in the case that supplied by your letter, I should suggest thatyour friend keep his stock and await developments. I am quite sure thata forced sale--if such a sale could now be made at any price, which Idoubt--would involve the sacrifice of almost the entire amount invested. I should suggest holding on and waiting. "

Galusha passed his shaking hand across his perspiring forehead. 

"Oh, dear me!" he said aloud. 

"This would be my advice, " went on the letter, "but if you wish a morepositive answer I suggest your writing Mr. Minor at our Boston office. He will be very glad to look into the matter for you, I am sure, although I am practically certain his views will agree with mine. Ofcourse, as you will understand, it is quite impossible to mention yourinquiry to Mr. Cabot. He is here to regain his health, which is stillvery far from normal, his doctor is with him, and the one word which ispositively forbidden is 'Business. ' Mr. Cabot is supposed to forget thatthere is such a thing. By the way he spoke of you only the other day, and jokingly said he wondered how mummies and quahaugs were mixing. The fact that he is beginning to joke once more we all consider mostencouraging. .. . "

A paragraph or two more of this sort of thing and then Mr. Thomas'signature. Galusha stared at the letter dully. This--this was whathe and Martha Phipps had awaited so long! This was the outcome of hisbrilliant idea which was to save the Phipps' home. .. And its owner'speace of mind. .. And Primmie. .. And . .. . 

Oh, dear me! dear me!

Galusha walked slowly across the room to the chair by the window, and, sitting down, continued to stare hopelessly at the letter in his hand. He read it for the second time, but this rereading brought no comfortwhatever. Rather, it served to bring home to him the hard realitiesof the whole wretched affair. Cousin Gussie's interest was what he hadbanked on, and that interest was absolutely unapproachable. To writeMinor at the Boston office was a possibility, of course, but, in hispresent frame of mind Galusha felt no hope that such a proceeding wouldhelp. Thomas had written what amounted to that very thing; Thomas was"practically certain" that Minor's views would agree with his. And, besides, to write Minor meant another long wait, and Martha Phipps mustbe very close to her limit of waiting. How could he summon the courageto descend to the sitting room and tell her that she must prepare foranother period of waiting, with almost certain disappointment at theend?

A temperament like Galusha Bangs' is capable of soaring to the heightsand descending to the depths. Just now the elevator was going down, and down it continued to go to the very subcellar. It was dark in thatsubcellar, not a ray of light anywhere. Galusha realized now, or thoughthe did, that all his great scheme for helping Martha to dispose of herDevelopment shares had been based upon nothing substantial, nothing butrainbow-tinted hopes which, in turn, were based upon nothing but wishes. Omitting the hopes and wishes, what was there left? Just what thepresident of the Trumet Trust Company had told Martha and what RaishPulcifer, when angered into truthtelling, had told him. That is, thatthe shares of the Wellmouth Development Company might be worth somethingsome day, but that now they were worth nothing, because no one would buythem. 

Yes. .. Yes, that was the truth. .. . But how could he go down to thesitting room and tell Martha Phipps that truth, having already told herso much that was quite different?

If she would only let him lend her the five thousand dollars, orwhatever it was. He did not know how much Cousin Gussie was taking careof for him at present, but there had been a large sum at the timeof Aunt Clarissa's death. He remembered that the figures had quitefrightened him then. He had not thought much about them since, becausethey did not interest him. He always had enough for his needs and morethan enough, and dividends, and interests, and investments and all suchthings bored him and made him nervous. But, now that he WAS interestedin an investment--Martha Phipps' investment--it brought home to him theundisputable fact that he, Galusha Bangs, had plenty of money to lend, if he wished to lend it. 

And if Cousin Gussie, or Cousin Gussie's representatives, would let himhave it for such a purpose! Cousin Gussie always made such an unpleasantdisturbance when he expressed a desire for any of his money, asked somany embarrassing questions as to what was to be done with it, and thelike. If he should go now and ask for five thousand dollars to lendMartha Phipps, what. .. 

But Martha Phipps would not accept a loan, anyway. She had told him thatvery thing, and he knew her well enough by this time to know she meantwhat she said. 

Yet there remained the imminent and dreadful question: How, how, HOWcould he go down to where she was sitting waiting and tell her that herhopes, hopes which he had raised, were based solely upon the vaporingsof an optimistic donkey?

In his wrathful disgust with that donkey he shifted angrily in his chairand his foot struck a bit of paper upon the floor. It rustled and therustle attracted his attention. Absently he stepped and picked up thepaper. It was the slip which had fallen from the Cabot, Bancroft andCabot letter and was a check drawn to his order for fourteen thousand, three hundred and ten dollars and thirty-eight cents, his share of theTinplate "melon. "

Fifteen more minutes passed before Mr. Bangs came down to the sittingroom, but when he did he came in a great hurry. He dashed into theapartment and announced his intention of starting for Boston at once. 

"And--and if you will be so kind as to let me have those--ah--shares ofyours, Miss Martha, " he said. 

Martha looked at him. She had been rather pale when he entered, but nowthe color rushed to her face. 

"Shares?" she repeated. "Do you mean--"

"Those--ah--Development shares of yours--yes. If you will be good enoughto let me take them with me--"

"Take them with you?. .. Oh, Mr. Bangs, you don't mean you have heardfrom your cousin and that he is goin' to--"

"Yes--ah--yes, " broke in Galusha, hastily. "I have heard. I am to--thatis, I must take the shares with me and go to Boston at once. If you willbe willing to entrust them to me, Miss Martha. "

"I'll get 'em this minute. " She started toward the stairs, but pausedand turned. 

"Is it really settled, Mr. Bangs?" she asked, as if scarcely daring tobelieve in the possibility. "Are they really goin' to buy that Wellmouthstock of mine?"

"Why--why--" Galusha was yawing badly, but he clutched the helm and kepton the course; "I--ah--hope so, Miss Martha, I hope so. "

"And pay me--pay me MONEY for it?"

"I presume so. I hope so. If you will--"

"I declare, it doesn't seem possible! Who, for mercy sakes, is goin' tobuy it? Mr. Cabot, himself?"

He had been expecting this and was prepared for it. He had rehearsedhis answer many times before coming downstairs. He held up a protestinghand. 

"I am very sorry, " he said, "but--but, you see, that is a--ah--secret, I understand. Of course, they did not write me who was to buy the stockand so--and so--"

"And so you don't know. Well, it doesn't make a bit of difference, really. The Lord knows I shouldn't care so long as I sell it honestlyand don't cheat anybody. And a big house like Cabot, Bancroft and Cabotought to know what they're doin' when they buy, or let any of theircustomers buy. I'll get the certificate this very minute, Mr. Bangs. "

She hastened up the stairs. Galusha wiped his forehead and breathedheavily. There was a knock on the door leading to the dining room; itopened and Primmie's head appeared. 

"I heard her go upstairs, " she whispered, hoarsely. "Is it all right, Mr. Bangs? Was there good news in that What-you-call-it-Bancroft letter, Mr. Bangs? Was there?"

"Go away, Primmie! Go AWAY!"

"I'm a-goin'. But was there?"

"Yes--ah--no--I--I guess so. "

"Lord everlastin' of Isrul! My savin' soul!"

Martha's footsteps on the stairs caused the head to disappear and thedoor to close. Miss Phipps appeared, her hand clasping a highly ornatedocument. 

"Here's the certificate, " she said, breathlessly. "I'm so upset andexcited I don't know hardly whether I'm in the channel or hard aground, as father used to say, but I've signed my name on the back. Once when Isold two shares of railroad stock he left me I had to sign on the backthere. I HOPE I've done it in the right place. "

Galusha declared the signature to be quite right, yes. As a matter offact, he could not have told for certain that there was a signaturethere. He crammed the certificate into his pocket. 

"Oh, my sakes!" protested Martha, "you aren't goin' to just put it looseinto that pocket, are you? Don't you think it ought to go in your--yourwallet, or somewhere?"

"Eh? Why--why, I presume it had. .. . Dear me, yes. .. . It would be a--ajoke if I lost it, wouldn't it?"

"A JOKE! Well, it wouldn't be my notion of a joke, exactly. "

"Oh, dear, dear! Did I say 'joke'? I didn't mean that it would actuallybe--ah--humorous, of course. I meant. .. I meant. .. . Really, I don'tthink I know what I meant. "

"I don't believe you do. Mr. Bangs, I truly think you are more excitedabout all this than I am, and all on my account. What can I ever say--ordo--to--"

"Please, please, Miss Martha! Dear me, dear me, DON'T speak in thatway. It's so--ah--nonsensical, you know. Now if--if I may have my coatand--ah--cap--"

"Cap! Goodness gracious, you weren't plannin' to wear that old cap, earlaps and all, to Boston, were you? And--mercy me! I didn't think ofit until this minute--the train doesn't go for 'most two hours. "

She burst out laughing and, because she was overwrought and a triflehysterical, she laughed a good deal. Galusha laughed even longer thanshe did, not because he was hysterical, but because laughing was verymuch easier and safer than answering embarrassing questions. 

When it really was time to leave for the railroad station and Galusha, NOT wearing the earlapped cap, but hatted and garbed as became his rankand dignity, was standing on the stone step by the outside door, shesaid:

"Now do be careful, Mr. Bangs. "

"Yes--yes, I will, I promise you. I shall keep one hand in my pocket, holding the pocketbook with the certificate in it, until I get to theoffice. I shall think of nothing else. "

"Mercy me, think of SOMETHIN' else, please! Think of yourself whenyou're goin' across those Boston streets or you'll be run over. Ideclare, I don't know as I ought to let you go. "

"Oh, I shall be quite safe, quite. But, really, " he added, with apuzzled smile, "I can't tell you how odd this seems. When I was a boy myAunt Clarissa, I remember, used to caution me about--about crossing thestreets, and so on. It makes me feel quite young again to have you doit, Miss Martha. I assure you it does. "

Martha regarded him gravely. 

"Hasn't anybody since ever told you to be careful?" she asked; "anybodysince your aunt died, I mean?"

"Why, no, I think not. I presume, " he added, with the air of onesuggesting a happy explanation, "I presume no one has--ah--beensufficiently interested. It would have been peculiar if they had been, of course. "

"Hum!. .. Well, I hope you won't think I am impudent for remindin' you tolook out. "

"Oh, no, indeed. It is very nice of you to take the trouble. I like it, really I do. "

The office of Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot was closed when his trainreached Boston, so he went to a hotel and remained there over-night. But he was on hand at the banking office early the next morning. In theinterval he had time for more reflection and, as a result, he determinednot to go to Mr. Barbour with his business. The fear that knowledge ofwhat he was about to do would reach Cousin Gussie's ears was strong uponhim. Doubtless it was a fact that he had a right to do what he pleasedwith his own money, but it was also a fact that Cousin Gussie seemedto think he had no such right. Barbour was the Cabot secretary, orassistant secretary, so decidedly it was best not to go to Barbour. 

It was Minor whom he saw as he entered the banking house and to Minor hedivulged his business. Taking from his pocketbook the Tinplate check, heasked if he might have it--ah--broken up, so to speak. 

"You see, " he explained, "I want to get--ah--five thousand dollars. "

Minor appeared rather puzzled at first, and Mr. Bangs' tangled andnervous explanations did not seem to enlighten him greatly. At last, however, he caught the idea. 

"I see, " he said. "You don't want to deposit and draw against it; youwant two checks instead of one. One check for five thousand and theother for the balance. "

"Yes, yes, yes, " assented Galusha, much relieved. "That is it, exactly. I am very much obliged to you--indeed I am--yes. "

Minor took him to one of the windows and introduced him to the clerk atthe desk behind it. 

"Give Mr. Bangs whatever he wants, " he said. 

Galusha explained. The clerk asked how he would have thefive-thousand-dollar check made out. 

"In your own name?" he asked. 

 Mr. Bangs reflected. "Why--ah--" he stammered, "I should prefer itin--ah--some other name, if possible. I should prefer that my name wasnot connected with it, if you don't mind. "

"In the name of the person you intend paying it to?" inquired the clerk. 

Galusha reflected again. If Martha Phipps' name were written on thatcheck it would be possible that, some day or other, Cousin Gussiemight see it. And if he saw it, questions would be asked, embarrassingquestions. 

"No-o, " he said, hesitatingly; "no, I think I should not care to haveher--that is, to have that person's name appear, either. Isn'tthere some way by which the sum could be paid without any one's nameappearing? A check to--to--oh, dear me! why CAN'T I think of it?"

"To bearer, you mean?"

"That's it, that's it. A check to bearer would be very satisfactory, very satisfactory, indeed. Thank you very much. "

The clerk, who was a painstaking young man, destined to rise in hisprofession, inspected the odd individual outside the railing. 

"A check to bearer is almost the same as cash, " he said. "If you shouldlose it, it would be negotiable--practically the money itself, or prettynear it. "

Galusha started. He looked radiantly happy. 

"That's it!" he exclaimed. "That's it, of course. Thank you forthe suggestion. The money will be the very thing. It will be such adelightful surprise. And there will be no one's name upon it at all. Iwill take the money, of course. "

It took some time to convince the astonished clerk that Mr. Bangsactually wished five thousand dollars in currency, but he finally wasconvinced. 

"How will you have it?" he asked. "Small bills or large?"

Galusha apparently did not care. Any denominations would be quitesatisfactory, he affirmed. So, when the transaction was finished, and heleft the Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot office, it was with a new check fornine thousand, three hundred and ten dollars and thirty-eight cents inhis pocketbook and in his trousers' pocket a roll of bills as thick ashis wrist. By way of modification to this statement, it may be well toexplain that Galusha Bangs' wrists, considered AS wrists, were by nomeans thick. 

The clerk stared after him as he departed and a fellow clerk paused toask questions. 

"Who was the old guy?" he inquired. 

"Name's Bangs. "

"What is he?"

"A nut, " was the reply, given with the assurance of absolute conviction. 

The "nut" traveled back to East Wellmouth upon the afternoon trainand, back once more in the Phipps' sitting room, "shelled out" upon thecenter table. Martha stared at the heap of bills and caught her breathwith a gasp. 

Galusha deposited the last bank note upon the table. "There!" heexclaimed, with satisfaction; "that is all, I believe. And I haveactually gotten it here--all of it. I am quite sure I haven't lost a--apenny. Dear me, that is a very remarkable thing to do--for me to do, Imean. "

Miss Phipps did not answer and, turning, he saw that she was sitting inthe rocking-chair, her hand to her forehead. Her face was white. 

"Dear me!" he exclaimed, in alarm. "Miss Martha, are you ill?"

Still she did not answer and, very much frightened, he hastened to thedoor, opened it, and shouted for Primmie. The summons for her handmaidenacted as a complete restorative. Martha came to life at once. 

"WHAT in the world are you callin' Primmie for?" she demanded. "I don'twant her. I wouldn't have her see all that. .. . Oh, good heavens andearth!"

Primmie was already in the room. She, as Mr. Bangs would have describedit, bounced in. 

"Yes'm--I mean yes, sir, " was her salutation. "Here I be. .. . Oh, mysavin' soul of Isrul!"

She had seen the mound of money upon the table. Two minutes later Marthaand her lodger were again alone in the sitting room. Primmie had been, gently but firmly, escorted to outer darkness and the door closed behindher. She was still asking questions and calling for her ransomed spiritand the ruler of Israel; they could hear her do so even through thedoor. The exclamations died away in the direction of the kitchen. MissPhipps, who had done escort duty, turned toward Galusha and ruefullyshook her head. 

"I GUESS there isn't anybody I'd rather should not have been here justnow than Primmie Cash, " she observed. "If there is I can't think oftheir names. Mr. Bangs, I know you meant well, because you couldn't meanany other way, but would you mind tellin' me WHY you called for her?"

Galusha blinked in bewildered fashion behind his spectacles. 

"Why--why, " he stammered, "you--you see--why, I spoke to you severaltimes and you did not answer--and you were so pale, I thought--Ithought--"

"You thought I was sick and so you sung out for Primmie. Humph! that's agood deal like jumpin' into the well to get out of the rain. But there, never mind. So I looked pale and didn't answer when you spoke? Doyou wonder? Mr. Bangs, " she moved to the table and laid a hand, whichtrembled a good deal, upon the pile of bills, "is this money reallymine?"

"Yes--oh, yes, indeed. It is yours, of course. "

"All of it? It doesn't seem possible. How much is there here?"

He told her. She lifted the topmost bills from the heap and reverentlylaid them down again. 

"Five thousand dollars!" she repeated. "It's like--it's like somethin'in a dream, or a book, isn't it? I can hardly believe I am MarthaPhipps. So they did think Wellmouth Development was worth somethin', after all. And they paid--why, Mr. Bangs, they paid the full price, didn't they! Twenty dollars a share; as much as father paid in the firstplace. "

"Yes--ah--yes, of course. Yes, indeed. Are you sure you feel quite wellagain, Miss Martha?"

"I'm sure. But what did they say when they bought it, Mr. Bangs?"

"Say? Ah, say?. .. Why, they said--ah--um--they said there was the moneyand--and I counted it, you know, and--"

"Yes, yes. But didn't they say anything about the stock; about why theybought it, and like that?"

"Why, no. .. No, I think nothing was--ah--so to speak--ah--said. They--ah--Won't you sit down again, Miss Martha? I think you hadbetter. "

"Sit down! Mr. Bangs, I'm too excited to sit down. I could fly, I think, a good deal easier than I could sit; at least, I feel as if I could. And so they just bought that stock and said nothing more than that? Justbought it?"

"Yes--ah--yes, that's it. They--ah--bought it, you know. "

"It seems strange. What did your cousin say?"

"Ah--my cousin? Cousin Gussie, you mean. Yes, yes, of course. Oh, hesaid--ah--all sorts of things. "

"Did he? About the stock?"

"Oh, no, not about the stock so much. No, not so much about that, about. .. A sort of general conversation it was, about--about theweather, and--and the like. "

"The weather? Did he write about the weather in his letter?"

He had for the moment forgotten that his relative was an invalid in theFar West and that Miss Phipps knew it. He turned red, coughed, stammeredand then broke out in a series of fragmentary and involved explanationsto the effect that Cousin Gussie was--ah--naturally much interested inthe weather because of his state of health and--and--She paid littleheed, for in the midst of his explaining she interrupted. 

"Oh, never mind, never mind, " she said. "It doesn't make one bit ofdifference and why I asked about it I don't know. You see, Mr. Bangs, I'm not back on earth yet, as you might say, and I don't suppose I shallbe for a little while, so you'll have to be patient with me. All I canthink of is that now I can live here in this house, for a while longeranyhow, and perhaps always. And I sha'n't have to turn Primmie away. And--and maybe I won't have to lie awake night after night, plannin' howI can do this and do without that--and--and--"

She stopped, her sentence unfinished. Galusha said nothing. A momentlater she turned to him. 

"Should I write your cousin a letter and thank him, do you think?" sheasked. 

Galusha's reply was hurriedly given and most emphatic. "Oh, no, no, " heprotested. "It will be quite unnecessary, quite. Indeed, no. He--ah--hewould not expect it. "

"No, I presume likely he wouldn't. And, after all, it was just a matterof business with his firm. But it wasn't a matter of business with you, Mr. Bangs. And if it hadn't been for you, I--I--Well, I mustn't say anymore or--or. .. Oh, you understand what I want to say, don't you?"

"Now--now, Miss Martha, please. I have done nothing, really, nothing butwhat any friend would have done. "

"Any friend like you, you mean. I don't know where there are any moresuch friends, Mr. Bangs. "

"Now, PLEASE. Miss Martha, I--I HOPE you won't mention this again. Itwill oblige me greatly if you will not. Really, I--I mean it. "

She nodded, slowly. "Yes, " she said, "bein' you, I think you do mean it. So I won't say any more; but I shall think a great deal, Mr. Bangs, andI never shall stop thinkin'. .. . There! And now what shall I do with allthis money? Of course, I'll put it in the bank to-morrow, but what willI do with it to-night? By the way, " she added, "it seems queer theyshould have paid you in cash instead of a check. Why did they, Iwonder?"

Here was a demand for more explaining. Galusha plunged headlong, foundered, and then emerged, like a dog, with an explanation, such as itwas, between his teeth. 

"They--ah--they thought the money would be safer, " he said. 

Martha laughed aloud. "Safer?" she repeated. "Why, that's funny. Perhapsthey're right, but I know the only way I shall feel safe between nowand bankin' time tomorrow is to stay awake and watch every minute. Oh, I sha'n't do that exactly, of course, but I'm beginnin' to realize theresponsibility of havin' riches. Ah hum! I laugh, Mr. Bangs, but youmustn't think it's because I don't realize what you--I mean. .. Well, Iguess I laugh because I'm kind of hysterical and--happy. I haven't beenso happy for a long, long time. I won't say it again because you don'twant me to, but for this once more, thank you, Mr. Bangs. "

As Galusha left her to go to his room, she said: "Now I must go out andget after Primmie again. I'm scared to death that she'll tell everybodyfrom here to Provincetown about my bein' worth a million dollars. Shewon't make it any LESS than a million, and the chances are it will beconsider'ble more. "

"But, Miss Martha, you have already told her not to tell about themoney. I heard you tell her just now when you sent her out of the room. "

Martha shrugged her shoulders. 

"When you pour water into a sieve, " she said, "it doesn't do much goodto tell the sieve not to leak. Father used to say that some folks' headswere built so that whatever was poured into their ears ran right out oftheir mouths. Primmie's is made that way, I'm afraid. She'll swear shewon't tell, and she won't mean to tell, but. .. Well, good-night, Mr. Bangs. "

CHAPTER XII

Miss Phipps had prophesied that the cares attending the possession ofwealth might interfere with her sleep that night. Concerning his ownslumbers Galusha made no prophecy, but the said slumbers were brokenand scanty, nevertheless. Martha's happiness, her relief, and the kindthings she had said to him, all these were pleasant to reflect upon andto remember. Not so pleasant was the thought of the deception he hadpracticed. Of course, he had deceived for a good purpose and certainlywith no idea of personal gain, quite the contrary. But he had beendeceitful--and to Martha Phipps, of all people. What would she say ifshe ever found it out? He reflected upon the amazing number of--ah--fibshe had told her, and the question what would she say if she ever learnedof these was even more terrifying in its possibilities. She must notlearn of them, she must never, never know that it was his own moneywhich he had brought from Boston, that he, and no one else, had boughtthat stock of hers. 

Here he sat up in bed, having suddenly remembered the certificate fortwo hundred and fifty shares of Wellmouth Development Company stockwhich she had handed him when he started for Boston. He had foldedit lengthwise and crosswise and had put it in his pocket--and had notthought of it since, until that moment. A cold chill ran down his back. What if--

He scrambled out of bed and, the room being distinctly cool, chillsimmediately ran up and down other portions of his anatomy. He did notmind those, however, but finding the matches, lighted the lamp andbegan pawing over his garments, those which he had worn upon his Bostonpilgrimage. 

The certificate was not in the coat pocket. Galusha gasped. Had hedropped it in the train? Or in the office of Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot?Why, if the last were true, it would be found and traced to him, andMinor and Barbour and, eventually, Cousin Gussie would learn that he. .. . 

Here he remembered that Martha had urged him not to put it in his coatpocket but in his pocketbook. Oh, joy! He delved for the pocketbook, opened it--and found no certificate therein. 

Oh, dear, dear! Oh, dear! Suppose he had not lost it in Boston. Supposehe had that very evening dropped it in the house here at home, in thesitting room, or the dining room. Suppose Primmie should find it, orMiss Phipps herself. Then she would KNOW that he had deceived her--andlied to her--

And then he remembered that, instead of putting the certificate in hispocketbook, he had found the latter too small for the purpose, and hadput the document in the inside pocket of his waistcoat. And in thatwaistcoat pocket he found it. 

So that was all right, all right so far; but the fact remained that, instead of the troublesome thing--damning evidence of his guilt anddeception--reposing safely in the vaults of a Boston bank, where he hadintended putting it, it was here, in the house, in the house of MissMartha Phipps, who might find it at any time. 

He tried various hiding places, the drawers of his bureau, thetable drawer, under the straw matting in the corner, but none seemedsatisfactorily secure. Under the matting was, at first thought, ideal, but, after secreting it there and getting into bed, he remembered thatMartha had declared his room needed new matting and, if ever shecould afford that cost, new matting it should have. Having come intopossession of five thousand dollars, she might feel that she could nowafford it. He climbed, shivering, out of bed again, resurrected thecertificate and hid it under his pillow, an orthodox but safe hidingplace for that night only. The next morning he wrapped it in a summerundergarment and placed the said garment at the bottom of a pile ofsimilar intimacies in his bureau drawer. And each night of the followingweek, before retiring, he dug it out to make sure of its safety. 

The day after her boarder's return from Boston, Martha went over toWellmouth Centre. The bank there had charge of her account, such as itwas, and she wished to have it take charge of the, to her, huge sum ofreal money which Mr. Bangs had brought. She told the cashier thatshe was desirous of speaking with him on a matter of business, and heinvited her into his little room at the end of the counter. There shetook from her "Boston bag" a brown paper parcel and, unwrapping thebrown paper, disclosed the five thousand dollars. 

Cashiers of small town banks know the true financial strength andweakness of dwellers in those towns, just as the doctors know theirphysical ones. Mr. Edgar Thacher, which was the cashier's name in thisinstance, knew how much of an estate Cap'n Jim Phipps had left hisdaughter and how that estate was divided as to investments. So he wassurprised when Martha revealed the money. 

"Good land, Martha!" he exclaimed. "What's happened? Haven't gone intothe counterfeiting trade, have you?"

Martha smilingly shook her head. "No, Edgar, " she said. "It's too latein life for me to begin learnin' new trades, I guess. Just count that, will you, please? I want to make sure it's all there and that I didn'treally have only half of it and dream the rest. "

The cashier counted the money. "Five thousand, I make it, " he said. 

"That's what it ought to be. Now will you put that to my account? Idon't know how long it'll stay there--the whole of it not very long, I'mafraid--but it will be earnin' a little interest while it does stay. "

"Yes, sure. Well, Martha, it's none of my business, of course, but, aslong as you say you haven't been counterfeiting, I wish you would giveme your receipt for making money. Anybody that can make five thousand inone lump these hard times is doing well. "

Martha shook her head once more. She and the cashier were old friends. "No receipt to give, Edgar, " she said. "I wish there was; I'd be busyusin' it, I tell you. I just sold somethin' I owned, that's all, and gota good deal better price than I ever expected to. In fact, I had aboutgiven up hope of ever gettin' a cent. But there, I mustn't talk so much. You'll deposit that to my account, won't you, Edgar? And, if you SHOULDsee your way clear to pay seven or eight per cent interest instead offour, or whatever you do pay, don't bother to write and ask me if I'lltake it, because you'll only be wastin' your time. .. . Eh? Why, goodgracious, Jethro! What are you doin' over here?"

The captain's big frame blocked the doorway of the cashier's office. Hehad opened that door without knocking, because it was his habit toopen doors that way. Captain Jethro Hallett's position as keeper ofthe Gould's Bluffs light was not an exalted or highly paid one, but hisinfluence in Wellmouth and its vicinity was considerable, nevertheless. He was accounted a man of means, he had always been--more especially inthe years before his wife's death and the break in health which followedit--a person of shrewd business ability and keenness in a trade, andeven now, when some of the townsfolk grinned behind his back andtold stories of his spiritualistic obsessions, they were polite anddeferential to his face. As a matter of fact, it would have beenextremely impolitic to be otherwise than deferential to him. CaptainJeth was quite aware of his worth and expected deference. 

He was as surprised to see his neighbor as she was to see him. 

"Why, hello, Martha!" he grunted. "What fetched you here?"

"I asked you first, Cap'n Jeth, but it doesn't make any difference. My feet brought me as far as the corner and Ras Beebe's grocery cartbrought me the rest of the way. I had planned to come in the train, but Ras saved me the trouble--AND the fare. He's goin' back in a fewminutes, so I've got to hurry. "

"Humph! But what did you come here FOR?"

"Oh, I had a little business with Edgar and the bank. Excuse me, Jethro. Edgar. .. "

She stooped and whispered to the cashier. He nodded. 

"Yes, Martha, of course, " he said. "You've got your book? All right. Back in a minute, Cap'n. "

He picked up the pile of money from the desk, took from Miss Phipps'hand the pass book she handed him, and together they stepped out intothe public room. Captain Jethro, whose eyes had caught sight of thebills, leaned forward and peered through the little grating above Mr. Thacher's desk. He saw the cashier and Martha standing by the teller'swindow. The former said something and handed the teller the bank bookand the roll of bills. A moment later the teller, having counted themoney and made an entry in the book, handed the latter back to the lady. 

"Five thousand, " he said, and his tone was not low. "There you are, MissPhipps. Thank you. "

When, having escorted the lady to the door, Thacher came back to hisprivate office, he found the light keeper sitting in the armchairreserved for customers and pulling thoughtfully at his beard. 

"Well, Cap'n, " said Mr. Thacher, "what can I do for you?"

Captain Jethro crossed his legs. "I come over to cash a couple of checksI got by mail, " he said. "Had plenty of time so I thought I'd drop inand see you a minute. "

"Oh, yes, yes. Glad to see you. "

"Um-hm. Ain't so glad to see me as you was to see Martha Phipps, Iguess likely. _I_ ain't depositin' any five thousand dollars. 'Twas fivethousand she just deposited, wasn't it?"

The cashier was rather annoyed. He did not answer at once. His visitorrepeated the question. 

"Martha just put five thousand in the bank, didn't she?" he asked. 

"Why--yes. Did she tell you she was going to?"

"No. I heard Eldridge say five thousand when he give her back her bankbook. Five thousand is a lot of money. Where'd she get it from?"

"I don't know, Cap'n, I'm sure. Little more spring-like out to-day, isn't it?"

"Um-hm. Martha been borrerin' from the bank, has she?"

"No. "

"Didn't know but she might have mortgaged the Phipps' place. Ain't donethat, you say?"

"No. At least, if she has she didn't tell me of it. How are things overat the lighthouse?"

"All right enough. I don't hardly believe she could raise more'n threethousand on a mortgage, anyhow. .. . Humph! Five thousand is a sight ofmoney, too. .. . Didn't she tell you nothin' about how she got it?"

Thacher's annoyance increased. The ordinary caller displaying suchpersistent curiosity would have been dismissed unceremoniously; butJethro Hallett was not to be dismissed that way. The captain ownedstock in the bank and, before his illness, his name had been seriouslyconsidered to fill the first vacancy in its list of directors. 

"Must have told you SOMETHIN' about how she got hold of all that money, "persisted the light keeper. "What did she say to you, anyway, Ed?"

"She said--she said--Oh, well, she said she had sold something she ownedand had got the five thousand for it. "

"Humph! I want to know! Sold somethin', eh? What was it she sold?"

"She didn't say, Cap'n. All she said was that she had sold it and gotthe five thousand. Oh, yes, she did say that it was a bigger pricethan she ever expected to get and that there was a time when she neverexpected to get a cent. "

"Humph! I want to know! Funny she should sell anything without comin'to me first. She generally comes to ask my advice about such things. .. . Humph!. .. She didn't sell the house? No, I'd a-known if she had donethat. And what else. .. . Humph!. .. "

He pulled at his beard in silence for a moment. The teller, a briskyoung man, possessed of a profound love of mischief and a correspondinglack of reverence, entered the office. 

"Oh, excuse me, " he said. "I thought you was alone, Mr. Thacher. " Then, with a wink at his superior over the light keeper's tousled gray head, he observed, "Well, Cap'n Jeth, what's this I hear about Marietta Hoag?They tell me she's left the Spiritualists and gone over to Holinesschapel. Is it so?"

Jethro came out of his reverie. His deep-set eyes flashed and his bigfist pounded the office table. No, it was not so. It was a lie. Whosaid it? Who was responsible for starting such sacrilegious, outrageousyarns? Marietta Hoag was a woman called and chosen to receive andgive out revelations from on high. The Holiness crowd was a crew ofgood-for-nothin', hollerin' hard-shells. By the everlastin'--

He blew out of the office and out of the bank, rumbling and spittingfire like a volcano. The teller and the cashier watched him go. Then theformer said:

"That's the way to get rid of him, Mr. Thacher. He'll set 'round andtalk you to death if you give him half a chance. When you want him togo, tell him somebody at the other end of the town has been runningdown the Spiritualists. He'll be so anxious to get there and heave 'emoverboard that he'll forget to stop and finish what he was saying here. "

Which may or may not have been true, but the fact remains that the lightkeeper did not entirely forget what he and the cashier said concerningMartha Phipps' surprising bank deposit. And the next morning, as Marthawas walking up the lane from the village, where she had been on asupply-purchasing excursion, she heard heavy footsteps and, turning, saw her neighbor tramping toward her, his massive figure rolling, as italways did when in motion, from side to side like a ship in a seaway. 

"Why, hello, Jethro!" she exclaimed. Captain Jethro merely nodded. Hisfirst remark was a question, and very much to the point. 

"Look here, Martha, " he demanded. "Have you sold that Development stockof yours?"

Martha stared at him. For a moment she was inclined to believe in thetruth of the light keeper's "spirit revelations. "

"Why--why, Jethro!" she gasped. The captain, gazing at her keenlybeneath his shaggy brows, seemed to find his answer in her face. 

"Humph!" he observed. "You have sold it, ain't you? Well, by theeverlastin'!"

"Why--why, Jethro! What are you talkin' about?"

"About that two hundred and fifty shares of Wellmouth Development ofyours. You've sold it, ain't you, Martha? And you must have got par forit, too. Did the Trumet Trust Company folks buy it?"

But Miss Phipps was recovering from her surprise. She waited a momentbefore replying and, when she did reply, her tone was as crisp, if notas domineering, as her interrogator's. 

"See here, Jethro, " she said; "you're takin' a good many things forgranted, aren't you?"

"No, I don't cal'late I am. I know you've sold somethin' and got fivethousand dollars for it. I see you deposit the five thousand, myself, and Ed Thacher told me, after I pumped it out of him, that you saidyou'd sold somethin' you owned and got a good price when you didn't knowas you'd ever get a cent. Now, you ain't sold your place because I'dknow if you had, and it ain't worth five thousand, anyway. The otherstocks and bonds you've got ain't--"

But Martha interrupted. 

"Jethro, " she said, sharply, "I just said that you were takin' a goodmany things for granted. You are. One of 'em is that you can talk tome as if I was Zach Bloomer or a fo'masthand on your old schooner. I'mneither of those and I don't care to be talked to in that way. Anotheris that what I chose to do with my property is your business. It isn't, it's mine. I may have sold that stock or any other, or the house or thebarn or the cat, as far as that goes, but if I have or haven't it ismy affair. And I think you'd better understand that before we talk anymore. "

She turned and walked on again. Captain Jethro's eyes flashed. It hadbeen some time since any one had addressed him in that manner. However, women were women and business was business, and the captain was justthen too intent upon the latter to permit the whims of the former tointerfere. He swallowed his temper and strode after his neighbor. 

"Martha, " he said, complainingly, "I don't see as you've got any call totalk to me that way. I've been a pretty good friend to you, seems to me, and I was your father's friend, his chum, as you might say. Seems as ifI had--well, a right to be interested in--in what you do. "

Martha paused. After all, there was truth in what he said. He had beenher father's close friend, and, no doubt, he meant to be hers. And hewas Lulie's father, and not well, not quite his old self mentally orphysically. Perhaps she should make allowances. 

"Well, all right, Cap'n Jeth, " she said. "It wasn't what you said somuch as it was how you said it. Now will you tell me why you're sodreadfully anxious to know how I got that five thousand dollars Ideposited over to the bank yesterday?"

The light keeper pulled at his beard; the latter was so thick as tomake a handful, even for one of his hands. "Well, " he said, somewhatapologetically, "you see, Martha, it's like this: IF you sold themDevelopment shares of yours--and I swan I can't think of anything elseyou own that would sell for just that money--IF you sold 'em, I say, I'dlike to know how you done it. I've got four hundred shares of that stockI'd like to sell fust-rate--fust-rate I would. "

She had not entirely forgiven him for his intrusion in her affairs andhis manner of the moment before. She could not resist giving him a dig. 

"Cap'n Jeth, " she said, "I don't see why you need to worry. I've heardyou say a good many times that you had promises from--well, from thespirits that you were goin' to sell your Development stock and ata profit. All you had to do, you said, was wait. Now, you see, _I_couldn't wait. "

The captain nodded in satisfaction. "So 'TWAS the Development you sold, "he growled. "I figgered out it couldn't be nothin' else. "

Martha scarcely knew whether to frown or laugh. Some of her pityconcerning the old man's mental state had been, obviously, unnecessary. He was still sharp enough in business matters. 

"Well, " she said, with both laugh and frown, "suppose it was, what ofit?"

"Why, just this, Martha: If there's anything goin' on on the inside ofthe Development Company I want to know it. "

"There isn't anything goin' on so far as I know. "

"Then who bought your stock? The Denboro Trust Company folks?"

"No. They don't know a thing about it. "

"'Twan't that blasted Pulcifer?"

"No. I should hope not. Now don't ask any more, because I sha'n't tellyou. It's a secret, that's all, and it's got to stay that way. "

He looked at her. She returned his look and nodded. She meant what shesaid and he reluctantly recognized the fact. 

"Humph! Well, all right, Martha, " he growled. "But--but will you do thismuch for me? Will you ask these folks--whoever 'twas bought your twohundred and fifty--if they don't want my four hundred? If they're reallybuyin', I shouldn't be surprised if they would want it. If they boughtit just as a favor to you, and are goin' to hang on and wait--why--whythen, maybe they'd do a favor to a friend of yours and your father'safore you. Maybe they will, you can't tell. And you can tell 'em I'vehad word from--from over yonder that it's all goin' to turn out right. You ask 'em if they don't want to buy my stock, will you, Martha?"

Martha took time for reflection. Then she said: "Cap'n Jeth, if I do ask'em that, will you promise not to tell a soul a word about my sellin'my stock, or about the money, or anything of the kind? Will you promisethat?"

The light keeper nodded. "Sartin sure, " he said. "I'll promise you, Martha. "

"All right, I'll ask, but you mustn't count on anything comin' from it. "

The captain's brows drew together. "What I count on, " he said, solemnly, "is a higher promise than yours or mine, Martha Phipps. What we do downhere will only be what them up aloft want us to do. Don't you forgetthat. "

They parted at the Phipps' gate. Captain Jethro walked moodily home. Lulie met him at the door. She was wearing her hat and coat. 

"I'm going up to the village, father, " she said. "I have some errands todo. I'll be back pretty soon. "

Her father watched her as she walked away. The thought crossed his mindthat possibly Nelson Howard might be visiting the village that forenoon. He called her name, and she turned and came back. 

"What is it, father?" she asked. 

Jethro hesitated. He passed a hand across his forehead. His head felttired. Somehow he didn't want to talk any more. Even as important atopic as Nelson Howard did not arouse his interest. 

"Oh, nothin', nothin', " he assured. "Cal'late maybe I'll lay down andturn in a little spell afore dinner. Is Zach on deck?"

"Yes, he is out in the kitchen, or was a minute ago. Primmie was overon an errand and I heard their tongues going. Shall I speak to Zach, father?"

He told her no, and went into the house. There was a couch in the diningroom and he stretched himself upon it. The head of the couch was nearthe door leading to the kitchen. That door was closed, but from behindit sounded voices, voices which were audible and distinct. A disputeseemed to be in progress between Mr. Bloomer and Miss Cash and, althoughZacheus continued to grumble on in an even key, Primmie's tone becamehigher and shriller with each retort. 

"I tell you 'tis so, Zach Bloomer. .. . Well, maybe 'twan't a hundred andfifty thousand, but I bet you 'twas more money than you ever see in YOURlife. So now!"

The assistant light keeper was heard to cough. Primmie seemed to discerna hint of skepticism even in the cough. 

"Oh, you can set there and keep on turnin' up your nose and--andcoughin', " she declared, "but--"

Zacheus interrupted to say that he hardly ever turned up his nose whenhe coughed. 

"Seems to come handier to turn it down, Posy, " he said. 

"Oh, be still, foolish! Well, anyhow, it's true, every word of it. I seemore money at one time and in one--er--er junk, as you might say, thanever I see afore--yes, or I bet you ever see neither, Zach Bloomer. "

"We-ll, course what I ever see never amounted to much, but if it's morethan YOU see, Rosebud, then it must have been consider'ble of a lot. Over in them Mashpaug woods, where you hail from, money kind of growson the bushes, like huckleberries, I presume likely. Martha Phipps beenover there berryin', has she?"

"No, she ain't. Besides, I never said Miss Martha brought the money intothe house. All's I said was that 'twas in there and I see it with my owneyes. "

"Sho! With your own eyes, eh? Well, well! What do you cal'late 'twouldhave looked like if you'd borrered somebody else's eyes? Say, Posy, was it you fetched the billion and a half, or whatever 'twas, into thehouse?"

"Me? ME with all that money? My savin' soul!"

"Well, who did fetch it? Santy Claus?"

"I sha'n't tell you. I promised Miss Martha I wouldn't tell one wordabout that money and I ain't goin' to. "

"Hooray, Posy! That's the way to talk! Well, now, be honest about it:What did you have for supper night afore last? Mince pie, was it? Whydidn't you eat another slice? Then you'd have dreamed about a mackerelkeg full of di'monds, most likely. "

Captain Jethro, trying to fall asleep on the couch in the dining room, turned over in disgust and raised himself upon an elbow preparatoryto shouting an order for silence. But Primmie's next speech caught hisattention and the order was not given. 

"Dreamed!" retorted the indignant young woman. "Are you tryin' to tellme I only dreamed about that money, Zacheus Bloomer? Huh! My Lord ofIsrul! If you'd seen that great big piled-up heap of bills layin' rightthere on the table in our settin' room where Mr. Bangs put 'em, I guessyou'd have said 'dreams' and more, too. Ten dollar bills there was andtwenties and--and thirties and forties, for all I know. "

"That so? Right where Mr. Bangs put 'em, eh? Now I KNOW you wasdreamin', Pansy Blossom. That little dried-up Bangs man ain't worthmore'n ten cents, if that. "

"He ain't? How do you know he ain't?"

"Same as I know when that Lucy Larcom tomcat of Martha's has been in afight, by the looks of him. Look at the Bangs man's clothes, and--andhis hat--and--why, Godfreys mighty, he can't afford to get his hair cutoftener than once in three months! Anyhow, he don't. And you stand thereand tell me he come cruisin' in t'other night and commenced sheddin'million dollar bills all over the furniture. Where'd he get 'em to? Dig'em up over in the Baptist graveyard?"

"No, he never. He got 'em up to Boston. Leastways, I guess he did, 'cause that's where he went. And, besides, what do you know about howmuch he's worth? He may look kind of--of ratty, but all the same he'sgot rich relations. Why, one of his relations is head of the biggestbroke--I mean, brokin' and bank place there is in Boston. Cabot, Bancroft and--and Thingumbob is the name of it. And Miss Martha told me'twas--"

There was much more of this and the listener on the dining room couchheard it all. He remained on that couch until Miss Cash, at the backdoor of the kitchen, delivered her triumphant farewell. 

"So there now, Zach Bloomer, " she said, "I guess you believe now Ididn't dream it. And you needn't ask any more questions because Isha'n't tell you a single word. I promised Miss Martha I wouldn't nevertell and I'm goin' to keep my promise. "

That evening Martha approached her lodger on the subject of thepossibility of selling the light keeper's Development holdings forhim. To say the least, she received no encouragement. Galusha was quiteemphatic in his expression of disbelief in that possibility. 

"Oh, dear me, no, Miss Martha, " he stammered. "I--ah--I feel quitesure it would be unwise to--ah--attempt such a thing. You see--ah--yousee--my cousin is--is--"

"I know, he's sick, poor man, and shouldn't be disturbed. You're right, of course, Mr. Bangs. It was only that Cap'n Jeth had always been a goodfriend of father's and mine and I thought if Cabot, Bancroft and Cabotreally were buyin' the stock perhaps they might like to buy his. But Ican see why you wouldn't want to trouble Mr. Cabot again just now. I'msorry I mentioned it to you; I'm afraid I have made you nervous. "

Galusha was nervous, certainly, and showed it. He protested, however, that he was quite all right really, and, as his landlady did not mentionthe subject again, he recovered a portion of his equilibrium. And duringthe following week he gradually gained more and more confidence. Thetelltale certificate hidden in his bureau drawer was, of course, adrawback to his peace of mind, and the recollection of his recentoutbreak of prevarication and deception was always a weight upon hisconscience. But, to offset these, there was a changed air about thePhipps' home and its inmates which was so very gratifying that, if itdid not deaden that conscience, it, at least, administered to it aneffective dose of soothing syrup. 

Primmie wept no more into the dishwater nor sighed despairingly whenserving breakfast. She sang now and, although an unprejudiced personmight not have found the change an unmixed delight, Galusha did. MissPhipps sang, too, occasionally, not with the camp-meeting exuberance ofher maid, but with the cheery hum of the busy bee. She was happy; shesaid so and looked so, and, in spite of his guilty knowledge of thedeceit upon which that happiness was founded, her lodger was happybecause she was. 

"Do you know, " he observed, on Saturday morning of that week, as, coatedand capped for his daily walk, he stood by the door of the dining room, "it's quite extraordinary, really. I have been thinking, you know, andit really is quite extraordinary. "

Martha was sitting in the rocker by the window, the morning sunshinestreaming in through the leaves and blossoms of the potted plants on thebrackets dappling her hair and cheek with cheery splashes of light andshade. She was consulting the pages of her cookbook, as a preliminary topreparing a special dessert for Sunday's dinner, and was humming as shedid so. 

She looked up when he spoke. 

"What is extraordinary?" she asked. "Your thinkin', do you mean? I don'tsee anything very extraordinary about that. You're thinkin' most of thetime, seems to me. "

"Oh, I don't mean that. I meant what I was thinking was extraordinary. Or not precisely that, either. I--ah--I mean--well, you see, when Iwas in Washington--at the Institute, you know--it used to annoyme--ah--extremely, to have any one sing or whistle in my vicinity. Really, it did. I sometimes spoke very sharply--ah--irritably to anyone who did that. And now, as I stood here and heard you singing, Miss Martha, it suddenly came over me that I do not mind it at all. I--ah--actually like to hear you. I do, very much, indeed. Now, isn'tthat extraordinary!"

Martha laughed aloud. "Why, yes, " she declared; "I think it is. Anybodylikin' to hear me sing is about as extraordinary as anything that everwas, I guess. Mr. Bangs, you're awfully funny. "

Galusha nodded. "Yes, " he said, "I am sure I must be. I think if I wereany one else I should laugh at myself a great deal. I mean--ah--I meanin that case I should laugh, not at myself, but at me. Good gracious, Ihaven't made that very clear, have I?"

His smile was so contagious that she laughed again. 

"I didn't mean you were funny to laugh at, but to laugh with, " she said. "You're goin' to have an especially nice walk this mornin'. It's such alovely forenoon I almost wish I was goin' with you. "

Galusha beamed. "Why--why, so do I!" he exclaimed, in delightedsurprise. "Yes, I do, I do, indeed! Ah--ah--why don't you?"

"Mercy me, I couldn't think of it! I must stay here and get to cookin'or we'll have no puddin' to-morrow noon. I'll be with you in spirit, asthe books say; how will that do?"

Whether or not she was with him in spirit, she was very much in herlodger's thoughts as he walked down the path to the gate. It was such abeautiful forenoon, with the first promise of spring in the air, that, instead of starting toward the village, as was his usual custom, heturned in the other direction and strolled toward the lighthouse. Thesea view from the cliff edge should be magnificent on a morning likethis. 

But it was not of the view, or the beauty of the morning, that hethought as he wandered slowly on. His mind, for some reason or other, seemed to be filled with the picture of Martha Phipps as she sat in therocking-chair, with the background of old-fashioned plants and blossoms, and the morning sunshine illumining her pleasant, comely face. He couldvisualize every feature of that face, which fact was extremely odd, forit had been many years since he had noticed a female face sufficientlyfor that face to impress itself upon his memory. Years and years beforeGalusha Bangs had been forced to the conclusion that the interest ofattractive feminity was not for him and he had accepted the inevitableand never permitted his own interest to stray in that direction. Afew feminine faces he could, of course, recall; the face of his AuntClarissa, for instance, and--dear me, yes! that of the pestiferous Mrs. Worth Buckley, his--ah--not his "old man of the sea" exactly, but hisequally troublesome, middle-aged woman of the mountains. Mrs. Buckleyhad not attracted his notice, she had seized it, served a subpoena uponit, and his provokingly contrary memory persisted in recalling her face, probably because he so earnestly desired to forget it. 

But he found a real pleasure in visualizing the face of Miss MarthaPhipps. Her eyes now--her eyes were--ah--um--they were blue; no, theywere gray--or a sort of gray-blue, perhaps, or even a shade of brown. But the precise color made no real difference. It was the way theylooked at one, and--ah--smiled, so to speak. Odd, because he had neverbefore realized that one could--ah--smile with one's eyes. Attractive, too, that smile of hers, the eyes and the lips in combination. A sort ofcheerful, comfortable smile--yes, and--ah--attractive--ah--inviting, as one might say; a homelike smile; that was the word hewanted--"homelike. " It had been a long, long time since he had had ahome. As a matter of fact, he had not cared to have one. A tent in Egyptor Syria, furnished with a mummy or two, and with a few neighborly ruinsnext door--this had been his idea of comfort. It was his idea still, butnevertheless--

And then he became aware that from somewhere, apparently from theheavens above, a voice was shouting--yes, roaring--his name. 

"Mr. Bangs!. .. Hi-i, Mr. Bangs!"

Galusha came out of his walking dream, stared about him, found that hehad walked almost to the fence surrounding the light keeper's home andwould have collided with that fence in another stride or two, lookedaround, down, and finally up--to see Captain Jethro leaning over theiron rail surrounding the lantern room at the top of the lighthouse. 

"Oh! Why--ah--good gracious!" he exclaimed. "Were you calling me, Captain Hallett?"

Captain Jethro shook his big head. "Callin'!" he repeated. "I've beenbellerin' like the foghorn for five minutes. A little more of it andI'd have run out of steam or bust a b'iler, one or t'other. Ain't beenstruck deef, have you, Mr. Bangs?"

"No--ah--no, I trust not. I was--ah--thinking, I presume, and I did nothear you. I'm very sorry. "

"That's all right. Glad you was only thinkin' and no worse. I didn'tknow but you'd been struck by walkin' paralysis or somethin'. Say, "he leaned further over the rail and lowered his voice. "Say, " he saidagain, "would you mind comin' up here a minute? I want to talk to you. "

Mr. Bangs did not mind and, entering the round tower, he climbed thespiral stair to the little room at the top. The great lantern, with itsglittering facets and lenses filled that room almost entirely, and thelight keeper's great form filled it still more. There was scarcely spacefor little Galusha to squeeze in. 

Jethro explained that he had been cleaning the lantern. "It's Zacheus'job really, " he observed, "but I have to do it myself once in a whileto keep it shipshape. Say, " he added, opening the door which led to thebalcony, "look out yonder. Worth lookin' at, ain't it?"

It was. The morning was dry and clear, a brisk wind from the west, andnot a cloud. The lighthouse, built as it was upon the knoll at the edgeof the bluff, seemed to be vastly higher than it actually was, and totower far above all else until the view from its top was almost likethat from an aeroplane. The horizon swept clear and unbroken for threequarters of a circle, two of those quarters the sharp blue rim of theocean meeting the sky. The white wave-crests leaped and twinkled anddanced for miles and miles. Far below on the yellow sand of the beach, the advancing and retreating breakers embroidered lacy patterns whichchanged constantly. 

"Worth looking at, ain't it?" repeated the captain. 

Galusha nodded. "Indeed it is, " he said, with emphasis. Yet it surprisedhim slightly to find the gruff old light keeper enthusiastic concerninga scene which must be so very much a matter of course to him. 

"The Almighty done a good job when He built that, " observed CaptainJethro, waving his hand toward the Atlantic. "Don't never get tiredof lookin' at salt water, I don't, and yet I've been in it or on it oraround it pretty much all my life. And now I'm up above it, " he added, thoughtfully. "We're pretty high up where we are now, Mr. Bangs. I liketo set up here and--er--well, kind of think about things, sometimes. .. . Humph!. .. Do you cal'late we're any nigher when we're up aloft here thanwe are down on the ground yonder; nigher to THEM, I mean?"

His visitor was puzzled. "I--I beg your pardon?" he stammered. "Nigher--ah--nearer to--ah--what?"

"Nigher to them--them that's gone afore. Seems sometimes, when I'm aloneup here, particular of a foggy day, as if I was consider'ble nigherto them--to HER, especial--than when I'm on the ground. Think there'sanything in it, do you?"

Galusha said he didn't know; we know so little about such things, really. He wondered what the captain had invited him up there to talkabout. Some spiritualistic subject, very likely; the conversation seemedto be tending that way. Jethro appeared to have forgotten altogetherthe seance and his, Galusha's, assumption of the character of the small, dark "evil influence. " It looked very much as if that assumption--so faras it entailed the permanent shifting of prejudice from Nelson Howard tohimself--had been effort wasted. 

Captain Jeth pulled at his beard and seemed to be dreaming. Galushapitied the old fanatic as he stood there, massive, rugged, brows drawntogether, sturdy legs apart as if set to meet the roll of a ship atsea--a strong figure, yet in a way the figure of a wistful, dreamingchild, helpless--

"Mr. Bangs, " said the light keeper, "don't you cal'late, if you set outto, you could sell my four hundred Wellmouth Development same as yousold Martha's two hundred and fifty?"

Galusha would have sat down, if there had been anything except the floorto sit down on. As a matter of fact, even that consideration might nothave prevented his sitting; his knees bent suddenly and he was on hisway to the floor, but his shoulders struck the wall behind him andfurnished the support he so very much needed. So far as speech wasconcerned, that was out of the question. His mouth opened and shut, butnothing audible issued therefrom. Mr. Bangs, at that moment, gave a verygood imitation of a fish unexpectedly jerked out of deep water to dry, very dry land. 

Captain Jethro did not seem to realize the effect of his question uponhis visitor. His big fist moved downward from his chin to the tip of hisbeard, only to rise and take a new hold at the chin again. His gaze wasfixed upon the rolling sea outside. 

"You see, " he went on, "I kind of figger it out this way: If them folkswho bought Martha's stock are cal'latin' to buy up Development they'llwant more'n two hundred and fifty. I'll sell 'em mine at a reasonablefigger; sha'n't ask much over what I paid for it, I sha'n't. If theyain't buyin' for anything 'special, but just 'cause they think it's agood thing to keep--well, then--"

Galusha interrupted. The faculty of framing words and uttering them wasreturning to him, albeit slowly and jerkily. 

"Why--why, Captain Hallett, " he faltered. "How--how--who--who--"

"Martha didn't tell me nothin' except that she had sold her stock, "broke in the light keeper. "I guessed that, too, afore she told me. She never mentioned your name, Mr. Bangs, nor where she sold it, nornothin'. But, of course, when I found out 'twas you who went toBoston and fetched home the five thousand dollars I didn't need to betold--much. Now, Mr. Bangs, I wish you'd see if you can't sell my fourhundred shares for me. It'll be consider'ble of a favor if you will. Yousee, them shares--"

But Galusha did not wait for him to finish. His alarmed protests fairlytumbled over each other. 

"Why--why, Captain Hallett, " he cried, "really I--I. .. Ah. .. What youask is quite impossible. Oh, very much so--ah--very. You see. .. Well, really, I. .. Captain Hallett, this entire matter was supposed to be asecret, an absolute secret. I am surprised--and--ah--shocked to learn--"

The captain's big paw was uplifted as a signal. "Sshh! Heave to! Come upinto the wind a minute, Mr. Bangs. 'Tis a secret, fur's I'm consarned, and 'twill be just the same after I've sold my stock. I realize thatbusiness men don't want business matters talked about, 'tain't likely. All I'd like to have you do is just see if you can't dispose of thatfour hundred of mine, same as you done with Martha's. Just as a favorI'm askin' it. "

Galusha shook his head violently. His agitation was as great as ever. After going through the agony of the frying pan and congratulatinghimself that that torment was over, then to find he had escaped merelyinto the fire was perfectly maddening--not to say frightening--and--oh, dear, dear, dear!

"Really, I'm very sorry, very, " he reiterated. "But I am QUITE sure Ican do nothing with your shares, Captain Hallett. It--it--such a thingwould be absolutely impossible. I'm sorry. "

Captain Jethro's calm was unshaken. "We-ll, " he said, slowly, "I ain'taltogether surprised. Course I could see that maybe you wouldn't want togo cruisin' up to them folks again, 'specially they bein' relations. Idon't blame you for that, Mr. Bangs. But, in case you did feel that way, I'd made up my mind I'd go up there myself and see 'em. "

"Eh? Ah--ah--See? See whom?"

"Why, them relations of yours. Them Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot folks. I know OF 'em; everybody that knows anything about bankin' does, ofcourse. I don't know any of 'em personal, but I cal'lated maybe you'dbe willin' to give me a note, a letter introducin' me, you see. ThenI could tell 'em why I come, and how I wanted to talk with 'em aboutsellin' some more of the same stock they sold for you. That would be allright, wouldn't it, Mr. Bangs?"

Galusha did not answer. The absolute hopelessness of the situation wasbeginning to force itself upon his understanding. Whether or not he gavethe letter of introduction, the light keeper would go to Cabot, Bancroftand Cabot--oh, how on earth did he ever learn that THEY had anythingto do with it?--and begin talkin' about Martha Phipps' stock; and theywould deny knowing anything of it; and then the captain would persist, giving details; and Barbour and Minor and the rest would guess the truthand probably write Thomas, who would eventually tell Cousin Gussie; andthe light keeper would return home and tell Martha, and she would learnthat he had lied to her and deceived her--

"Well, what do you say, Mr. Bangs?" inquired Captain Jethro. 

Bangs turned a haggard gaze in the speaker's direction. The latter wasstanding in exactly the same attitude, feet apart, hand to beard, sadeyes gazing out to sea; just as he had stood when Galusha's sympathy hadgone out to him as a "helpless, dreaming child. "

"What are you laughin' at?" asked Captain Jeth, switching his gaze fromold ocean to the face of the little archaeologist. 

Galusha had not laughed, but there was a smile, a wan sort of smile, upon his face. 

"Oh, nothing in particular, " he replied. "I was reflecting thatit seemed rather too bad to waste pity in quarters where it wasnot--ah--needed, when there was such a pressing demand, as one mightsay, at home. "

CHAPTER XIII

The earnest young man behind the counter in the office of Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot--the young man who had so definitely classifiedGalusha Bangs as a "nut"--was extremely surprised when that individualreappeared before his window and, producing the very check which he hadobtained there so short a time before, politely requested to exchangeit for eighty-two hundred dollars in cash and another check for thebalance. 

"Why--why--but--!" exclaimed the young man. 

"Thank you. Yes, if--ah--if you will be so good, " said Galusha. 

The young man himself asked questions, and then called Mr. Minor intoconsultation, and Mr. Minor asked more. The answers they received werenot illuminating, but in the end the transaction was made as requested. 

"But, Bangs, " said Minor, laughing, "what I can't understand is why youwant to bother with the check for eleven hundred and odd--whatever itis. Why not take the whole amount in cash and be done with it?"

Galusha shook his head. "I prefer it the--ah--other way. If you don'tmind, " he added, politely. 

"Oh, we don't mind. But--well, it seems rather funny, that's all. Ha, ha!"

"Does it? Yes, I--ah--dare say it does. "

"Ha, ha! Yes, rather. Of course, it is your business, you know, but--"

He laughed again. The harassed Galusha waited until the laugh was over. Then he said, gently, "Yes, I was under that impression. "

"Eh? What impression?"

"That it was, as you say, my--ah--business. "

"Yes. Why. .. Eh? Oh!. .. Humph!. .. Why, yes, surely, certainly. Here, "turning briskly to the clerk, "give Mr. Bangs what he wishes at once. "

He walked away, pulling thoughtfully at his mustache. Galusha, rubbinghis chin, looked gravely after him. The clerk began making out thecheck. This done and the check entrusted to a messenger to be taken tothe private office for signing, the next business was the counting ofthe money. 

"Eighty-two hundred, you said?" asked the clerk. 

"Eighty-two hundred--ah--yes, " said Galusha. 

Eight thousand was, of course, the price at par of Jethro Hallett'sfour hundred shares of Wellmouth Development stock. The additional twohundred was a premium paid, so to speak, to the departed spirit of thelate Mrs. Jethro Hallett. She, by or through the Chinese control of MissMarietta Hoag, had notified her husband that he was destined to sell hisDevelopment shares at a profit, a small profit perhaps, but a profit, nevertheless. 

So, when at that point of their conversation in the lantern room of theGould's Bluffs light, Galusha, recognizing his helpless position and thealternative of buying the Hallett holdings or being exposed to CousinGussie as a sentimental and idiotic spendthrift and to Martha Phipps asa liar and criminal--when Galusha, facing this alternative, stammered awillingness to go to Boston and see if he could not dispose of Jethro'sstock as he had Martha's, the captain added an additional clause. 

"I won't sell for par, " he declared stubbornly. "Julia revealed to methat I wouldn't, and so I sha'n't. I'll sell for fifty cents a shareextry, but I won't sell for twenty flat. Rather than do that I'll goto them Cabot folks myself and see if I can't find out who's buyin' andwhy. Then I'll go to the real buyers and make the best trade I can withthem. If they really want to get hold of that stock, fifty cents a sharewon't stand in their way, I'll bet you. "

It did not stand in Galusha's way, either. In his desperate position hewould have paid any amount obtainable rather than have the light keepergo to Boston on such an errand. 

Leaving the clerk's window with his pocket bulging with bank notes, Mr. Bangs proceeded sadly, but with determination, to the private officeof Mr. Barbour, his cousin's "second secretary. " There, producing fromanother pocket a huge envelope, portentously daubed and sealed with redwax, he handed it to Barbour. It contained the two stock certificates, each signed in blank, Martha's for two hundred and fifty shares, CaptainJethro's for four hundred. The envelope and the wax he had procured at astationer's near the South Station. The obliging salesman had permittedhim to do the sealing on the premises. 

"Mr. Barbour, " he faltered, "I should like to leave this with you, if--if quite convenient, that is to say. "

Barbour turned the big envelope over. 

"Yes, Mr. Bangs, surely, " he said, but he looked puzzled. "What is it?"

Galusha blushed and stammered. "Why--why--" he began; "I--ah--yousee--it is--ah--something of mine. "

"Something you wish me to take care of?" asked Barbour, still looking atthe envelope. 

His caller grasped at the straw. 

"Yes--yes, that is it, " he said, eagerly. "Dear me, yes. If you will beso kind. "

"Yes, indeed, Mr. Bangs. No trouble at all. I'll put it--"

But the little man stopped the sentence in the middle. 

"If--if you please, " he protested. "Ah--please don't. I don't wish toknow where you put it. Really, I don't, not in the least. I very muchprefer not to know where it is. .. . Ah--good-day, Mr. Barbour. Thank youvery much. "

The general opinion in the office of Cabot, Bancroft and Cabotconcerning the senior partner's queer cousin was strengthened by thisvisit. The surmise that Galusha Bangs was a "nut" became a conviction. 

But, for the "nut" himself, life during the coming weeks and monthsbecame a much less worrisome struggle. Returning to East Wellmouth, for the second time laden with legal tender, he delivered his burden toCaptain Jethro, who, in return, promised faithfully never to reveal aword concerning the sale of his Development stock or drop a hint whichmight help to locate its purchasers. 

"Course I won't say nothin', " vowed the captain. "I realize thatbusiness men don't want their business talked about. And if them Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot folks are tryin' to buy in the stock, whether it'sfor themselves or somebody else, they'll want it kept dark. No, I ain'ttold a soul on this earth and I WON'T tell one. That is satisfactory, ain't it?"

The shadow of a smile passed across Galusha's face. "Quite, quite, " hereplied. "Nothing could be more so unless--"

"Well, unless what?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing. Thank you--ah--thank you very much. "

It had occurred to him that, considering the light keeper'speculiarities, the promise not to tell a soul on earth might bestretched to include those elsewhere; but he kept the thought tohimself. Captain Jethro did not press his question. The shrewdold captain was so thoroughly delighted at having sold, and at theprophesied profit, his troublesome holdings in the Wellmouth DevelopmentCompany, that his mood was neither combative nor inquisitive. 

Galusha did not tell Miss Phipps of his business deal with the lightkeeper. In the first place, his telling her would involve more deceptionand, also, might lead to more possibilities of discovery. The average, well-meaning person, having been driven by relentless fate to thecommitting of murder, could scarcely have felt more conscience-strickenand depraved than did little Galusha Bangs at having lied to MarthaPhipps. Of course, the lies and deceit had resulted in a distinctbenefit to her and had been perpetrated solely with that idea, but thisfact he ignored entirely. And no murderer could have been more anxiousto hide his guilty secret than was he. So, for the first few daysafter his return with the light keeper's money, he was inclined to bethoughtful and nervous, to fall into troubled trances at table or inthe middle of a conversation, and to start rather violently when arousedfrom those trances. Primmie was disposed to attribute these lapses todisease. She confided her fears to her employer. 

"You know what I think 'tis makes him act so, Miss Martha?" she asked, on one occasion. 

"Makes who act how?"

"Makes Mr. Bangs set there and go moonin' off and not pay no attentionand then jump when you wake him up as if you'd stuck a pin in him. Youknow what I think 'tis? I think maybe it's dropsy. "

"WHAT?"

"Um-hm. I had a great-aunt once; had a slew of 'em, fur's that goes, 'cause my grandmother on the starboard side--"

"WHAT side?"

"Eh! Oh, that's what pa used to call his side of the family, thestarboard side. All ma's folks was port side, 'cordin' to his tell. He'd worked aboard vessels, pa had; that is, as much as he ever workedanywheres. Well, anyhow, his grandmother she had eight sisters and threebrothers, so I had great-aunts thicker'n miskeeters in a swamp hole--mysavin' soul, yes! Well, anyhow, one of 'em, Aunt Lucifer 'twas--"

"PRIMMIE! WHAT was her name?"

"Lucifer. Ma and us children always called her Aunt Lucy, though; sheliked it better. "

"Heavens and earth! I should think she might. WHAT possessed anybody toname a child Lucifer? And a girl-child at that!"

"Does sound kind of funny, don't it? Folks 'most always used to laughwhen they heard what her name was. That is, fust along they did; butthey never laughed but once when she was around. Talk about makin'anybody mad! And temper--my Lord of Isrul! Why, if they laughed ather name she was li'ble to grab hold of the fust thing come to hand, flatiron or frying pan or chunk of stove wood or anything, and let 'emhave it rattlety-bang-jing. _I_ never seen her do it, of course--allthat was afore MY time--but pa used to say it never made no differencewhether 'twas the man come tryin' to collect the store bill or theminister or anybody, she'd up and flatten him just the same. Course pasaid 'twas a whole lot more li'ble to be the bill man than the minister'cause there was precious few ministers ever--"

"There, there, Primmie! I can't stop to listen any longer, I'm busy. Butdo tell me why they named the poor thing Lucifer? How did they ever hearthe name, anyway; way over in those Mashpaug woods?"

"Oh, there was a story about that, kind of a pretty story 'twas, too. 'Cordin' to pa's tell, the fust time Aunt Lucy's ma--my greatgrandmother, and the land knows what HER name was, _I_ don't--the fusttime she went out after the baby was born she went to camp meetin'. Andone of the ministers there he talked some consider'ble about a crittername of Lucifer that was a fallen-down angel, whatever that is. Well, mygreat-grandmother she didn't understand much about what he was talkin'about--I cal'late none of 'em did fur's that goes, and no wonder--butthe name of Lucifer sort of stuck in her head 'cause she thought 'twaskind of pretty. And when she got back home they told her the baby hadfetched loose from the bed where it had been asleep and fell onto thefloor and pretty nigh busted itself in two. And it never hardly criedat all--was a reg'lar angel they said--and that made her think about thefallen-down angel she'd just heard tell of to camp meetin' and its namewas Lucifer. And they hadn't named the baby yet, so--"

"I see. Ha, ha! Primmie, you are--well, there aren't many like you, I'msure. Now I must go. Well, what is it?"

"Oh, nothin', only I ain't told you why I think Mr. Bangs may be comin'down with dropsy. You see, Aunt Lucy--this Lucifer one I've been tellin'you about--she had it. I only remember her 'long towards her last. Shewan't heavin' any teakittles at folks then; my savin' soul, no! She usedto set in a big rockin'-chair over by the stove and was all puffed-uplike--like a featherbed, you might say; and she'd kind of doze along anddoze along and you could holler your head off and she wouldn't pay noattention, and then she'd kind of wake up, as you might say, and singout, 'Hey? What say?' just like Mr. Bangs, for all the world. And 'twasdropsy she had, so now you see, don't you, Miss Martha?"

"Yes, yes, Primmie, I see. Tut, tut, tut! You certainly have a greatimagination, of its kind. I shouldn't worry about Mr. Bangs' disease, ifI were you. The poor man isn't really strong yet and he has been runnin'back and forth to Boston lately altogether too much for his own good. Heis tired and his nerves are tired, too; so we must make it as easy as wecan for him, Primmie, you and I. "

"Yes'm. He's a good man, ain't he?"

"Indeed he is!"

"Yes'm. Even if he is so kind of--of funny. "

Often, in earlier conversations with her housemaid, Miss Phipps hadagreed that her lodger was, to say the least, "funny"; but now sheseemed to resent the word. 

"Humph!" she observed, crisply, "if he is, I presume likely he has theright to be. And I know this, if there were more 'funny' people likehim in this world it would be a big improvement. Primmie, go and do yoursweepin'. "

CHAPTER XIV

With the end of the following week spring came in earnest to Gould'sBluffs, not yet as a steady boarder--spring in New England is a younglady far too fickle for that--but to make the first of her series ofever-lengthening visits. Galusha found her, indeed, a charming youngperson. His walks now were no longer between snowdrifts or over frozenfields and hills. Those hills and fields were still bare and brown, ofcourse, but here and there, in sheltered hollows, tiny bits of new greenbegan to show. In April, by disturbing the layers of dead leaves andsodden vegetation through which these hints of greenness peeped, one waslikely to come upon fragrant treasures, the pink and white blossoms ofthe trailing arbutus. 

There was a superfluity of mud, of course, and as Miss Phipps ofteninformed him, Galusha's boots and lower trouser legs were "sights tosee" when he came back from those walks. He expressed contrition andalways proclaimed that he should be much more careful in future--muchmore, yes. But he was not, nor did he care greatly. He was feeling quitewell again, better than he had felt for years, and spring was in hismiddle-aged blood and was rejuvenating him, just as it was rejuvenatingthe world and its creatures about him, including Lucy Larcom, Martha'sancient and rheumatic Thomas cat. Lucy--an animal as misnamed asPrimmie's "Aunt Lucifer"--instead of slumbering peacefully andrespectably in his cushioned box in the kitchen, which had been hiscustom of winter nights, now refused to come in at bedtime, ignored hismistress' calls altogether, and came rolling home in the morning withslit ears and scarred hide and an air of unrepentant and dissipatedabandon. 

Galusha, inspecting the prodigal's return one morning, observed: "Luce, when I first met you, you reminded me strongly of my Aunt Clarissa. Theair of--ah--dignity and respectable disapproval with which you looked meover was much like hers. But now--now, if you wore a hat on one side andan--ah--exuberant waistcoat, you would remind me more of Mr. Pulcifer. "

With April came the fogs, and the great foghorn bellowed and howlednight after night. Galusha soon learned to sleep through the racket. Itwas astonishing, his capacity for sleep and his capability in sleepingup to capacity. His appetite, too, was equally capable. He was, in fact, feeling so very well that his conscience began troubling himconcerning his duty to the Institute. He wrote to the directors of thatestablishment suggesting that, as his health was so greatly improved, perhaps he had better return to his desk. The reply was prompt. Thedirectors were, so the letter said, much pleased to hear of his improvedhealth, but they wished him to insure the permanence of that improvementby remaining away for another six months at least. "We have, " the writeradded, "a plan, not yet definite and complete, although approaching thatcondition, which will call for your knowledge and experienced guidance. Our plan will probably materialize in the fall or winter. I can say nomore concerning it now, except to add that we feel sure that it willbe acceptable to you and that you should take every precaution to gainstrength and health as a preparatory measure. "

Galusha could not guess what the plan might be, but he was a bitsurprised to find himself so willing to agree to the directors' mandatethat he remain in East Wellmouth for the present. His beloved desk inhis beloved study there in Washington had been torn from him, or ratherhe had been torn from it, and for a time it had really seemed as if thepangs of severance might prove fatal. By all that was fit and proper heshould fiercely resent the order to remain away for another six months. But he did not resent it fiercely; did not resent it at all; in fact, tobe quite honest, he welcomed it. He was inwardly delighted to be orderedto remain in East Wellmouth. Such a state of mind was surprising, quitenonunderstandable. 

And, day by day and week by week, the fear that his guilty secretconcerning the Wellmouth Development stock might be discovered becameless and less acute. Captain Jethro never mentioned it; Martha Phipps, when she found that he preferred not to discuss it, kept quiet, also. Perhaps, after all, no one would ever know anything about it. And thechange in Martha's spirits was glorious to see. 

He and Lulie Hallett had many quiet talks together. Ever since theevening of the seance when, partially by craft and partially by luck, he had prevented her father's discovering young Howard's presence inthe house, she had unreservedly given him her friendship. And this giftGalusha appreciated. He had liked her when they first met and the likinghad increased. She was a sensible, quiet, unaffected country girl. Shewas also an extremely pretty girl, and when a very pretty girl--andsensible and unaffected and the rest--makes you her confidant and asksyour advice concerning her love affair and her heart's most precioussecrets, even a middle-aged "mummy duster, " whose interest in the femalesex has, until very recently, centered upon specimens of that sex whohave been embalmed several thousand years--even such a one cannot helpbeing gratified by the subtle flattery. 

So when Lulie asked his advice Galusha gave it, such as he happened tohave in stock, whole-heartedly and without reserve. He and she had manychats and the subjects of these chats were almost invariably two--herfather and Nelson Howard. How could she reconcile the one with and tothe other? Mr. Bangs' council was, of course, to wait and hope, buta council of procrastination is, to say the most, but partiallysatisfying. 

One afternoon, in the middle of May, he met her on the way back from thevillage and, as they walked on together, he asked her if there were anynew developments in the situation. She looked troubled. 

"I don't exactly know what you mean by developments, " she said. "If youmean that father is any more reconciled to Nelson, he isn't, that's all. On any other subject he is as nice as he can be. If I wanted anything inthe world, and he had money enough to buy it, I do believe I could haveit just for the asking. That is a good deal to say, " she added, with ahalf smile, "considering how fond father is of money, but honestly, Mr. Bangs, I think it's true. "

Galusha declared that he had no doubt of its truth, indeed, no. 

"But, you see, " continued Lulie, "the one thing I do want--which is forfather to like Nelson--can't be bought with money. I try to talk withhim, and argue with him; sometimes when he is especially good-naturedand has been especially nice to me, I try to coax him, but it alwaysends in one way; he gets cross and won't listen. 'Don't talk to meabout that Howard swab, I won't hear it. ' That's what he always says. Healways calls Nelson a 'swab. ' Oh, dear! I'm so tired of it all. "

"Yes--ah--yes, I'm sure you must be. Ah--um--swab? Swab? It doesn'tsound agreeable. What is a--ah--swab, may I ask?"

"Oh, I believe it's a kind of mop that the sailors use aboard ship toclean decks with. I believe that is what it is. "

"Indeed? Yes, yes, of course. Now that is quite interesting, isn't it?A mop--yes. But really, I don't see why Mr. Howard should be calleda--ah--mop. There is nothing about him which suggests a mop to me. Nowin my case--why, this very morning Miss Mar--Miss Phipps suggested thatmy hair needed cutting very badly. I hadn't noticed it, myself, but whenshe called my attention I looked in the mirror and--ah--really, I wasquite a sight. Ah--shaggy, you know, like a--like a yak. "

"A what?"

"A yak. The--ah--Tibetan animal. I spent a season in Tibet a numberof years ago and they use them there for beasts of burden. They have agreat deal of hair, you know, and so did I--ah--this morning. Dear me, yes; I was quite yaklike. "

Lulie turned an amused glance at him. "So Martha tells you when--"she began, and then stopped, having spoken without thinking. But hercompanion was not offended. 

"Oh, yes, yes, " he said cheerfully. "She tells me many things for my owngood. She quite manages me. It is extremely good of her, for goodnessknows I need it. Dear me, yes!" He thoughtfully rubbed his shorn neckand added, "I told that barber that my hair needed cutting badly. I--ah--fear that is the way he cut it. .. . I read that joke in the paper, Miss Lulie; it isn't original, really. "

He smiled and she burst out laughing. But she did not laugh long. Whenshe next spoke she was serious enough. 

"Mr. Bangs, " she said, "you don't think it dishonorable, or mean tofather, for me to keep on seeing Nelson, do you? Father keeps orderingme not to, but I never say I won't. If he asked me I should tell himthat I did. "

Galusha's answer was promptly given. 

"No, I don't think it dishonorable, " he said. "Of course, you must seehim. It is too bad that you are obliged to see him in--ah--ah--dear me, what is the word I want? Clan--clan--sounds Scottish, doesn'tit?--oh, yes, clandestine! It is too bad you are obliged to see himclandestinely, but I suppose your father's attitude makes anything elseimpossible. I am very sorry that my claiming to be the evil influencehas had so little effect. That was a mistake, I fear. "

"Don't say that, Mr. Bangs. You saved us all from a dreadful scene, andfather himself from--I hate to think what. Don't ever say that it was amistake, please. But I do so hate all this hiding and pretending. Someday it will have to end, but how I don't know. Nelson comes first, of course; but how can I leave father? I shall see him--Nelson, Imean--to-night, Mr. Bangs. He has written me saying he is coming over, and I am going to meet him. He says he has good news. I can't think whatit can be. I can't think of any good news that could come for him andme, except that father has stopped believing in Marietta Hoag'sspirits and has gotten over his ridiculous prejudice; and that WON'Tcome--ever. "

"Oh, yes, it will! I'm sure it will. Dear me, you mustn't lose heart, you know. "

"Mustn't I? No, I suppose I mustn't. Thank you, Mr. Bangs. Nelson and Iare ever and ever so much obliged to you. You are a great comfort to me. I told Martha that very thing yesterday, " she added. 

Galusha could not help looking pleased. "Did you, indeed?" he observed. "Well, well--ah--dear me, that was a rather rash statement, wasn't it?"

"Not a bit. And do you want to know what she said? She said you were agreat comfort to a good many people, Mr. Bangs. So there; you see!"

That evening the moon rolled, like a silver bowl, over the liquid rim ofthe horizon, and, upsetting, spilled shimmering, shining, dancingfire in a broad path from sky edge to the beach at the foot of Gould'sBluffs. At the top of that bluff, in the rear of a clump of bayberrybushes which shielded them from the gaze of possible watchers at thelighthouse, Nelson Howard and Lulie, walking slowly back and forth, sawit rise. 

Nelson told her the good news he had mentioned in his letter. It wasthat he had been offered a position as operator at the great wirelessstation in Trumet. It was what he had been striving for and hoping forand his war record in the radio service had made it possible for himto obtain it. The pay was good to begin with and the prospect ofadvancement bright. 

"And, of course, the best of it is, " he said, "that I shall be nofurther away from you than I am now. Trumet isn't a bit farther thanSouth Wellmouth. There! Don't you think that my good news IS good news?"

Of course she did and said so. 

"And I'm awfully proud of you, too, " she told him. 

"Nothing to be proud of; I'm lucky, that's all. And don't you see, dear, how this is going to help us? I shall be earning good pay and I shallsave every cent possible, you can bet on that. Rooms are furnished bythe company for single men, and houses, nice, comfortable houses, forthe married ones. In three months, or in six at the most, I shall haveadded enough to what I have saved already to make it possible for us tobe married. And we WILL be married. Just think of you and me having oneof those pretty little houses for our own, and being there together, inour home! Just think of it! Won't it be wonderful!"

He looked down into her face and smiled and she, looking up into his, smiled, too. But she shook her head, nevertheless. 

"Yes, dear, " she said, "it would be wonderful. But it's too wonderful tobe true, I'm afraid. "

"Why? Nonsense! Of course it can be true. And it's going to be, too, insix months, perhaps sooner. "

But still she shook her head. 

"It can't be, Nelson, " she said, sadly. "Don't you see it can't? Thereis father. "

"Your father will be all right. That's one of the good things about thisnew job of mine. You will be only a little way from him. He'll be hereat the light, with Zach to look after him, and you can come over everyfew days to make sure things are going as they should. Why--"

She touched his lips with her fingers. 

"Don't, dear, " she begged. "You know you're only talking just becauseit is nice to make-believe. I like to hear you, too; but what is the usewhen it's ONLY make-believe? You know what father's health reallyis; you know how nervous he is. Doctor Powers told me he must not beoverexcited or--or dreadful things might happen. You saw him at thathorrid seance thing. "

He shrugged. "If I didn't see I heard, " he admitted. 

"Yes, you heard. And you know how near--Now suppose I should tell himthat you and I intended getting married and going to Trumet to live;what do you think would happen?"

"But, look here, Lulie: You've got to tell him some time, because we AREgoing to be married, you know. "

"Are we? Yes, I--I hope we are. But, oh, Nelson, sometimes I get almostdiscouraged. I CAN'T leave him in that way, you know that. And, in asense, I don't want to leave him, because he is my father and I lovehim. "

"But, confound it, you love me, too, don't you?"

"You know I do. But--but--oh, dear! What can I do?"

He did not answer at once. After a moment he said, rebelliously: "Youhave got your own life to live. Your father has lived the biggest partof his. He hasn't any right to prevent your being happy. It would bedifferent if he had any excuse for it, reasonable excuse. I'm a--well, I'm not a thief--or a fool, quite, I hope. I can provide for youcomfortably and I'll do my level best to be a good husband to you. Ifthere was any excuse for his hating me, any except that idiotic spiritcraziness of his. And what right has he to order you around? A hundredyears or so ago fathers used to order their sons and daughters to marrythis one or the other, and if they didn't mind they disinherited 'em, orthrew 'em out of doors, or some such stuff. At least, that's the way itworked, according to the books and plays. But that doesn't go nowadays. What right has he--"

But again she touched his lips. 

"Don't, Nelson, please, " she said, gently. "Rights haven't anything todo with it, of course. You know they haven't, don't you? You know it'sjust--just that things are AS they are and that's all. If father was ashe used to be, his real self, and he behaved toward you as he is doing, I shouldn't hesitate at all. I should marry you and feel I was doingexactly right. But now--"

She stopped and he, stooping, caught a gleam of moisture where themoonlight touched her cheek. He put his arm about her waist. 

"Don't, dear, " he said, hastily. "I'm sorry. Forgive me, will you? Ofcourse you're dead right and I've been talking like a jackass. I'llbehave, honest I will. .. . But what ARE we going to do? I won't give youup, you know, no matter if every spirit control in--in wherever theycome from orders me to. "

She smiled. "Of course we're not going to give each other up, " shedeclared. "As for what we're going to do, I don't know. I suppose thereis nothing to do for the present except to wait and--and hope father maychange his mind. That's all, isn't it?"

He shook his head. "Waiting is a pretty slow game, " he said. "I wonder, if I pretended to fall in love with Marietta Hoag, if those Chinesespooks of hers would send word to Cap'n Jeth that I was really a fairlydecent citizen. Courting Marietta would be hard medicine to take, but ifit worked a cure we might try it. What do you think?"

"I should be afraid that the remedy might be worse than the disease. Once in Marietta's clutches how would you get away?"

"Oh, that would be easy. I'd have Doctor Powers swear that I had beensuffering from temporary softening of the brain and wasn't accountablefor what I'd been doing. "

"She might not believe it. "

"Maybe not, but everybody else would. Nothing milder than softening ofthe brain would account for a fellow's falling in love with MariettaHoag. "

A little later, as they were parting, she said, "Nelson, you're anawfully dear fellow to be so thoughtful and forbearing and--and patient. Sometimes I think I shouldn't let you wait for me any longer. "

"Let me! How are you going to stop me? Of course I'll wait for you. You're the only thing worth waiting for in the world. Don't you knowthat?"

"I know you think so. But, oh, dear, it seems sometimes as if therenever would be any end to the waiting, and as if I had no right toask--"

"There, there! Don't YOU begin talking about rights. There's going to bean end and the right kind of end. No Chinese spooks are going to keep usapart, my girl, not if I can help it. "

"I know. But can you help it?. .. I must go now. Yes, I must, or fatherwill wonder where I am and begin looking for me. He thinks I am over atMartha Phipps', you know. Good-night, dear. "

"Good-night, girlie. Don't worry, it's coming out all right for us, I'msure of it. This new job of mine is the first step in that direction. There! Kiss me and run along. Good-night. "

They kissed and parted, Lulie to hasten back along the path to thelight and Nelson to stride off in the opposite direction toward SouthWellmouth. Neither of them saw two figures which had, the moment before, appeared upon the summit of the knoll about thirty yards from the edgeof the bluff and directly behind them. But the pair on the knoll sawthem. 

Martha Phipps had been standing by the window of the sitting room in herhome looking out. She had been standing there for some minutes. GalushaBangs, in the rocking-chair by the center table, was looking at her. Suddenly Martha spoke. 

"I declare!" she exclaimed. "I do believe that's the loveliest moon Iever saw. I presume likely, " she added, with a laugh, "it's the samemoon I've always seen; it just looks lovelier, that's all, seems to me. It will be beautiful to look at from the top of the bluff, the light onthe water, I mean. You really ought to walk over and see it, Mr. Bangs. "

Galusha hesitated, rubbed his spectacles, and then was seized with aninspiration. 

"I--I will if you will go, too, " he said. 

Martha turned to see if he was in earnest. 

"Mercy me!" she exclaimed. "Why should I go? I've seen that moon on thatsame water more times than I like to count. "

"But you haven't seen it--ah--recently. Now have you?"

"Why, no, I don't know as I have. Come to think of it, I don't believeI've been over to the top of the bank to see the moonlight since--well, since father died. Father loved to look at salt water by sunlightor moonlight--or no light. But, good gracious, " she added, "it seemsawfully foolish, doesn't it, to go wading through the wet grass to lookat the moon--at my age?"

"Why, not at all, not at all, " persisted Galusha. "I must be--ah--vastlyolder than you, Miss Phipps, and--"

"Nonsense!"

"Oh, but I am, really. One has only to look at me to see. And thereare times when I feel--ah--incredibly ancient; indeed, yes. Now in yourcase, Miss Martha--"

"In my case I suppose I'm just a slip of a girl. For mercy sakes, don'tlet's talk ages, no, nor think about 'em, either. .. . Do YOU want to goout to-night to look at that moon, Mr. Bangs?"

"Why, yes--I--if you--"

"Then get your rubbers and cap. I'll be ready in a minute. "

The moon was well up now and land and sea were swimming in its mistyradiance. There was not a breath of wind and the air was as mild as ifthe month had been June and not May. Under their feet the damp grass andlow bushes swished and rustled. An adventurous beetle, abroad before histime, blundered droning by their heads. From the shadow of a bunch ofhuckleberry bushes by the path a lithe figure soared lightly aloft, afurry paw swept across, and that June bug was knocked into the vaguelydefinite locality known as the "middle of next week. "

Martha uttered a little scream. "Goodness gracious me!" she exclaimed. "Lucy Larcom, you bad cat, how you did scare me!"

Lucy leaped soundlessly over the clump of huckleberry bushes andgalloped gayly into the distance, his tail waving like a banner. 

"WELL!" observed his mistress; "for a cat as old as you are I must say!"

"He feels young to-night, " said Galusha. "It must be the--ah--moonlight, I think. Really, I--ah--I feel surprisingly young, myself. I do, indeed!"

Martha laughed blithely. They came to the abrupt little slope at thesouthwestern edge of the government property and when he offered to helpher down she took his hand and sprang down herself, almost aslightly and easily as Lucy could have done it. Galusha laughed, too, light-heartedly as a boy. His spectacles fell off and he laughed atthat. 

The minute afterward they arrived at the crest of the knoll. Anothermoment and the silhouetted figures of Lulie Hallett and Nelson Howardappeared from behind the clump of bayberry bushes and walked onwardtogether, his arm about her waist. The pair on the knoll saw theparting. 

Lulie ran up the path and the door of the light keeper's cottage closedbehind her. Howard disappeared around the bend of the hill. Martha andGalusha turned hastily and began walking toward home. Neither spokeuntil they were almost there. Then Miss Phipps, apparently feeling thatsomething should be said, observed: "The moon was--was real pretty, wasn't it, Mr. Bangs?"

Galusha started. "Eh?" he queried. "Oh, yes! yes, indeed! Ah--quite so. "

He made the next remark also; it was quite irrelevant. 

"Youth, " he said, musingly. "Youth is a wonderful thing, really it is. "

Possibly his companion understood his thought, or had been thinkingalong the same line herself. At all events she agreed. "Yes, it is, " shesaid. "It is so. And most of us don't realize how wonderful until it'sgone. "

From the shadows by the gate Lucy Larcom sprang aloft to knock anotherbeetle galley-west. Lucy was distinctly a middle-aged cat, but he didnot allow the fact to trouble him. He gathered his June bugs while hemight and did not stop to dream vain dreams of vanished youth. 

CHAPTER XV

Early June came to Gould's Bluffs. The last of the blossoms fell fromthe apple and pear trees in the Phipps' orchard, there were youngswallows in the nests beneath the eaves of the shed, and tulips andhyacinths gave color and fragrance to the flower beds in the front yard. Down in the village Ras Beebe began his twice-a-year window dressing, removing the caps, candy, sweaters, oil heaters, patent medicines andmittens to substitute bathing suits, candy, straw hats, toy shovels, patent medicines and caps. Small boys began barefoot experiments. Miss Tamson Black departed for Nantucket to visit a cousin. Mr. RaishPulcifer had his wife resurrect his black-and-white striped flanneltrousers from the moth chest and hang them in the yard. "No usetalkin', " so Zach Bloomer declared, "summer is headin' down our way. She'll be here afore we know it. "

She was. One pleasant morning Galusha, emerging from the Phipps' "sidedoor, " saw workmen about the premises of the Restabit Inn. For a weekthereafter the neighborhood echoed with hammer blows and reeked with thesmell of new paint. The Restabit Inn, shaking off its winter shabbiness, emerged scrubbed, darned, patched and pressed, so to speak, in itslast--and several "lasts before that"--summer suit made over, ready toreceive callers. 

On the twentieth of the month the callers began to arrive. EastWellmouth broke out, as a child breaks out with the measles, inbrilliant speckles, the disease in this instance being unmistakablya pronounced case of summer boarders. The "speckles" were everywhere, about the post office, in Ras Beebe's store, about the lighthouse, on the beaches, and far and wide over the hills and hollows. Theypicknicked in the pine groves, they giggled in the back seats on prayermeeting nights, they sang noisily on the way back to the hotel afterevening mail sorting, they danced jazzily in the hotel parlor and on theporches. 

Martha did not mind them; she said they were rather nice, on thewhole, because they helped to remind her that all creation wasn't EastWellmouth. Galusha didn't object to them, except when they were TOOnoisy at midnight or thereabouts and interfered with his slumbers. Primmie condescended to them and aired her knowledge of localcelebrities and traditions. Captain Jethro ignored them utterly andLulie was popular among them. Only Zacheus, the philosopher, seemed tofind them unmitigated nuisances. Somehow or other the summer visitor gotunder Mr. Bloomer's hard shell and upon his salt-seasoned nerves. 

"Blast 'em!" grumbled Zach, "I don't know why 'tis, but they rile melike fury. Prob'ly it's because I ain't never been much used to 'em theway I would have been if I'd been keepin' light ashore all my days. Outon the old Hog's Back we never had no visitors to speak of and we usedto hanker for 'em. Here, by Godfreys, they don't give us no time tohanker for nothin'. And they ask such foolhead questions! One woman, shesays to me yesterday, she says--I was showin' her the foghorn, and saysshe: 'Do you have to turn a crank to make it go?' Think of that! A handcrank to make the fourth highest-power foghorn on the coast blow! I lostmy patience. 'No ma'am, ' says I, 'a crank ain't necessary. I just putmy mouth to the touch-hole, ' I says, 'and breathe natural and shechirrups. ' She believed it, too. I cal'late I'll catch thunder fromCap'n Jeth if he finds out what I told her, but I can't help it; there'slimits, by Godfreys domino, limits!"

Galusha found, except for the slight annoyance of too many of thesesojourners, that summer at Gould's Bluffs and vicinity was even moredelightful than the fall and spring had been. His friends, the Halls, whose invitation to their cottage at Wellmouth had been the cause of hiscoming to the Cape, were not occupying that cottage this summer; theyhad rented it for the season and gone abroad. So he had no old friendsto call upon. But his new friendships were enjoyable and dependable. Hishealth improved steadily; he gained in strength, and the fear thathis guilt in the affair of the Wellmouth Development stock might bediscovered grew less and less. Only one thing troubled him, and thatwas so vague that it was scarcely a trouble. The Institute people hadwritten him of some great plan for his professional services, a planwhich was to develop in the fall. Now, by all that was right and proper, he should have been tremendously curious concerning that plan, shouldhave been eagerly guessing what it might be and counting the days untilthe time came for his return to work and its immediate development. But he was not curious, he did not count the days; for some weird andunnatural reason--or for no reason whatever--he was not eager to returnto work. He, Galusha Bangs, whose life had been devoted to his petscience, who had had no thought except for that science, had laboredfor it and in it every day for twenty years and had dreamed about it atnight--he did not seem to care to go back to it. He did not seem towant to go anywhere. Contentment for him was apparently right thereat Gould's Bluffs and nowhere else. Amazing but true. And no lessdisgraceful than amazing. It was a state of mind, of course, apsychological state due to physiological causes and doubtless was buttemporary. Nevertheless, it troubled him a bit. 

One morning in July he received a shock. Zacheus, returning from thepost office, met him at the Phipps' gate and handed him a letter. 

"Come in last night's mail, " explained Zach. "I happened to be cruisin'up to the village so I thought I might as well fetch it down to you, Mr. Bangs. "

Galusha thanked him and put the letter in his pocket. Afterdinner, having gone to his room, he was searching his pockets for ahandkerchief; finding his handkerchief invariably entailed a search, because he was quite as likely to have put it in his waistcoat pocket asin those of his trousers, and just as likely to find it at last in thepocket of his overcoat downstairs on the rack. In this case he didnot find it at all, having dropped it on the road, but he did find theletter. Still wondering where he could have put the handkerchief, heabsently tore open the envelope and began to read, as follows:

"Professor Galusha C. Bangs, East Wellmouth, Mass. 

"DEAR SIR:

"Mr. Augustus Cabot wishes me to inform you that he has returned to thisoffice, having, so he feels, quite regained his health. He sends hisregards to you and hopes that you, too, are getting on toward completerecovery. "

Galusha, having read so far, leaned back in his chair. Cousin Gussiewell again! Back again at his Boston office! Why, this was unexpectednews! He was gratified and pleased, of course. Nevertheless, coupledwith the gratification was a slight feeling of uneasiness. Nevada--well, Nevada was such a long and safe way off; whereas Boston was so veryand dangerously near. To a person with a guilty conscience, one witha secret to conceal, the advantages of Nevada as a residence for apossibly inquisitive relative were obvious. And was Thomas writingmerely to impart the news of his employer's return? Or were there otherreasons?

"You will remember" [began the next sentence of the letter], "writinghim some time ago, while he and I were in Nevada, asking his adviceconcerning some corporation, the stock of which a friend of yours wasconsidering, either as a purchase or sale, I do not remember which. "

Galusha closed his eyes and passed an agitated hand across his forehead. His question was answered; there WERE other reasons. 

"You may not be aware" [the letter continued], "of the forest firewhich, on April seventeenth, destroyed the sanitarium and camps in whichMr. Cabot and I were staying. The entire institution, including our owncamp, was burned and with it were destroyed all my business records, letters received, copies of letters sent, etc. At the time we were notat all concerned with this loss, being fearful of the effect whichthe excitement might have upon Mr. Cabot's health. I am glad to say, however, that the effect, if any, was not injurious. But the loss of allcorrespondence, including that with you, is now causing some annoyance. My recollection is that I advised your friend not to buy any stock ofthe nature you described, or, if he owned any, not to attempt a forcedsale. As we have heard nothing further from you since, and as neitherour Mr. Minor nor Mr. Barbour report your consulting them on thesubject, I take it your interest in the matter is closed. "

Again Galusha leaned back in his chair. But this time he drew a longbreath of relief. Mr. Thomas "took it" that his interest in the matterwas closed, did he? Well, it was, indeed it was. The sole interest henow had in the Wellmouth Development Company was to forget it utterly. 

And yet, if it was not concerning the Development matter that Thomas waswriting, what was it? The beatific smile which had followed the sigh ofrelief faded from his face and he began to read again. 

"In looking over your affairs which, among others, have kept me verybusy since my return, I find, " wrote Thomas, "that Mr. Barbour, at yourrequest, sent you a check on March 13th, for fourteen thousand threehundred and ten dollars and thirty-eight cents, the same being yourshare of the Tinplate reorganization profits. On March 15th, you camepersonally to this office and exchanged that check for five thousanddollars in cash and another check for ninety-three hundred and tendollars and thirty-eight cents. On March 24th, according to our records, you again came in person and exchanged this new check for eighty-twohundred dollars in cash and a third check for eleven hundred and tendollars and thirty-eight cents. This third check we do not find has asyet been presented for payment nor has it been deposited to your accountwith us. Considering the lapse of time since the check was drawn, thisseems somewhat unusual and so I am writing to ask concerning it. Mr. Cabot wishes me to add, also, that as thirteen thousand, two hundreddollars, the amount of cash drawn by you on the two occasions mentioned, is a large sum, he is, as your financial guardian--this is the term herequests me to use--a trifle anxious concerning it. He cannot, he says, conceive of a use to which you could put such a sum, particularly inyour present location on the Cape. He wishes me to ask you to write himparticulars in the matter. To his request I am adding my own concerningthe missing check. A prompt reply will greatly oblige us both. Apologizing for the inconvenience which this may cause you, and with Mr. Cabot's sincere regards and good wishes, I am, "Yours respectfully, "GEORGE L. THOMAS. "

Mr. Bangs' smiles, beatific or otherwise, had so far vanished by thistime that he could not summon them again that day. He attempted toappear cheerful during supper that evening and breakfast next morning, but it was a sorrowful cheer. Martha asked if he was sick. He said hewas not, indeed no, really, but she looked as if she did not believehim. Primmie's suspicions of dropsy, or some equally distressingailment, revived. She watched him for signs of relapse. 

The letter requested an immediate reply. That reply was neither writtennor sent. Mr. Bangs could not think of a reply which would embrace thetwo elements, safety and sanity. It was impossible to tell the truthand dangerous to attempt to tell anything else. So he did not answer theThomas letter. 

In a week he received a second one, asking if he had gotten the first. This simply HAD to be acknowledged, so he did so. He wrote that hisfriend was no longer interested in the stock concerning which he hadinquired. Also he returned the check for the balance of the Tinplatepayment--it had been lying in his bureau drawer ever since he broughtit from Boston--but he made no mention of what he had done with theeighty-two hundred dollars in cash nor the five thousand which he hadpreviously drawn. He did not refer to these sums at all. He requestedthat the check for the Tinplate balance be deposited to his account andsent it in the envelope with his letter to Thomas. Then he fearfullyawaited the next blow. 

It came, and in a new fashion, about a week later. He and Martha were inthe sitting room after supper when the telephone bell rang. 

"Pardon me, Miss Martha, " said Galusha, "but wasn't that our--I shouldsay your ring?"

Martha smiled. "I didn't notice, " she said. "You're always thinkin' youhear our ring, Mr. Bangs. The last time you heard it and called me tothe 'phone, it turned out to be Emulous Dodd, the undertaker. He said, 'I don't want you. ' I told him I was thankful for that. "

Her lodger shook his head. "I'm very sorry, " he said. "These telephonecalls down here--'Two long and three short' and--ah--the like--theydo confuse me, I admit. I really can't seem to get accustomed to them. Now. .. Oh, but that IS your ring, isn't it, Miss Martha?"

It was. Martha took down the receiver. 

"Yes. .. Yes, " she said. "Yes, this is Phipps. .. . Oh, all right. .. . Thegirl says it's a long-distance call, " she added, turning to Galusha. "Who can be callin' ME from long distance?. .. Yes. .. Yes. .. . This isMiss Phipps speakin' now. .. . Who?. .. Oh, Mr. Bangs? Yes, he's righthere. It's for you, Mr. Bangs. "

Galusha took the receiver from her hand. "Ah--hello!" he hailed. Thewire buzzed and sang. Then, in his ear and with surprising clearness andnearness, a voice said, brusquely: "Hello! Hello, there! Is that you, Loosh?"

Galusha recognized the voice. He had not heard it for a long time, buthe recognized it at once. And, recognizing it, something like panicseized him. 

"Hello!" shouted the voice again. "Hello, Galusha! Is that you?"

Galusha glanced fearfully over his shoulder. Martha was gazing at him. She looked alarmed. 

"Oh, what is it, Mr. Bangs?" she asked. "It--it's not bad news, is it?"

"No--ah--no, " he faltered. "I--I--"

"Eh? What's that?" demanded the voice in the receiver, impatiently. "Hello! Who is this, anyway?"

"Is there somebody sick or--or anything?" asked Martha. "No--no, MissMartha. It's all right, really. Yes, indeed, I--Oh, quite right. Yes. "

"But you look so frightened. "

"Do I? Oh, not in the least. That is, I. .. Yes, yes, I hear. Yes, thisis Bangs speaking. "

"Oh, it is! Well, I'm glad you're speaking at last. You're GalushaBangs, you say?"

"Yes. Yes, I--I think so. "

"You THINK so! That's good! Don't you know whether you are or not?"

"I meant I--I thought I said so. I am Galusha Bangs. Yes. "

"Good! Then we've settled so much. You know who I am, of course?"

Did he? Oh, if he only did not! He cast another alarmed glance in hislandlady's direction. He wondered if the voice which was so distinctlyaudible in his ear could be heard and understood in the room. Oh, thiswas dreadful, dreadful!

"HELLO!" roared the voice again. "Hello, Bangs! Are you there?"

"Oh, yes--ah--yes. I am here. Quite so--yes. "

"Well, I'm glad. I thought you might have gone clamming or something. Well, I asked if you knew who this was? Do you?"

Galusha swallowed, shut his eyes, and then faced the inevitable. 

"It--it is Cousin Gussie, isn't it?" he faltered. 

He heard, or imagined that he did, a little gasp of surprise from MissPhipps. He did not dare look again in her direction. 

"That's right, " said the voice. "You're a good guesser. How are you, anyway?"

Galusha stammered that he was very well. He added that he was glad tosee his relative. The relative promptly observed that his eyesight mustbe remarkably good. 

"You know what I've called you up for, of course?" she added. 

Martha had risen and was leaving the room on tiptoe. 

"You and your cousin can talk better alone, I know, " she whispered. "Iwant to see Primmie a minute, anyway. "

Her lodger regarded her mutely. The expression of dumb misery on hisface caused her to pause for an instant. 

"You're SURE there's no bad news, Mr. Bangs?" she asked, anxiously. 

He managed to smile, but the smile was not a convincing success. "Oh, yes--ah--quite, quite, " he protested. "It--it is--ah--extremelypleasant, really. .. . Yes--yes, Cousin Gussie, I am--I am still here. "

"Oh, you are! Fine! I thought probably you had gone to dig anotherquahaug. Why don't you answer letters?"

Galusha glanced desperately at the kitchen door. Thank heaven, it wasclosed. 

"I answered yours, " he declared. 

"You did not. You only half answered it. That idiot Barbour sent you acheck for over fourteen thousand dollars. Of course, if I had been welland here he wouldn't have done any such fool thing. He says you told himto. "

"Ah--did I?"

"Did you? Don't you know whether you did or not? Well, never mind. You came up here on two separate occasions, so they tell me, and drewthirteen thousand of that in cash and took it away with you. Now what onearth did you do that for?"

Galusha did not answer. Cabot immediately demanded to know if he wasstill there. Assured of this, he repeated his question. 

"I--I wanted it, " faltered Galusha. 

"You WANTED it! Wanted thirteen thousand two hundred dollars in cashdown there on the clam flats? What did you want it FOR?"

"I--I--Well, you see--you see--"

"No, I don't see. Now, look here, old man: I realize you're of age andthat your money is your own, and all that. It isn't, legally speaking, one single bit my business if you take every cent you've got and sink itin the middle of Cape Cod Bay. But I promised your aunt before she diedthat I would try and see that you didn't do that kind of thing. She knewyou couldn't take care of money; I knew it; why, confound it, you knewit, too! You and I talked that whole matter over and we agreed I wasn'tto give you any large sums of your money, no matter how hard you beggedfor them, unless you told me why you wanted them and I was satisfied itwas all right. Didn't we agree to that? Isn't that so?"

"Why--why, yes, Cousin Gussie. You have been very kind. I appreciate it, I assure you. "

"Oh, be hanged! I haven't been kind. I've only been trying to keep youfrom being TOO kind to people who work you for a good thing, that's all. Look here, Loosh: _I_ know what you've done with that thirteen thousanddollars. "

Galusha shot one more pitiful glance in the direction of the kitchen. 

"Ah--ah--do you?" he stammered. 

"Yes. You've given it away, haven't you?"

"Well--well, you see--"

"You have? I knew it! And I know whom you've given it to. "

There was no answer to be made to this appalling assertion. Poor Galushamerely clung to the receiver and awaited his death sentence. 

"You've given it to some mummy-hunter to fit out another grave-robbingexpedition. Now, haven't you?"

"Why--why--"

"Be a sport now, Loosh! Tell me the truth. That's what you've done, isn't it?"

Galusha hesitated, closing his eyes, struggled with his betternature, conquered it, and faltered: "Why--why--in a way of speaking, Isuppose--"

"I knew it! I bet Minor a dinner on it. Well, confound you, Loosh; don'tyou realize they're only working you for what they can get out of you?Haven't I told you not to be such an ass? You soft-headed old. .. Here!What's the matter with this wire? Hello, Central! Hello!. .. "

The Cabot oration broke off in the middle and was succeeded by a seriesof rattles and thumps and jingles like a barrel of kitchenware fallingdownstairs; this was followed by a startling stillness, which was, inturn, broken by an aggrieved voice wailing: "Say, Central, why can't Iget that twenty-seven ring fourteen Bayport? I bet you you've given meevery other d----number on Cape Cod!"

Galusha hung up the receiver. Then he sat down in the rocker and gazedat the opposite wall. His secret was safe. But that safety he had boughtat the price of another falsehood--told to Cousin Gussie this time. He did not seem to be the same Galusha Cabot Bangs at all. ThatGalusha--the former Galusha--had considered himself a gentleman andwould no more have told a lie than he would have stolen his neighbor'sspoons. This one--his present self--lied not only once but twice andthrice. He told one untruth to cover another. He lived in an atmosphereof blackest falsehood and deception. The sole ray of light in thedarkness was the knowledge that Martha Phipps did not know his realcharacter. She considered him honest and truthful. In order that shemight continue to think him so, he would go on prevaricating forever, ifnecessary. 

It preyed upon his conscience, nevertheless. The thought uppermost inhis mind was expressed in a reply which he made to a question asked byMr. Bloomer on an afternoon of that week. Zach and Primmie were, as sooften happened, involved in an argument and, as also so often happened, they called on him to act as referee. 

"We was talkin' about names, Mr. Bangs, " explained Primmie. "He's alwaysmakin' fun of my name. I told him my name was pretty enough to get putinto poetry sometimes. You know--"

"I told her, " broke in Zach, solemnly, but with a wink at Galusha, "that the only thing I could think of to rhyme with 'Primrose' was 'JimCrows. '"

"I never said it rhymed, " protested Miss Cash, hotly. "You can haveyour name in poetry without its rhymin', I guess likely. You're alwaystellin' me about how 'Zacheus he, climbed up a tree--' Now if your namehad to rhyme 'twould have to be--er--er--well, nothing', " triumphantly;"'cause nothin' COULD rhyme with Zacheus. "

Mr. Bloomer, solemn as ever, shook his head. 

"Yes, it could, " he declared. "What's the name of that plant Lulie's gotin the settin' room window over home? The one with the prickers on it. Cat-tailed--no, rat-tailed--um--"

"Cactus. " Galusha supplied the word. 

"That's it, " said Zach. "That would do it. 

 'Old man Zach'us Shinned up a cactus--'

Have to step lively, wouldn't he?" he added, with a chuckle. 

Primmie sniffed. "Silly!" she retorted. "What was that pretty piece ofpoetry you told me the other day that had my name in it, Mr. Bangs? Theone about it bein' so and so and not much else? You know the one. "

Galusha obliged. 

 "'A primrose by the river's brim A yellow primrose was to him, And it was nothing more. '"

"There!" said Primmie, triumphantly. "Do you hear that, Zach Bloomer?That's poetry, the real kind. And it's got my name in it, too. "

Zach shook his head. 

"You ain't a yellow primrose, Posy, " he said. "You're a red one-red andspeckled. Mr. Bangs, " he added, before the outraged Primmie could reply, "I think consider'ble about names, havin' such a out-of-common sort of aone myself. I never heard your name afore. .. . Galusha. .. . Godfreys! Wasyou named for somebody in the family?"

"Yes. "

"I see. Yes, yes. Most generally names like that, the tough ones, come out of the Bible in the fust place. Is your name in Scriptur'anywheres?"

"I don't know. I--ah--presume I should, but I don't. "

"Um-hm. Queer names in the Bible. .. . Um-hm. And some good ones, too. .. . I've always been a good deal interested in names. Used to set aroundhours at a stretch, when I was aboard the old lightship, and try to pickout what name in Scriptur' I cal'lated I'd ruther be called. FinallyI got down to two--John and Paul. Both of 'em short and sensible, nofrills to 'em. Of the two I figgered maybe Paul would fit me best. Paul, he was shipwrecked one time, you remember, and I've been wrecked noless'n three. .. . Paul. .. . Um-hm. .. . Say, Mr. Bangs, have you ever triedto fit yourself with a Bible name?"

Galusha smiled and said he never had. Primmie, who had been silent foralmost three minutes, could remain so no longer. 

"I think Solomon would be the right name for you, Mr. Bangs, " she cried, enthusiastically. "You know such a terrible lot--about some kinds ofthings. " This last a hasty addition. 

Zach snorted. "Solomon!" he repeated. "Dan Beebe--Ras Beebe's cousinover to Trumet--named his boy Solomon, and last week they took theyoung-one up to the State home for feeble-minded. What name would youpick out of the Bible for yourself, Mr. Bangs?"

It was then that Galusha made the reply to which reference has beenmade. His smile changed and became what Primmie described as "one of hisone-sided ones. "

"Ah--um--well--Ananias, perhaps, " he said, and walked away. 

Zach and Miss Cash stared after him. Of course, it was the latter whospoke first. 

"Ananias!" she repeated. "Why, Ananias was the feller that--that lied soand was struck down dead. I remember him in Sunday school. Him and hiswife Sophrony. Seems to me 'twas Sophrony; it might have been Maria, though. But, anyhow, they died lyin'. "

"That so? I thought they lied dyin'. "

"Oh, be still! But what did Mr. Bangs pick out THAT name for--of allnames? Can you tell me that?"

Zacheus could not, of course, nor did he attempt it. Instead, he roseand gazed sadly at his companion. 

"He said it for a joke, Buttercups, " he observed. "Joke. YOU know, ajoke. One of them things that--I tell you what: You look up 'joke' inthe dictionary and then, after you've found out what 'tis, I'll lend youa patent-medicine almanac with one or two of 'em in it. .. . Well, I'vegot to be gettin' under way. So long, Posy. "

Possibly Primmie might have inquired further into the reasons whichled the Phipps' lodger to select for himself the name of the personwho "died lying, " but that very afternoon, while on an errand in thevillage, she heard the news that Nelson Howard had been offered aposition as operator at the Trumet wireless station, had acceptedand was already there and at work. Every professional gossip in EastWellmouth was talking about it, not only because of its interest as apiece of news, but because of the astonishing fact that no one but thoseintimately interested had previously known of the offer. 

"Why in the world, " said Becky Blount, expressing the opinion of whatCaptain Jethro Hallett would have called her "tribe, " "he felt 'twasnecessary to hide it as if 'twas something to be ashamed of, _I_ don'tsee. Most folks would have been proud to be offered such a chance. But that Nelse Howard's queer, anyhow. Stuck-up, I call him; and LulieHallett's the same way. She nor him won't have anything to do withcommon folks in this town. And it'll be worse NOW. "

This was quite untrue, of course, for Lulie and Nelson were extremelyfriendly with all except the Blounts, Marietta Hoag, and a few more oftheir kind. The solid, substantial people in the village liked them, just as they liked and respected Martha Phipps. These people took painsto congratulate young Howard and to whisper a hope to Lulie that herfather's unreasonable opposition to the former might be lessened by thenews of his advancement. 

Primmie, returning home with the sensation, was disappointed to find itno sensation at all. Lulie had told both Miss Phipps and Galusha shortlyafter Nelson told her. She had told her father also, but he had notexpressed gratification. Instead, the interview between them had endedunpleasantly. 

"The first thing he did, " said Lulie, when telling the story to herconfidants at the Phipps' home, "was to ask me how I knew about it. Itold him that Nelson told me. "

Martha lifted her brows. "My!" she exclaimed. "You did?"

"Yes, I did. I don't know why exactly. Somehow I felt just then as if Ididn't care. "

"And what did he say?"

"He didn't say as much as I thought he would. He turned and stared atme under those big eyebrows of his, and then he said: 'When did you seehim?' I said, 'Yesterday. ' 'When did you see him before that?' I said, 'About a week ago. Nelson and I usually see each other about once aweek, father, ' I told him. "

"My!" exclaimed Martha, again. "That was plain enough, to be sure. "

"Yes, wasn't it? I wonder now that I had the courage. He didn't flare upas I expected he would, as I am sure he would have done last fall, forinstance. He just looked and looked at me. Then he said: 'Are you reallyplanning to marry that fellow, Lulie?' I thought that as I had gone sofar, I might as well go the rest, so I said: 'Yes, father, some day. Not as long as you want me or need me, but some day, if he is willingto wait for me. ' He just kept on pulling his beard and looking at me. At last, when he did speak, he asked, 'In spite of me and--and yourmother?' It made me feel dreadfully wicked; I almost cried, I guess. ButI had to go through with it then, so I said: 'I don't want to marry "inspite" of any one, father. You know I don't. And I shall never leaveyou--never. But can't you PLEASE see Nelson as he is and not--and not--'He interrupted me there; in fact, I doubt if he heard me. 'Your motherhas warned me against that young fellow, ' he said. 'You know she has, Lulie. ' 'I know you THINK she has, father, ' I said. "

Martha's hands fell in her lap. Galusha shook his head. 

"Dear me!" he observed. "Dear me!"

Lulie nodded. "Yes, I know, " she said. "As soon as I said it I thought'Dear me, ' too. But I don't believe he heard that, either. He seemedto be thinking and didn't speak for ever so long. Then he said, 'Therevelations from above ain't to be set aside. No, no, they lay a duty onus. ' Then he stopped again and turned and walked away. The last words hesaid, as he was going out of the room, were, 'Don't let me ever see thatHoward around this house. You hear me?' And that is the way it ended. Hehasn't mentioned the subject since. But, at least, " said Lulie, with anattempt at a smile, "he didn't call Nelson a 'swab. ' I suppose that issome comfort. "

Martha and Galusha agreed that it was. The latter said: "It seems tome that you may consider it all quite encouraging, really. It is onlythe--ah--spirits which stand in the way now. "

"Yes, but oh, Mr. Bangs, they always will stand in the way, I'm afraid. Other things, real things or real people we might change or persuade, but how can you change a--a make-believe spirit that isn't and neverwas, except in Marietta Hoag's ridiculous imagination? Oh, Martha, " sheadded, "you and Mr. Bangs don't think I'm horrid to speak like this, do you? Of course, if I believed, as father does, that it was really mymother's spirit speaking, I should--well, I should be. .. . But what isthe use? I CAN'T believe such a thing. "

"Of course you can't, child, " said Martha. "I knew your mother and ifshe was comin' back to this earth she wouldn't do it through MariettaHoag's head. She had too much self-respect for that. "

Galusha stroked his chin. "I suppose, " he said, "if there were someway in which we might influence that imagination of Miss--ah--Hoag's, achange might be brought about. It would be difficult to reach the saidimagination, however, wouldn't it? I once found a way to reach a tombof the XIIIth Dynasty which had been buried for thousands of years underthirty-three feet of rock and sand. I located it by accident--that is, in a way, it was an accident; of course, we had been searching for sometime. I happened to strike the earth at a certain point with my cameratripod and it sounded quite hollow. You see, there was a--ah--sort ofshaft, as one might say, which came quite close to the surface at thatpoint. It sounded surprisingly hollow, like a--like something quiteempty, you know. Yes. "

Martha nodded. "If you struck Marietta's head anywhere, " she observed, "it would sound the same way. She's got about as much brains as a punkinlantern. "

"Yes--ah--yes, but I fear we should gain little by doing that. Weshouldn't get at our 'spirit' that way. But perhaps we may find a way. There are obstacles, but there were obstacles above and about that tombalso. Dear me, yes. We must consider, Miss Lulie; we must, so to speak, consider. "

His advice to Nelson was similar. 

"I should say the situation was a bit more encouraging, Mr. Howard, "he said. They had been discussing Lulie's talk with her father. Nelsonnodded. 

"Perhaps it is, a little bit, " he admitted. "It seems barely possiblethat the old man is not quite as bitter against me as he was. Forinstance, I met him yesterday at the post office and said 'Good-morning, Cap'n Jeth. ' I always speak to him whenever I meet him, make it a pointto, but he never speaks to me. He didn't speak yesterday, but he didbow. It was more of a bob than a bow and he looked savage enough to biteme; but, at least, he went so far as to show he knew I was on earth. That was rather funny, too, his doing that. I wonder why he did. "

Galusha reflected a moment. Then he said: "I shouldn't be greatlysurprised if your new position at the radio station may be the cause, Captain Hallett is--ah--not unmindful of success in business. MissMar--ah--that is, Miss Phipps says he is a very shrewd business man. My own experience, " he added, meditatively, "would lead me to thatconclusion, also. "

Nelson was surprised. 

"Have you had business dealings with the cap'n?" he asked. "I neverthought of you as a business man, Mr. Bangs. "

Galusha started and seemed embarrassed. 

"Oh--ah--ah--I'm not, Mr. Howard, " he declared, hastily. "Indeed, no. "

"But you spoke of your business experience with Cap'n Jeth; or I thoughtyou did. "

The little archaeologist looked very solemn. 

"Such experiences as I have had with Captain Hallett, " he observed, "have been--ah--most unbusinesslike. "

They parted a few minutes later. Said Nelson, gloomily:

"I'm afraid the situation hasn't changed a whole lot, after all, Mr. Bangs. Cap'n Jeth may think more of my new job than he did of my oldone, but he doesn't think any better of me as a son-in-law. And hewon't, so long as he believes in that fool spirit stuff. "

Galusha stroked his chin. "We must consider those spirits, Mr. Howard, "he said. "Dear me, yes; we must seriously consider those spirits. "

CHAPTER XVI

August is the banner month at all northern seaside resorts. August atEast Wellmouth crowded the Restabit Inn to overflowing. On pleasantSundays the long line of cars flying through the main road of thevillage on the way to Provincetown met and passed the long linereturning Bostonward. The sound of motor horns echoed along the laneleading to Gould's Bluffs. Galusha found it distinctly safer and lessnerve-racking to walk on the grass bordering that lane than in the laneitself, as had hitherto been his custom. The harassed Zacheus led morevisitors than ever up and down the lighthouse stairs, expressing hisopinion of those visitors, after their departure, with fluency andfreedom. Mr. Bloomer's philosophy helped him through most annoyances butit broke down under the weight of the summer boarder and his--or--herquestions. 

Galusha, in his daily walks, kept far afield, avoiding the traveledways. His old resort, the Baptist cemetery, he seldom visited now, having examined and re-examined all the interesting stones within itsborders. He had discovered another ancient burial ground, over on theSouth Wellmouth road, and occasionally his wanderings took him as far asthat. The path to and from this cemetery led over the edge of the bluffand wound down to the beach by the creek and landlocked harbor where hishat--the brown derby--had put to sea that Sunday morning in the previousOctober. The path skirted the creek for a little way, then crossed on asmall bridge and climbed the pine-clad hills on the other side. 

Late one afternoon in August, Galusha, returning along this path, meta man coming in the other direction. The man was a stranger to himand obviously not a resident of East Wellmouth. He was a stout, prosperous-looking individual, well-dressed and with a brisk manner. When Mr. Bangs first saw him he was standing at a point near the footof the bluff, and gazing intently at the view. Galusha turned the cornerabove the bridge where the path re-entered the pine grove. When heemerged again the man had walked on to the little rise by the fartheredge of the creek. He was standing there, as he had stood at the pointwhere Galusha first noticed him, looking about, up and down the creek, across the little harbor, at the beaches, the sand cliffs, the pines andthe sea. 

Galusha crossed the bridge and approached along the path. The strangerheard his step and turned. 

"Good-afternoon, " said Galusha. 

The man nodded and returned the greeting. 

"Nice view from here, " he observed. Galusha agreed that the view wasvery nice, indeed. He passed on and turned to climb the bluff. Then thestranger called to him. 

"Excuse me, " he said. "But may I ask you a question or two? Don't wantto keep you if you are in a hurry, though. "

Galusha declared himself to be not in the least hurried. The man walkedtoward him. 

"Are you acquainted about here?" he asked. 

"Why--why--ah--yes, to some extent. Yes. "

"I mean do you know the lay of the land in this vicinity?"

"Why--ah--yes, I think so. Fairly well. "

"I see. Can you tell me how much water there is in that channel outyonder?" He pointed toward the mouth of the inlet, where the two linesof creaming breakers approached each other, but did not meet. 

"No--no, I am sorry, but I can't. "

"How deep is it off here opposite where we're standing?"

"Dear me! I'm afraid I don't know that, either. When you askedconcerning the lay of the land I didn't understand you meantthe--ah--lay of the water. I'm very sorry. "

The man laughed. "That's all right, " he said. "Asked my question thewrong way, didn't I? Well, tell me a little about the land, then. Arethe woods the other side of that hill or only on this?"

Galusha informed him concerning the extent of the pine grove. Thestranger asked some questions about the course of the creek above thebridge, the distance from the main highway, whether the land beyond thehill was settled or unoccupied. His final question was concerning theRestabit Inn. 

"Any other hotels around here within ten miles?" he asked. When toldthere were not, he merely nodded, making no comment. 

"Well, I'm much obliged, " he said. "I was just loafing around and alittle curious, that's all. Thanks. Hope I haven't kept you too long. Good-day. "

Galusha followed the winding path up the face of the high bluff. When, having reached its top, he paused to get fresh breath in place of thathe had lost, he looked down and saw his questioner standing where he hadleft him and, apparently, still admiring the view. 

The following afternoon they saw each other again. This time thestranger was on the other side of the creek, wandering about at theedge of the pine grove. He acknowledged Galusha's bow with a wave of thehand, but he did not come nearer to ask more questions. 

That evening, at the supper table, Mr. Bangs mentioned the meeting. Primmie, who prided herself upon knowing every visitor in town and wherehe or she came from, was ready with the information in this case. 

"I know who he is, " she declared. "His name's Williams and him and hiswife's stoppin' at the Restabit. They never meant to stay there only onenight, but his automobile blowed up or busted out somethin' and they hadto send to Boston to get a new one. It's a dreadful expensive kind ofa one, the auto is, one of them--them Pieced-Arrows, all upholsteryand drapery window curtains and places to put bouquets and your feet inwinter to warm 'em--your feet, I mean, not the bouquets--and--"

"There, there, Primmie, " said Martha. "That will do. For mercy sakes, how did you find out all that?"

"Their chauffeur told me. I know him, too. Him and me was introducedlast night when he stopped in to get a drink of water. His name isKelly, and he--"

"Wait a minute. When you and he were introduced, you say? Who introducedyou?"

"Why, he did, Miss Martha. You see, he was comin' along by and he seeme out settin' on the side steps, you know. And he stopped and he says:'You look lonesome' he says. 'Well, ' says I, 'I may LOOK so, but Iain't; my savin' soul, no!' Then he wanted to know if he couldn't have adrink of water and, of course--"

"Yes, I see--of course. I think you had better sit in the house thisevenin', Primmie. "

The "Pieced-Arrow" car, with Mr. Kelly on the driver's seat and Mr. AndMrs. Williams inside, left East Wellmouth at the end of that week. Yetonce more before the season closed Galusha fancied that he caught aglimpse of that car's owner. The time was the first week in Septemberand Galusha, returning later than usual along the path from SouthWellmouth, saw two figures walking along the beach of the inlet. Theywere a good way off, but one certainly did resemble Williams as heremembered him. The brisk step was like his and the swing of the heavyshoulders. The other figure had seemed familiar, too, but it disappearedbehind a clump of beach-plum bushes and did not come out again duringthe time that Galusha remained in sight. On reflection the latterdecided that he was mistaken. Of course, Williams could not be one ofthe pair, having left the Cape. It was too dark to see plainly; and, after all, it made little difference whether it was he or not. Mr. Bangsstopped speculating on the subject and promptly forgot it entirely. 

On the morning after Labor Day there was a general exodus of citysojourners from the Inn and on September 15 it closed its doors. Theweather was still beautiful and mild, even more so than during theprevious month, but East Wellmouth's roads and lanes were no longercrowded. The village entered upon its intermediate season, that autumnperiod of quiet and restful beauty, which those who know and love theCape consider most delightful of the year. 

Galusha enjoyed its beauties hugely. He could stroll where he pleasednow and no charging and bellowing motor car was likely to awaken himfrom his daydreams and cause him to leap frantically into the gutter. Sunsets over the western dunes and the Bay were hazily wonderfulfantasies of crimson and purple and gold and sapphire, with the netsand poles of the distant fish weirs scattered here and there about theplacid water like bits of fairy embroidery. And then to end his walk byturning in at the Phipps' gate; the lamplight in the cozy dining roomshining a welcome and Martha's pleasant, attractive face above theteacups. It was like coming home, like coming to a real home, his home. He dreaded to think of leaving it--even for his loved science and thepromised "great plan" which the Institute people were to present himthat very fall or winter. 

He had heard nothing further from them concerning the plan, but he knewhe was likely to hear at any moment. He was well, perfectly well now, and stronger than he had been for a long, long time. He felt himselfabundantly able to take charge of an exploring expedition, or toreorganize a department, to do anything which the Institute might askhim to do. His guess was that the plan was for another archaeologicalexpedition, one to go farther afield and equipped for more thoroughresearch than any yet sent out. He himself had urged the need of such anexpedition many times, but when the war came all such ideas were givenup. The giving up had been, on his part, although he realized thenecessity which prompted it and even urged the yielding to thatnecessity, a bitter disappointment. 

And now--well, now he could not seem to arouse an atom of realenthusiasm. He should be too excited to sleep, but he did sleep well. When he dreamed of Egypt and the tombs of the Ptolemies, there wasalways a Cape Cod cottage in the foreground. And the cottage nevervaried in design; it was always the "Phipps' place, " and its mistresswas always standing in the doorway. That was the great trouble, he knewit. He was going to be homesick for that cottage and its contents. Ifthey might only be transferred with him to Egypt, then the land of thePharaohs would be even more paradisical than he used to think it. 

He told Martha of the promised plan and its call to duty. Oddly enough, thereafter they discussed it but little. Other subjects, althoughmere commonplaces, they seemed to find more interesting. One evening, however, they were together in the sitting room and Martha said:

"I noticed you got a letter from Washin'ton to-day, Mr. Bangs. "

Galusha nodded. "Yes, " he said. "It wasn't a letter exactly. Merelyanother of the regular reports, that is all. "

"I see. .. . Well, I suppose you will be hearin' from them pretty soonabout--about that other matter. The plan they told you they had foryou. "

He nodded again. "Dear me, yes, " he agreed. "I suppose I shall. "

"Why do you say 'Dear me'? You want to hear, don't you? It will be awonderful thing for you, I should think. It is sure to be somethin' youwill like, because they said so in their letter. "

"Yes--ah--yes. "

Both were silent for a brief interval, then Martha said:

"I presume likely I shall be sittin' here in this very room this winter, doin' just the very same thing I'm doin' now, knittin' or sewin', with everything just as it is, cat and plants and Primmie and all theeveryday things I've been amongst all my life. And you'll be away off, goodness knows where, among goodness knows what sorts of queer peopleand queer places. .. . Well, " she added, with a smile, "you won't have anyone to fret you about whether you put on rubbers or not. That'll be acomfort for you, at any rate. "

He did not seem to find great comfort in the prospect. 

"I shall not put them on, " he said. "I know I sha'n't. I shall forgetall about them, and forget to eat at regular times, and to--ah--keepmy head covered in the sun. Why, do you know, " he added, in a burst ofconfidence and quite as if he had not said the same thing before, "when I am by myself I always forget things like that, things that realpeople--ah--normal people, remember. Then I have--ah--indigestion andheadaches and all sorts of miserable ailments. I shall forget again, ofcourse, and my friends, the normal ones, will tell me, as they alwaysdo, that I need a--ah--keeper, so to speak. Oh, dear, yes. "

She was indignant. "A keeper!" she repeated. "The idea! I do wish youwouldn't keep speakin' of yourself as simple-minded or crazy, Mr. Bangs. You are absent-minded, I know, but what of it? Whose business is that?"

He rubbed his chin. "Why, here, " he observed, smiling slightly, "youhave been kind enough to make it YOUR business, Miss Martha. The reasonI do not have--ah--sunstrokes and colds and headaches here is that youtake pains to see that I am protected against their causes. I realizethat. And I realize, too, " he added, "that in Egypt I shall missyour--your great kindness. I shall miss all this--this room andall--very much, indeed. I think--no, I know I have never spent such apleasant year as this has been. And I fear I shall never spend anotheras pleasant. "

She laughed, but she looked pleased, nevertheless. 

"Nonsense!" she exclaimed. "You'll have many more a great dealpleasanter, of course. You're well now, Mr. Bangs, and good health makessuch a difference. You will enjoy your work more than ever. "

"Will I? I don't believe I shall. That is very odd, I know, but Ithink it is true. I have been thinking about it a great deal of lateand--ah--I--well, you know, I am very sure I shall be lonely. "

"Lonely? You! Lonesome over in Egypt, after all you've told me aboutyour lovin' it so, Mr. Bangs! Lonesome for what, for mercy sakes?"

"Why, for--for the Cape, you know; and this house and this pleasant roomand--and the kindness which has been shown me here. "

"Don't. What do what you call kindnesses amount to--the little thingsPrimmie and I have been able to do for you--what do they amount tocompared to what you did for me? I shouldn't be in this house, Ishouldn't own it, if it wasn't for the interest you took and the troubleyou went to. Lonesome! I think I'M goin' to be the real lonesome onethis winter. Since you've been livin' here, Mr. Bangs, I've had a chanceto talk of somethin' beside the little two-for-a-cent things that mostof us Gould's Bluffs people have to talk about from December toJune. I've had the chance to talk about somethin' besides Primmie'sfoolishness or Cap'n Jethro's 'spirits, ' or the post office gossip. Ithas been wonderful for me. When father was alive no gale that ever blewcould keep him from trampin' up to the office after his mornin' paper. He used to say that readin' the paper was the only way he could keepenough canvas drawing to pull him out of the doldrums. More of his seatalk, that was, of course, but you understand what he meant. "

Galusha understood. "We all have our--ah--doldrums, " he observed. 

"Yes, seems as if we did. But, there!" briskly picking up her knitting, "I don't know as it does us much good to sit and talk about 'em. Primmiehad a book around here last week, an old thing, one of Mrs. Southworth'sit was; Primmie borrowed it somewhere. I looked it over one afternoon, that was as much as I wanted to do with it, and I remember there wasan old woman in it who seemed to spend most of her time dreamin' ofher 'vanished past. ' She seemed to worry over that vanished past a gooddeal, but, so far as I could see, she didn't gain much by it. She mighthave done some plain sewin' and gained more. I can't see that you and Igain much by sittin' here and frettin' about next winter, Mr. Bangs. Isuppose when winter is really here you will be trottin' around Egypt ona camel, or some sort of menagerie animal, and I shall be sweepin' anddustin' and makin' pies. And we both will be too busy to remember we'relonesome at all. I--Yes, Primmie, what is it?"

Miss Cash's head and shoulders appeared between the door and the jamb. 

"Miss Martha, " she whispered, hoarsely, "there's somebody come to seeyou. "

"Come to see me? Who is it; Cap'n Jethro?"

"No'm. It's Raish--I mean Mr. Pulcifer. And, " confidentially, "he won'ttell what he's come for, neither. "

"And I presume likely you asked him that very thing. Well, bring himinto the dinin' room and tell him I'll be right there. Humph!" sheadded, after Primmie had departed, "I wonder what Raish Pulcifer wantsto see me about. I can't imagine, but I guess it isn't likely to be veryimportant. I'll be back in a few minutes, Mr. Bangs. "

It was, however, a full half hour before she re-entered the sittingroom, and when she did so there was a puzzled expression on her face. 

"Now, that's funny, " she observed, musingly; "that certainly is funny. What is he drivin' at, I wonder?"

"Mr. Pulcifer?" inquired Galusha. 

"Why, yes. He didn't say so in so many words; in fact, he didn't reallysay much of anything right out. He wouldn't be Raish Pulcifer if he wasstraight and plain. He talked about the weather and how he hadn't seenme for some time and just thought he'd call, and so on. That was justgreasin' the ways for the launchin', as father would have said. He edgedaround and edged around and finally brought up the thing I'm pretty surehe came to see me about, my two hundred and fifty shares of WellmouthDevelopment Company stock. "

Galusha caught his breath. "Eh?" he exclaimed. 

"Yes; I think he came to see me about just those shares. Of course, hethinks I've still got them. He talked about his own shares and about thecompany in general and how it wasn't likely to amount to much and--oh, well, never mind; he talked a mile before he gained a foot. But I think, Mr. Bangs, I THINK he came to see if I would sell him that stock ofmine, and, if I would, what I would sell it for. Considerin' that only alittle while ago he told you he wouldn't touch the Wellmouth Developmentstock with a ten-foot pole, that's kind of funny, isn't it?"

CHAPTER XVII

Galusha had some difficulty in falling asleep that night. The habit ofdropping into a peaceful and dreamless slumber within five minutes afterblowing out his lamp, a habit which had been his for the past month, wasbroken. He had almost succeeded in forgetting the Wellmouth DevelopmentCompany. His distress of mind and conscience concerning his dealingswith it had very nearly vanished also. He had been forced into deceit tosave Martha Phipps from great trouble, and the end justified the means. Having reached that conclusion in his thinking, he had firmly resolvedto put the whole matter from his mind. 

His one plunge into the pool of finance he had come to believe destinednever to be revealed. No one had mentioned the Development Company orits stock for weeks. It was, apparently, dead and satisfactorily buried, and the Bangs' secret was entombed with it. 

And now, if Martha's surmise was correct, here was a "resurrection man, "in the person of Mr. Horatio Pulcifer, hanging about the cemetery. Thecapacity for hating was not in Galusha's make-up. He found it difficultto dislike any one strongly. But he could come nearer to disliking RaishPulcifer than any one else, and now to dislike was added resentment. Why in the world should this Pulcifer person interfere with his peace ofmind?

In the morning, and with the bright September sunshine streaming intothe room, his disquietude of the previous night seemed rather foolish. No doubt Miss Martha had been mistaken; perhaps Horatio had not had anyidea of buying her shares. Martha herself seemed a little doubtful. 

"I've been thinkin' it over, " she said, "and I wonder if I just imaginedthat's what he was after. It seems almost as if I must have. I can'tthink of any sensible reason why a man who was so dreadfully anxious tosell, and only a little while ago, should be wantin' to buy now. Perhapshe didn't mean anything of the kind. "

Galusha comforted himself with the thought that this was, in allprobability, the truth: Miss Martha had misinterpreted the Pulciferpurpose; Raish had not meant anything of the kind. 

But the comfort was short-lived. A few days later Doctor Powers calledat the Phipps' home. After he had gone Martha came to the sitting room, where her lodger was reading the paper, and, closing the door behindher, said:

"Mr. Bangs, I guess I was right, after all. Raish Pulcifer WAS hintin'at buyin' my Wellmouth Development stock. "

Galusha dropped the paper in his lap. "Oh, dear! I--I mean, dear me!" heobserved. 

"Yes, I guess there isn't much doubt of it. Doctor Powers came here totell me that he had sold his shares to him and that Eben Snow and JimHenry Willis have sold theirs in the same place. He says he doesn'tknow for certain, but he thinks Raish has bought out all the littlestockholders. He's been quietly buyin' the Development stock for thelast week. "

Mr. Bangs took off his spectacles and put them on again. 

"Good gracious!" he stammered. 

"That's what Doctor Powers says. He stopped in, just as an old friend, to drop the hint to me, so that I could be ready when Raish came to buymine. I asked him what the Pulcifer man was payin' for the stock. Hesaid as little as he had to, as near as he could find out. Of course, noone was supposed to tell a word about it--Raish had asked 'em not to dothat--but SOMEBODY told, and then it all began to come out. As a matterof fact, you might as well ask water to run up hill as to ask Jim Willisto keep quiet about his own business or keep out of any one else's. Theprice paid, so the doctor says he's heard, runs all the way from eightdollars a share up to fourteen and a half. Poor old Mrs. Badger--DariusBadger's widow--got the eight dollars. She was somethin' like me, Iguess--had given up the idea of ever gettin' a cent--and so she tookthe first offer Raish made her. Eben Snow got the fourteen and a half, I believe, the highest price. He needed it less than anybody else, whichis usually the way. Doctor Powers sold his for twelve and a half. Saidhe thought, when he was doin' it, that he was mighty lucky. Now hewishes he hadn't sold at all, but had waited. 'Don't sell yours for apenny less than fifteen, Martha, ' he told me. 'There's somethin' up. Either Raish has heard somethin' and is buyin' for a speculation, or else he's actin' as somebody else's agent. ' What did you say, Mr. Bangs?"

Galusha had not said anything; and what he said now was neitherbrilliant nor original. 

"Dear me, dear me!" he murmured. Martha looked at him, keenly. 

"Why, what is it, Mr. Bangs?" she asked. "Raish's buyin' the stock won'tmake any difference to you, will it?"

"Eh?. .. To ME? Why--why, of course not. Dear me, no. Why--ah--how couldit make any difference to me?"

"I didn't mean you, yourself. I meant to the Cabot, Bancroft and Cabotpeople, or whoever it was that bought my stock. "

"Oh--oh, oh! To them? Oh, yes, yes! I thought for the moment youreferred to me personally. Ha, ha! That would have been very--ah--funny, wouldn't it? No, I don't think it will make any difference toCousin--ah--I mean to the purchasers of your shares. No, no, indeed--ah--yes. Quite so. "

If Miss Phipps noticed a slight incoherence in this speech, she did notcomment upon it. Galusha blinked behind his spectacles and passed a handacross his forehead. His landlady continued her story. 

"I asked Doctor Powers what reason Raish was givin' people for hisbuyin'. The doctor said he gave reasons enough, but they weren't verysatisfyin' ones to a thinkin' person. Raish said he owned a big block ofthe stock himself and yet it wasn't big enough to give him much say asto what should be done with the company. Of course, nothin' could bedone with it at present, but still some time there might and so hethought he might as well be hung for an old sheep as a lamb and buy inwhat he could get, provided he could get it cheap enough. He had come tothe doctor first, he said. Ha, ha! That was kind of funny. "

"Eh?. .. Oh, yes, certainly. .. . Of course. "

"But I haven't told you yet why it was funny. It seems he told everyperson he went to that he or she was the first. Doctor Powers prideshimself on bein' a pretty good business man and I guess it provoked himto find that Raish had fooled him into takin' a lower price than someof the rest got. He said as much to me. He said that he agreed with whatRaish said, that about he might as well be hung for an old sheep as alamb. So long as he WAS hung, so the doctor said, he didn't care what itwas for. "

She laughed again and her lodger smiled, although rather feebly. Hemurmured that it was very amusing. 

"Yes, wasn't it?" said Martha. "Well, the doctor was very anxious thatI should not sell at a cent less than fifteen dollars a share. I wonderwhat he, or Raish Pulcifer either, would say if they knew I HAD soldalready, and for as much as father paid, too. Oh, I wonder if Raishhas been to see Cap'n Jeth yet. He won't buy HIS shares for any eightdollars a piece, he can be sure of that. "

Galusha nodded; he was sure of it, too. 

"But, " said Martha, ending the conversation for the time, "why do yousuppose Raish is buyin' at all? What is goin' on, anyway?"

She was by no means the only one who was asking that question. Threedays later Captain Jethro asked Galusha the same thing. They met in thelane leading to the village and the light keeper approached the subjectwithout preamble. 

"Say, Mr. Bangs, " he demanded, "what's Raish Pulcifer cal'late he'sdoin'?"

Galusha smiled. "I thank you for the compliment, CaptainHallett, " he said, "but my intuition cannot keep pace with Mr. Pulcifer's--ah--calculations. No, indeed. "

Jethro pulled his beard. "I asked you, " he said, solemnly, "what RaishPulcifer cal'lated he was doin' buyin' up Development stock? Do youknow?"

"No. Is he buying it?"

"If you ain't heard that he is, you're about the only one in EastWellmouth. Ain't you heard it?"

Galusha would have liked to change the subject, but with Jethro Hallettthat was not an easy task, as he knew from experience. He did notimmediately make the attempt. 

"Why--ah--yes, " he admitted. "I have heard that he hasbought--ah--some. "

"Um-hm. Who told you; Martha?"

"Why--why--really, Captain, I don't know that I ought--You'll pardon me, but--"

"Been tryin' to buy Martha's, has he?"

Galusha sighed. "Have you noticed, " he suggested, "what a remarkableview one gets from this point? The village and the bay in front, and, inthe rear, the--ah--light and the--ah--rest. Quite remarkable, don't youthink so, Captain?"

Captain Jethro looked gravely at the view. 

"Raish been to see Martha about buyin' her stock, has he?" he asked. 

Galusha rubbed his chin. "I have often wondered, " he said, "why nosummer cottage has been built just here. The spot would seem to possessvery marked advantages. Very--ah--very much so. "

The light keeper cleared his throat. "Zach said he see Raish comin' outof your gate t'other day, " he said. "Been to see Martha about her sharesthen, had he?"

"The--ah--proximity to the main road is an advantage in particular, "Galusha continued. "One would be near it and yet, so to speak, secludedfrom it. Really, a very exceptional spot, Captain Hallett. "

Captain Jethro stroked his beard, frowned, and gazed steadily at theface of the little archaeologist. Galusha gazed serenely and with apleased interest at the view. After a moment the light keeper said:"He's been after mine, too. "

"Eh?. .. Oh, indeed? You mean--"

"I mean Raish Pulcifer's been tryin' to buy my Development stock same ashe has Martha's. Hey? What say?"

"I said nothing, Captain. Not a word, really"

"Humph!. .. Well, he's been tryin' to buy mine, anyway. And, nigh's asI can find out, he's bought every loose share there is. All hands aretalkin' about it now; some of 'em are wonderin' if they hadn't betterhave hung on. Eben Snow came to me this mornin' and he says, 'I don'tknow whether I did right to let go of that stock of mine or not, ' hesays. 'What do you think, Jeth?' I haven't got much use for Eben, and ain't had for years; I went to sea with him one v'yage and thatgenerally tells a man's story. I've seen him at church sociables--in thedays when I wasted my time goin' to such things--spend as much asfive minutes decidin' whether to take a doughnut or a piece of pie. Hecouldn't eat both, but he was afraid whichever he took the other mightturn out to be better. So when he asked me my opinion about his sellin'his Development, I gave it to him. 'You've been wantin' to sell, ain'tyou?' says I. 'I've heard you whinin' around for months because youcouldn't sell. Now you HAVE sold. What more do you want?' He got mad. 'You ain't sold YOUR holdin's at any fourteen dollars a share, haveyou?' he says. I told him I hadn't. 'No, and I'll bet you won't, either, ' says he. I told him he'd make money if he could get somebody totake the bet. Humph! the swab!"

For the first time Galusha asked a direct question. 

"Did--ah--Mr. Pulcifer actually--ah--bid for your Development shares, Captain Hallett?" he inquired. 

"Oh, he come as nigh to doin' it as I'd let him. Hinted maybe that he'dgive me as much as he did Snow, fourteen fifty. I laughed at him. I asked him what made him so reckless, when, the last time he and Italked, he was tryin' to sell me his own shares for ten. And now hewanted to buy mine at fourteen and a half!"

"And--ah--what reason did he give for his change of heart? Or didn't hegive any?"

"Humph! Yes, he gave a shipload of reasons, but there wouldn't anyone of 'em float if 'twas hove overboard. He ain't buyin' on his ownaccount, that I KNOW. "

"Oh--ah--do you, indeed. May I ask why you are so certain?"

"For two reasons. First, because Raish ain't got money enough of his ownto do any such thing. Second, and the main reason why I know he ain'tbuyin' for himself is because he says he is. Anybody that knows Raishknows that's reason enough. "

Galusha ventured one more question. 

"When he--ah--approached you, did you--that is, what excuse did you givehim for--for your lack of interest, so to speak?"

"Hey? I didn't give him any. And I didn't tell him I wasn't interested. I am interested--to see how far he'll go. I sha'n't tell him I've soldalready, Mr. Bangs; your Boston friends needn't worry about that. When Isign articles I stick to my contract. "

They had reached the Phipps' gate by this time and there they parted. The light keeper strode off, rolling heavily, his beard blowingacross his shoulder. He had been, for him, remarkably good-humored andtalkative. Galusha was inclined to attribute the good humor to the factthat Captain Jethro considered he had made a good bargain in selling hisown shares at a price so much higher than that obtained by Snow and therest. The next time they conversed the good humor was not as apparent. But that occasion was almost a fortnight later. 

And, meantime, Mr. Pulcifer had become the center of interest in EastWellmouth and its neighborhood. An important figure he always was, particularly in his own estimation, but now the spotlight of publicitywhich beat upon his ample figure had in its rays the blue tinge ofmystery. The question which all Wellmouth was asking was that whichCaptain Jethro had asked Mr. Bangs: "What is Raish up to now?"

And Mr. Pulcifer firmly refused to answer that question. Or, to bemore exact, he always answered it, but the answers were not consideredconvincing. Some pretended to be satisfied with his offhand declarationthat he "had a little chunk of the stock and just presumed likely Imight as well have a little more. Ain't nothin' to make a fuss about, anyhow. " A few pretended to accept this explanation as bona fide, butthe remainder, the majority, received it with open incredulity. 

The oddest part of it all was the fact that the great Horatio appearedto dislike the prominent position which his activities held in thecommunity mind. Ordinarily prominence had been the delight of his soul. In every political campaign, wherever the limelight shone brightestthere had strutted Mr. Pulcifer, cigar in mouth, hat over one eye, serene self-satisfaction in the possession of mysterious knowledgeradiating from his person. He loved that sort of thing; to be thepossessor of "inside information, " however slight, or even to bepopularly supposed to possess it, had hitherto been the meat upon whichthis, Wellmouth's, Caesar, fed and grew great. 

But Raish was not enjoying this particular meal. And his attitudewas not pretense, either; it was obvious that the more East Wellmouthdiscussed his buying the Development stock the less he liked it. Whenhis fellow townsmen questioned him he grew peevish. 

"Oh, forget it!" he exclaimed to one of the unfortunate who came seekinginformation. "You make me tired, Jim Fletcher, you and Ras Beebe and thewhole gang. By cripes, a feller can't as much as take a five cent cigarout of his pocket without all hands tryin' to make a--a molehill out ofit. Forget it, I tell you!"

Mr. Fletcher was a simple soul, decidedly not one of East Wellmouth'sintellectual aristocracy, but he was persistent. 

"Aw, hold on, Raish, " he expostulated, "I never said a word about yourtakin' a five cent cigar out of your pocket. .. . Er--er--you ain't takenone out, have you?"

"No, and I ain't goin' to--not now. "

"All right--all right. _I_ never asked you. All I said was--"

"I know what you said. "

"Why, no, you don't neither. You're all mixed up. Nobody's said anythingabout cigars, or makin'--er--er--What was it you said they made?"

"Oh, nothin', nothin'. A molehill is what I said. "

"What kind of a hill?"

"A molehill. Didn't you ever hear of a ground mole, for heaven sakes?"

"Course I've heard of a ground mole! But what's a ground mole got to dowith a cigar, I want to know? And you said a moleHILL. What's a groundmole doin' up on a hill?"

"Not up ON one--IN one. A molehill is what a ground mole lives in, ain'tit? It's just a sayin'. .. . Oh, never mind! Go on! Take a walk. "

"_I_ don't want to walk. And a ground mole lives in a hole, not a hill, like a--like a ant. You know that as well as I do. And, anyhow, nobodysaid anything about ground moles, or--or mud turtles neither, far's thatgoes. No, nor five cent cigars. Now, Raish, I'll tell you what they'resayin'; they say--"

"And I'll tell YOU! Listen! Listen, now, because this is the last timeI'll tell anybody anything except to go--"

"Sshh, shh, Raish! Alvira's right in the kitchen and the window'sopen. .. . No, 'tain't, it's shut. Where will they go?"

"Listen, you! I've bought those few extra shares of Development becauseI had some myself and thought I might as well have a few more. I bought'em and I paid for 'em. Nobody says I ain't paid for 'em, do they?"

"No, no. Don't anybody say that. All they say IS--"

"Be still! Now I bought those shares. What of it? It's my business, ain't it? Yes. And I haven't bought any more. You can tell 'em that: IHAVEN'T BOUGHT ANY MORE. "

"Oh, all right, Raish, all right. I'll tell 'em you ain't. But--"

"That's all. Now forget it! For-GET it!"

Which should, perhaps, have been sufficient and convincing. But therewere still some unconvinced. For example, Martha happened to meet onemorning, while on an errand in the village, the president of the DenboroTrust Company. He explained that he had motored over, having a littlematter of personal business to attend to. 

"I haven't seen you for some time, Miss Phipps, " he observed. "Not sinceour--er--little talk about the Wellmouth Development stock. That was thelast time, wasn't it?"

Martha said that it was. He lowered his voice a very little and asked, casually: "Still holding on to your two hundred and fifty shares, areyou?"

"Why, that was what you told me to do, wasn't it?"

"Yes, yes. I believe it was. Humph! Just so, yes. So you've still gotthose shares?"

Martha smiled. "I haven't sold 'em to Raish Pulcifer, if that's whatyou're hintin' at, " she said. 

He seemed a bit embarrassed. "Well, " he admitted, with a laugh, "I guessI'll have to own that I did mean that. There seems to be a good many whohave sold to Pulcifer. All the little fellows, the small holders. Youhaven't, you say?"

"I haven't sold a share to him. "

"Humph! Neither has Cap'n Jeth Hallett; he told me so just now. .. . Hum!. .. What is Raish buying for? What's the reason he's buying? Haveyou heard?"

"I've heard what he's told other folks; that's all I know about it. "

"Hum. .. . Yes, yes. Well, here's my advice, Miss Phipps: If I wereyou--if I were you, I say, and he came to me and wanted to buy, Ishouldn't be in too big a hurry to sell. Not in too big a hurry, Ishouldn't. "

"Why not?"

He glanced at her quickly. "Oh, he HAS been to see you about buying yourshares, then?" he suggested. 

She shook her head. "I didn't say he had, " she replied. "I just askedwhy I shouldn't sell if he wanted to buy, that's all. Why shouldn't I?"

He seemed more embarrassed and a trifle irritated. 

"Why--why--Oh, well, I suppose you should, perhaps, if he offers youenough. But I wish you wouldn't until--until--Well, couldn't you let meknow before you give him his answer? Would you mind doing that?"

And now she looked keenly at him. "What would I gain by that?" sheasked. "YOU aren't thinkin' of buyin' more of that stock, are you? Theother time when we talked, you told me the Trust Company had all theycared to own and were keepin' it because they had to. I would have beenglad--yes, awfully glad, to sell you my shares. But you wouldn't evenconsider buyin'. Do you want to buy now?"

He frowned. "I don't know what I want, " he said, impatiently. "Exceptthat the one thing we want to find out is why Pulcifer is buying. TheTrust Company holds a big block of that stock and--and if there isanything up we want to know of it. "

"What do you mean by 'anything up'?"

"Oh, I mean if some other people are trying to get--er--into the thing. Of course, it isn't likely, but--"

He did not finish the sentence. She asked another question. 

"Has Raish been to see you about buyin' the Trust Company stock?" sheasked. 

"No. He hasn't been near us. "

"Perhaps he would if you told him you wanted to sell. "

"I don't know that we do want to sell. That's a pretty good piece ofproperty over there and some day--Ahem! Oh, well, never mind. But Iwish you would let us know before you sell Pulcifer your holdings. Itmight--I can't say positively, you know--but it MIGHT be worth yourwhile. "

Martha, of course, made no promise, but she thought a good deal duringher walk homeward. She told her lodger of the talk with the TrustCompany official, and he thought a good deal, also. 

His thoughts, however, dealt not with the possible rise in value ofthe six hundred and fifty shares which, endorsed in blank, reposed, presumably, somewhere in the vaults of Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot. Hethought not at all of anything like that. He had gotten rid of thosecertificates and hoped never to hear of them again. But now, with allthis stir and talk, there was distinct danger that not only he butothers might hear of them. Galusha Bangs and Raish Pulcifer had, justnow, one trait in common, both detested the publicity given theirdealings in the securities of the Wellmouth Development Company. 

But, in spite of this detestation, Horatio still seemed anxious to dealin those securities. He visited the Phipps' home twice that week, bothtimes after dark and, as the watchful Primmie observed and commentedupon, each time coming not by the lane, but across the fields. And whenhe left, at the termination of his second visit, the expression upon hisface was by no means one of triumph. 

And Martha, of course, told her lodger what had transpired. 

"I declare, " she said, after her caller had gone, "I shall really beginto believe somethin' IS up in that Development Company, just as theTrust Company man said. Raish certainly wants to buy the two hundred andfifty shares he thinks I've got. This is the third time he's been to seeme, sneakin' across lots in the dark so nobody else would see him, and each time he raised his bid. He got up to eighteen dollars ashare to-night. And, I do believe, if I had given him the least bit ofencouragement, he would have gone higher still. What do you think ofthat, Mr. Bangs?"

Galusha did not know what to think of it; he found it extremelyunpleasant to think of it at all. 

"Have you--ah--have you told him you do not intend selling?" he asked. 

"Why, no, I haven't. You see, if I do he'll think it's awfully queer, because he knows how anxious I was, a while ago, TO sell. I just keepputtin' him off. Pretty soon I suppose I shall HAVE to tell him I won'tsell no matter what he offers; but we'll try the puttin' off as longas possible. " She paused, and then added, with a mischievous twinkle, "Really, Mr. Bangs, I am gettin' a good deal of fun out of it. A fewmonths ago I was the one to go to him and talk about that stock. Now hecomes to me and I'm just as high and mighty as he ever was, you can besure of that. 'Well, Raish, ' I said to him to-night, 'I don't know thatI am very much interested. If the stock is worth that to you, I presumelikely it's worth it to me. ' Ha, ha! Oh, dear! you should have seen himsquirm. He keeps tryin' to be buttery and sweet, but his real feelin'scome out sometimes. For instance, to-night his spite got a little toomuch for him and he said: 'Humph!' he said, 'somebody must have willedyou money lately, Martha. Either that or keepin' boarders must paypretty well. ' 'Yes, ' said I, 'it does. The cost of livin is comin'down all the time. ' Oh, I'm havin' a beautiful game of tit-for-tat withRaish. "

She laughed merrily. Galusha did not laugh. The game was altogether toorisky for him to enjoy it. A person sitting on a powder barrel couldscarcely be expected to enjoy the sight of a group of children playingwith matches in close proximity. An explosion, sooner or later, might beconsidered certain. But the children continued to play and day afterday went by, and no blow-up took place. Galusha sat upon his barrelpondering apprehensively and--waiting. There were times when, facingwhat seemed the inevitable, he found himself almost longing for thepromised summons from the Institute. An expedition to the wilds of--ofalmost anywhere, provided it was remote enough--offered at least a meansof escape. But, to offset this, was the knowledge that escape by flightinvolved giving up East Wellmouth and all it had come to mean to him. Of course, he would be obliged to give it up some day and, in allprobability, soon--but--well, he simply could not bring himself to thepoint of hastening the separation. So he shifted from the powder barrelto the sharp horn of the other dilemma and shifted back again. Bothseats were most uncomfortable. The idea that there was an element ofabsurdity in his self-imposed martyrdom and that, after all, what hehad done might be considered by the majority as commendable rather thancriminal, did not occur to him at all. He would not have been GalushaCabot Bangs if it had. 

He meditated much and Primmie, always on the lookout for new symptoms, noticed the meditations. When Primmie noticed a thing she neverhesitated to ask questions concerning it. She was dusting the sittingroom one morning and he was sitting by the window looking out. 

"You're thinkin' again, ain't you, Mr. Bangs?" observed Primmie. 

Galusha started. "Eh?" he queried. "Thinking? Oh, yes--yes!--I suppose Iwas thinking, Primmie. I--ah--sometimes do. "

"You 'most always do. I never see anybody think as much as you do, Mr. Bangs. Never in my born days I never. And lately--my savin' soul! Seemsas if you didn't do nothin' BUT think lately. Just set around and thinkand twiddle that thing on your watch chain. "

The thing on the watch chain was a rather odd charm which Mr. Bangs hadpossessed for many years. "Twiddling" it was a habit of his. In fact, hehad twiddled it so much that the pivot upon which it had hung broke andMartha had insisted upon his sending the charm to Boston for repairs. Ithad recently been returned. 

"What is that thing, Mr. Bangs?" asked Primmie. "I was lookin' at itt'other day when you left your watch chain layin' out in the sink. "

"In the sink? You mean BY the sink, don't you, Primmie?"

"No, I don't, I mean IN it. You'd forgot your watch and Miss Martha shesent me up to your room after it. I fetched it down to you and you andher was talkin' in the kitchen and you was washin' your hands in thesink basin. Don't you remember you was?"

"Was I? I--I presume I was if you say so. Really I--I have forgotten. "

"Course you have. And you forgot your watch, too. Left it layin' rightalongside that tin washbasin full of soapsuds. 'Twas a mercy you didn'tempty out the suds on top of it. Well, I snaked it out of the sinkand chased out the door to give it to you and you was halfway to thelighthouse and I couldn't make you hear to save my soul. 'Twas thenI noticed that charm thing. That's an awful funny kind of thing, Mr. Bangs. There's a--a bug on it, ain't there?"

"Why--ah--yes, Primmie. That charm is a very old scarab. "

"Hey? A what? I told Miss Martha it looked for all the world like apertater bug. "

Galusha smiled. He held out the charm for her inspection. 

"I have had that for a long time, " he said. "It is a--ah--souvenir of myfirst Egyptian expedition. The scarab is a rather rare example. I foundit myself at Saqqarah, in a tomb. It is a scarab of the Vth Dynasty. "

"Hey? Die--what?"

"The Vth Dynasty; that is the way we classify Egyptian--ah--relics, bydynasties, you know. The Vth Dynasty was about six thousand years ago. "

Primmie sat down upon the chair she had been dusting. 

"Hey?" she exclaimed. "My Lord of Isrul! Is that bug thing there sixthousand year old?"

"Yes. "

"My savin' soul! WHAT kind of a bug did you say 'twas?"

"Why, I don't know that I did say. It is a representation of an Egyptianbeetle, Ateuchus Sacer, you know. The ancient Egyptians worshiped thebeetle and so they--"

"Wait! Wait a minute, Mr. Bangs. WHAT did you say they done to it?"

"I said they worshiped it, made a god of it, you understand. "

"A god! Out of a--a pertater bug! Go long, Mr. Bangs! You're foolin', ain't you?"

"Dear me, no! It's quite true, Primmie, really. The ancient Egyptianshad many gods, some like human beings, some in the forms of animals. Thegoddess Hathor, for example, was the goddess of the dead and is alwaysrepresented in the shape of a cow. "

"Eh! A cow! Do you mean to sit there and tell me themfolks--er--er--went to church meetin' and--and flopped down and saidtheir prayers to a COW?"

Galusha smiled. "Why, yes, " he said, "I presume you might call it that. And another god of theirs had the head of a hawk--the bird, you know. The cat, too, was a very sacred animal. And, as I say, the beetle, likethe one represented here, was--"

"Hold on, Mr. Bangs! HO-OLD on! Don't say no more to me NOW. Let me kindof--of settle my stomach, as you might say, 'fore you fetch any moreonto the table. Worshipin' cows and--and henhawks and--and cats and bugsand--and hoptoads and clams, for what _I_ know! My savin' soul! Whatmade 'em do it? What did they do it FOR? Was they all crazy?"

"Oh, no, it was the custom of their race and time. "

"WELL!" with a heartfelt sigh, "I'm glad times have changed, that'sall I've got to say. Goin' to cow meetin' would be too much for ME! Mr. Bangs, where did you get that bug thing?"

"I found it at a place called Saqqarah, in Egypt. It was in a tombthere. "

"A tomb! What was you doin' in a tomb, for the land sakes?"

"I was opening it, looking for mummies and carvings, statues, relics, anything of the kind I might find. This scarab was in a ring on thefinger of the mummy of a woman. She was the wife of an officer in theroyal court. The mummy case was excellently preserved and when the mummyitself was unwrapped--"

"Wait a minute! Hold on just another minute, won't you, Mr. Bangs?You're always talkin' about mummies. A mummy is a--a kind of an image, ain't it? I've seen pictures of 'em in them printed report things youget from that Washin'ton place. An image with funny scrabblin' andpictures, kind of, all over it. That's a mummy, ain't it, Mr. Bangs?"

"Why, not exactly, Primmie. A mummy is--"

He proceeded to tell her much concerning mummies. From that he went onto describe the finding of the particular mummy from whose finger thescarab had been taken. Miss Cash listened, her mouth and eyes openingwider and wider. She appeared to be slowly stiffening in her chair. Galusha, growing interested in his own story, was waxing almosteloquent, when he was interrupted by a gasp from his listener. She wasstaring at him, her face expressing the utmost horror. 

"Why, dear me, Primmie, what is it?" he begged. 

Primmie gasped again. "And you set there, " she said, slowly, "and tellme that you hauled that poor critter that had been buried six thousandyears out of--of--My Lord of Isrul! Don't talk no more to me now, Mr. Bangs. I sha'n't sleep none THIS night!" She marched to the door andthere, turning, looked at him in awe-stricken amazement. 

"And to think, " she said, slowly, "that I always cal'lated you was meekand gentle and--and all like that--as Moses's grandmother. WELL, it justshows you can't tell much by a person's LOOKS. Haulin' 'em out of theirgraves and--and unwrappin' 'em like--like bundles, and cartin' 'em offto museums. And thinkin' no more of it than I would of--of scalin' aflatfish. My savin' soul!"

She breathed heavily once more and departed. That evening she cameto her mistress with a new hint concerning the reason for the Bangs'absent-mindedness. 

"It's his conscience, " she declared. "He's broodin', that's what he'sdoin'. Broodin' and broodin' over them poor remains in the showcasesin the museums. He may be a good man; I don't say he ain't. He's justlovely NOW, and that's why his conscience keeps a-broodin', poor thing. Oh, I know what I'm talkin' about, Miss Martha. You ask him some timewhere he got that bug thing--a Arab, he calls it--that he wears on hiswatch chain. Just ask him. You'll hear somethin' THEN, I bet you! Whew!"

Galusha found considerable amusement in talks like those. Primmie wasa distinct relief, for she never mentioned the troublesome DevelopmentCompany. Talk in the village concerning it was dying down and Mr. Pulcifer's assertion that he had bought only the shares of the smallholders was becoming more generally believed. But in the Gould's Bluffssettlement this belief was scoffed at. Captain Jeth Hallett told Galushathe truth and his statement was merely a confirmation of Martha Phipps'. 

"Raish is hotfoot after that stock of mine, " growled the light keeper. "He's 'round to see me every day or two. Don't hint any more neither;comes right out and bids for it. He's got to as high as nineteen ashare now. And he'd go higher, too. HOW far he'll go I don't know, but Ical'late I'll keep him stringin' along till I find out. "

He pulled at his beard for a moment and then added:

"It's plain enough, of course, that Raish is agent for somebody thatwants to buy in that stock. Who 'tis, though, I can't guess. It ain'tyour Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot crowd, Mr. Bangs. That's plain enough, too. "

Galusha tried to look innocently interested. 

"Oh--ah--yes, " he said. "Is it?"

"Sartin 'tis. THEY wouldn't need to be sendin' anybody to buy my shares, would they? They've bought 'em already. The whole thing is queer. Lookhere! Why should anybody be chasin' ME for those shares? Why don't theyget a list of stockholders from the books? Those transfer books ought toshow that I've sold, hadn't they? They would, too, if any transfer hadbeen made. There ain't been any made, that's all the answer I can thinkof. I signed those certificates of mine in blank, transferred 'em inblank on the back. And somebody--whoever 'twas bought 'em--ain't turned'em in for new ones in their own name, but have left 'em just the waythey got 'em. That's why Raish and his crowd think I've still got mystock. Now ain't that funny, Mr. Bangs? Ain't that strange?"

It was not at all funny to Galusha. Nor strange. The light keeper tuggedat his beard and his shaggy brows drew together. "I don't know's I didright to let go of that stock of mine, after all, " he said, slowly. "Don't know as I did, no. "

Galusha asked him why. 

"Because I don't know as I did, that's all. If I'd hung on I might havegot more for it. Looks to me as if Raish's crowd, whoever they are, aremighty anxious to buy. And the Denboro Trust Company folks might bidagainst 'em if 'twas necessary. They've got too much of that stock tolet themselves be froze out. Humph!. .. Humph! I ain't sure as I didright. "

"But--but you did get a profit, Captain Hallett. The profityou--ah--expected. "

"Humph! I got a profit, but how do I know 'twas the profit Julia meant?I ought to have gone and asked her afore I sold, that's what I ought tohave done, I cal'late. "

He frowned heavily and added, in a tone of gloomy doubt: "I presumelikely I've been neglectin' things--things like that, lately, and that'swhy punishments are laid onto me. I suppose likely that's it. "

Galusha, of course, did not understand, but as the captain seemed toexpect him to make some remark, he said: "Oh--ah--dear me! Indeed?Ah--punishments?"

"Yes. I don't know what else they are. When your own flesh and blood--"He stopped in the middle of his sentence, sighed, and added: "Well, never mind. But I need counsel, Mr. Bangs, counsel. "

Again Galusha scarcely knew what to say. 

"Why--ah--Captain Hallett, " he stammered, "I doubt if my advice would beworth much, really, but such as it is I assure you it--"

Captain Jethro interrupted. 

"Counsel from this earth won't help me any, Mr. Bangs, " he declared. "It's higher counsel that I need. Um-hm, higher. "

He walked away without saying more. Galusha wondered what had set himoff upon that tack. That afternoon, while in the village, he met NelsonHoward and the latter furnished an explanation. It seemed that the youngman had been to see Captain Jethro, had dared to call at the light withthe deliberate intention of seeing and interviewing him on the subjectof his daughter. The interview had not been long, nor as stormy asNelson anticipated; but neither had it been satisfactory. 

"It's those confounded 'spirits' that are rocking the boat, " declaredNelson. "The old man practically said just that. He seems to have gottenover some of his bitterness against me--perhaps it is, as you say, Mr. Bangs, because I have a better position now and good prospects. Perhapsit is that, I don't know. But he still won't consider my marrying Lulie. He seems to realize that we could marry and that he couldn't stop us, but I think he realizes, too, that neither Lulie nor I would think ofdoing it against his will. 'But why, Cap'n Hallett?' I kept saying. 'WHY? What is the reason you are so down on me?' And all I could get outof him was the old stuff about 'revelations' and 'word from above' andall that. We didn't get much of anywhere. Oh, pshaw! Wouldn't it makeyou tired? Say, Mr. Bangs, the last time you and I talked you said youwere going to 'consider' those Marietta Hoag spirits. I don't know whatyou meant, but if you could consider some sense into them and into Cap'nJeth's stubborn old head, I wish you would. "

Galusha smiled and said he would try. "I don't exactly know whatI meant, myself, by considering them, " he admitted. "However, I--ah--doubtless meant something and I'll try and--ah--consider what itwas. It seems to me that I had a vague thought--not an idea, exactly, but--Well, perhaps it will come back. I have had a numberof--ah--distractions of late. They have caused me to forget the spirits. I'm very sorry, really. I must try now and reconsider the considering. Dear me, how involved I am getting! Never mind, we are going to win yet. Oh, I am sure of it. "

The distractions to which he referred were, of course, the recentand mysterious machinations of Raish Pulcifer. And he was to be againdistracted that very afternoon. For as, after parting with Howard, he was walking slowly along the main road, pondering deeply upon theproblem presented by the love affair of his two young friends and itsspirit complications, he was awakened from his reverie by a series ofsharp clicks close at his ear. He started, looked up and about, and sawthat he was directly opposite the business office of the great Horatio. He heard the clicks again and realized that they were caused by thetapping of the windowpane by a ring upon a masculine finger. Thering appeared to be--but was not--a mammoth pigeon-blood ruby and itornamented, or set off, the hand of Mr. Pulcifer himself. 

Galusha stared uncomprehendingly at the hand and ring. Then the handbeckoned frantically. Mr. Bangs raised his eyes and saw, through thedingy pane, the face of the owner of the hand. The lower portion of theface was in eager motion. "Come in, " Mr. Pulcifer was whispering. "Comeon in!"

Galusha wonderingly entered the office. He had no desire forconversation with its proprietor, but he was curious to know what thelatter wanted. 

"Ah--good-afternoon, Mr. Pulcifer, " he said. 

Raish did not answer immediately. His first move was to cross to thedoor by which his visitor had entered, close and lock it. His next wasto lower the window shade a trifle. Then he turned and smiled--nay, beamed upon that visitor. 

"Set down, set down, Perfessor, " he urged, with great cordiality. "Well, well, well! It's good to see you again, be hanged if it ain't now! How'sthings down to the bluffs? Joggin' along, joggin' along in the same oldrut, the way the feller with the wheelbarrer went to market? Eh? Haw, haw, haw! Have a cigar, Perfessor?"

Galusha declined the cigar. He would also have declined the invitationto sit, but Mr. Pulcifer would not hear of it. He all but forced hiscaller into a chair. 

"Set down, " he insisted. "Just as cheap settin' as standin' andconsider'ble lighter on shoe leather, as the feller said. Haw, haw! Hey?Yes, indeed. Er--Have a cigar?"

But Galusha was still resolute as far as the cigar was concerned. Raishlighted one himself and puffed briskly. To a keen observer he might haveappeared a trifle nervous. Galusha was not a particularly keen observerand, moreover, he was nervous himself. If there had been no otherreason, close proximity to a Raish Pulcifer cigar was, to a sensitiveperson, sufficient cause for nervousness. 

Mr. Pulcifer continued to talk and talk and talk, of the weather, of theprofits of the summer season just past, of all sorts of trivialities. Mr. Bangs' nervousness increased. He fidgeted in his chair. 

"Really, " he stammered, "I--I fear I must be going. You will excuse me, I hope, but--ah--I must, really. "

Pulcifer held up a protesting hand. It was that holding the cigar and hewaved it slowly back and forth. One of Galusha's experiences had been tobe a passenger aboard a tramp steamer loaded with hides when fire brokeout on board. The hides had smoked tremendously and smelled even moreso. As the dealer in real estate slowly waved his cigar back and forth, Galusha suddenly remembered this experience. The mental picture wasquite vivid. 

"Wait, Perfessor, " commanded Horatio. "Throttle her down. Put her intolow just a minute. Say, Perfessor, " he lowered his voice and leanedforward in his chair: "Say, Perfessor, " he repeated, "do you want tomake some money?"

Galusha gazed at him uncomprehendingly. 

"Why--ah--Dear me!" he faltered. "I--that is--well, really, I fear I donot fully grasp your--ah--meaning, Mr. Pulcifer. "

Raish seemed to find this amusing. He laughed aloud. "No reason why youshould yet awhile, Perfessor, " he declared. "I'll try to get it acrossto you in a minute, though. What I asked was if you wanted to makemoney. Do, don't you?"

"Why--why, I don't know. Really, I--"

"Go 'way, boy!" derisively. "Go 'way! Don't tell me you don't wantmoney. Everybody wants it. You and me ain't John D. 's yet, by aconsider'ble sight. Hey? Haw, haw! Anyhow _I_ ain't, and I'll say thisfor you, Perfessor, if you are, you don't look it. Haw, haw!"

He laughed again. Galusha glanced despairingly at the locked door. Mr. Pulcifer leaned forward and gesticulated with the cigar just before hisvisitor's nose. The visitor leaned backward. 

"If--if you don't mind, " he said, desperately, "I really wish youwouldn't. "

"What?"

"Put that thing--that cigar quite so near. If you don't mind. "

Raish withdrew the cigar and looked at it and his companion. 

"Oh, yes, yes; I see!" he said, after a moment. "You object to tobacco, then?"

Galusha drew a relieved breath. "Why--ah--no, " he said, slowly, "notto--ah--tobacco. " Then he added, hastily: "But, really, Mr. Pulcifer, Imust be going. "

Pulcifer pushed him back into the chair again. His tone became brisk andbusinesslike. "Hold on, Perfessor, " he said. "You say you want to makemoney?"

Galusha had not said so, but it seemed scarcely worth while to deny theassertion. And Raish waited for no denial. "You want to make money, "he repeated. "All right, so do I. And I've got a scheme that'll help usboth to make a little. Now listen. But before I tell you, you've got togive me your word to keep it dark; see?"

Galusha promised and Raish proceeded to explain his scheme. Briefly itamounted to this: Galusha Bangs, being a close acquaintance of MarthaPhipps and Jethro Hallett, was to use that acquaintanceship to inducethem to sell their shares in the Development Company. For such aneffort, if successful, on the part of Mr. Bangs, he, Horatio Pulcifer, was prepared to pay a commission of fifty dollars, twenty-five when hereceived Martha's shares and twenty-five when Jethro's were delivered. 

"There, " he said, in conclusion, "is a chance I'm offerin' you, as afriend, to clean up fifty good, hard, round dollars. What do you say, old man?"

The "old man"--Galusha winced slightly at the appellation--did not seemto know what to say. His facial expression might have indicated any orall of a variety of feelings. At last, he stammered a question. Why didMr. Pulcifer wish to obtain the Development stock? This question Raishwould not answer. 

"Never mind, " he said. "I do, that's all. And I've got the money to doit with. I'll pay cash for their stock and I'll pay you cash when you orthey hand it over. That's business, ain't it?"

"But--but, dear me, Mr. Pulcifer, why do you ask ME to do this? Why--"

"Ain't I told you? You're a friend of mine and I'm givin' you the chancebecause I think you need the money. That's a reason, ain't it?"

"Why--yes. It is--ah--a reason. But why don't you buy the stockyourself?"

For an instant Raish's smoothness deserted him. His temper flared. 

"Because the cussed fools won't sell it to me, " he snapped. "That is, they ain't said they'd sell yet. Perhaps they're prejudiced againstme, I don't know. Maybe they will sell to you; you and they seem tobe thicker'n thieves. Er--that is, of course, you understand I don'tmean--Oh, well, you know what I mean, Perfessor. Now what do you say?"

Galusha rose and picked up his hat from the floor. 

"I'm afraid I must say no, " he said, quietly, but with a firmness whicheven Raish Pulcifer's calloused understanding could not miss. "I couldnot think of accepting, really. "

"But, say, Perfessor--"

"No, Mr. Pulcifer. I could not. "

"But why not? IF--Well, I tell you, maybe I might make it sixty dollarsinstead of fifty for you. "

"No. I couldn't, Mr. Pulcifer. .. . If you will kindly unlock the door?"

Pulcifer swore. "Well, you must be richer'n you look, that's all I'vegot to say, " he snarled. He kicked the wastebasket across the room andgrowled: "I'll get the stuff away from 'em yet, just the same. What thefools are hangin' on for is more'n I can see. Martha Phipps was downon her knees beggin' me to buy only a little spell ago. Old Jeth, of course, thinks his 'spirits' are backin' HIM up. Crazy old loon!Spirits! In this day and time! God sakes! Humph! I wish to thunder Icould deal with the spirits direct; might be able to do business withTHEM. Perfessor, now come, think it over. There ain't anything crookedabout it. .. . Why, what is it, Perfessor?" eagerly. "Changed your mind, have you?"

Galusha's expression had changed, certainly. He looked queerly at Mr. Pulcifer, queerly and for an appreciable interval of time. There was anodd flash in his eye and the suspicion of a smile at the corner of hislips. But he was grave enough when he spoke. 

"Mr. Pulcifer, " he said, "I appreciate your kindness in--ah--consideringme in this matter. I--it is impossible for me to accept your offer, ofcourse, but--but--"

"Now, hold on, Perfessor. You think that offer over. "

"No, I cannot accept. But it has occurred to me that perhaps. .. Perhaps. .. Mr. Pulcifer, do you know Miss Hoag?"

"Hey? Marietta Hoag? KNOW her? Yes, I know her; know her too well for myown good. Why?"

"Have you any--ah--influence with her? That is, would she be likely tolisten to a suggestion from you?"

"Listen! SHE? Confound her, I've got a note of hers for seventy-fivedollars and it's two months overdue. She'd BETTER listen! Say, what areyou drivin' at, Perfessor?"

Galusha deposited his hat upon the floor again, and sat down in thechair he had just vacated. Now it was he who, regardless of the cigar, leaned forward. 

"Mr. Pulcifer, " he said, "an idea occurred to me while you were speakingjust now. I don't know that it will be of any--ah--value to you. But youare quite welcome to it, really. This is the idea--"

CHAPTER XVIII

If Ras Beebe or Miss Blount or some others of the group of EastWellmouthians who guessed Galusha Bangs to be "a little teched in thehead, " had seen that gentleman walking toward home after his interviewwith Mr. Pulcifer in the latter's office--if they had seen him on hisway to Gould's Bluffs that day, they would have ceased guessing andprofessed certain knowledge. Galusha meandered slowly along the lane, head bent, hands clasped behind him, stumbling over tussocks andstepping with unexpected emphasis into ruts and holes. Sometimes hisface wore a disturbed expression, almost a frightened one; at othertimes he smiled and his eyes twinkled like those of a mischievous boy. Once he laughed aloud, and, hearing himself, looked guiltily aroundto see if any one else had heard him. Then the frightened expressionreturned once more. If Primmie Cash had been privileged to watch him shemight have said, as she had on a former occasion, that he looked "as ifhe was havin' a good time all up one side of him and a bad one all downt'other. "

As a matter of fact, this estimate would not have been so far wrong. Galusha was divided between pleasurable anticipation and fear. There wasadventure ahead, adventure which promised excitement, a probable benefitto some individuals and a grievous shock to others, and surprise to all. But for him there was involved a certain amount of risk. However, so hedecided before he reached the Phipps' gate, he had started across thedesert and it was too late to turn back. Whether he brought his caravanover safely or the Bedouins got him was on the knees of the gods. Andthe fortunes of little Galusha Bangs had been, ere this, on the knees ofmany gods, hawk-headed and horned and crescent-crowned, strange gods instrange places. It was quite useless to worry now, he decided, andhe would calmly wait and see. At the best, the outcome would be good, delightful. At the worst, except for him--well, except for him it couldnot be much worse than it now was. For him, of course--he must not thinkabout that. 

He endeavored to assume an air of light-hearted, care-free innocenceand sometimes overdid it a bit. Primmie, the eagle-eyed, remarked to hermistress: "Well, all's I can say is that I never see such a change in abody as there is in Mr. Bangs. He used to be so--so quiet, you know, allthe time, and he is yet most of it. When I used to come along and findhim all humped over thinkin', and I'd ask him what he was thinkin'about, he'd kind of jump and wake up and say, 'Eh? Oh, nothin', nothin, 'Primmie, really. Er--quite so--yes. ' And then he'd go to sleep again, asyou might say. But he don't do so now; my savin' soul, no! This mornin'when I says, 'What you thinkin' about, Mr. Bangs?' he says, 'Nothin', nothin', Primmie, ' same as usual; but then he says, 'DON'T look at melike that, Primmie. I wasn't thinkin' of anything, I assure you. Pleasedon't DO it. ' And then he commenced to sing, sing out loud. I neverheard him do it afore and I don't know's I exactly hanker to have himdo it again, 'cause 'twas pretty unhealthy singin', if you ask ME. Butwhat--"

"Oh, now run along, run along, Primmie, for mercy's sakes! I never heardany one use so many words and get so little good out of 'em in my life. Let Mr. Bangs alone. "

"_I_ ain't doin' nothin' to him. Lord of Isrul, no! But, Miss Martha, what started him to singin' all to once? If 'twas somebody else but himand I didn't know the cherry rum was all gone, I--"

"What? What's that? How did you know the cherry rum was all gone?"

Primmie blinked and swallowed hard. "Why--er--why--er--Miss Martha, " shestammered, "I--I just happened to find it out--er--sort of by accident. Zach--Zacheus Bloomer, I mean--over to the lighthouse, you know--"

"There, there! Know? Of course I know Zach Bloomer, I should think Imight. Don't be any sillier than the Lord made you, Primmie. It isn'tnecessary. "

"Well--well, you see, Miss Martha, Zach he was over here one timea spell ago and--and--Well, we got to--to kind of arguin' with oneanother--er--er--arguin', you know. "

"Yes, I know. I ought to. Go on. "

"Yes'm. And Zach he got to--to bettin', as you might say. And we gottalkin' about--er--cherry rum, seems so. It's kind of funny that wedone it, now I come to think of it, but we did. Seems to me 'twas Zachstarted it. "

"Um. .. . I see. Go on. "

"Well, we argued and argued and finally he up and bet me there wasn't adrink of cherry rum in this house. Bet me five cents, he did, and I tookhim up. And then I went and got the bottle out of the soup tureen in thecloset and fetched it and showed it to him. 'There!' says I. 'There'syour drink, Zach Bloomer, ' says I. 'Now hand over my five cents. ' 'Holdon, Posy, ' he says, 'hold on. I said a drink. There ain't a drink inthat bottle. ' 'Go 'long, ' says I, 'the bottle's half full. ' But he stuckit out there wasn't a drink in it and afore he'd pay me my bet he had toprove it to himself. Even then, after he'd swallowed the whole of it, he vowed and declared there wasn't a real drink. But he had to hand overthe five cents. .. . And--and that's how I know, " concluded Primmie, "thatthere ain't any cherry rum in the house, Miss Martha. "

Miss Phipps' remarks on the subject of the wily Mr. Bloomer and the rumdrove the thoughts of Mr. Bangs' odd behavior from the mind of her maid. But the consciousness of conspiracy was always present with Galusha, tryas he might to forget it. And he was constantly being reminded--of it. Down at the post office at mail time he would feel his coat-tail pulledand looking up would see the face of Mr. Pulcifer solemnly gazingover his head at the rows of letter boxes. Apparently Raish was quiteunconscious of the little man's presence, but there would come anothertug at the coat-tail and a barely perceptible jerk of the Pulcifer headtoward the door. 

Feeling remarkably like a fool, Galusha would follow to the front stepsof the post office. There Raish would suddenly and, in a tone of joyfulsurprise, quite as if they had not met for years, seize his hand, pumpit up and down and ask concerning his health, the health of the Gould'sBluffs colony and the "news down yonder. " Then, gazing blandly up theroad at nothing in particular, he would add, speaking in a whisper andfrom the corner of his mouth: "Comin' along, Perfessor. She's a-comin'along. Keep your ear out for signals. .. . What say? Why, no, I don'tthink it does look as much like rain as it did, Mr. Bangs. "

One evening Galusha, entering the Phipps' sitting room, found Luliethere. She and Martha were in earnest conversation and the girl wasplainly much agitated. He was hurriedly withdrawing, but Miss Phippscalled him back. 

"Come in, Mr. Bangs, " she said. "I think Lulie would like to talk toyou. She said she would. "

"Yes. Yes, I would, Mr. Bangs, " put in Lulie, herself. "Could you sparejust a minute or two?"

Galusha cheerfully avowed that he had so many spare minutes that he didnot know what to do with them. 

"If time were money, as they say it is, " he added, "I should bea--ah--sort of mint, shouldn't I?" Then he smiled and added: "Why, no, not exactly that, either. A mint is where they make money and Icertainly do not make time. But I have just as much time as if I did. Yes--ah--quite so. As our philosophizing friend Zacheus is so fondof saying, I have 'all the time there is. ' And if time ISmoney--why--ah. .. . Eh? Dear me, possibly you ladies know what I amtalking about; _I_ don't. "

They both burst out laughing and he smiled and stroked his chin. Marthalooked him over. 

"What makes you so nervous, Mr. Bangs?" she asked. He started andcolored. He was a trifle nervous, having a shrewd suspicion as to whatMiss Hallett wished to talk with him about. She promptly confirmed thesuspicion. 

"Mr. Bangs, " she said, "I am in such trouble. It's about father, asusual. I'm afraid he is at it again. "

"Eh? I beg pardon? Oh, yes, certainly. "

Martha shook her head. "He hasn't the slightest idea what you mean, Lulie, " she declared. "That's why he says 'Oh, yes, certainly. ' Shemeans, Mr. Bangs, that Cap'n Jethro is beginnin' to break out withanother attack of Marietta Hoag's spirits, and we've been tryin' tothink of a way to stop him. We haven't yet. Perhaps you can. Can you?"

Lulie went on to explain. Her father had been more gloomy and thoughtfulfor the last week or two. She had noticed it and so had Zach. He talkedwith her less and less as the days passed, lapsed into silences atmeals, and on nights when he was supposed to be off duty and asleep sheoften heard him walking about his room. If she asked him, as, of course, she often did, what was the matter, if he was not feeling well or ifthere was anything troubling him, he only growled a negative or orderedher not to bother him. 

"And when, last Wednesday at supper, " she went on, "Zach said somethingabout the engine for the foghorn not working just as it should, father'sanswer showed us both what was in his mind. I had guessed it before andZach says he had, but then we knew. "

"Tell Mr. Bangs what he said, " urged Martha. 

"He didn't say so very much, Mr. Bangs, but it was the way he said it. He glowered at poor Zach, who hadn't said or done anything wrong, andpulled his beard as he always does. Then he said: 'There's no wonder theengine's out of kilter. There's no wonder about that. The wonder isthat anything's right aboard here. We've been trying to steer without acompass. We've got so we think we don't need a pilot or a chart, butare so everlasting smart we can cruise anywhere on our own hook. ' 'Why, father, ' said I, 'what do you mean?' He glared at me then. 'Mean?' heasked. 'I mean we've had guidance offered to us, offered to us over andover again, and we've passed it by on the other side. '"

She paused. Galusha looked puzzled. 

"Ah--um, yes, " he observed. "On the other side? Yes--ah--quite so. "

"Oh, that was just his way of speaking, Mr. Bangs. I tried to changethe subject. I asked him if he didn't think we should report the enginetrouble to the inspector when he came next month. It was a mistake, mysaying that. He got up from his chair. 'I'm going to report, ' he said. 'I'm going to make my report aloft and ask for guidance. The foghornain't the only thing that's runnin' wild. My own flesh and blood defiesme. '"

Martha interrupted. "You hear that, Mr. Bangs?" she said. "And we wereall hopin' THAT snarl was straightenin' itself out. "

Galusha looked very uneasy. "Dear me, " he said. "Really, now. Oh, dear!"

"Well, " continued Lulie, "that was enough, of course. And the next day, last Thursday, Zacheus said Ras Beebe told him that Ophelia--that's hissister, you know--told him that Abel Harding told her that his wife saidthat Marietta Hoag told HER--I HOPE I've got all the 'hims' and 'hers'straight--that Cap'n Jeth Hallett was going to have another seance downat the light pretty soon. Marietta said that father felt he needed helpfrom 'over the river'. .. . What is it, Mr. Bangs?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing. For a moment I did not get the--ah--allusion, the'over the river, ' you know. I comprehend now, the--ah--Styx; yes. "

But now Martha looked puzzled. 

"Sticks!" she repeated. "Lulie didn't say anything about sticks. Neitherdid Cap'n Jethro. Spirits he was talkin' about. "

"Yes, I know. Certainly, quite so. The shades beyond the Styx. "

"SHADES? STICKS! For mercy's sakes, Mr. Bangs--!"

Lulie laughed aloud. "He means the River Styx, Martha, " she explained. "Don't you know? The river of the dead, that the ancients believed in, where Charon rowed the ferry. "

And now Martha laughed. "My goodness gracious me!" she cried. "Yes, yes, of course. I've read about it, but it was a long while ago. Mr. Bangs, I'm dreadfully ignorant, I realize it about once every ten minutes whenI'm with you. Perhaps I've got a little excuse this time. I've beenfigurin' I must buy new curtains for the dinin' room. I was thinkin'about it all this forenoon. And when YOU began to talk about shades andsticks, I--Mercy me! I am funny, I declare!"

She laughed again and Lulie and Galusha joined her. They were stilllaughing when the dining room door opened. Mr. Bloomer's substantial ifnot elegant form appeared. 

"Ain't buttin' in, be I?" inquired Zach. "I knew you was over here, Lulie, so I stopped to tell you the news. It's all settled. "

"Settled?" Lulie and Martha repeated the word together. Zach nodded, portentously. 

"Um-hm, " he declared. "Settled's the word. The whistle's piped toquarters. All hands, alow and aloft, are ordered to report on board thegood ship Gould's Bluffs Lighthouse, Cap'n Jethro Hallet commandin', on Friday next, the--er--I-forget-what of this month, at seven bells inthe--"

"Zach! Zach!" broke in Lulie. "Stop it! What are you talking about?"

"Talkin' about what I'm tryin' to tell you, " said Zacheus, who seemed, for him, a good deal disturbed. "All able believers, fo'mast hands, and roustabouts and all full-rated ghosts, spooks, sperits and Chineecontrols are ordered to get together in the parlor next Saturday nightand turn loose and raise-whatever 'tis they raise. Signed, MariettaHoag, Admiral, and Cap'n Jethro Hallett, Skipper. There, by Godfreys!Now if you don't know 'tain't my fault, is it? Yes, sir, there's goin'to be another one of them fool sea-ants, or whatever 'tis they call 'em, over to the house next Friday night. And I think it's a darn shame, if you want to know what _I_ think. And just as you and me, Lulie, washopin' the old man was gettin' so he'd forgot Marietta and all her crew. A healthy note, by Godfreys, ain't it now!"

"A healthy note, " or words to that effect, was exactly what it was;Martha and Lulie were in thorough accord with Zach as to that. Galushadid not say very much. He rubbed his chin a good deal and when, afterBloomer had departed, Lulie came close to breaking down and crying, hestill was silent, although nervous and evidently much disturbed. Luliebravely conquered her emotion. 

"Please don't mind me, " she begged. "It's awfully silly of me, I know. But, you see, Nelson and I had really begun to think that perhaps fatherhad broken away from--from all that. For a time he was--oh, different. Nelson told you that he bowed to him once and I told you how--But whatis the use? Here he goes again. And now goodness knows what dreadfulideas that Hoag woman will put into his head. Nelson and I had hopedthat perhaps--perhaps we might be married in six months or a year. Now--Oh, it is SO discouraging!"

Martha soothed her, told her not to be discouraged, that no doubt thisspirit outbreak would be only a mild one, that she was sure Captain Jethwould "come around all right" in time, and grasped at any other strawsof comfort she found afloat. Galusha stood awkwardly by, his faceexpressing concern, but his tongue silent. When Lulie declared she mustgo home, he insisted upon walking to the light with her. 

"But you don't need to, Mr. Bangs, " she declared. "It is a pleasantnight and such a little way. And you know I am used to running aboutalone. Why, what on earth do you think would be likely to hurt me, downhere in this lonesomeness?"

Nevertheless, he insisted. But, although she chatted during their shortwalk, it was not until they reached the light keeper's gate that hespoke. Then he laid a hand on her arm. 

"Ah--ah--Miss Lulie--" he began, but she stopped him. 

"I thought we had settled long ago, " she said, "that I wasn't to be'Miss' Lulie. Now you are beginning again. "

"Yes--yes. I beg your pardon, of course. Well, Miss--Oh, dear me, HOWridiculous I am! Well, Lulie, I should like to tell you a story. May I?"

It seemed a queer place and an odd time to tell stories, but she said ofcourse he might. 

"It wasn't a very long story, " he went on, "but it is a true one. I happened to think of it just now while we were talking, you and Iand--ah--Miss Martha. It is about me. On one of my expeditions in Egypt, Miss Lu--Oh, good gracious!--On one of my Egyptian expeditions, Lulie, I was in search of a certain tomb, or group of tombs. It was on thisexpedition, by the way, that we found the very remarkable statue ofAmenemhait; Amenemhait III, you know. "

Lulie smiled. "I DON'T know, " she said, "but it doesn't matter. "

"Eh? Oh, no, not at all, not in the least. He was a Pharaoh of the firstTheban period. But that doesn't matter either; and he hasn't anythingto do with this story. We had learned of the existence of this group oftombs, or that they had existed at one time, and of their approximatelocation, from an inscription dug up by myself at--"

The door of the light keeper's cottage swung open with a bang. A voiceroared across the night. 

"Lulie!" shouted Captain Jethro. "Lulie!"

The Bangs' story broke off in the middle. Its narrator and his youngcompanion turned startled faces toward the sound. 

"Lulie!" bellowed Captain Jeth, again. "Lulie!"

Lulie answered. "Why, yes, father, " she said. "I am right here, at thegate. Why are you shouting so? What is the matter?"

The captain seemed much surprised. He raised a hand to shield his eyesfrom the lamplight in the room behind him. 

"Hey?" he queried. "Where be you? You ain't right there at the gate, areyou?"

"Why, yes, of course I am. "

"Humph!. .. " Then, with renewed suspicion, "Who's that with you?"

"Mr. Bangs. I ran over to Martha's for a minute or two, and he walkedhome with me. "

"Good-evening, Captain Hallett, " hailed Galusha. Captain Jethro pulledhis beard. 

"Humph!" he grunted. "Humph! Mr. Bangs, eh?. .. Humph! Ithought--Cal'late I must have fell asleep on the sofy and beendreamin'. .. . Humph!. .. Lulie, you better come in now, it's chilly outhere. Mr. Bangs can come, too, I suppose likely--if he wants to. "

It was not the most cordial of invitations and Galusha did not acceptit. 

"I must get back to the house, Captain, " he said. "It IS chilly, as yousay. No doubt he is right, Lulie. You mustn't stay. Good-night. "

"But, Mr. Bangs, you haven't finished your story. "

"Eh? Dear me, so I haven't. Well--"

"Lulie!" Captain Jethro's voice was fretful. "Lulie, you come along innow. I want you. "

Lulie shook her head resignedly. "Yes, father, " she replied, "I'mcoming this minute. You see?" she whispered. "He is getting back allthe impatience and--and strangeness that he had last fall. It is thatdreadful spirit business. Oh, dear!"

Galusha softly patted her shoulder. "I won't finish my story, " hesaid, in a low tone. "It isn't necessary, because I can tell youthe--ah--moral, so to speak, and that will do as well. We found thosetombs at last by doing a thing which, we were all sure, was the worstthing we could possibly do. It turned out to be that 'worst thing' whichsaved us. And--and I wish you would think that over, Lulie, " he added, earnestly. "It looked to be the very worst thing and--and it turned outto be the best. .. . Ah--good-night. "

But she detained him. "I don't understand, Mr. Bangs, " she said. "Whatdo you mean? You said you were going to tell me the moral of your story. That isn't a moral, is it?"

"Eh? No--ah--no. I suppose it isn't. But--but you think it over, toplease me, you know. A--a something which looked to be the worstthat could happen was the miracle that gave us our tombs. Perhapsthe--perhaps what you dread most may give you yours. Not your tomb; dearme, no! I hope not. But may be the means of--of saving the situation. There, there, I must go. Good-night. "

"Wait, wait, Mr. Bangs. .. . Oh, yes, father, I'm coming now. .. . Mr. Bangs, what DO you mean? What I dread the most? What I dread--I think Idread that silly seance next Saturday night more than anything else. Mr. Bangs, you don't mean--"

"Now, now, now, Lulie. I mustn't say a word more. I--I have said toomuch, I know. Just think over the--ah--moral, that's all. Thinkit over--but don't mention it to any one else, please. Good-night. Good-night, Captain Hallett. "

He hurried away. Lulie stared after him, wonderingly; then she turnedand walked slowly and thoughtfully to the door. Her father regarded herwith a troubled expression. 

"I dreamed, " he said, slowly, "that Julia come to me and said somethin'about you. I don't seem to recollect just what 'twas she said. But 'twassomethin' about you--somethin' about me lookin' out for you. .. . Seem'sif, " he added, doubtfully, "as if she said you'd look out for me, butthat's just foolishness and wouldn't mean nothin'. It couldn't be, thatcouldn't. .. . Humph! Well, come on in. "

The remainder of that week the seance to be held in the light keeper'scottage on Saturday evening was much talked about. The devout, includingthe Beebes, the Hardings and the Blounts were quite excited about it. The scoffers derided and waxed sarcastic. Of these scoffers the mostoutspoken was Horatio Pulcifer. He declared that the whole fool businessmade him tired. Old Cap'n Jeth Hallett must be getting cracked as one ofthem antique plates. He wasn't sure that the selectmen hadn't ought tostop the thing, a lot of ninnies sitting in a round circle holding handsand pretending to get spirit messages. Huh! Just let 'em get a messagethat proved something, that meant something to somebody, and he'dbelieve, too, he'd be glad to believe. But he was from Missouri andthey'd got to show him. With much more to the same effect. 

In private, and in the ear of Galusha Bangs, he made a significantremark. 

"Go?" he repeated. "Me go to that seance thing? Not so you'd noticeit, Perfessor. I'm what they call a wise bird. I get up early, aconsider'ble spell before breakfast. Um-hm, a consider'ble spell. Saturday night I'm goin' to be a long ways from Gould's Bluffslighthouse, you bet on that. "

Galusha expressed surprise and gave reasons for that emotion. Raishwinked and nodded. 

"Yes, I know, " he said, "but I'm goin' to have what they call an alibi. You ain't been to court much, I presume likely, Perfessor, so you maynot be on to what alibi is. When Bill Alworthy was hauled up for sellin'without a license we had an alibi for him. He proved he was fourteenmile away from where he sold the stuff--I mean from where they said hesold it--and it was that what got him off. Well, on Saturday nightI'm goin' to have an alibi. I'm goin' to be settin' in at a littlepenny-ante in Elmer Rogers' back room over to the Centre. An alibi'sa nice thing to have in the house, Perfessor. Hey? Haw, haw, haw! Yes, sir-ee! In case there's any talk they won't be able to pin much on yourUncle Raish, not much they won't. "

He nudged the Bangs' ribs and walked off, chuckling. Galusha, too, smiled as he watched him go. Both he and Mr. Pulcifer seemed to findamusement in the situation. Yet, and Galusha realized it, there was alsofor him that element of risk. 

On Thursday Captain Jethro stopped at the Phipps' home to inviteits inmates to the Saturday evening meeting. His invitation was notprecisely whole-hearted, but the reason he gave for offering it causedits acceptance. 

"Lulie seems to want you and Mr. Bangs, " he said, "so come along if youfeel like it. I know you're one of the don't-believers, Martha, and Iguess likely Bangs is, but never mind. The door's open if you want tocome. Maybe you'll hear somethin' that'll lead you to the light; let'shope so. Anyhow, Lulie wants you. "

It will be noticed that Primmie's name was not mentioned in theinvitation, but that did not prevent her acceptance. That evening, afterthe supper dishes were washed, Miss Phipps heard agonized wails comingfrom the kitchen and, going there, found her maid seated in a chair, swaying back and forth, and, as Zach Bloomer once described a similarperformance, "tootin' her everlastin' soul into the harmonica. "

"I'm practicin' up for Saturday night, " she informed her mistress, cheerfully. "I've been tryin' to think up some other hymn tunes and I'vethought of one, but I can't remember what 'tis, the whole of it, I mean. You know, Miss Martha, the one about:

 'Oh, what a sight 'twill be When the somethin'-or-other host we see, As numberless as the sands on the seashore. '

What kind of a host is it, Miss Martha? All I can think of is 'rancid'and I'm plaguy sure 'tain't THAT. "

Martha burst out laughing. "It is 'ransomed, ' Primmie, " she said. "Butif you're figurin' on playin' that thing over at the seance, I'm afraidyou'll be disappointed. Cap'n Jethro has had the old melodeon repaired, I believe. And, so far as I've heard, you haven't been asked to come, have you?"

Primmie became a statue of despair. 

"Oh, Miss Martha, " she pleaded, "CAN'T I go? Can't I please go? You'regoin' and so's Mr. Bangs, and--and I do like 'em so, those spiritmeetin's. They scare me 'most to death and I just love 'em. PLEASE can'tI go, Miss Martha?"

Martha took pity on her. "Well, all right, Primmie, " she said. "Go, ifyou want to. I don't believe Jethro will care. And, " with a shrug, "Idon't know as another idiot, more or less, added to the rest of us, willmake much difference. "

Saturday, the eventful day, or the day of the eventful evening, was fineand clear. At noon an unexpected event, the first of several, occurred;Zacheus, bringing the mail from the post office, brought a large andheavy letter addressed to Galusha Bangs, Esq. , and stamped in the upperleft-hand corner with the name of the National Institute of Washington. Galusha opened it in his room alone. It was the "plan, " the long-agoannounced and long-expected plan in all its details. An expedition wasto be fitted out, more completely and more elaborately than any yetequipped by the Institute, and was to go to the Nile basin for extendedand careful research lasting two years at least. And he was offeredthe command of that expedition, to direct its labors and to be itsscientific head. Whatever it accomplished, he would have accomplished;the rewards--the understanding gratitude of his fellow archaeologiststhe world over would be his, and his alone. 

He sat there in his room and read and reread the letter. The termsin which the offer had been made were gratifying in the extreme. Theconfidence in his ability and scientific knowledge were expressedwithout stint. But, and more than this, between the lines he could readthe affection of his associates there at the Institute and their pridein him. His own affection and pride were touched. A letter like this andan offer and opportunity like these were wonderful. The pride he feltwas a very humble pride. He was unworthy of such trust, but he was proudto know they believed him worthy. 

He sat there, the many sheets of the letter between his fingers, lookingout through the window at the brown, windswept hollows and little hillsand the cold gray-green sea beyond. He saw none of these. What he didsee was the long stretch of ridged sand, heaving to the horizon, thebrilliant blue of the African sky, the line of camels trudging on, on. He saw the dahabeah slowly making its way up the winding river, the flatbanks on either side, the palm trees in silhouetted clusters against thesunset, the shattered cornice of the ruins he was to explore just cominginto view. He saw and heard the shrieking, chattering laborers digging, half naked, amid the scattered blocks of sculptured stone and, beforeand beneath them, the upper edge of the doorway which they wereuncovering, the door behind which he was to find--who knew whattreasures. 

"Mr. Bangs, " called Martha from the foot of the stairs, "dinner'sready. "

Galusha was far away, somewhere beyond the Libyan desert, but he heardthe summons. 

"Eh?" he exclaimed. "Oh, yes, yes, Miss Martha, I am coming. "

As he descended the stairs, it occurred to him that the voices callinghim to dinner across the sands or beneath the palms would be quitedifferent from this one, they would be masculine and strange and withoutthe pleasant, cheerful cordiality to which he had become accustomed. Martha Phipps called one to a meal as if she really enjoyed having himthere. There was a welcome in her tones, a homelike quality, a. .. Yes, indeed, very much so. 

At table he was unusually quiet. Martha asked him why he looked at herso queerly. 

"Eh? Do I?" he exclaimed. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I wasn't aware. I beg yourpardon. I hope you're not offended. "

She laughed. "Mercy me, " she said, "I'm not offended so easily. And ifyour absent-mindedness could make me take offense, Mr. Bangs, weshould have quarreled long ago. But I should like to know what you werethinkin' about. You sat there and stared at me and your face was assolemn as--as Luce's when it is gettin' past his dinner time. You lookedas if you had lost your best friend. "

He did not smile even then. Nor did he make any reply worth noting. As amatter of fact, he was awakening to the realization that if he acceptedthe call to Egypt--and accept he must, of course--he would in solemntruth lose his best friend. Or, if not lose her exactly, go away andleave her for so long that it amounted to a loss. He must leave thisdining room, with its plants and old pictures and quaint homeliness, leave the little Phipps' cottage, leave its owner. .. . The dazzlingvisions of sands and sphinxes, of palms and pyramids, suddenly losttheir dazzle. The excitement caused by the reading of the letter dulledand deadened. The conviction which had come upon him so often of latereturned with redoubled vigor, the conviction that he had been happywhere he was and would never be as happy anywhere else. Egypt, evenbeloved Egypt with all the new and wonderful opportunities it nowoffered him, did not appeal. The thought was alarming. When he didnot want to go to Egypt there must be something the matter with him, something serious. What was it?

After dinner he told her of the offer which had been made him. 

"Perhaps you would like to see the letter, " he said. "It is a very kindone. Dear me, yes. Much kinder than I deserve. "

She read the long letter through, read the details of the great planfrom end to end. When the reading was finished she sat silent, theletter in her lap, and she did not look at him. 

"They are very kind to me, aren't they?" he said, gravely. "Very kindand generous. The thought of it quite--ah--overwhelms me, really. Ofcourse, I know what they say concerning my--ah--the value of my serviceis quite ridiculous, overstated and--and all that, but they dothat thinking to please me, I suppose. I. .. Why--why, Miss Martha, you--you're not--"

She smiled, a rather misty smile. "No, " she said, "I'm not. But I thinkI shall if you keep on talkin' in that way. "

"But--but, Miss Martha, I'm so sorry. I assure you I did not mean tohurt your feelings. If I have said anything to distress you I'm VERYsorry. Dear me, dear me! What did I say? I--"

She motioned him to silence. "Hush, hush!" she begged. "You didn't sayanything, of course, except what you always say--that what you havedone doesn't amount to anything and that you aren't of any consequenceand--all that. You always say it, and you believe it, too. When I readthis letter, Mr. Bangs, and found that THEY know what you really are, that they had found you out just as--as some of your other friends have, it--it--"

She paused. Galusha turned red. "I--I--" he stammered. "Oh, you mustn'ttalk so, Miss Martha. It's all nonsense, you know. Really it is. "

She shook her head and smiled once more. 

"All right, " she argued. "Then we'll call it nonsense; but it's prettyglorious nonsense, seems to me. I do congratulate you, Mr. Bangs. AndI congratulate the Institute folks a great deal more. Now tell me somemore about it, please. Where is this place they want you to go to?"

That afternoon Galusha spent in wandering about the countryside. He wentas far from home as the old graveyard in South Wellmouth. He took a longwalk and it should have been a pleasant one, but somehow it was not, particularly. All he could think of was the two facts--one, that he hadbeen offered a wonderful opportunity, for which he should be eagerly andhugely grateful; two, that he was not grateful at all, but resentful andrebellious. And what on earth was the matter with him?

Martha was setting the supper table when he came in. He went to hisroom and when he came down supper was almost ready. Primmie was in thekitchen, busy with the cooking. 

"We're having an early supper, Mr. Bangs, " said Martha. "Thateverlastin' seance begins about half past seven, so Cap'n Jethro tookpains to tell me, and he'll be crosser'n a hen out in a rainstorm ifwe're not on time. "

Galusha looked surprised. He had forgotten the seance altogether. Yes, he had quite forgotten it. And, up to that noon, he had thought of verylittle else the entire week. What WAS the matter with him?

"Lulie is goin' to send Zach over to tell us when they're ready to setsail for Ghost Harbor, " went on Martha. "That will save us watchin' theclock. What say?"

But he had not said anything and she went on arranging the dishes. Afteran interval she asked a question. 

"How soon--that is, when will you have to leave us--leave here, Mr. Bangs?" she asked. She was not looking at him when she asked it. 

Galusha sighed. "In about two weeks, I--ah--suppose, " he said. 

"Oh!"

"Ah--yes. "

There was another silent interval. Then Martha turned her head tolisten. 

"Wasn't that an automobile I heard then?" she asked. "Yes, it is. Itcan't be the Spiritualist crowd comin' so soon. No, it is stoppin' here, at our gate. Is it Doctor Powers, I wonder?"

She went to the window, pulled aside the shade and looked out. 

"It is a big car, " she said. "It isn't the doctor, that's sure. There'sa man gettin' out, a big man in a fur coat. Who on earth--?"

Steps sounded without upon the walk, then there was a knock upon theside door, that of the dining room. Martha opened the door. A man'svoice, a brisk, businesslike voice, asked a question. 

"Why, yes, " replied Miss Phipps, "he lives here. He's right here now. Won't you step in?"

The man who had asked the question accepted the invitation and enteredthe dining room. He was a big, broad-shouldered man in a raccoon motorcoat. He took off a cap which matched the coat and looked about theroom. Then he saw Galusha. 

"Why, hello, Loosh!" he said. 

Galusha knew him, had recognized the voice before he saw its owner. Hismouth opened, shut, and opened again. He was quite pale. 

"Ah--ah--why, Cousin Gussie!" he stammered. 

For the man in the fur coat standing there in Martha Phipps' dining roomwas the senior partner of Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot. 

CHAPTER XIX

For perhaps thirty seconds after the exchange of greetings, the trioin the Phipps' dining room stood where they were, practically withoutmoving. Mr. Cabot, of course, was smiling broadly, Miss Phipps wasgazing in blank astonishment from one to the other of the two men, andGalusha Bangs was staring at his relative as Robinson Crusoe stared atthe famous footprint, "like one thunderstruck. "

It was Cabot who broke up the tableau. His smile became a hearty laugh. 

"What's the matter, Loosh?" he demanded. "Great Scott, old man, Iexpected to surprise you, but I didn't expect to give you a paralyticstroke. How are you?"

He walked over and held out his hand. Galusha took it, but he lookedas if he was quite unaware of doing so. "Cousin Gussie!" he repeated, faintly. Then he added his favorite exclamation. "Dear me!"

Even Martha, who by this time was used to his eccentricities, thoughthis conduct strange. 

"Why, Mr. Bangs, " she cried, "are you sick? What is it?"

Galusha blinked, put a hand to his forehead, knocked off his spectacles, picked them up again and, in doing so, appeared to pick up a little ofhis normal self. 

"Why, Cousin Gussie, " he observed, for the third time; adding, "I--I amsurprised. "

His cousin's laugh made the little room echo. 

"Good, Loosh!" he exclaimed. "I guessed as much; you looked it. Well, itis all right; I'm here in the flesh. Aren't you glad to see me?"

Galusha stammered that he was very glad to see him--yes, indeed--ah--quite so--very, of course. 

"Ah--ah--won't you sit down?" he asked. 

Martha could stand it no longer. "Why, mercy's sakes, Mr. Bangs, " sheexclaimed, "of course he'll sit down! And he'd probably take off hiscoat, if you asked him. "

This pointed hint had an immediate effect. Her lodger sprang forward. 

"Oh, dear me!" he cried. "I'm so sorry. Of course, of course. I BEG yourpardon, Cousin Gussie. "

He hindered a little more than he helped with the removal of the coatand then stood, with the garment in his arms, peering over the heap offur like a spectacled prairie-dog peeping out of a hole. 

"Ah--sit down, sit down, please, " he begged. "I--ah--please do. "

Again Martha interrupted. "Here, let me take that coat, Mr. Bangs, "she said, and took it forthwith. Galusha, coming to himself still more, remembered the conventionalities. 

"Oh, Miss Phipps, " he cried, "may I introduce my--ah--cousin, Mr. Cabot. Mr. Cabot, this is the lady who has taken charge of me, so to speak. "

Both Martha and Cabot burst out laughing. 

"That sounds as if I had arrested him, doesn't it?" observed the former. "But it is all right, Mr. Cabot; I've only taken him to board. "

"I understand. Well, unless he has changed a lot since I used to knowhim, he needs some one to take charge of him. And it agrees with him, too. Why, Loosh, I thought you were an invalid; you look like a footballplayer. Oh, pardon me, Miss Phipps, but don't trouble to take that coataway. I can stay only a little while. My chauffeur is waiting outsideand I must get on to the hotel or I'll be late for dinner. "

Martha, who was on her way to the hall and the coat rack, turned. "Hotel?" she repeated. "What hotel, Mr. Cabot?"

"Why, the Something-or-other House over in the next town. The RobbinsHouse, is it? Something like that. "

"Robbins House? There isn't any. Oh, do you mean Roger's Hotel at theCentre?"

"Why, yes, that is it. I was told there was a hotel here, but theyforgot to tell me it was open only in the summer. What sort of place isthis Roger's Hotel?"

Martha looked at him and then at Galusha. 

"Altogether too bad for any relation of Mr. Bangs's to go to, " shedeclared. "At least, to eat supper. You and Mr. Bangs will excuse me, won't you? I'll be right back. "

She hung the fur coat upon the rack and hastened back through the diningroom and out into the kitchen. Cabot took a chair and turned towardGalusha. 

"She is a capable woman, " he observed, with a jerk of his head towardthe kitchen door. "She has certainly taken good care of you. You lookbetter than when I saw you last and that was--Good Lord, how long agowas it?"

Galusha replied that it was a good many years ago and then switched thesubject to that which was causing painful agitation in his bosom atthe moment, namely, the reason for his cousin's appearance in EastWellmouth. 

Cousin Gussie laughed. "I came to see you, Loosh, " he declared. "Familyties, and all that. I thought I would run down and get you to picnic onthe beach with me. How is the bathing just now?"

The chill October wind rattled the sash and furnished answer sufficient. Galusha smiled a sad sort of acknowledgment of the joke. He did not feellike smiling. The sensation of sitting on a powder barrel had returnedto him, except that now there was no head to the barrel and the air wasfull of sparks. 

"I--I did not expect you, " he faltered, for the sake of sayingsomething. Cabot laughed again. 

"Of course you didn't, " he said. "Well, to tell you the truth, I didn'tcome purposely to see you, old man. There has been a little businessmatter down here which hasn't gone as I wanted it to, and I decided, pretty much on the spur of the moment, to motor down and see what wasthe matter. The friend for whom I was trying to handle the thing--it isonly a little matter--was coming with me, but this morning I got a wirethat he was detained and couldn't make it. So, as it was a gloriousday and my doctor keeps telling me to forget business occasionally, Istarted alone. I didn't leave town until nearly eleven, had some motortrouble, and didn't reach here until almost five. Then I found thefellow I came to see had gone somewhere, nobody knew where, and thehotel was closed for the season. I inquired about you, was given youraddress at the post office, and hunted you up. That's the story. "

Galusha's smile was less forced this time. He nodded reflectively. 

"That explains it, " he said, slowly. "Yes, quite so. Of course, thatexplains it. "

"Explains what?"

"Why--ah--it explains why you came here, you know. "

"Well, I hope it does. That was the idea. If it doesn't I don't knowwhat will. "

Miss Phipps entered briskly from the kitchen. She proceeded to setanother place at the supper table. 

"Mr. Bangs, " she said, "hadn't you better take Mr. Cabot up to yourroom? Probably he'd like to clean up after ridin' so far. Better goright away, because supper is nearly ready. Mr. Cabot, it is Saturdaynight and you'll get a Saturday night supper, beans and brown bread. Ihope you won't mind. "

Galusha's relative was somewhat taken aback. 

"Why, Miss Phipps, " he protested, "of course I can't think of dininghere. It is extremely kind of you, but really I--"

Martha calmly interrupted. "It isn't kind at all, " she said. "Andit isn't dinner, it is supper. If you don't stay I shall think it isbecause you don't like baked beans. I may as well tell you, " she added, "that you will get beans and nothin' else over at Elmer Roger's. Theywon't be as good as these, that's all. That isn't pride, " she continued, with a twinkle in her eye. "Anybody's beans are better than Elmer's, they couldn't help bein'. "

The visitor still hesitated. "Well, really, Miss Phipps, " he said, "I--Well, I should like to stay. I should, indeed. But, you see, mychauffeur is outside waiting to take me over to the Roger's House. "

Martha smiled. "Oh, no, he isn't, " she said. "He is havin' his supperin the kitchen now. Run along, Mr. Bangs, and you and your cousin hurrydown as soon as you can. "

On the way upstairs Cabot asked a question. 

"She is a 'reg'lar' woman, as the boys say, " he observed. "I like her. Does she always, so to speak, boss people like that?"

Galusha nodded, cheerfully. "When she thinks they need it, " he replied. 

"Humph! I understand now what you meant by saying she had taken chargeof you. Does she boss you?"

Another cheerful nod. "I ALWAYS need it, " answered Galusha. 

Martha, of course, presided at the supper table. Primmie did not sitdown with the rest. She ate in the kitchen with the Cabot chauffeur. But she entered the dining room from time to time to bring in hot brownbread or beans or cookies, or to change the plates, and each time shedid so she stared at Cousin Gussie with awe in her gaze. Evidently theknowledge that the head of Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot was sitting therebefore her had impressed her hugely. It was from Cabot, Bancroft andCabot, so Primmie remembered, that Mr. Bangs had procured the mammothpile of bank notes which she had seen upon her mistress's center table. She had never actually been told where those notes came from, but shehad guessed. And now the proprietor of the "money factory"--for that isvery nearly what it was in her imagination--was there, sitting at thePhipps' 'dining table, eating the baked beans that she herself hadhelped prepare. No wonder that Primmie was awe-stricken, no wonderthat she tripped over the mat corner and just escaped showering thedistinguished guest with a platterful of those very beans. 

Mr. Cabot seemed to enjoy his supper hugely. He was jolly, talkative, and very entertaining. He described his camp sojourn in Nevada and, according to him, life in a mountain sanitarium, under the care of adoctor and two husky male nurses, was a gorgeous joke. Martha, who, totell the truth, had at first secretly shown a little of Primmie's awe, was soon completely at ease. Even Galusha laughed, though not as often. It was hard for him to forget the powder barrel sensation. Each timehis cousin opened his mouth to speak, he dreaded to hear reference to adangerous subject or to be asked a question which would set fire to thefuse. 

The clock struck seven. Martha glanced at it and suddenly uttered anexclamation. 

"My goodness gracious!" she exclaimed. "I declare, Mr. Bangs, you andI have forgotten all about that blessed seance. And half past seven wasthe time for it to begin. Good gracious me!"

Galusha started. "Dear me, dear me!" he cried. "So it was. I hadcompletely forgotten it, really I had. "

He put his hand to his forehead. 

"I shall have to go to it, " declared Martha. "Lulie begged me to comeand the cap'n won't like it if I stay away. But I don't see that youneed to, Mr. Bangs. You and your cousin can stay right here and talkand be comfortable. He is goin' to stay overnight. Oh, yes, you are, Mr. Cabot. I wouldn't let a stray cat go to Elmer Roger's hotel if I couldhelp it, to say nothin' of Mr. Bangs' cousin. The spare room's all readyand Primmie is up there now, airin' it. She took your bag up with her; Ihad your chauffeur bring it in from the car. "

Her guest stared at her for a moment, laughed and shook his head. 

"Well, really, Miss Phipps, " he said, "I don't know what to say to you. You rather take me off my feet. It is very kind of you and, of course, Iam very much obliged; but, of course, too, I couldn't think of staying. "

"Now, please, Mr. Cabot! It isn't the least little bit of trouble, andthat's honest. Mr. Bangs, you tell him to stay. "

Galusha, thus appealed to, tried to say something, but succeeded only inlooking distressed. 

"We WANT him to stay, don't we, Mr. Bangs?" urged Martha. 

"Why--why, certainly. Oh, yes, indeed. Ah--yes, " faltered Galusha. Ifthere was one thing which he distinctly did not want, it was just that. And there was no doubt that Cabot was wavering. 

"But, you see, Miss Phipps, " said Cousin Gussie, "it will be quiteimpossible. My chauffeur--"

"Yes, I know. I'm awfully sorry I haven't got a room for him. I wish Ihad. But he can go to Elmer's. He wouldn't mind so much--at least I hopehe wouldn't--and there's a garage for the car over there. I spoke to himabout it and he's only waitin' for you to say the word, Mr. Cabot. "

The visitor protested a bit more and then yielded. "Frankly, MissPhipps, " he said, "I have been wanting to stay ever since I entered yourdoor. This house takes me back to my boyhood, when I used to visit mygreat-uncle Hiram down at Ostable. You remember him, Galusha, UncleHiram's dining room had the same wholesome, homey atmosphere that yourshas, Miss Phipps. And I honestly believe I haven't enjoyed a meal sincethose old days as I have enjoyed this supper of yours. "

Martha colored with pleasure. Galusha, forgetting his powder barrel, beamed in sympathy. 

"But there is just one more thing, " continued Cousin Gussie. "Youand Bangs were going out somewhere, were expected at some--er--socialaffair, weren't you?"

Miss Phipps and her lodger exchanged looks. Both appeared embarrassed. 

"Well--well, you see, " faltered the former. Then, after a moment'sreflection, she added, "Well, I'll tell you, Mr. Cabot. "

She did tell him, briefly, of Captain Hallett's spirit obsession, ofher friendship and sympathy for Lulie. She said nothing, of course, concerning the latter's love story. 

"So, " she said, in conclusion, "although I haven't the least bit ofbelief in Marietta Hoag or any of her seances, I am sorry for Cap'nJethro and I am very fond of Lulie. She is worried, I know, and shehas asked me to be there tonight. You and Mr. Bangs will excuse me, everything considered, won't you?"

But Galusha had something to say. "Miss Martha, " he said, "I am afraid Imust go, too. I promised Mr. --ah--um--I mean I promised Lulie I would bethere. And this is going to be a very important seance. "

Martha turned to him. 

"It is?" she asked. "Important--how? What do you mean?"

Her lodger looked as if he had said more than he intended. Also as if hedid not know what to say next. But Cabot saved him the trouble. 

"I wonder if I might attend this--er--function?" he suggested. "It isin the nature of a public affair, isn't it? And, " with a twinkle of theeye, "it sounds as if it might be interesting. "

Galusha and Miss Phipps regarded him gravely. Both seemed a littletroubled. It was Martha who answered. 

"There isn't any real reason why you shouldn't go, if you want to, Mr. Cabot, " she said. "There is only one thing--only one reason why I didn'tsay yes right away. I guess Mr. Bangs knows that reason and feels thesame as I do about it. Don't you, Mr. Bangs?"

Galusha nodded. 

"You see, " went on Miss Phipps, "Cap'n Hallett is kind of--well, queerin some ways, but he has been, in his day, a good deal of a man. And hisdaughter is a lovely girl and I think the world of her. I wouldn'twant to hurt their feelings. If they should see you laugh--well, youunderstand--"

Cousin Gussie nodded. 

"Don't say any more, Miss Phipps, " he replied. "It is quite all right. I'll stay in your home here and be perfectly happy. "

"But you didn't wait for me to finish. I was goin' to say that if youshould laugh you must manage not to let any one hear you; especiallyCap'n Jeth. Lulie has lots of common sense; she wouldn't mind exceptfor the effect on her father, and she realizes how funny it is. Buther father doesn't and--and he is pretty close to the breakin' pointsometimes. So save up your laughs until we get back, please. "

"You seem to take it for granted that I shall feel like laughing. Perhaps I sha'n't. I only suggested my attending this affair because Ithought it would be a novelty to me. "

"Yes, yes, of course. Well, it will be a novelty, I guess likely, and apretty novel novelty, too. But there's one thing more, Mr. Cabot, that Iwant you to promise me. Don't you dare take that crowd at that seance asa fair sample of Wellmouth folks, because they're not. "

"Why, Miss Phipps--"

"Because they're not. Every town and every neighborhood, city orcountry, has its freaks and every freak within five miles will be overin that lighthouse parlor to-night. Just take 'em for freaks, that'sall, but DON'T take 'em for samples of our people down here. " Shepaused, and then added, with an apologetic laugh, "I guess you thinkI am pretty peppery on the subject. Well, I get that way at times, particularly just after the summer is over and the city crowd has beenhere lookin' for 'characters. ' If you could see some of the specimenswho come over from the hotel, see the way they dress and act and speak!'Oh, ' one creature said to me; 'oh, Miss Phipps, ' she gushed, 'I am justdyin' to meet some of your dear, funny, odd, quaint characters. Wherecan I find them?' 'Well, ' said I, 'I think I should try the Inn, if Iwere you. There are funnier characters there than anywhere else I know. 'Of course, I knew she was at the Inn herself, but that didn't make itany the less true. .. . There! I've preached my sermon. Now, Mr. Cabot, we'll go into the sittin' room and let Primmie clear off the table. ZachBloomer--he's the assistant light keeper--is comin' to tell us when it'stime to go to the seance. "

In the sitting room they talked of various things. Galusha, listening tohis cousin's stories and jokes, had almost forgotten his powder barrel. And then, all at once, a spark fell, flashed, and the danger becameimminent. 

Said the banker, addressing Martha and referring to her lodger: "Whatdoes this cousin of mine find to do down here, Miss Phipps? How does hemanage to spend so much money?"

"Money?" repeated Martha. "He--spend money? Why, I didn't know that hedid, Mr. Cabot. He is very prompt in paying his board. Perhaps I chargehim too much. Is that what you mean?"

"I guess not. He hasn't paid you thirteen thousand dollars for board, has he?"

"Thirteen thousand dollars! Well, I guess not--scarcely. What are youtalkin' about, Mr. Cabot? What is the joke?"

"I don't know. That's one of the things which, now that I am down here, I should like to find out. Somehow or other, since he has been on theCape, he has managed to get rid of over thirteen thousand dollars. HeSAYS he has given it to some of his mummy-hunting friends, but I amrather suspicious. He hasn't been organizing a clam trust, has he, MissPhipps?"

Plainly, Martha did not know what to make of this speech. It was a joke, of course, but just where the point of the joke was located she was notsure. To her, thirteen thousand dollars was an enormous sum. The ideathat her lodger, gentle, retiring little Galusha Bangs, possessed a halfof that fortune was a joke in itself. But. .. And then she saw Galusha'sface and the expression upon it. 

"Why--why, Mr. Bangs!" she exclaimed. 

Cabot turned and he, too, saw the expression. He burst out laughing. 

"See!" he cried. "Doesn't he look guilty? It IS a clam trust, MissPhipps. By Jove, Loosh, you are discovered! Galusha Bangs, the ClamKing! Ha, ha, ha! Look at him, Miss Phipps! Look at him! Did you eversee a plainer case of conscious guilt? Ha, ha!"

He was enjoying himself hugely. And really Galusha was a humorousspectacle. He was very red in the face, he was trembling, and heappeared to be struggling for words and finding none. 

"I--I insist, " he stammered. "I--I mean I protest. It isridiculous--ah--ah--absurd! I--I--"

His cousin broke in upon him. "Ha, ha!" he cried. "The secret is out. And you gave me to understand the mummy-hunters had it. Oh, Galusha!"

Galusha made another attempt. 

"I--I told you--" he faltered. "I--I told you--"

"You told me it had gone to Egypt. But I was suspicious, old man. Why, Miss Phipps, isn't it glorious? Look at him!"

Martha was looking. Her face wore a puzzled expression. 

"Isn't it glorious?" repeated Cousin Gussie. 

She shrugged. "I suppose it is, " she said. "Maybe it would be more so ifI knew what it was all about. And Mr. Bangs doesn't look as if he foundmuch glory in it. "

"Of course he doesn't. Serves him right, the rascal. You see, MissPhipps, I am supposed to take care of his money for him, and, whileI was away in the mountains, my secretary sent him a check for overfourteen thousand dollars, sent it to him by mistake. _I_ never shouldhave done it, of course. I know him of old, where money is concerned. Well, almost immediately after receiving the check, up he comes to ourBoston office and--"

"Cousin Gussie! I--I protest! I--"

"Up he comes, Miss Phipps, and draws five thousand of the fourteenthousand in cash, in money, and takes it away with him. Then--"

"Cousin Gussie! Mr. Cabot!"

The tone in which Galusha spoke was so different from his usual one, andthe fact of his addressing his relative as "Mr. Cabot" so astonishing, that the latter was obliged to stop even in the full tide of hisenjoyment of the joke. He turned, to find Galusha leaning forward, onehand upon the center table, and the other extending a forefinger in hisdirection. The finger shook a little, but its owner's countenance wasset like a rock. And now it was not crimson, but white. 

"Mr. Cabot, " said Galusha, "I must insist that you say no more onthis matter. My personal business is--ah--presumably my own. I--I mustinsist. Insist--ah--absolutely; yes. "

His cousin looked at him and he returned the look. Cabot's hesitationwas but momentary. His astonishment was vast, but he accepted thesituation gracefully. He laughed no more. 

"I beg your pardon, Galusha, " he said. "I'm sorry. I had no thoughtof offending you, old man. I--well, perhaps I am inclined to joke toofreely. But, really, I didn't suppose--I never knew you to be--"

He paused. Galusha's expression did not change; he said nothing. 

"I am very sorry, " went on the banker. "It was only thoughtlessness onmy part. You'll forgive me, Loosh, I hope. "

Galusha bowed, but he did not smile. A little of the color came back tohis cheeks. 

"Ah--ah--Yes, certainly, " he stammered. "Certainly, quite so. "

He sat down in his chair again, but he did not look in Miss Phipps'direction. He seemed to know that she was regarding him with a fixed andstartled intentness. 

"Five thousand dollars!" she said, in a low tone. Neither of the menappeared to hear her. Cabot, too, sat down. And it was he who, plainlyseeking for a subject to relieve the tension, spoke next. 

"I was telling my cousin, " he said, addressing Martha, "that I came downhere to attend to a little matter of business. The business wasn't myown exactly, but it was a commission from a friend and client of mineand he left it in my charge. He and I supposed we had an agent here inyour town, Miss Phipps, who was attending to it for us, but of late hehasn't been very successful. I received a letter from Williams--from myfriend; he is in the South--asking me to see if I couldn't hurry mattersup a bit. So I motored down. But this agent of ours was not in. Probablyyou know him. His name is Pulcifer. "

Martha and Galusha started simultaneously. 

"Pulcifer?" queried Martha. "Raish Pulcifer, do you mean?"

"It doesn't seem to me that his Christian name is--What did you say, Miss Phipps?"

"I said 'Raish'; that's what every one down here calls the man I mean. His real name, of course, is Horatio. "

"Horatio? That sounds more like it. I didn't hire him--Williams didthat--and I have never met him, although he and Thomas, my secretary, have had some correspondence. Wait a moment, I have his name here. "

He took from his pocket a memorandum book and turned over the leaves. 

"Yes, " he said, "that's it. Horatio Pulcifer. Here is his card. 'HoratioPulcifer, Dealer in Real Estate of All Kinds; Cranberry Bog PropertyBought and Sold; Mortgages Arranged For; Fire, Life and AccidentInsurance; Money Loaned; Claims Adjusted; Real or Household GoodsAuctioned Off or Sold Private; etc. , etc. ' Humph! Comprehensive person, isn't he? Is this the fellow you know, Miss Phipps?"

Martha nodded. "Yes, " she said, "I know him. "

Cabot glanced at her. "I see, " he observed. "Well, what sort of acharacter is he? Would you trust him?"

She hesitated. "Why--why, " she replied, "I suppose I should, if--if--"

"If he was not too far away, or around the corner, or anything likethat? I understand. "

Martha was a bit disturbed. "You mustn't put words in my mouth, Mr. Cabot, " she said. "I didn't say Raish Pulcifer was dishonest. "

"No, that is true. And I beg your pardon for asking embarrassingquestions. I have seen some of the fellow's letters and usually a letteris a fairly good indication of character--or lack of it. I have had mysurmises concerning the ubiquitous Horatio for some time. "

Martha seemed to be thinking. 

"I understood you to say he was your agent for somethin' down here, Mr. Cabot, " she said. "Sellin' somethin', was he? That kind of an agent?"

"No. As a matter of fact, he was supposed to be buying something, but hehasn't made much progress. He started out well, but of late he seemsto have found trouble. I am rather surprised because we--that is, Williams--pay him a liberal commission. I judge he doesn't hate adollar and that kind of man usually goes after it hammer and tongs. Yousee--But there, I presume I should not go into particulars, not yet. "

"No, no, Mr. Cabot. Of course not, of course not. "

"No. " Cabot had been turning over the leaves of the memorandum bookwhile speaking. "And yet, " he went on, "there are one or two names hereconcerning which you might be able to help us. Pulcifer writes thattwo of the largest stockholders. .. . Humph!. .. Eh? Why, by Jove, this isremarkable! You are Miss Martha Phipps, aren't you?"

"Yes. "

"Was your father, by any chance, James H. Phipps?"

"Yes. "

"Well, I declare! This IS remarkable. .. . And--why, you have beenspeaking of a Captain--er--Jethro Somebody? Is he--He isn't JethroHallett, is he?"

"Why, yes. I told you his name. He is the light keeper here at Gould'sBluffs and we are all goin' over to his house in a few minutes, for theseance, you know. "

"Well, well, well! And here I have been sitting and talking with one ofthe very persons whom I came down here hoping to see. "

"To see? You came down here hopin' to see ME? Mr. Cabot, is this anotherjoke?"

"Not a bit of it. If it is, the joke is on me for not identifying youwith the Martha Phipps that Pulcifer writes he can't do business with. Miss Phipps, you own something we want to buy. "

"I? Somethin' you want to buy?"

"Yes. Williams wants to buy it and I am interested with him. MissPhipps, you own two hundred and fifty shares of the stock of theWellmouth Development Company, don't you?"

He must have been surprised at the effect of this question. Marthastared at him. Then, without speaking, she turned and looked past him atGalusha Bangs. She looked so long and so steadily that Cabot also turnedand looked. What he saw caused him to utter an exclamation. 

"For heaven's sakes, Loosh!" he exclaimed. 

His cousin, as white as the proverbial sheet, which means much whiterthan some sheets, Elmer Rogers', for example, was slowly rising from hischair. One hand was pressed against his forehead and he looked as if hewere dazed, stunned, suffering from a stroke. As a matter of fact, hewas suffering from all three. The spark had at last reached the powderand the barrel was in the very act of disintegrating. 

"Galusha, " demanded Cousin Gussie, "are you sick? What is it?"

Galusha did not answer. Before the alarmed banker could repeat hisquestion there came a knock at the door. 

"Miss Martha, " called Primmie, in tremulous excitement. "Miss Martha, Zach he's come and he says the seance is just a-goin' to begin and Cap'nJeth says to hurry right straight over. Zach says the old man is astittered up and nervous as ever he see him and 'twon't do to keep himwaitin' a minute. My savin' soul, no! Zach says for all hands to heaveright straight ahead and come. "

CHAPTER XX

In the melodramas, the sort which most people laugh at as"old-fashioned" and enjoy thoroughly, there is usually a scene inwhich the hero, or the heroine, or both, are about to be drowned inthe sinking ship or roasted in the loft of the burning building, orbutchered by the attacking savages, or executed by the villain and hisagents. The audience enjoys some delightful thrills while watchingthis situation--whichever it may be--develop, but is spared any acuteanxiety, knowing from experience that just at the last moment therescuing boat, or the heroic firemen, or the troops, or a reprieve fromthe Governor, will arrive and save the leading man or woman and the playfrom a premature end and for another act. 

It does not happen as often in real life, at least one cannot countupon it with the certainty of the theater. But when Miss Primrose Cashknocked upon the door of the Phipps' sitting room and delivered hercall to the seance, she was as opportune and nick-of-timey as was evera dramatic Governor's messenger. Certainly that summons of hers was toGalusha Bangs a reprieve which saved him from instant destruction. 

Cousin Gussie, who had been on the point of repeating his demand to knowif his relative was ill, turned instead to look toward the door. Martha, whose gaze had been fixed upon her lodger with an intentness whichindicated at least the dawning of a suspicion, turned to look inthe same direction. Galusha, left poised upon the very apex of theexplosion, awaited the moment when the fragments, of which he was one, should begin to fall. 

But they did not fall--then. Primmie gave them no opportunity to do so. 

"Miss Martha, " she cried, "Miss Martha, do you hear me? Zach--he says--"

Her mistress answered. "Yes, yes, Primmie, " she said, "I hear you. "Then, turning again toward the banker and his relative, she said, "Mr. Cabot, I--did I understand you to say--?"

"Miss Martha!" The voice outside the door was more insistent than ever. "Miss Martha, Zach he says we've all hands got to come right straightoff, 'cause if we don't there'll be hell to pay. .. . My savin' soul, Inever meant to say that, Miss Martha! Zach, he said it, but _I_ nevermeant to. I--I--Oh, my Lord of Isrul! I--I--oh, Miss Martha!"

Further wails of the frightened and repentant one were lost in anecstatic shout of laughter from Mr. Cabot. Martha slowly shook her head. 

"Well, " she observed, dryly, "I guess likely we'd better go, hadn'twe? If it is as bad as all that I should say we had, sure and certain. Primmie Cash, I'm ashamed of you. Mr. Cabot, we'll finish our talk whenwe come back. What under the sun you can possibly mean I declare I don'tunderstand. .. . But, there, it will keep. Come, Mr. Bangs. "

She led the way from the sitting room. Cabot followed her and, staggering slightly and with a hand still pressed to his forehead, Galusha followed them. He was saved for the time, he realized that, butfor such a very short time. For an hour or two he was to hang in the airand then would come the inevitable crash. When they returned home, afterthe seance was over, Martha would question Cousin Gussie, Cousin Gussiewould answer, then he would be questioned and--and the end would come. Martha would know him for what he was. As they emerged from the Phipps'door into the damp chill and blackness of that October evening, GalushaBangs looked hopelessly up and down and for the first time in monthsyearned for Egypt, to be in Egypt, in Abyssinia, in the middle of thegreat Sahara--anywhere except where he was and where he was fated to be. 

The windows of the light keeper's cottage were ablaze as they drew near. Overhead the great stream of radiance from the lantern in the tower shotfar out. There was almost no wind, and the grumble of the surf at thefoot of the bluff was a steady bass monotone. 

Zacheus, who had waited to walk over with them, was in a fault-findingstate of mind. It developed that he could not attend the meeting in theparlor; his superior had ordered that he "tend light. "

"The old man says I hadn't no business comin' to the other sea-antsthing, " said Zach. "Says him and me ain't both supposed never to leavethe light alone. I cal'late he's right, but that don't make it anybetter. There's a whole lot of things that's right that hadn't ought tobe. I presume likely it's right enough for you to play that mouth organof yours, Posy. They ain't passed no law against it yet. But--"

"Oh, be still, Zach Bloomer! You're always talkin' about my playin' themouth organ. I notice you can't play anything, no, nor sing neither. "

"You're right, Pansy Blossom. But the difference between you and meis that I know I can't. .. . Hey? Why, yes, Martha, I shouldn't be a bitsurprised if the fog came in any time. If it does that means I've got totend foghorn as well as light. Godfreys!"

Before they opened the side door of the Hallett home, the buzz of voicesin the parlor was distinctly audible. Lulie heard the door open and metthem in the dining room. She was looking anxious and disturbed. Marthadrew her aside and questioned her concerning her father. Lulie glancedtoward the parlor door and then whispered:

"I don't know, Martha. Father seems queer to-night, awfully queer. Ican't make him out. "

"Queer? In what way? He is always nervous and worked up before thesesilly affairs, isn't he?"

"Yes, but I don't mean that, exactly. He has been that way for over aweek. But for the last two days he has been--well, different. He seemsto be troubled and--and suspicious. "

"Suspicious? Suspicious of what?"

"I don't know. Of every one. "

"Humph! Well, if he would only begin to get suspicious of Marietta andher spirit chasers I should feel like givin' three cheers. But I supposethose are exactly the ones he isn't suspicious of. "

Lulie again glanced toward the parlor door. 

"I am not so sure, " she said. "It seemed to me that he wasn't as cordialto them as usual when they came to-night. He keeps looking at Mariettaand pulling his beard and scowling, the way he does when he is puzzledand troubled. I'm not sure, but I think something came in the mailyesterday noon and another something again to-day which may be the causeof his acting so strangely. I don't know what they were, he wouldn'tanswer when I asked him, but I saw him reading a good deal yesterdayafternoon. And then he came into the kitchen where I was, took the lidoff the cookstove and put a bundle of printed pages on the fire. I askedhim what he was doing and he snapped at me that he was burning the wordsof Satan or something of that sort. "

"And couldn't you save enough of the--er--Old Scratch's words to findout what the old boy was talkin' about?"

"No. There was a hot fire. But to-day, when the second package came, I caught a glimpse of the printing on the wrapper. It was from ThePsychical Research Society; I think that was it. There is such asociety, isn't there?"

"I believe so. I. .. Ssh! Careful, here he is. "

Captain Jethro strode across the parlor threshold. He glared beneath hisheavy eyebrows at the couple. 

"Lulie, " he growled, "don't you know you're keepin' the meetin' waitin'?You are, whether you know it or not. Martha Phipps, come in and setdown. Come on, lively now!"

Martha smiled. 

"Cap'n Jeth, " she said, "you remind me of father callin' in the cat. You must think you're aboard your old schooner givin' orders. All right, I'll obey 'em. Ay, ay, sir! Come, Lulie. "

They entered the parlor, whither Galusha, Mr. Cabot and Primmie hadpreceded them and were already seated. The group in the room was madeup about as on the occasion of the former seance, but it was a triflelarger. The tales of the excitement on the evening when the light keeperthreatened to locate and destroy the "small, dark outsider" had spreadand had attracted a few additional and hopeful souls. Mr. Obed Taylor, driver of the Trumet bake-cart, and a devout believer, had been drawnfrom his home village; Miss Tamson Black, her New Hampshire visitover, was seated in the front row; Erastus Beebe accompanied his sisterOphelia. The Hardings, Abel and Sarah B. , were present and accountedfor, and so, too, was Mrs. Hannah Peters. 

Galusha Bangs, seated between Miss Cash and the immensely interestedCousin Gussie, gazed dully about the circle. He saw little except a blurof faces; his thoughts were elsewhere, busy in dreadful anticipation ofthe scene he knew he must endure when he and his cousin and MissPhipps returned to the house of the latter. He did not dare look inher direction, fearing to see once more upon her face the expressionof suspicion which he had already seen dawning there--suspicion of him, Galusha Bangs. He sighed, and the sigh was so near a groan that hisrelative was startled. 

"What's the matter, Galusha?" he whispered. "Brace up, old man! you lookas if you were seeing spooks already. Not sick--faint, or anything likethat?"

Galusha blushed. "Eh?" he queried. "Oh--oh, no, no. Quite so, really. Eh? Ah--yes. "

Cabot chuckled. "That's a comprehensive answer, at any rate, " heobserved. "Come now, be my Who's-Who. For example, what is the name ofthe female under the hat like a--a steamer basket?"

Galusha looked. "That is Miss Hoag, the--ah--medium, " he said. 

"Oh, I see. Did the spirits build that hat for her?"

Miss Hoag's headgear was intrinsically the same she had worn at theformer seance, although the arrangement of the fruit, flowers, spraysand other accessories was a trifle different. The red cherries, forexample, no longer bobbed at the peak of the roof; they now hungjauntily from the rear eaves, so to speak. The purple grapes had alsomoved and peeped coyly from a thicket of moth-eaten rosebuds. The wearerof this revamped millinery triumph seemed a bit nervous, even anxious, so it seemed to Martha Phipps, who, like Cabot and Galusha, was lookingat her. Marietta kept hitching in her seat, pulling at her gown, andglancing from time to time at the gloomy countenance of Captain Jethro, who, Miss Phipps also noticed, was regarding her steadily and slowlypulling at his beard. This regard seemed to add to Miss Hoag'suneasiness. 

The majority of those present were staring at the senior partner ofCabot, Bancroft and Cabot. The object of the attention could not helpbecoming aware of it. 

"What are they all looking at me for?" he demanded, under his breath. 

Galusha did not hear the question, but Primmie did, and answered it. 

"They don't know who you be, " she whispered. 

"What of it? I don't know who they are, either. "

Miss Cash sniffed. "Humph!" she declared, "you wouldn't know much worthknowin' if you did--the heft of 'em. .. . Oh, my savin' soul, it's a-goin'to begin! Where's my mouth organ?"

But, to her huge disappointment, her services as mouth organist werenot to be requisitioned this time. Captain Hallett, taking charge of thegathering, made an announcement. 

"The melodeon's been fixed, " he said, "and Miss Black's kind enough tosay she'll play it for us. Take your places, all hands. Come on, now, look alive! Tut, tut, tut! Abe Hardin', for heaven's sakes, can't youpick up your moorin's, or what does ail you? Come to anchor! Set down!"

Mr. Harding was, apparently, having trouble in sitting down. He madeseveral nervous and hurried attempts, but none was successful. Hiswife begged, in one of her stage whispers, to be informed if he'd been"struck deef. " "Don't you hear the cap'n talkin' to you?" she demanded. 

"Course I hear him, " retorted her husband, testily, and in the samecomprehensively audible whisper. "No, I ain't been struck deef--nor dumbneither. "

"Humph! You couldn't be struck any dumber than you are. You was borndumb. Set DOWN! Everybody's lookin' at you. I never was so mortified inmy life. "

The harassed Abel made one more attempt. He battled savagely with hischair. 

"I CAN'T set down, " he said. "This everlastin' chair won't set even. Isnum I believe it ain't got but three laigs. There! Now let's see. "

He seated himself heavily and with emphasis. Mr. Jim Fletcher, whoseplace was next him, uttered an agonized "Ow!"

"No wonder 'twon't set even, Abe, " he snorted. "You've got the otherlaig up onto my foot. Yus, and it's drove half down through it by thistime. Get UP! Whew!"

A ripple of merriment ran around the circle. Every one laughed orventured to smile, every one except the Hardings and Captain Hallettand, of course, Galusha Bangs. The latter's thoughts were not in thelight keeper's parlor. Cousin Gussie leaned over and whispered in hisear:

"Loosh, " whispered Mr. Cabot, chokingly, "if the rest of this stuntis as good as the beginning I'll forgive you for handing that fourteenthousand to the mummy-hunters. I wouldn't have missed it for more thanthat. "

Captain Jethro, beating the table, drove his guests to order as of oldhe had driven his crews. Having obtained silence and expressed, in a fewstinging words, his opinion of those who laughed, he proceeded with hisarrangements. 

"Tamson, " he commanded, addressing Miss Black, "go and set there bythe organ. Come, Marietta, you know where your place is, don't you? Setright where you did last time. And don't let's have any more mockery!"he thundered, addressing the company in general. "If I thought for aminute there was any mockery or make-believe in these meetin's, I--I--"He paused, his chest heaving, and then added, impatiently, but in amilder tone, "Well, go on, go on! What are we waitin' for? Douse thoselights, somebody. "

Miss Hoag--who had been glancing at the light keeper's face and behavingin the same oddly nervous, almost apprehensive manner which Martha hadnoticed when she entered the parlor--took her seat in the officialchair and closed her eyes. Mr. Beebe turned down the lamps. The ancientmelodeon, recently prescribed for and operated upon by the repairer fromHyannis, but still rheumatic and asthmatic, burst forth in an unhealthyrendition of a Moody and Sankey hymn. The seance for which Galusha Bangshad laid plans and to which he had looked forward hopefully if a littlefearfully--that seance was under way. And now, such was the stunningeffect of the most recent blow dealt him by Fate, he, Galusha, wasscarcely aware of the fact. 

The melodeon pumped on and on. The rustlings and shiftings in the circlesubsided and the expectant and shivery hush which Primmie feared andadored succeeded it. Miss Black wailed away at the Moody and Sankeyselection. Miss Hoag's breathing became puffy. She uttered her firstpreliminary groan. Cousin Gussie, being an unsophisticated stranger, was startled, as Mr. Bangs had been at the former seance, but Primmie'swhisper reassured him. 

"It's all right, " whispered Primmie. "She ain't sick nor nothin'. She'sjust a-slippin' off. "

The banker did not understand. 

"Slipping off?" he repeated. "Off what?"

"Off into sperit land. In a minute you'll hear her control talkin'Chinee talk. .. . There! My savin' soul! hear it?. .. Ain't it awful!"

"Little Cherry Blossom" had evidently been waiting at the transmitter. The husky croak which had so amazed Galusha was again heard. 

"How do? How do, everybodee?" hailed Little Cherry Blossom. "I gladeesee-ee you. Yes, indeedee. "

Cabot made mental note of the fact that the Blossom spoke her spiritpidgin-English with a marked Down-East accent. Before he had time tonotice more, the control announced that she had a message. The circlestirred in anticipation. Primmie wiggled in fearful ecstasy. 

"Listen!" commanded Little Cherry Blossom. "Everybodee harkee. Spiritcomee heree. He say-ee--"

"Ow-ooo-ooo--ooo--OOO!!"

As prophesied by Mr. Zacheus Bloomer, the fog had come in and Zacheus, faithful to his duties as associate guardian of that section of thecoast, had turned loose the great foghorn. 

The roar was terrific. The windows rattled and the whole building seemedto shake. The effect upon the group in the parlor, leaning forwardin awed expectation to catch the message from beyond, was upsetting, literally and figuratively. Miss Tamson Black, perched upon the slipperycushion of a rickety and unstable music stool, slid to the floor witha most unspiritual thump and a shrill squeal. Primmie clutched hernext-door neighbor--it chanced to be Mr. Augustus Cabot--by the middleof the waistcoat, and hers was no light clutch. Mr. Abel Harding shoutedseveral words at the top of his lungs; afterward there was some disputeas to just what the exact words were, but none whatever as to their lackof propriety. Almost every one jumped or screamed or exclaimed. OnlyCaptain Jeth Hallett, who had heard that horn many, many times, wasquite unmoved. Even his daughter was startled. 

But perhaps the most surprising effect of the mammoth "toot" was thatwhich it produced in the spirit world. It seemed to blow Little CherryBlossom completely back to her own sphere, for it was a voice neitherChinese nor ethereal which, coming from Miss Hoag's lips, shriekedwildly: "Oh, my good land of love! Wh--what's that?"

It was only after considerable pounding of the table and repeated ordersfor silence that Captain Jethro succeeded in obtaining it. Then heexplained concerning the foghorn. 

"It'll blow every minute from now on, I presume likely, " he growled, "but I don't see as that need to make any difference about our goin' onwith this meetin'. That is, unless Marietta minds. Think 'twill botheryou about gettin' back into the trance state, Marietta?"

Erastus Beebe had turned up one of the lamps and it happened to be theone just above Miss Hoag's head. By its light Martha Phipps could seethe medium's face, and it seemed to her--although, as she admittedafterward, perhaps because of subsequent happenings she only imaginedthat it seemed so--it seemed to her that Marietta was torn between anintense desire to give up mediumizing for that evening and a feelingthat she must go on. 

"She looked to me, " said Martha, "as if she was afraid to go on, butmore afraid to stop. "

However, go on she did. She told the light keeper that she guessed shecould get back if Tamson would play a little spell more. Miss Blackagreed to do so, provided she might have a chair instead of a musicstool. 

"I wouldn't risk settin' on that plaguy, slippery haircloth thing againfor no mortal soul, " declared the irate Tamson, meaning, doubtless, toinclude immortals. A chair was provided, again the lights were dimmed, and the seance resumed, punctuated now at minute intervals by theshattering bellows of the great foghorn. 

In a few minutes the messages began to arrive. They were of similarvague import to those of the previous seance and, couched in LittleCherry Blossom's weird gibberish, were vaguer still. Occasionally aspirit seeking identification went away unrecognized, but not often. Forthe most part the identifying details supplied were so general that theywere almost certain to fit a departed relative or friend of someone present. And, as is usual under such circumstances, the would-berecognizer was so pathetically eager to recognize. Even Galusha, dullyinert as he was just then, again felt his indignation stirred by theshabby mockery of it all. 

Obed Taylor received a message from his brother Daniel who had diedin infancy. Daniel declared himself very happy. So, too, did OpheliaBeebe's great-aunt Samona, who had "passed over" some time in the'fifties. Aunt Samona was joyful--oh, so joyful. Miss Black's name wascalled. 

"Tamson!" croaked Little Cherry Blossom. "Some one heree wantee Tamson. "

Miss Black uttered an exclamation of startled surprise. "Good graciousme!" she cried. "Who is it?"

"Namee seem likee--likee Flora--Flora--somethin', " announced thecontrol. The circle rustled in anticipation while Tamson ransacked hermemory. 

"Flora?" she repeated. "Flora?"

"Yes--yes. Flora--ah--ah--somethin'. Somethin'--soundee likee somethin'you ring. "

"Somethin' I RING. Why, all a body rings is a bell. Hey? My heavensabove, you don't mean Florabel? That ain't the name, is it--Florabel?"

"Yes--yes--yes--yes. " Little Cherry Blossom was eagerly certain thatthat was the name. 

"Mercy on us! Florabel? You don't mean you've got a message from myniece Florabel Tidditt, do you?"

"Yes--yes--yes--oh, yes!" The control was just as certain that nieceFlorabel was on the wire. 

"I don't believe a word of it. "

This unusual manner of receiving a message shocked the devout. A murmurof protest arose. 

"Now, now, now, Tamson, " remonstrated Miss Beebe. "You mustn't talk so. Course you believe it if the control says so. "

"I don't neither. Florabel Tidditt ain't dead. She's as well as I be. Ihad a letter from her yesterday. "

There was considerable agitation for a few minutes. Then it developedthat the Florabel seeking to communicate was not Miss Tidditt, butanother, a relative so long gone that Tamson had forgotten she everexisted. At length she was brought to the point of admitting thatit seemed as if she had heard of a cousin of her grandmother's namedFlorabel or Annabel or something. The message was not very coherent norparticularly interesting, so the incident ended. 

A short time later came the sensation which was to make the eveningmemorable in East Wellmouth's spiritualistic circles. Little CherryBlossom called the name which many had expected and some, Lulie Hallettand Martha Phipps in particular, dreaded to hear. 

"Jethro!" croaked the Blossom. "Jethro!"

Captain Hallett had been very quiet, particularly since the Florabelmessage was tangled in transit. Martha could see his shaggy head insilhouette against the dim light of the lamp and had noticed that thathead scarcely moved. The light keeper seemed to be watching the mediumvery intently. Now he spoke. 

"Yes?" he said, as if awakened from sleep. "Yes, here I am. What is it?"

"Jethro, " cried the control once more. "Jethro, somebodee come speakeeto you. .. . Julia! Julia!"

Captain Jethro rose from his chair. The loved name had as always aninstant effect. His heavy voice shook as he answered. 

"Yes, yes, Julia, " he cried. "Here I am, Julia, waitin'--waitin'. "

It was pathetic, pitiful. One listener in that circle felt, in spite ofhis own misery, a pang of remorse and a little dread. After all, perhapsit would have been better to--

"Julia, " cried the light keeper. "Speak to me. I'm waitin'. "

The foghorn boomed just here, but even after the sound had subduedLittle Cherry Blossom seemed to find it difficult to proceed. She--orthe medium--choked, swallowed, and then said:

"Julia got message. Yes, indeedee. Important message, she sayee, forJethro. Jethro must do what she sayee. "

The captain's big head nodded vigorously. Martha could see it move, atousled shadow against the light. 

"Yes, yes, Julia, of course, " he said. "I always do what you say. Youknow I do. Go on. "

"Father!" It was Lulie's voice, raised in anxious protest. "Father, please. "

Her father sharply ordered her to be quiet. 

"Go on, Julia, " he persisted. "Tell me what you want me to do. "

Again Little Cherry Blossom seemed to have difficulty in articulating. There was a quaver in her voice when she did speak. 

"Julia say, " she faltered; "Julia sayee 'Jethro, you sell R. P. '"

This was unexpected. It was not at all the message the group oflisteners, with one exception, had anticipated. There was no hint ofNelson Howard here. They did not know what to make of it. Nor, it wasevident, did Jethro Hallett. 

"What?" he demanded. "What, Julia? I don't understand. "

Little Cherry Blossom cleared her--or the medium's--throat andfalteringly went on. 

"Julia sayee 'Jethro, you sell R. P. What you got. ' Sellee him what yougot, what he want buyee. You know. You sellee R. P. The stock. "

But still it was clear that Captain Jeth did not understand. 

"Sell R. P. ?" he repeated. "R. P. Who's R. P. ? And what. .. Eh? Do youmean--"

He paused. When he next spoke his tone was quite different. There was adeeper note in it, almost a note of menace. 

"R. P. ?" he said again. "Does 'R. P. ' mean--is that supposed to standfor Horatio Pulcifer? Eh? Does 'R. P. ' mean Raish Pulcifer?"

The control did not reply instantly. The light keeper pressed hisquestion. 

"Does it?" he demanded. 

"Yes. .. Yes, " stammered the Blossom. "Yes, Julia say sellee Raish whathe wantee buy. "

"Wantee BUY? What have I got he wants to buy?"

"Julia she sayee you know. She say 'De--De--Develop stock. ' That's it. Yes, Develop stock. She sayee you sell Raish Develop stock. She sayeeshe wantee you to. You do right then. "

The foghorn howled once more. Captain Jethro was standing erect besidehis chair. When, at last, he did speak, his tone was still more tenseand threatening. Even the shallowest mind in that room--and, asMiss Phipps had said, practically every "crank" within ten miles waspresent--even the shallowest realized that something was impending, something ominous. 

"Do you mean to say, " demanded Jethro Hallett, speaking very slowly, "that Julia's, my wife's spirit is tellin' me to sell my four hundredshares of Wellmouth Development stock to Raish Pulcifer? Do you meanthat SHE says that?"

Little Cherry Blossom croaked twice, but the second croak was a feeble"Yes. "

"SHE says that? Julia, my dead wife, tells me to do that?"

"Yes. Yes--yes--yes. She say you sell Raish four hundred Develop stockand you be so gladee. She be gladee, too. She--"

"STOP!"

The light keeper's shout rang through the room. "Stop!" he shoutedagain. "You--you LIAR!"

The word shot from beneath his teeth and, judging by the effect, mighthave hit almost every individual in the room. There was absolutesilence for just the briefest instant; then a chorus of faint screams, exclamations, startled and indignant protests. Above them all Primmie'scall upon her Lord of Isrul sounded plainly. Captain Jethro paid noheed. 

"You liar!" he roared again. "Out of my house, you swindler! You damnedcheat!"

This blast, delivered with the full force of the old skipper'squarter-deck voice, had the effect of completely upsetting the alreadytense nerves of the majority in the circle. Two or three of the womenbegan to cry. Chairs were overturned. There was a babel of cries andconfusion. The light keeper stilled it. 

"Be still, all hands!" he shouted. "Turn up them lamps! Turn 'em up!"

Mr. Cabot, although himself somewhat startled and disturbed by theunexpected turn of events, was at least as cool as any one. He reachedover the prostrate heap at his feet--it was Ophelia Beebe hystericallyrepeating: "He's gone crazy! He's gone loony! OH, my soul! OH, my land!WHAT'LL I do?" and the like--and turned up one of the lamps. Obed Taylordid the same with the other. 

The sudden illumination revealed Captain Jethro, his face pale, his eyesflashing fire, holding the dumpy Miss Hoag fast in her chair with onehand and with the other brandished above her head like the hammerof Thor. The audience, for the most part, were in various attitudes, indicating alarm and a desire to escape. Mrs. Harding had a stranglehold on her husband's neck and was slowly but inevitably choking him todeath; Mrs. Peters, as well as Miss Beebe, was on the floor; and PrimmieCash was bobbing up and down, flapping her hands and opening her mouthlike a mechanical figure in a shop window. Lulie and Martha Phipps, paleand frightened, were trying to force their way to the captain's side. Galusha Bangs alone remained seated. 

The light keeper again commanded silence. 

"Look at her!" he cried, pointing his free hand at the cowering figureof the medium. "LOOK at her! The lyin' cheat!"

Marietta was, in a way, worth looking at. She had shrunk as far down inthe chair as the captain's grip would permit, her usually red face wasnow as white as the full moon, which it resembled in some other ways, and she was, evidently, as Primmie said afterwards, "scart to death andsome left over. "

Lulie called. 

"Father, father, " she pleaded. "Please--oh--please!"

Her father paid no attention. It was to Miss Hoag that he continued hisattentions. 

"You miserable, swindlin' make-believe!" he growled, his voice shakingwith emotion. "You--you come here and--and pretend--Oh, by The Almighty, if you was a man, if you wasn't the--the poor, pitiful fool that you be, I'd--I'd--"

His daughter had reached his side. "Father, " she begged. "Father, for mysake--"

"Be still! Be still, girl!. .. Marietta Hoag, you answer me. Who put youup to tellin' me to sell that stock to Pulcifer? Who did it? Answer me?"

Marietta tried, but she could do little but gurgle. She gurgled, however, in her natural tones, or a frightened imitation of them. LittleCherry Blossom had, apparently, fluttered to the Chinese spiritland. 

"I--I--Oh, my good land!" she wailed. 

"Answer!"

"Father--father!" cried Lulie. "Don't talk so! Don't act so!"

"Act so! Be still! Let me alone, Martha Phipps! This woman here is acheat. She's a liar! How do I KNOW? DON'T ask such fool questions. Iknow because--because she says my wife--Julia--my wife--tells me to sellmy four hundred shares of Wellmouth Development stock--"

"Yes, of course. But, perhaps--"

"There ain't any perhaps. You, woman, " addressing the cowering medium, "didn't you say that?"

"Yes--oh, yes, Cap'n Jeth, I said it. PLEASE don't!"

"And you pretended my dead wife's spirit said it, didn't you?"

"Yes. Yes, she did. Oh--oh--"

"She did not! Listen, all of you!" with scornful disgust. "Listen! Thatfour hundred shares of Development stock this--this critter here saysJulia knows I've got and wants me to sell to Raish Pulcifer I SOLD twomonths ago. Yes, by the everlastin', I sold 'em! And--eh? Yes, there heis. I sold 'em to that Bangs man there. He knows it. He'll tell you Idid. .. . And now this swindler, this cheat, she--she--Who put you up toit? Who did? Was it Pulcifer?"

Marietta began to sob. "Ye-es, yes, " she faltered. "He--he said he--"

"I thought so. And you pretended 'twas my--my Julia, my wife. .. . Oh, my God! And you've been pretendin' all the time. 'Twas all cheatin' andlies, wasn't it? She--she never come to you. She never told you nothin'. Ain't it so?"

Poor, publicity-loving, sensation-loving Marietta's nerve was completelygone. She sobbed wildly. 

"Oh--oh, I guess so. I--I guess likely 'twas, " she wailed. "I--I don'tknow. I only--"

Captain Jethro took his hand from her shoulder. He staggered a little. 

"Get out of my house!" he ordered. "Out of my house--all of you. You'reall liars and cheats together. .. . Oh, Julia! Oh, my Lord above!"

He collapsed in a chair and put his hands to his head. Lulie, the tearsstreaming down her face, tried to comfort him. Martha, also weeping, essayed to help. Cabot, walking over to where his cousin was standing, laid a hand on his arm. Galusha, pale and wan, looking as if the worldhad slipped from under him and he was left hanging in cold space, turneda haggard face in his direction. 

"Well, Loosh, " said Cousin Gussie, dryly, "I think you and I hadbetter go home, hadn't we? This has been an interesting evening, an--ah--illuminating evening. You appear to be the only person who canadd to the illumination, and--well, don't you think it is time you did?"

CHAPTER XXI

Galusha did not answer. He regarded his relative vacantly, opened hismouth, closed it, sighed and turned toward the dining room. By this timemost of the congregation were already in the yard and, as Cabot andhis companion emerged into the dripping blackness of out-of-doors, fromvarious parts of that blackness came the clatter of tongues and thesound of fervent ejaculations and expressions of amazement. 

"Well! WELL! Don't talk to ME! If this don't beat all ever _I_ see!. .. ""I should say it did! I was just sayin' to Sarah B. , s' I, 'My soul andbody, ' s' I, 'if this ain't--'". .. "And what do you s'pose made him--""And when they turned up them lights and I see him standin' therejammin' her down into that chair and wavin' that big fist of his overtop her head, thinks I, 'Good-NIGHT! He's goin' to hammer her right downthrough into the cellar, don't know's he ain't!'"

These were a few fragments which Cousin Gussie caught as they pushedtheir way to the gate. In one spot where a beam of light from the windowfaintly illuminated the wet, he glimpsed a flowered and fruited hatpicturesquely draped over its wearer's ear while from beneath itslopsided elegance a tearful voice was heard hysterically demanding tobe taken home. "Take me home, 'Phelia. I--I--I. .. Oh, take me home!I--I--I've forgot my rubbers and--and I feel's if my hair was comin'off--down, I mean--but--oh, I don't CARE, take me HOME!"

Galusha, apparently, heard and saw nothing of this. He blunderedstraight on to the gate and thence along the road to the Phipps'cottage. It seemed to Cabot that he found it by instinct, for the fogwas so thick that even the lighted windows could not be seen furtherthan a few yards. But he did find it and, at last, the two men stoodtogether in the little sitting room. Then Cousin Gussie once more laid ahand on his relative's arm. 

"Well, Galusha, " he said, again, "what about it?"

Galusha heaved another sigh. "Yes--ah--yes, " he answered. "Yes--ah--quite so. "

"Humph! What is quite so? I want to know about that stock of theWellmouth Development Company. "

"Yes. .. . Yes, certainly, I know. "

"That Captain--um--What's-his-name, the picturesque old lunatic with thewhiskers--Hallett, I mean--made a statement that was, to say the least, surprising. I presume he was crazy. That was the most weird collectionof insanity that I ever saw or heard. Ha, ha! Oh, dear!. .. Well, nevermind. But what did old Hallett mean by saying he had sold YOU his fourhundred shares of that stock?"

Galusha closed his eyes. He smiled sadly. 

"He meant that he had--ah--sold them to me, " he answered. 

"LOOSH!"

"Yes. "

"Loosh, are you crazy, too?"

"Very likely. I often think I may be. Yes, I bought the--ah--stock. "

"You bought the--YOU? Loosh, sit down. "

Mr. Bangs shook his head. "No, Cousin Gussie, " he said. "If you don'tmind I--I won't sit down. I shall go to my room soon. I bought CaptainHallett's stock. I bought Miss Phipps', too. "

It was Cabot himself who sat down. He stared, slowly shook his head, andthen uttered a fervent, "Whew!"

Galusha nodded. "Yes, " he observed. "Ah--yes. "

"Loosh, do you know what you are saying? Do you mean that you actuallybought Hallett's four hundred shares and this woman's--?"

"Miss Phipps is her name. Miss Martha Phipps. "

"Yes, yes, of course. And you bought. .. Eh? By Jove! Is THAT what youdid with that thirteen thousand dollars?"

Again Galusha nodded. "Yes, " he said. 

Cousin Gussie whistled again. "But why did you do it, Loosh?" he asked, after a moment. "For heaven's sake, WHY?"

Galusha did not answer immediately. Then he said, slowly: "If--if youdon't mind, Cousin Gussie, I think I should tell HER that first. Thatis, I mean she should--ah--be here when I do tell it. .. . I--I think Iwill change my mind and sit down and wait until she comes. .. . Perhaps. You will wait, too--if you don't mind. .. . And, please--please don'tthink me rude if I do not--ah--talk. I do not feel--ah--conversational. Dear me, no. "

He sat down. Cabot stared at him, crossed his knees, and continued tostare. Occasionally he shook his head, as if the riddle were provingtoo much for him. Galusha did not move. Neither man spoke. The old clockticked off the minutes. 

Primmie came home first. "Miss Martha said to tell you she would be overin a few minutes, " she announced. "Cap'n Jeth, he's a-comin' around allright, so Miss Martha and Zach and them think. But, my savin' soul, howhe does hang onto Lulie! Keeps a-sayin' she's all he's got that's trueand honest and--and all that sort of talk. Give me the crawlin' creepsto hear him. And after that seance thing, too! When that everlastin'foghorn bust loose the first time, I cal'lated--"

Galusha interrupted. "Primmie, " he suggested, gravely, "would you--willyou be--ah--kind enough to go into the kitchen?"

"Hey? Go into the kitchen? Course I will. What do you want in thekitchen, Mr. Bangs?"

He regarded her solemnly. "I should like to have you there, if you don'tmind, " he observed. "This gentleman and I are--we would prefer to bealone. I'm very sorry, but you must excuse me this time and--ah--go. "

"Go? You want me to go out and--and not stay here?"

"Yes. Yes--ah--quite so, Primmie. Ah--good-night. "

Primmie departed, slamming the door and muttering indignation. Galushasighed once more. Then he relapsed into silence. 

Twenty minutes later Martha herself came in. They heard her enter thedining room, then Primmie's voice in resentful explanation. When MissPhipps did come into the sitting room, she was smiling slightly. 

"Primmie's heart is broken, " she observed. "Oh, don't worry, it isn'ta very serious break. She hasn't had so much to talk about for goodnessknows when and yet nobody wants to listen to her. I told her to tellLuce about it, but that didn't seem to soothe her much. Luce is LucyLarcom, Mr. Cabot, " she explained. "He is our cat. "

Cousin Gussie, already a much bewildered man, looked even morebewildered, but Martha did not observe his condition. She turned to hiscompanion. 

"Mr. Bangs, " she said, "it's all right. Or goin' to be all right, I'msure. Cap'n Jeth is takin' the whole thing a good deal better than I wasafraid there at first. He is dreadfully shaken, poor man, and he seemsto feel as if the last plank had foundered from beneath him, as fatherused to say; but, if it doesn't have any worse effect than that, I shalldeclare the whole business a mercy and a miracle. If it has the effectof curin' him of the Marietta Hoag kind of spiritualism--and it reallylooks like a cure--then it will be worth all the scare it gave us. Atfirst all he would say was that everything was a fraud and a cheat, that his faith had been taken away, there was nothin' left--nothin'. ButLulie, bless her heart, was a brave girl and a dear one. She said, 'I amleft, father. You've got me, you know. ' And he turned to her and clungto her as if she was his only real sheet anchor. As, of course, she is, and would have been always if he hadn't gone adrift after Little CherryBlossom and such rubbish. Mr. Bangs, I--"

She paused. She looked first at Galusha and then at the Boston banker. Her tone changed. 

"Why, what is it?" she asked, quickly. "What is the matter?. .. Mr. Bangs--"

Galusha had risen when she entered. He was pale, but resolute. 

"Miss Phipps, " he began, "I--I have been waiting to--to say something toyou. I--ah--yes, to say something. Yes, Miss Phipps. "

It was the first time he had addressed her as "Miss Phipps" for manymonths. He had, ever since she granted him permission and urged him todrop formality, addressed her as Miss Martha and seemed to take pridein that permission and to consider it an honor. Now the very fact of hisreturning to the old manner was, although she did not yet realize it, anindication that he considered his right to her friendship forfeited. 

"Miss Phipps, " he began once more, "I--I wish to make a confession, ahumiliating confession. I shall not ask you to forgive me. I realizethat what I have done is quite beyond pardon. "

He stopped again; the road was a hard one to travel. Martha gazed athim, aghast and uncomprehending. Cabot, understanding but little more, shrugged his shoulders. 

"For heaven's sake, old man, " he exclaimed, "don't speak like that! Youhaven't committed murder, have you?"

Galusha did not answer nor heed him. It was to Martha Phipps he spokeand at her that he looked, as a guilty man in the prisoners' dock mightregard the judge about to pronounce his death sentence. 

"Miss Phipps, " he began, for the third time, "I have deceived you. I--Ihave lied to you, not only once but--ah--ah--a great many times. I amquite unworthy of your respect--ah, quite. "

Martha's face expressed many things, absolute amazement predominant. 

"Why--why, Mr. Bangs!" she gasped. "What--"

"Pardon me, " went on Galusha. "I was about to explain. I--I will try tomake the explanation brief. It is--ah--very painful to me to make andwill be, I fear, as painful for you to hear. Miss Phipps, when I toldyou--or gave you to understand--that my cousin here, or his firm, Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot, bought that--ah--Development stock of yours, Ideceived you; I told you a falsehood. They did not buy it. .. . I boughtit, myself. "

He blurted out the last sentence, after a short but apparent mentalstruggle. Martha's chest heaved, but she said no word. The criminalcontinued:

"I will not attempt at this time to tell you how I was--ah--forced intobuying it, " he said; "further than to say that I--I had very foolishlyled you to count upon my cousin's buying it and--and felt a certainresponsibility and--a desire not to disappoint you. I--of course, I should have told you the truth, but I did not. I bought the stockmyself. "

Again he paused and still Martha was silent. Cousin Gussie seemed aboutto speak and then to change his mind. 

"Perhaps, " went on Galusha, with a pitiful attempt at a smile, "youmight have forgiven me that, although it is doubtful, for you hadexpressly forbidden my lending you money or--or assisting you in anyway, which I was--please believe this--very eager to do. But, after having bought it, I, as I say, deceived you, falsified, prevaricated--excuse me--lied to you, over and over. .. . Oh, dear me!"he added, in a sudden burst, "I assure you it is unbelievable how manyfalsehoods seemed to be necessary. I lied continually, I did, indeed. 

"Well, that is all, " he said. "That is all, I believe. .. . I--I amvery sorry. .. . After your extreme kindness to me, it was--I. .. I thinkperhaps, if you will excuse me, I will go to my room. I am--ah--somewhatagitated. Good-night. "

He was turning away, but Cabot called to him. 

"Here, wait a minute, Loosh, " he cried. "There is one thing moreyou haven't told us. Why on earth did you buy Hallett's four hundredshares?"

Galusha put his hand to his forehead. 

"Oh, yes, yes, " he said. "Yes, of course. That was very simple. Iwas--ah--as one may say, coerced by my guilty conscience. CaptainHallett had learned--I don't know precisely how, but it is quiteimmaterial--that Miss Phipps had, through me and to you, Cousin Gussie, as he supposed, sold her shares. He wished me to sell his. I said Icould not. Then he said he should go to your office in Boston and seeyou, or your firm, and sell them himself. I could not allow that, ofcourse. He would have discovered that I had never been there to sellanything at all and--and might have guessed what had actually happened. So I was obliged to buy his stock also and--and pretend that you hadbought it. I lied to him, too, of course. I--I think I have lied toevery one. .. . I believe that is really all. Good-night. "

"One more thing, Loosh. What did you do with the certificates, Hallett'sand Miss Phipps'? You got them, I suppose. "

"Eh? Yes, oh, yes, I got them. I don't know where they are. "

"WHAT? Don't know where they ARE?"

"No. I took them to your office, Cousin Gussie. I enclosed them ina large envelope and took them there. I gave them to a personnamed--ah--Taylor, I think that was the name. "

"Taylor? There is no Taylor in our office. "

"It was not Taylor. It may have been Carpenter, although that doesn'tseem exactly right, either. It was the name of some one--ah--a personwho does something to you, you know, like a tailor or a carpenter ora--a butcher--or--"

"Barbour! Was it Barbour?"

"Yes, that was it--Barbour. I gave Mr. Barbour the envelope. I don'tknow what he did with it; I told him I preferred not to know. .. . Pleaseexcuse me. Good-night. "

He turned abruptly and walked from the room. They heard him ascendingthe stairs. For a moment the pair he had left looked at each other insilence. Then Cabot burst into a shout of laughter. He rocked back andforth in his chair and laughed until Martha, who was not laughing, beganto think he might laugh forever. 

"Oh, by Jove, this is funny?" he exclaimed, as soon as he could speak. "This is the funniest thing I ever heard of. Excuse the hysterics, MissPhipps, but it certainly is. For the past month Williams and I, throughthis fellow Pulcifer down here, have been working heaven and earth toget the six hundred and fifty shares of that stock we supposed you andHallett owned. And all the time it was locked up in my own safe therein Boston! And to think that old Loosh, of all persons, should have putthis over on us. Ho, ho, ho! Isn't it rich!"

He roared and rocked for another interval. Still Martha did not speak, nor even smile. She was not looking at him, but at the braided rugbeneath her feet, and he could not see the expression of her face. 

"I may as well explain now, " he went on, when this particular laugh wasover, "that my friend Williams is one of the leading hotel men of thiscountry. He owns two very big hotels in Florida and one in the Tennesseemountains. He has for some time been looking for a site on which tobuild another here on the northern coast. He was down this way a whileago and, quite by accident, he discovered this shore property which, hefound out later, was owned by the Wellmouth Development Company. It wasideal, according to his estimate--view, harbor, water privileges, still water and surf bathing, climate--everything. He came to me and wediscussed buying it. Then we discovered that this Development Companyowned it. Fifty thousand dollars, the concern's capitalization, wastoo much to pay. A trust company over here in your next town hadtwelve hundred shares, but we found out that they knew the value of theproperty and, if they learned what we were up to, would hold for afancy price. So, through this chap Pulcifer--we bought HIS five hundredshares--we began buying up the thirteen hundred which would give us acontrolling interest and force the other crowd to do what we wanted. Wepicked up the small holdings easily enough, but we couldn't get yours orHallett's. And for a very good reason, too. Ho, ho, ho! And old Loosh, of all people! Ho, ho!"

Still Miss Phipps did not laugh, nor did she look at him. "By the way, "he observed, "I presume my--er--relative paid you a fair price for thestock, Miss Phipps?"

"He paid me twenty dollars a share, " she said, quietly. 

"Did he, indeed! Well, that is more than we've paid any one else, exceptPulcifer. We allowed him a commission--a margin--on all he succeeded inbuying. .. . Humph!. .. And I suppose Galusha paid old Hallett par, too. But why he should do such a thing is--well, it is beyond me. "

She answered, but still she did not look at him. 

"He told you, " she said. "He knew I needed money. I was foolish enoughto let him guess--yes, I told him that I had a hard time to get along. He was interested and he tried to cheer me up by tellin' me he thoughtyou might buy that stock of mine. He couldn't have been more interestedif it had been somethin' of his own. No, not nearly so much; he and hisown interests are the last thing he thinks about, I guess. And then hekept cheerin' me up and pretendin' to be more and more sure you wouldbuy and--and when he found you wouldn't he--but there, he told us thetruth. _I_ understand why he did it, Mr. Cabot. "

The banker shook his head. "Well, I suppose I do, too, in a way, " hesaid. "It is because he is Galusha Bangs. Nobody else on earth wouldthink of doing such a thing. "

"No, nobody else would. But thirteen thousand dollars, Mr. Cabot! Why, that's dreadful! It's awful! He must have used every cent he owns, andI didn't suppose he owned any, scarcely. Oh, Mr. Cabot, I must payhim back; I must pay him right away. DO you want to buy that stock hebought? Will you buy it of him, so he can have his money again?"

She was looking at him now and her voice was shaking with anxiety. Cabotlaughed once more. 

"Delighted, Miss Phipps, " he assured her. "That is what I have beentrying to do for a month or more. But don't worry about old Galusha'sgoing broke. He--why, what is it?"

"Oh, nothin'. I was thinkin' about what he did and--and--"

"Yes, I know. Isn't it amazing? I have known him all my life, but I'mnever sure how he will fly off the handle next. Of course, I realize youmust think him a perfect jackass, an idiot--"

"What! Think him WHAT?"

"An idiot, an imbecile. Nine people out of ten, those who don't know himwell, do consider him just that. Yet he isn't. In some respects he is amighty clever man. In his own line, in this musty-dusty museum businessof his, this Egyptology he is so cracked about, he is really very closeto the top. Geographic societies all over the world have given himmedals; he is--why, if he wished to he could write a string of lettersafter his name a yard long. I believe--hang it, it sounds absurd, butI believe he has been--er--knighted or something like it, in oneheathenish little kingdom. And in Washington there, at the Institute, they swear by him. "

She nodded. "They have just made him a wonderful offer to be the head ofanother expedition, " she said. 

"So? Well, I am not surprised. But in most respects, outside of hismummy-chasing, he is an absolute ass. Money? Why, he would give awayevery cent if it occurred to him to do so. HE wouldn't know nor care. And what might become of him afterward he wouldn't care, either. If itwasn't that I watch him and try to keep his money out of his hands, Idon't know what would happen. Kind? Yes, of course. And generous; goodLord! But when it comes to matters of sentiment like--well, like thisstock business for example, he is, as I say, an ass, that's all. .. . I amtelling you this, Miss Phipps, because I wouldn't wish you to considerold Loosh altogether a fool, but only--"

He was sitting there, his knee in his hands, gazing blandly at theceiling and, in judicial fashion, summing up his relative's failings andvirtues, when he was interrupted. And the interruption was a startlingone. Martha Phipps sprang to her feet and faced him, her cheeks crimsonand her eyes flashing. 

"Oh, how dare you!" she cried, with fiery indignation. "How CAN you?You sit there and talk about him and--and call him names in that--thatcondescendin' way as if he was dirt under our feet and yet--and yet he'sas far above us as the sky is. Oh, how can you! Don't you see how goodhe is? Don't you SEE how he's sufferin' now, poor soul, and why? You sayhe doesn't care for money; of course he doesn't. If it had cost fiftythousand and he had it, I suppose he'd have used it just the same if hethought it would help--help some friend of his out of trouble. Butwhat is tearin' him to pieces is the idea that he has, as he calls it, cheated ME. That he has lied to Jethro and to me and hasn't been thesame straight, honest--GENTLEMAN he always is. That's all. HE doesn'tgive himself credit for takin' his own money to help other folks with. YOU would, _I_ would, but HE doesn't. He talks as if he'd robbed us, or--or killed somebody or somethin'. He is the best--yes, I think heis the best and finest soul that ever breathed. And you sit thereand--swing your foot and--and patronize--and call him a fool. A FOOL!. .. I--I mustn't talk any more or--or I'll say somethin' I'll wish Ihadn't. .. . Good-night, Mr. Cabot. "

She had held her handkerchief tightly crumpled in her hand during thisoutburst. Now she dabbed hastily with it at either eye, turned andhastened into the dining room, closing the door behind her. 

A minute later Primmie came into the room, bearing a lighted lamp. 

"I cal'late now I can dast come in here, can't I?" she observed, withdignity. "Anyhow, I hope so, 'cause Miss Martha sent me. She said I wasto show you where your bedroom was, Mr. Cabot. "

The Boston banker, who had scarcely recovered from the blast launchedat his head by his hostess, rose, still blinking in a dazed fashion, andfollowed the lamp-bearer up the steep and narrow stairs. She opened adoor. 

"Here you be, " she said, tartly. "And I hope you'll sleep 'cause I'mprecious sure _I_ sha'n't. All I'll see from now till mornin' is Cap'nJeth gettin' ready to lam that Marietta Hoag one over the top of thehead. My Lord of Isrul! Don't talk to ME!"

Cabot regarded her with interest. "What is YOUR name?" he inquired. 

"Primrose Cash. "

"Eh? Primrose?"

"Um-hm. Name of a flower, 'tis. Some folks don't like it, but I do. "

"Primrose!" The visitor slowly shook his head. "Well--er--Primrose, " heasked, "is there any other asylum in this vicinity?"

"Hey? ASYLUM? What--"

"Never mind. I wondered, that's all. Good-night. "

He took the lamp from her hand and went into his room. The amazedPrimmie heard from behind the door of that room a mighty roar oflaughter, laughter loud and long continued. Martha, in her room, heardit and stirred indignantly. Galusha, in his room, heard it and moaned. 

He wondered how, in all the world, there was any one who, on this nightof misery, could laugh. 

CHAPTER XXII

There were two people in that house who ate a real breakfast thefollowing morning. One was Primmie and the other was Augustus Cabot. Ittook much, very much, to counteract Miss Cash's attraction toward food, and as for the Boston banker, the combination of Cape Cod air andMartha Phipps' cooking had sharpened his appetite until, as he told hishostess, he was thoroughly ashamed, but tremendously contented. 

Martha smiled a faint recognition of the joke. Galusha, sitting oppositeher, did not smile; he was plainly quite unaware that there was humoranywhere. The little archaeologist looked, so Primmie told Zach lateron, "like one of them wax string beans, thin and drawed-out and yeller. "He kept his gaze fixed on his plate and, beyond wishing her an uncertaingood-morning, not once did he look at or venture to address MarthaPhipps. 

While they were at table Lulie came in. Considering all that she hadundergone, the young lady was wonderfully radiant. Her eyes sparkled, there was color in her cheeks, and Mr. Cabot, who, in his time, hadaccounted himself a judge, immediately rated her as a remarkably prettygirl. Her first move, after greeting the company, was to go straight toGalusha and take his hand. 

"Mr. Bangs, " she cried, "how can I thank you? How can Nelson and I ever, ever thank you?"

Galusha's embarrassment managed to pump a little color into his wancheeks. "I--I--ah--dear me, it was nothing, " he stammered. "I--Iam--ah--yes, quite so. Please don't mention it. "

"But I shall mention it. Indeed, I shall. Why, Martha, do you realizewho was really responsible for father's being so suspicious of MariettaHoag last evening? It was Mr. Bangs here, and no one else. Do youremember I told you that father had been receiving printed things, booklets and circulars, in the mails for the past few days, and that hehad been reading them and they seemed to agitate him very much? Do youremember that?"

Martha said of course she remembered it. 

"Yes. Well, those circulars and books came from the Psychical ResearchSociety--the people who look up real spirit things and expose the otherkind, the fraud kind, you know. Those told all about lots of cases ofcheats like Marietta, and father read them, and he confessed to me thismorning that they disturbed his faith in her a lot and he was suspiciouswhen the seance began. Don't you know he hinted something about it?"

"Yes, yes, Lulie, I remember. But what did Mr. Bangs have to do withthose circulars and things?"

"He sent them. Or he had them sent, I am sure. They came from Washingtonand who else could have done it? Who else would have had them sent--fromthere--to father--and just at the right time? You did have them sent, didn't you, Mr. Bangs?"

Of course, the others now looked at Galusha and also, of course, thishad the effect of increasing his embarrassment. 

"Why--why, yes, " he admitted, "I suppose I am responsible. You see, I--well--ah--I have friends at the Washington branch of the Society andI dropped a line requesting that some--ah--literature be sent to CaptainHallett. But it was nothing, really. Dear me, no. How is your fatherthis morning, Lulie?"

Lulie's face expressed her happiness. "Oh, he is ever and ever so muchbetter, " she declared. "Last night I was so afraid that the shock andthe dreadful disappointment and all might have a very had effect uponhim, but it hasn't. He is weak this morning and tired, of course, buthis brain is perfectly clear and he talks as calmly as you or I. Yes, a good deal more calmly than I am talking just now, for I am very muchexcited. "

She laughed a little. Then, with a blush which caused the Bostonconnoisseur to re-endorse his own estimate of her looks, added: "I justmust tell you this, Martha, you and Mr. Bangs, for I know you will bealmost as much delighted as I am--of course, I put in the 'almost. 'This morning, a little while ago, I ventured to mention Nelson's nameto father and to hint that perhaps now that he knew Marietta's 'medium'nonsense to be all a fraud, he would believe as I did that the thingsshe said about Nelson were frauds, too. I said it in fear and trembling, and for some time he didn't answer. Then he called me to him and said heguessed I was probably right. 'You seem to have been right most of thetime, Lulie, ' he said, 'and I've been clear off the course. ' Then hesaid something about his getting old and about ready for the scrap heap, but at the end he said: 'You ask that young Howard to cruise aroundhere and see me some one of these days. I want to talk to him. ' There!"triumphantly. "Isn't that splendid? Isn't that something for him tosay?"

Martha beamed delightedly. "For your father to say it's more thansomethin', it's a whole big lot, " she declared. "Well, well, well! Cap'nJeth invitin' Nelson to come and see him and talk with him! Mercy me!'Wonders 'll never cease, fish fly and birds swim, ' as my own fatherused to say, " she added, with a laugh. "Mr. Cabot, excuse me for talkin'about somethin' you don't understand, but, you see, Lulie is--Well, Primmie, what is it?"

Primmie's face expressed great excitement as she pushed it around theedge of the kitchen door. "My savin' soul!" was her salutation. "Whodo you suppose is comin' right up our walk this very minute? RaishPulcifer, that's who! And--and I bet you he's heard about last night'sdoin's, Miss Martha. "

A little of Miss Cash's excitement was communicated to the others by herannouncement. To every one except Mr. Bangs, of course. Galusha, after his acknowledgment of Lulie's thanks, had relapsed into hisabsent-minded apathy. Martha looked at Lulie. 

"Humph!" she said, after a moment. "Well, let him come, as far as I'mconcerned. I never was afraid of Raish Pulcifer yet and I'm not now. Lulie, if you don't want to meet him, you might go into the sittingroom. "

Lulie hesitated. "Well, perhaps I will, " she said. "Father has told mea little about--Well, I imagine Raish will be disagreeable and I don'tfeel like going through more disagreeableness just now. I'll wait inhere till he goes, Martha. "

"Perhaps you'd like to go, too, Mr. Cabot, " suggested Martha. 

Cabot shrugged. "Not unless you wish me to, " he replied. "I've nevermet this agent of ours and I wouldn't mind seeing what he looks like. Williams hired him, so he doesn't know me from Adam. "

For the first time that morning Miss Phipps addressed her boarderdirectly. "How about you, Mr. Bangs?" she asked. 

Galusha did not appear to hear the question, and before it was repeateda knock, loud, portentous, threatening, sounded upon the door. 

"Let him in, Primmie, " commanded Miss Phipps. 

Mr. Pulcifer entered. His bearing was as ominous as his knock. He noddedto Martha, glanced inquiringly at Cabot, and then turned his gaze uponGalusha Bangs. 

"Well, Raish, " said Martha, cheerfully, "you're an early bird thismornin'. How do you do?"

The great Horatio's only acknowledgment of the greeting was a nod. Hedid not even remove his cap. He was looking at the little man in thechair at the foot of the table and he seemed quite oblivious of any oneelse. And Galusha, for that matter, seemed quite as oblivious of him. 

The Pulcifer mouth opened and the Pulcifer finger pointed. 

"Say, " commanded Raish. "Say--you!" And as this seemed to have little orno effect upon the individual toward whom the finger pointed, he added:"Say, you--er--What's-your-name--Bangs. "

Galusha, who had been absently playing with his napkin, twisting it intofolds and then untwisting it, looked up. 

"Eh?" he queried. "Oh, yes--yes, of course. How do you do, Mr. Pulcifer?"

This placidity seemed to shut off Raish's breath for the moment, but itreturned in full supply. 

"How do I DO!" he repeated. "Well, I ain't what you'd call fust-rate, I'd say. I'm pretty darn sick, if anybody should ask you. I've hadenough to make me sick. Say, look here, Bangs! What kind of a game isthis you've been puttin' over on me--hey?. .. Hey?"

"Game?. .. I--ah--pardon me, I don't know that I quite understand, Mr. Pulcifer. "

"Don't you? Well, I don't understand neither. But I cal'late to prettyquick. What did Jeth Hallett mean last night by sayin' that he'd soldhis four hundred Development a couple of months ago? What did he mean byit?"

Martha Phipps was about to speak. Cabot, too, leaned forward. ButGalusha raised a protesting hand. 

"Please, " he said. "Mr. Pulcifer has a perfect right to ask. Ihave--ah--been expecting him to do so. Well, Mr. Pulcifer, I presumeCaptain Hallet meant that he had--ah--sold the stock. "

"He did? I want to know! And what did he mean by sayin' he'd sold it toYOU?"

Again Miss Phipps and Cousin Gussie seemed about to take a hand andagain Galusha silenced them. 

"If you please, " he begged. "It is quite all right, really. .. . Isuppose, Mr. Pulcifer, he meant that he had done just that. He did. I--ah--bought his stock. "

"You did! YOU did? Say, what kind of a--Say, am I crazy or are you?"

"Oh, I am. Dear me, yes, Mr. Pulcifer. At all events, I purchased thestock from Captain Hallett. I bought Miss Phipps' shares at the sametime. "

It took more than a trifle to "stump" Raish Pulcifer. He was accustomedto boast that it did. But he had never been nearer to being stumped thanat that moment. 

"You--bought--" He puffed the words as a locomotive puffs smoke whenleaving a station. 

"Yes, " said Galusha, calmly, "I bought both his and hers. "

"You did!. .. You did!. .. Well, by cripes! But--but why?"

"Because, I--ah--For reasons of my own, Mr. Pulcifer. Please pardon meif I do not go into that. I do not wish to appear rude, but the reasonsare quite personal, really. "

"Personal!. .. Well, I'll be dummed if this ain't the nerviest piece ofbrass cheek ever I--Say, look here, Bangs! Why didn't you tell me you'dbought them shares? What did you--Why, you must have had 'em all thetime I was offerin' you commissions for buyin' 'em. Hey? DID you have'em then?"

"Why--ah--yes, I did. "

"And you never said nothin', but just let me talk! And--and how aboutthis seance thing? You was the one put me up to making Marietta pretendto get messages from Jeth's wife tellin' him to sell his stock to me. YOU done it. I'd never thought of it if you hadn't put the notion in myhead. And--and all the time--Oh, by CRIPES!"

Again his agitation brought on a fit of incoherence. And he was not theonly astonished person about that table. Galusha, however, was quitecalm. He continued to fold and unfold his napkin. 

"It may be, " he said, slowly, "that I owe you an apology, Mr. Pulcifer. I did deceive you, or, at least, I did not undeceive you. " He paused, sighed, and then added, with a twisted smile, "I seem to have beena--ah--universal deceiver, as one might say. However, that is notmaterial just now. I had what seemed to me good reasons for wishingCaptain Hallett to learn that Miss Hoag was not a genuine--ah--psychic. It occurred to me that a mention of his late wife's wish to have himsell something he did not possess might accomplish that result. I misledyou, of course, and I apologize, Mr. Pulcifer. I am sorry, but it seemednecessary to do so. Yes, quite. "

He ceased speaking. Martha drew a long breath. Mr. Cabot looked verymuch puzzled. Raish slowly shook his head. "Well!" he began; triedagain, but only succeeded in repeating the word. Then he blurted out hisnext question. 

"Who'd you buy them shares for?"

"Eh? For?"

"Yes, for. Who did you buy Cap'n Jeth's and Martha's stock for? Who gotyou to buy it? 'Twasn't the Trust Company crowd, was it?"

"The Trust Company? I beg pardon? Oh, I see--I see. Dear me, no. Ibought the stock myself, quite on my own responsibility, Mr. Pulcifer. "

Raish could not believe it. "You bought it yourself!" he repeated. "No, no, you don't get me. I mean whose money paid for it?"

"Why, my own. "

Still it was plain that Horatio did not believe. As a matter of fact, the conviction that Galusha Bangs was poverty-stricken was so thoroughlyimplanted in the Pulcifer mind that not even a succession of earthquakeslike the recent disclosures could shake it loose. But Raish did notpress the point, for at that moment a new thought came to him. Hisexpression changed and his tone changed with it. 

"Say, Bangs, " demanded he, eagerly, "do you mean you've still got thatsix hundred and fifty Development? Mean you ain't turned 'em over yet toanybody else?"

"Eh? Why, no, Mr. Pulcifer, I haven't--ah--turned them over to any oneelse. "

"Good! Fust-rate! Fine and dandy! You and me can trade yet. You're allright, Perfessor, you are. You've kind of put one acrost on me, butdon't make the mistake of thinkin' I'm holdin' that against you. No, sir-ee! When a feller's smart enough to keep even with your Uncle Raishin a deal then I know he gets up early--yes, sir, early, and that's whenI get up myself. Hey, Perfessor? Haw, haw! Now, I tell you: Let's youand me go down to my office or somewheres where we can talk business. Maybe I might want to buy that stock yet, you can't tell. Hey? Haw, haw!"

He was exuding geniality now. But just here Mr. Augustus Cabot spoke. Judging by his face, he had enjoyed the passage at arms between hiscousin and his business agent hugely. Now he entered the lists. 

"That's all right, Pulcifer, " he said. "You needn't trouble. I'll lookout for that stock, myself. "

Horatio turned and stared. He had scarcely noticed the visitor before, now he looked him over from head to foot. 

"Hey? What's that?" he demanded. Cabot repeated his statement. Raishsnorted. 

"You'll look after the stock!" he repeated. "YOU will? Who are you?"

Cousin Gussie tossed a card across the table. "Cabot is my name, " hesaid. 

Galusha suddenly remembered. 

"Oh, dear me!" he exclaimed. "I--I forgot. Please forgive me. Cousin Gussie, this is Mr. Pulcifer. Mr. Pulcifer, this gentleman ismy--ah--Cousin Gu--I mean my cousin, Mr. Cabot, from Boston. "

But Mr. Pulcifer did not hear. He was staring at the names of theindividual and of the firm upon the card and icy fingers were playingtunes up and down his vertebrae. For the second time that morning hecould not speak. Cabot laughed. 

"It's all right, Pulcifer, " he said, reassuringly. "You won't have toworry about the Development matter any longer. I'll handle the rest ofit. Oh, you did your best. I'm not blaming you. I'll see that you get afair return, even if you couldn't quite deliver. But you must keep stillabout the whole thing, of course. "

Raish breathed heavily. Slowly the icy fingers ceased trifling withhis spine and that backbone began to develop--quoting Miss Phipps'description--at least one new joint to every foot. He suppled visibly. He expressed himself with feeling. He begged the honor of shaking handswith the great man from Boston. Then he shook hands with Galusha andMiss Phipps. If Primmie had been present doubtless he would haveshaken hands with her. When Cabot suggested that the interview had bestterminate, he agreed with unction and oozed, rather than walked, throughthat doorway. Watching from the window, they saw him stop when hereached the road, draw a long breath, take a cigar from his pocket, light it, hitch his cap a trifle to one side, and stride away, a movingpicture of still unshaken and serene self-confidence. 

Cabot laughed delightedly. "That fellow is a joy forever, " he declared. "He's one of the seven wonders of the world. "

Martha sniffed. "Then the world better keep a sharp watch on the othersix, " was her comment. "I wouldn't trust Raish Pulcifer alonewith Bunker Hill monument--not if 'twas a dark night and he had awheelbarrow. "

Lulie came rushing from the sitting room. She had heard all thePulcifer-Bangs' dialogue and her one desire was to thank Galusha. ButGalusha was not present. While Martha and Mr. Cabot were at the windowwatching the departure of Raish, the little man had left the room. 

"But I must see him, " cried Lulie. "Oh, Martha, just think! He isresponsible for EVERYTHING. Not only for sending father the PsychicalSociety books, but for planning all that happened at the seance. Youheard what Raish said. He said that Mr. Bangs put him up to bribingMarietta to pretend getting the message ordering father to sell hisstock. Why, if that is true--and, of course, it must be--and if--ifNelson and I should--if it SHOULD end right for us--why, Martha, he willbe the one who made it possible. Oh, do you believe he did plan it, asRaish said?"

Martha nodded and turned away. "He seems to have spent most of his timeplannin' for other folks, " she said. 

"He didn't come through the sitting room, " said Lulie, "so he must be inthe kitchen with Primmie. I'm going to find him. "

But she did not find him. Primmie said that Mr. Bangs had come out intothe kitchen, taken his hat and coat, and left the house by the backdoor. Looking from that door, they saw his diminutive figure, already agood distance off, moving across the fields. 

"He's on his way to the graveyard, " declared Primmie. Cabot wasstartled. 

"On his way to the graveyard!" he repeated. "Why, he looked remarkablywell to me. What do you mean?"

Lulie laughingly explained. A few minutes later, declaring that she mustleave her father alone no longer, she hurried away. Martha watched hergo. 

"She scarcely knows there is ground under her feet, " she observed. "Alight heart makes easy ballast, so my father used to say. "

Cabot expressed his intention of starting for the city shortly afternoon. 

"Now that I know where those missing shares are, I can go with an easyconscience, " he said. "I came 'way down here to get them and the fasterI came the farther off they were. Ha, ha! It's a great joke. I've hada wonderful time, Miss Phipps. Well, I must see Galusha and get him tosell that stock to me. I don't anticipate much difficulty. The old boydidn't even know nor care where Barbour had put it. "

Martha seemed to hesitate a moment. Then she said: "Mr. Cabot, I wonderif you could spare a few minutes. I want to talk with you aboutthe money I owe--the money he GAVE me--for that stock, and a littleabout--about your cousin himself. Last night when you spoke of him Iwas--well, I was excited and upset and I didn't treat you very well, I'mafraid. I'm sorry, but perhaps you'll excuse me, considerin' all thathad happened. Now I want to ask you one or two questions. There are somethings I don't--I can't quite understand. "

CHAPTER XXIII

An hour or so later Galusha, sitting, forlorn and miserable, upon theflat, damp and cold top of an ancient tomb in the old Baptist buryingground, was startled to feel a touch upon his shoulder. He jumped, turned and saw his cousin smiling down at him. 

"Well, Loosh, " hailed the banker, "at your old tricks, aren't you? Inthe cemetery and perfectly happy, I suppose. No 'Hark from the tombs, a doleful sound' in years, eh?. .. Hum! You don't look very happy thistime, though. " Then, with a comprehensive glance at the surroundings, heshrugged and added, "Heavens, no wonder!"

The picture was a dismal one on that particular day. The sky wasovercast and gray, with a distinct threat of rain. The sea was gray andcold and cheerless. The fields were bare and bleak and across themmoved a damp, chill, penetrating breeze. From horizon to horizon not abreathing creature, except themselves, was visible. And in the immediateforeground were the tumbled, crumbling memorials of the dead. 

"Heavens, what a place!" repeated Cabot. "It's enough to give anybodythe mulligrubs. Why in the world do you come over here and--and go toroost by yourself? Do you actually LIKE it?"

Galusha sighed. "Sometimes I like it, " he said. Then, sliding over onthe tomb top, he added, "Won't you--ah--sit down, Cousin Gussie?"

His relative shook his head. "No, I'll be hanged if I do!" he declared;"not on that thing. Come over and sit on the fence. I want to talk toyou. "

He led the way to a section of the rail fence which, although rickety, was still standing. He seated himself upon the upper rail and Galushaclambered up and perched beside him. The banker's first question wasconcerning the six hundred and fifty shares of Development stock. 

"I know you gave the Phipps woman par for hers, " he said. "You told meso and so did she. Did you pay old Whiskers--Hallett, I mean--the sameprice?"

Galusha shook his head. "I--ah--was obliged to pay him a little more, "he said. "His--ah--wife insisted upon it. "

"His wife? I thought his wife was dead. "

"Yes--ah--she is. Yes, indeed, quite so. "

When this matter was satisfactorily explained Cousin Gussie asked ifGalusha would be willing to sell his recently purchased shares at theprice paid. Of course Galusha would. 

"I should be very glad to make you a present of them, Cousin Gussie, " hesaid, listlessly. "I do not care for them, really. "

"I don't doubt that, but you won't do anything of the kind. As a matterof fact, your buying those shares and taking them out of the marketwas a mighty good thing for us. That Trust Company crowd was gettinganxious, so the Phipps woman says. By the way, I will send her a checkat once for her shares and she will hand it over to you. She was verymuch disturbed because you had--as she called it--given her that fivethousand dollars. "

Galusha nodded sadly. "Of course, " he said. "It was a--a very dreadfulthing to do. Oh, dear!"

His relative, who was watching him intently, smiled. "She and I have hada long talk, " he continued. "She couldn't understand about you, howyou could have so much money to--er--waste in that way. I gatheredshe feared you might have impoverished yourself, or pledged the familyjewels, or something. And she plainly will not be easy one moment untilshe has paid you. She is a very extraordinary woman, Loosh. "

His companion did not answer. His gaze was fixed upon a winged death'shead on a battered slate gravestone near at hand. The death's head wasgrinning cheerfully, but Galusha was not. 

"I say she is remarkable, that Phipps woman, " repeated Cousin Gussie. The little man stirred uneasily upon the fence rail. 

"Her--ah--name is Martha--Martha Phipps--ah--MISS Martha Phipps, " hesuggested, with a slight accent upon the "Miss. " The banker's smilebroadened. 

"Apologies, Galusha, " he said, "to her--and to you. " He turned and gazedsteadily down at his relative's bowed head. 

"Loosh, " he said. 

"Eh?" Galusha looked up. "Eh? Did you speak?" he asked. 

"I did. No, don't look at that gravestone, look at me. Say, Loosh, whydid you do it?"

"Eh?. .. I beg pardon. .. . Why did I. .. You mean why did I--ah--buy thestock--and--and--"

"Of course. Why did you? Oh, I know she was hard up and feared shecouldn't keep her home and all that; she has told me her story. And sheis a good woman and you were sorry for her. But, my boy, to take fivethousand dollars--even for YOU to take five thousand cold, hard, legaltender dollars and toss them away for something which, so far as youknew, was not worth five cents--that argues a little more than sympathy, doesn't it? And when you add eight thousand more of those dollars to theoriginal five, then--Why did you do it, Loosh?"

Galusha's gaze fell. He looked solemnly at the battered cherub upon thegravestone and the cherub's grin was broad. 

"I bought Captain Hallett's stock, " he explained, "because I did notwish Miss Mar--Miss Phipps to know that I had lied--and all the rest. "

"Yes, yes, so you said. But why did you lie, Loosh? Why didn't youtell her that you couldn't sell her stock for her? She would havebeen disappointed, of course, but she would have understood; she is asensible woman. "

Galusha, apparently, was considering the matter. It was a perceptibleinterval before he answered. 

"I don't know, Cousin Gussie, " he confessed, after the interval wasover. "Really, I don't know. I think I felt, as I told you last night, as if I had encouraged her to believe I should surely sell her sharesand--and that, therefore, I would be responsible for her disappointment. And I--well, really, I simply could not face the thought of thatdisappointment and all it would mean to her. I could not, indeed, no. Isuppose you consider it quite extraordinary, my feeling that so acutely. Dear me, I suppose most people would. But I felt it. And I should do thesame thing again, I know I should. "

"For her, you mean?"

"Yes--yes, of course, for her. "

"Humph! Say, Loosh, may I ask you a purely personal question? Will youpromise not to be offended if I do?"

"Eh? Why, of course, Cousin Gussie. Of course. Dear me, ask anything youlike. "

"All right. Loosh, are you in love with Miss Phipps?"

Galusha started so violently as to throw him off his balance upon thefence rail. He slid forward until his feet touched the ground. Hiscoat-tails, however, caught upon a projecting knot and the garmentremained aloft, a crumpled bundle, between his shoulder blades and theback of his neck. He was not aware of it. His face expressed only oneemotion, great astonishment. And as his cousin watched, that expressionslowly changed to bewilderment and dawning doubt. 

"Well, how about it?" queried Cabot. "Are you in love with her, Loosh?"

Galusha's mouth opened. "Why--good gracious!" he gasped. "Dearme--ah--Why--why, I don't know. "

The banker had expected almost any sort of reply, except that. 

"You don't KNOW!" he repeated. 

"No, I--I don't. I--I never thought of such a thing. "

Cousin Gussie slowly shook his head. 

"Loosh, " he declared, "you are superb; do you realize it? So you don'tknow whether you are in love with her or not. Well, put it this way:Would you like to marry her, have her for your wife, live with her forthe rest of your days?"

Galusha considered this astounding proposition, but only for thebriefest possible moment. His gentle, dreamy, wistful countenance seemedalmost to light up from within. His answer was given in one breath andas if entirely without conscious volition. 

"Oh, very much, " he said, in a low tone. "Oh, yes, very much. "

The Boston banker had been on the point of laughing when he asked thequestion. But he did not laugh. He whistled instead. Then he smiled, butit was not a smile of ridicule. 

Jumping from the fence rail, he laid a hand on his relative's shoulder. 

"Well, by Jove!" he exclaimed. "Forgive me, old man, will you? I had noidea you were taking it so seriously. I. .. Well, by Jove!"

Galusha did not speak. The same queer ecstatic brightness was upon hisface and he was looking now, not at the grinning cherub, but at thedistant horizon line of gray-green ocean and slate-gray sky. Cabot'sgrip on his shoulder tightened. 

"So you really want to marry her, " he said. .. . "Humph!. .. Well, I'll behanged! Loosh, you--you--well, you certainly can surprise a fellow whenyou really make a business of it. "

The brightness was fading from Galusha's face. He sighed, removed hisspectacles, and seemed to descend from the clouds. He sighed again, andthen smiled his faint smile. 

"Dear me, " he said, "how ridiculous it was, wasn't it? You like a joke, don't you, Cousin Gussie?"

"Was it a joke, Loosh? You didn't look nor speak like a joker. "

"Eh? Oh, yes, it was a joke, of course. Is it likely that a woman likethat would marry ME?"

Again he astonished his relative into turning and staring at him. "Marryyou?" he cried. "SHE marry YOU? For heaven's sake, you don't imaginethere is any doubt that she would marry you if you asked her to, doyou?"

"Why, of course. Why should she?"

"Why SHOULD she? Why shouldn't she jump at the chance, you mean!"

"Oh--oh, no, I don't. No, indeed. You are joking again, Cousin Gussie, of course you are. Women don't like me; they laugh at me, they alwayshave, you know. I don't blame them. Very often I laugh at myself. I ameccentric. I'm 'queer'; that is what every one says I am--queer. I don'tseem to think just as other people do, or--or to be able to dress asthey do--or--ah--oh, dear, everything. It used to trouble me a good dealwhen I was young. I used to try, you know--ah--try very hard not to bequeer. I hated being queer. But it wasn't any use, so at last I gaveup trying. My kind of queerness is something one can't get over, apparently; it's a sort of incurable disease. Dear me, yes, quiteincurable. "

He had moved forward and his coat-tails had fallen into their normalposition, so the "queerness" of his outward appearance was modified;but, as he stood there, with his puzzled, wistful expression, slowlyand impersonally picking himself to pieces, so to speak, Cabot feltan overwhelming rush of pity for him, pity and a sort of indignantimpatience. 

"Oh, shut up, Galusha!" he snapped. "Don't be so confoundedly absurd. You are one of the cleverest men in the world in your line. You aredistinguished. You are brilliant. If you were as queer as Dick'shatband--whatever that is--it would make no difference; you have a rightto be. And when you tell me that a woman--yes, almost any woman, to saynothing of one lost down here in these sand-hills--wouldn't marry you ina minute, you're worse than queer--you're crazy, absolutely crazy. "

"But--but Cousin Gussie, you forget. If there were no other reasons, youforget what I have done. She could never believe in me again. No, norforgive me. "

"Oh, DON'T! You disturb my digestion. Do you suppose there is a woman onearth who wouldn't forgive a man who gave up thirteen thousand dollarsjust to help her out of a difficulty? Gave it up, as you did, without awhimper or even a whisper? And whose one worry has been that she mightfind out the truth about his weird generosity? Oh, Loosh, Loosh, you AREcrazy. "

Galusha made no attempt to deny the charge of insanity. He was thinkingrapidly now and his face expressed his thought. 

"Do you--do you really think she might forgive me?" he asked, breathlessly. 

"Think! Why, she and I had a long talk just before I came over here. She thinks you are the best and most wonderful man on earth and allshe feared was that you had taken your last cent, or even borrowed themoney, to come to her rescue. When I told her you were worth a quarterof a million, she felt better, but it didn't lessen her gratitude. Forgive you! Oh, good Lord!"

Galusha had heard only the first part of this speech. The ecstaticexpression was returning. He drew a long breath. 

"I--I wonder if she really would consider such a thing?" he murmured. 

"Consider what? Marriage? Well, I should say she wouldn't take much timefor consideration. She'll jump at it, I tell you. You are the one toconsider, old man. You are rich, and famous. Yes, and, although I havenever pinned quite as much faith to the 'family' idea as most of ourpeople do, still we have a sort of tradition to keep up, you know. Now this--er--Miss Phipps is all right, no doubt; her people were goodpeople, doubtless, but--well, some of our feminine second and thirdcousins will make remarks, Galusha. They surely will. "

Galusha did not even trouble to answer this speech. His cousincontinued. 

"But that is your business, of course, " he said. "And I honestly believethat in a good many ways she would make the ideal wife for you. She isnot bad looking, in a wholesome sort of way, she is competent and verypractical, has no end of common sense, and in all money matters shewould make the sort of manager you need. She. .. Say, look here, have youheard one word of all I have been saying for the last three minutes ?"

"Eh?. .. Oh, yes, indeed. Of course, quite so. "

"I know better; you haven't. "

"Yes--yes. That is, I mean no. .. . Pardon me, Cousin Gussie, I fear I wasnot paying attention. .. . I shall ask her. Yes, if--if you are QUITE sureshe has forgiven me, I shall ask her. "

He started toward the cemetery gate as if he intended asking her atthe first possible moment. His cousin followed him, his expressionindicating a mixture of misgiving and amusement. Suddenly he laughedaloud. Galusha heard him and turned. His slight figure stiffenedperceptibly. 

"I beg pardon, " he said, after a moment. "Doubtless it is--ah--veryamusing, but I confess I do not quite see the joke. "

Cabot laughed again. 

"Is it--ah--so funny?" inquired Galusha. "It does not seem so to me. "

The banker took him by the arm. "No offense, old chap, " he said. "Funny?Of course it's funny. It's wildly funny. Do you know what I was justthinking? I was thinking of Aunt Clarissa. What do you suppose she wouldhave said to this?"

He shouted at the thought. Galusha joined him to the extent of a smile. "She would have said it was just what she expected of me, " he observed. "Quite so--yes. "

They walked on in silence for some time. Then Galusha stopped short. 

"I have just thought of something, " he said. "It--it MAY have someinfluence. She has often said she wished she might see Egypt. We couldgo together, couldn't we?"

Cousin Gussie roared again. "Of course you could, " he declared. "AndI only wish I could go along. Loosh, you are more than superb. You aremagnificent. "

He telephoned for his car and chauffeur and, soon after dinner, saidgood-by to his hostess and his cousin and prepared to start for Boston. The Sunday dinner was a bountiful one, well cooked, and he did justiceto it. Galusha, however, ate very little. He seemed to be not quitecertain whether he was at the table or somewhere in the clouds. 

The chauffeur discovered that he had scarcely oil and gasolinesufficient for his hundred-mile trip and decided to drive to Trumet toobtain more. Cabot, who felt the need of exercise after his hearty meal, took a walk along the bluff edge as far as the point from which he couldinspect the property owned by the Development Company. 

He was gone almost an hour. On his return he met Galusha walking slowlyalong the lane. The little man was without his overcoat, his hands wereclasped behind him and, although his eyes were open, he seemed tosee nothing, for he stumbled and staggered, sometimes in the road andsometimes in the dead weeds and briars beside it. He did not see hiscousin, either, until the latter spoke. Then he looked up and noddedrecognition. 

"Oh!" he observed. "Yes, of course. Ah--How do you do?"

Cabot was looking him straight in the face. 

"Loosh, " he asked, sharply. "What is it? What is the matter?"

Galusha passed his hand across his forehead. 

"Oh, nothing, nothing, " he answered. 

"Nonsense! You look as if--Well, you can't tell me nothing is wrong. ISN'T there something wrong?"

The saddest smile in all creation passed across Galusha's face. "Why--why, yes, " he said. "I suppose everything is wrong. I should haveexpected it to be, of course. I--I did, but--ah--for a little while Iwas--ah--foolish and--and hoped. It is quite all right, Cousin Gussie, absolutely so. She said it was--ah--impossible. Of course it is. She isquite right. Oh, quite. "

Cabot caught his meaning. "Do you mean to say, " he demanded, "that youasked that--that Phipps woman to marry you and she REFUSED?"

"Eh? Oh, yes, she refused. I told you she would not think of such athing. That is exactly what she said; it was impossible, she could notthink of it. "

"Well, confound her impudence!. .. Oh, all right, Galusha, all right. Ibeg your pardon--and hers. But, really--"

Galusha stopped him. "Cousin Gussie, " he said, "if you don't mind Ithink I won't talk about it any more. You will excuse me, won't you?I shall be all right, quite all right--after I--ah--after a time, youknow. "

"Where are you going now?"

"Eh? Oh, I don't know. Just somewhere, that's all. Good-by, CousinGussie. "

He turned and walked on again, his hands clasped behind his back and hishead bent. Cabot watched him for several minutes, then, entirely uponimpulse and without stopping to consider, he began what was, as he saidafterwards, either the craziest or the most inspired performance ofhis life. He walked straight to the Phipps' gate and up the walk to thePhipps' door. His chauffeur called to him that the car was ready, but hedid not answer. 

Primmie opened the door in answer to his knock. Yes, Miss Martha wasin the sitting room, she said. "But, my savin' soul, what are you doin'back here, Mr. Cabot? Has the automobile blowed up?"

He did not satisfy her curiosity. Instead, he knocked on the door of thesitting room and, when Miss Phipps called to him to come in, he obeyed, closing the door behind him. She was sitting by the window and hersewing was in her lap. Yet he was almost certain she had not beensewing. Her face was very grave and, although he could not seedistinctly, for the afternoon was cloudy and the room rather dark, itseemed to him that there was a peculiar look about her eyes. She, likeher maid, was surprised to see him again. 

"Why, Mr. Cabot, " she cried, rising, "what is it? Has somethinghappened?"

He plunged headfirst into the business that had brought him there. Itwas the sort of business which, if approached with cool deliberation, was extremely likely never to be transacted. 

"Miss Phipps, " he said, "I came back here on an impulse. I havesomething I want to say to you. In a way it isn't my affair at alland you will probably consider my mentioning it a piece of brazeninterference. But--well, there is a chance that my interfering now mayprevent a very serious mistake--a grave mistake for two people--so I amgoing to take the risk. Miss Phipps, I just met my cousin and he gave meto understand that you had refused his offer of marriage. "

He paused, momentarily, but she did not speak. Her expression said agood many things, however, and he hurried on in order to have his saybefore she could have hers. 

"I came here on my own responsibility, " he explained. "Please don'tthink that he has the slightest idea I am here. He is, as you know, themildest person on earth, but I'm not at all sure he wouldn't shoot me ifhe knew what I came to say to you. Miss Phipps, if you possibly can doso I earnestly hope you will reconsider your answer to Galusha Bangs. He is very fond of you, he would make you a kind, generous husband, and, honestly, I think you are just the sort of wife he needs. "

She spoke then, not as if she had meant to, but more as if the wordswere involuntarily forced from her by shock. 

"You--you think I am the sort of wife he needs?" she gasped. "_I_?"

"Yes, you. Precisely the sort. "

"For--for HIM. YOU think so?"

"Yes. Now, of course, if you do not--er--care for him, if you could notthink of him as a husband--oh, hang it, I don't know how to put it, butyou know what I mean. If you don't WANT to marry him then that is yourbusiness altogether and you are right in saying no. But if you SHOULDcare for him and refused him because you may have thought there wasany--er--unsuitability--er--unfitness--oh, the devil, I don't know whatto call it--if you thought there was too large an element of that in thematch, then I beg of you to reconsider, that's all. He needs you. "

"Needs me? Needs ME?. .. Oh--oh, you must be crazy!"

"Not a bit of it. He needs you. You have all the qualities, commonsense, practicability, everything he hasn't got. It is for his sake I'masking this, Miss Phipps. I truly believe you have the making or marringof his future in your hands--now. That is why I hope you will--well, change your mind. .. . There! I have said it. Thank you for listening. Good-day. "

He turned to the door. She spoke once more. "Oh, you MUST be jokin'!"she cried. "How CAN you say such things? His people--his family--"

"Family? Oh. .. Well, I'll tell you the truth about that. When hewas young he had altogether too much family. Now he hasn't any, really--except myself, and I have expressed my opinion. Good-by, MissPhipps. "

He went out. Martha slowly went back to her rocking-chair and sat down. A moment later she heard the roar of the engine as the Cabot car gotunder way. The sound died away in the distance. Martha rose and wentup the stairs to her own room. There she sat down once more andthought--and thought. 

Some time later she heard her lodger's footstep--how instantly sherecognized it--in the hall and then in his bedroom. He was in that roombut a short time, then she heard him go down the stairs again. Perhapsten minutes afterward Primmie knocked. She wished permission to go downto the village. 

"I just thought maybe I'd go down to the meetin' house, " explainedPrimmie. "They're goin' to have a Sunday school concert this afternoonat four o'clock. Zach he said he was cal'latin' to go. And besides, Mr. Bangs he give me this letter to leave to the telegraph office, MissMartha. "

"The telegraph office isn't open on Sundays, Primmie. "

"No'm, I know 'tain't. But Ras Beebe he takes care of all the telegraphsthere is and telephones 'em over to Denboro, where the telegraph placeIS open Sundays. "

"Oh, all right, Primmie, you may go. Is Mr. Bangs in?"

"No'm, he ain't. He's gone out somewheres. To walk, I cal'late. Last Isee of him he was moonin' along over towards the lighthouse way. "

Primmie departed and Martha, alone in the gathering dimness of theafternoon, resumed her thinking. It was an endless round, that thinkingof hers--but, of course, it could end in but one way. Even to wish suchthings was wicked. For his sake, that was what Mr. Cabot had said. Ah, yes, but it was for his sake that she must remain firm. 

A big drop of rain splashed, and exploded like a miniature waterybombshell, against the windowpane. Martha looked up. Then she becameaware of a faint tinkling in the room below. The telephone bell wasringing. 

She hurried downstairs and put the receiver to her ear. It was Mr. Beebespeaking and he wished to ask something concerning a message which hadbeen left in his care by Primmie Cash. 

"It's signed by that Mr. Galushy Bangs of yours, " explained Erastus. "I've got to 'phone it to the telegraph office and there's a word in itI can't make out. Maybe you could help me, Martha, long's Bangs isn'tthere. 'Tain't nothin' private, I don't cal'late. I'll read it to you ifyou want I should. "

He began to read without waiting for permission. The message wasaddressed to the Board of Directors of the National Institute atWashington, D. C. , and began like this:

"Deeply regret necessity of refusing your generous and flattering offerto lead--"

It was just here that Mr. Beebe's ability to decipher the Bangs'handwriting broke down. 

"I can't make out the next word, Martha, " he said. "It begins with anF, but the rest of it ain't nothin' but a string of kinks. It's all headand no tail, that word is. "

"What does it look like?"

"Hey? Looks like a whiplash or an eel, more'n anything else. It might be'epizootic' or--or--'eclipsin''--or--The word after it ain't very plainneither, but I kind of think that it's 'expedition. '"

"'Expedition'? Is the word you can't make out 'Egyptian'?"

"Hey?. .. 'Egyptian?' Well, I snum, I guess 'tis! 'Egyptian. ' . . . Humph! I never thought of that. I--"

"Read me the whole of that telegram, Erastus. Read it. "

Mr. Beebe read it. "Deeply regret necessity of refusing your generousand flattering offer to lead Egyptian expedition. Do not feel equal tothe work. Decision final. Will write. --Galusha Bangs. "

Martha's hand shook as it held the receiver to her ear. He had refusedthe greatest honor of his life. He had declined to carry out thewonderful "plan" concerning which he and she had so often speculated. .. . And she knew why he had refused. 

"Erastus! Ras!" she called. "Hello, Ras! Hold that telegram. Don't sendit yet. Do you hear?"

Mr. Beebe's voice expressed his surprise. "Why, yes, Martha, " he said, "I hear. But I don't know. You see, Mr. Bangs, he sent a note along withthe telegram sayin' he wanted it rushed. "

"Never mind. You hold it until you hear from me again--or from him. Yes, I'll take all the responsibility. Erastus Beebe, don't you send thattelegram. "

She hung up the receiver and hurried to the outer door. Galusha wasnowhere in sight. Then she remembered that Primmie had said he had gonetoward the lighthouse. She threw a knitted scarf over her shoulders, seized an umbrella from the rack--for the walk showed broad splasheswhere drops of rain had fallen--and started in search of him. She hadno definite plan. She was acting as entirely upon impulse as Cabothad acted in seeking their recent interview; but of one thing she wasdetermined--he should not wreck his career if she, in any way, couldprevent it. 

She reached the gate of the government property, but she did not openit. She was certain he would not be in the light keeper's cottage; sheseemed to have an intuition as to where he was, and, turning, followedthe path along the edge of the bluff. She followed it for perhaps threehundred yards, then she saw him. He was sitting upon a knoll, his handsclasped about his knees. The early dusk of the gloomy afternoon wasrapidly closing in, the raindrops were falling more thickly, but he didnot seem to realize these facts, or, if he did, to care. He sat there, ahuddled little bundle of misery, and her heart went out to him. 

He did not hear her approach. She came and stood beside him. 

"Mr. Bangs, " she said. 

Then he looked up, saw her, and scrambled to his feet. 

"Why--why, Miss Martha!" he exclaimed. "I did not see you--ah--hear you, I mean. What is it? Is anything wrong?"

She nodded. She found it very hard to speak and, when she did do so, hervoice was shaky. 

"Yes, " she said, "there is. Somethin' very wrong. Why did you telegraphthe Institute folks that you wouldn't accept their offer?. .. Oh, I foundit out. Ras Beebe couldn't get one word in your message and he read itto me over the 'phone. But that doesn't matter. That doesn't count. Whydid you refuse, Mr. Bangs?"

He put his hand to his forehead. "I--I am sorry if it troubled you, "he said. "I didn't mean for you to know it--ah--yet. I refusedbecause--well, because I did not care to accept. The--the whole thingdid not appeal to me, somehow. I have lost interest in it--ah--quite. Dear me, yes--quite. "

"Lost interest! In Egypt? In such a wonderful chance as this gives you?Oh, you can't! You mustn't!"

He sighed and then smiled. "It does seem queer, doesn't it?" headmitted. "Yet it is quite true. I have lost interest. I don't seem tocare even for Egypt. Now that is very odd. "

"But--but if you refuse this what WILL you do?"

He smiled again. "I don't know, " he said. "I don't seem to care. But itis quite all right, Miss Martha. Really it is. I--I wouldn't have youthink--Oh, dear, no!"

"But what WILL you do? Tell me. "

"I don't know. No doubt I shall do something. One has to do that, Isuppose. It is only that--" Then, as a new thought came to him, heturned to her in alarm. "Oh, of course, " he cried, hastily, "I sha'n'tremain here. Please don't think I intend imposing upon you longer. Ishall go--ah--at once--to-morrow--ah almost immediately. You have beenextremely kind and long-suffering already and--and--"

She interrupted. "Don't!" she said, hurriedly. "Don't! Mr. Bangs, haveyou truly made up your mind not to go to Egypt with that expedition?Won't you PLEASE do it, if I beg you to?"

He slowly shook his head. 

"It is like you, " he said, "to take such an interest, but, if--if youdon't mind, I had rather not. I can't. Really, I--ah--can't. It--Well, the thought of it--ah--repels me. Please don't ask me, Miss Martha, because--I can't. "

She hesitated. Then she said, "Would you go if I went with you?"

He had been looking, not at her, but at the sea. Now he slowly turned. 

"Why--why--" he stammered. "Why, Miss--Oh, dear me, you don't--you can'tmean--"

She shook her head. "I suppose I mean anything, " she said, "anythingthat will stop you from throwin' away your life work. "

He was very pale and his eyes were fixed upon her face. "Do you mean--"he began, "do you mean you could--you would marry me?"

She shook her head again. "I think I must be crazy, " she said, desperately. "I think we all must be, your cousin as well as the rest ofus. He came to me a little while ago and asked me to--to say yes to you. HE did! He, of all people! The--the very one that I--I--"

"Yes, yes, yes, of course. " Galusha was trembling with eagerness. "Yes, of course. Cousin Gussie is an extraordinarily able man. He approves ofit highly. He told me so. "

She scarcely heard him. "Oh, don't you see, " she went on, "why it wouldbe wicked for me to think of such a thing? You are a great man, a famousman; you have been everywhere and seen everything; I haven't had anyreal education, any that counts besides yours; I haven't been anywhere;I am just a country old maid. Oh, you would be ashamed of me in amonth. .. . No, no, no, I mustn't. I won't. "

"But, Miss Martha--"

"No. Oh, no!"

She turned away. Galusha had what was, for him, an amazing andunprecedented inspiration. 

"Very well, " he declared. "I shall go to--to the devil, I think. Yes, Iwill. I shall give away my money, all of it, and go to the devil. "

It was absurd enough, but the absurdity of it did not strike either ofthem then. 

"Oh, WON'T you go to Egypt?" she begged. "Won't you, PLEASE?"

He was firm. "No, " he declared. "Not unless you go with me. Ah--ah--MissMartha, will you?"

She hesitated, wrung her hands--and surrendered. "Oh, I suppose I shallhave to, " she said. 

He did not dare believe it. 

"But--but I don't want you to have to, " he cried. "YOU mustn't marry mefor--for Egypt, Miss Martha. Of course, it is too much to ask; nodoubt it is quite impossible, but you--you mustn't marry me unless youreally--ah--want to. "

And then a very astonishing thing happened. Martha turned to him, andtears were in her eyes. 

"Oh, " she cried, breathlessly, "do you suppose there is a woman in thisworld who wouldn't want to marry a man like YOU?"

After a while they discovered that it was raining. As a matter of fact, it had been raining for some time and was now raining hard, but asGalusha said, it didn't make a bit of difference, really. They put upthe umbrella, which until now had been quite forgotten, and walked homealong the wet path, between the dripping weeds and bushes. It was almostdark and, as they passed the lighthouse, the great beacon blazed fromthe tower. 

Galusha was babbling like a brook, endlessly but joyful. 

"Miss Martha--" he began. Then he laughed aloud, a laugh ofsheer happiness. "It--it just occurred to me, " he exclaimed. "Howextraordinary I didn't think of it before. I sha'n't have to call youMiss Martha now, shall I? It is very wonderful, isn't it? Dear me, yes!Very wonderful!"

Martha laughed, too. "I'm afraid other people are goin' to think it isvery ridiculous, " she said. "And perhaps it is. Two middle-aged, settledfolks like us startin' up all at once and gettin' married. I know Ishould laugh if it was anybody else. "

But Galusha stoutly maintained there was nothing ridiculous about it. Itwas wonderful, that was all. 

"Besides, " he declared, "we are not old; we are just beginning to beyoung, you and I. Personally, I feel as if I could jump over a bush andannihilate a--ah--June bug, as Luce did that night when we went out tosee the moon. "

Luce himself was at the door waiting to be let in. He regarded the pairwith the air of condescending boredom which the feline race assumes whenconfronted with the idiosyncrasies of poor humanity. Possibly he wasreflecting that, at least, he knew enough to go in when it rained. Martha opened the door, but Galusha paused for a moment on thethreshold. 

"Do you know, " he said, "that, except--ah--occasionally, in wet weather, it scarcely ever rains in Egypt?"

CHAPTER XXIV

(A letter from Mrs. Galusha Bangs to Miss Lulie Hallett. )

Shepheard's Hotel, Cairo, Egypt, February tenth. 

MY DEAR LULIE:

Well, as you can see by this hotel letter paper, here we are, actuallyhere. Of course we are only a little way toward where we are going, butthis is Egypt, and I am beginning to believe it. Of course, I can't yetquite believe it is really truly me that is doing these wonderful thingsand seeing these wonderful places. About every other morning still Iwake up and think what a splendid dream I have had and wonder if itisn't time for me to call Primmie and see about getting breakfast. Andthen it comes to me that it isn't a dream at all and that I don't haveto get up unless I want to, that I don't have to do anything unless Iwant to, and that everything a sensible person could possibly want to doI CAN do, and have a free conscience besides, which is considerable. I don't mean that I lay a-bed much later than I used to. I never couldabide not getting up at a regular time, and so half past seven generallyfinds me ready to go down to breakfast. But, oh, it is a tremendoussatisfaction to think that I could sleep later if I ever should want to. Although, of course, I can't conceive of my ever wanting to. 

Well, I mustn't fill this whole letter with nonsense about the time Iget up in the morning. There is so much to write about that I don't knowwhere to begin. I do wish you could see this place, Lulie. I wish youcould be here now looking out of my room window at the crowds in thestreet. I could fill a half dozen pages telling you about the clothesthe people wear, although I must say that I have seen some whose clothescould be all told about in one sentence, and not a very long sentenceat that. But you see all kinds of clothes, uniforms, and everyday thingssuch as we wear, and robes and fezzes and turbans and I don't know what. You know what a fez is, of course. It's shaped like a brown-bread tinand they wear it little end up with a tassel hanging down. And turbans!To me, when I used to see pictures of people wearing turbans, they werejust pictures, that's all. It didn't seem as if any one actually tied upthe top of their head in a white sheet and went parading around lookinglike a stick with a snowball stuck on the end of it. But they do, andmost of them look as dignified as can be, in spite of the snowball. AndI have seen camels, quantities of them, and donkeys, and, oh, yes, abouta million dogs, not one of them worth anything and perfectly contentedto be that way. And dirt! Oh, Lulie, I didn't believe there was as muchdirt in all creation as there is in just one of the back streets overhere. Galusha asked me the other day if I didn't wish I could go intoone of the houses and see how the people lived; he meant the poorpeople. I told him no, not if he ever expected me to get anywhere else. If the inside of one of those houses was like the outside, I was sureand certain that I should send for a case of soap and a hundred barrelsof hot water and stay there scrubbing the rest of my life. And, oh, yes, I have seen the Pyramids. 

Of course, you want to know how I got along on the long voyage over. Iwrote you a few lines from Gibraltar telling you a little about that. Iwasn't seasick a single bit. I think it must be in our blood, this beingable to keep well and happy on salt water. Our family has always been tosea, as far back as my great-great-grandfather, at least, and I supposethat explains why, as soon as I stepped aboard the steamer, I felt asif I was where I belonged. And Galusha, of course, has traveled so muchthat he is a good sailor, too. So, no matter whether it was calm orblowy, he and I walked decks or sat in the lee somewhere and talked ofall that had happened and of what was going to happen. And, Lulie, Irealized over and over, as I have been realizing ever since I agreedto marry him, what a wonderful man he is and what a happy and gratefulwoman I ought to be--and am, you may be sure of that. Every day I makea little vow to myself that I will do my best not to make him ashamed ofme. Of course, no matter what I did he would think it all right, but Imean to prevent other people from being ashamed for him. That is, if Ican, but I have so much to learn. 

You should see how he is treated over here, by the very finest people, I mean. It seems to me that every scientist or explorer or professor ofthis or that from China to London has been running after him, all thosethat happen to be in this part of the world, I mean. And always he isjust the same quiet, soft-spoken, gentle person he was at the Cape, butit is plain to see that when it comes to matters about his particularprofession, my husband is known and respected everywhere. Perhaps youwill think, Lulie, that I am showing off a little when I write "myhusband" like that. Well, I shouldn't wonder if I was. Nobody could helpbeing proud of him. 

I had a trial the other evening. That is, it seemed as if it would bethe greatest trial that ever I had to face and my, how I dreaded it. SirErnest Brindlecombe, an English scientist, and, so Galusha says, a verygreat man, indeed, is here with his wife, and they have known Galushafor years. So nothing would do but we must come to their house todinner. He is in the English government service and they have awonderful home, more like a palace than a house--that is, what I havealways supposed a palace must be like. I felt as if I COULDN'T go, butGalusha had accepted already, so what was there to do?

Of course, you are wondering what I wore. Well, as I wrote you fromWashington, I had bought a lot of new things. The wife of ProfessorLounsbury, at the Institute, helped me pick them out, and oh, whatshould I have done without her! Galusha, of course, would have riggedme up like the Queen of Sheba, if he had had his way. I tried goingshopping with him at first, but I had to give it up. Every pretty dresshe saw, no matter if it was about as fitting for my age and weight as apink lace cap would be for a cow, he wanted to buy it right off. If theprice was high enough, that seemed to be the only thing that counted inhis mind. I may as well say right here, Lulie, that I have learnedby this time, when he and I do go shopping together, to carry thepocketbook myself. In that way we can manage to bring home something, even if it is only enough to buy a postage stamp. 

But I am wandering, as usual. You want to know about the dinner at theBrindlecombes'. Well, thanks to Mrs. Lounsbury's help and judgment, Ihad two dresses to pick from, two that seemed right for such a grandaffair as I was afraid this was going to be. And I picked out a blacksilk, trimmed--

(Two pages of Mrs. Bangs' letter are omitted here)

There is more of it at the top and bottom than there was to a whole lotof evening gowns I have seen, on the steamer and in Washington, but Ican't help that. I guess I am old-fashioned and countrified, but itdoes seem to me that the place to wear a bathing suit is in the water, especially for a person of my age. However, it is a real sensible andrich-looking dress, even if it is simple, and I think you would like it. At any rate, I put it on and Galusha got into his dress suit, after Ihad helped him find the vest, and stopped him from putting one gold studand two pearl ones in his shirt. HE didn't notice, bless him, he wasthinking of everything but what he was doing at the minute, as he alwaysis. 

So, both in our best bibs and tuckers, and all taut and ready for thesea, as father would have said, we were driven over to the Brindlecombehouse, or palace, whichever you call it. Mr. Brindlecombe--or Sir ErnestI suppose he should be called, although _I_ never remembered to doit, but called him Mr. Brindlecombe the whole evening--was a fleshy, bald-headed man, who looked the veriest little bit like Mr. Dearborn, the Congregational minister at Denboro, and was as pleasant and jolly ascould be. His wife was a white-haired little lady, dressed plainly--theexpensive kind of plainness, you know--and with a diamond pin thatwas about as wonderful as anything I ever saw. And I kept thinkingto myself: "Oh, what SHALL I say to you? What on EARTH shall we talkabout?" and not getting any answer from myself, either. 

But I needn't have worried. She was just as sweet and gentle andevery-day as any one could be, and pretty soon it came out that we bothloved flowers. That was enough, of course, and so while Mr. Sir Ernestand Galusha were mooning along together about "dynasties" and "papyri"and "sphinxes" and "Ptolemies" and "hieroglyphics" and mummies and mercyknows what, his wife and I were having a lovely time growing roses anddahlias and lilies. She told me a new way to keep geranium roots alivefor months after taking them up. She learned it from her gardener and ifever I get a chance I am going to try it. Well, Lulie, instead ofhaving a dreadful time I enjoyed every minute of it, and yesterday Mrs. Brindlecombe--Lady Brindlecombe, I suppose she really is--came and tookme to drive. We shopped and had a glorious afternoon. I presume likelyI said "Mercy me" and "Goodness gracious" as often as I usually do andthat they sounded funny to her. But she said "My word" and "Fancy"and they sounded just as funny to me. And it didn't make a bit ofdifference. 

There was one thing that came from our dinner at the Brindlecombes'which I must tell you, because it is so very like this blessed husbandof mine. I happened to speak of Mrs. Brindlecombe's pin, the wonderfulone I just wrote about. The very next day Galusha came trotting in, bubbling over with mischief and mystery like the boy he is in so manythings, and handed me a jeweler's box. When I opened it there was aplatinum brooch with a diamond in it as big--honestly, Lulie, I believeit was as big as my thumbnail, or two thirds as big, anyway. Thishusband of mine had, so he told me, made up his mind that nobody's wifeshould own a more wonderful pin than HIS wife owned. "Because, " hesaid, "nobody else has such a wonderful wife, you know. Dear me, no. No, indeed. "

Well, I almost cried at first, and then I set about thinking how I couldget him to change the pin and do it without hurting his feelings. As forwearing it--why, Lulie, I would have looked like the evening train justcoming up to the depot platform. That diamond flashed like the Gould'sBluffs light. The sight of it would have made Zach Bloomer feel at home. And when I found out what it cost! My soul and body! Well, I used allthe brains I had and strained them a little, I'm afraid, but at lastI made him understand that perhaps something a tiny bit smaller wouldlook, when I wore it in the front of my dress, a little less like abonfire on a hill and we went back to the jewelry store together. Theupshot of it was that I have a brooch--lots smaller, of course--and aring, either of which is far, far too grand for a plain woman like me, and which I shall wear only on the very stateliest of state occasionsand NEVER, I think, both at the same time, and I saved Galusha a goodmany dollars besides. 

So, you see, Lulie, that he is the same impractical, absent-minded, dearlittle man he was down there in East Wellmouth, even though he is sucha famous scientist and discoverer. I think I got the best salve formy conscience from knowing that, otherwise I should always feel that Inever should have let him marry me. In most respects I am not a bitthe wife he should have, but I hope I am of some use in his practicalaffairs and that at last I can keep him from being imposed upon. I try. For instance, on the steamer his cap blew overboard. I wish you couldhave seen the cap the ship's steward sold him. The thing he bought atRas Beebe's store was stylish and subdued compared to it. And I wish youcould have seen that steward when I got through talking to him. Everyday smooth-talking scamps, who know him by reputation, come with schemesfor getting him to invest in something, or with pitiful tales aboutbeing Americans stranded far away from home. I take care of these sharksand they don't bite me, not often. I told one shabby, red-nosed rascalyesterday that, so far as he was concerned, no doubt it was tough to bestranded with no way of getting to the States, as he called them; butthat I hadn't heard yet how the States felt about it. So I help Galushawith money matters and see that he dresses as he should and eats whatand when he should, and try, with Professor King, his chief assistantwith the expedition, to keep his mind from worry about little things. Heseems very happy and I certainly mean to keep him so, if I can. 

We talk about you and Nelson and Captain Jethro every day. The news inyour last letter, the one we found at Gibraltar, was perfectly splendid. So you are to be married in June. And Galusha and I can't come to yourwedding; that is a shame. By the time we get back you will be so longsettled in the cottage at the radio station that it won't seem new atall to you. But it will be very new to us and we shall just love to seeit and the new furniture and your presents and everything. We both thinkyour father's way of taking it perfectly splendid. I am glad he stillwon't have a word to say to Marietta Hoag or her crowd of simpletons. Galusha says to tell your father that he must not feel in the leastobliged to him for his help in exposing Marietta as a cheat. He says itwas very good fun, really, and didn't amount to much, anyway. You and Iknow it did, of course, but he always talks that way about anything hedoes. And your thanks and Captain Jethro's pleased him very much. 

Primmie writes that. .. 

(A page omitted. See Primmie's letter. )

Please keep an eye on her and see that she doesn't set fire to the houseor feed the corn to the cat and the liver to the hens, or some suchfoolishness. And don't let her talk you deaf, dumb and blind. 

There! this letter is so long that I think it will have to go in atrunk, by express or freight or something. One week more and westart for upper Egypt, by water, up the Nile, at first, then on byautomobiles. Yes, little American automobiles. Galusha says we shalluse camels very little, for which I say "Hurrah, hurrah!" I cannot seemyself navigating a camel--not for long, and it IS such a high perchto fall from. Our love to you and Nelson and to your father. And oh, sovery much to yourself. And we DO wish we might come to your wedding. We shall be there in spirit--and that doesn't mean Marietta's kind ofspirits, either. 

Your affectionate friend, MARTHA BANGS. 

(A letter from Miss Primrose Cash to Mrs. Galusha Bangs. )

East Wellmouth, Massachusetts, United States of America. Januaryseventh. 

DEAR MRS. MARTHA:

I take my pen in hand to write that I am first rate and fine and dandyand hope you and Mr. Galusha are the same, although I am homesick forthe sight of you and hope you ain't. I mean homesick. By this time Icalculate you must be somewheres over in Egypt or Greek or China or landknows where. I am sending this letter to the address you give me and ifyou don't get it before you get there you will then, I hope and trust. And I hope, too, you had a good voyage and was not washed overboard orseasick like Captain Ephraim Small's son, Frankie D. , who had it happento him up on the fish banks, you remember. I mean the washing overboardhappened to him for, of course, I don't know whether he was seasick ornot, though I presume likely, for I always am, no matter if it's carmas a milpond, but anyhow they never found his body, poor soul. I presumelikely you want to hear the news from around here at East Wellmouth. Well, there ain't none, but I will try and tell all there is that Ican think of. The hens are well and Lucy Larkum is fine and dandy andappytite, my savin' soul. I tell him he will eat me out of house andhome, though I realize it ain't neither of them mine, but yours, Mrs. Martha. Captain Jethro is doing fine. For a spell after the seants whereyour husband made a fool out of Maryetter Hoag and Raish Pulcifer tothank the Lord, he was reel kind of feeble and Lulie and me and Zach wasworried. But he is swell now and all hands is talking about his makingup with Nelse Howard and agreeing for him and Lulie to get married andlive over to the Radyo stashun pretty soon I presume likely, for theweding is to be held in June so Zach says. At first go off, Captain Jethhe calculated maybe he would heave up, I mean his job tending light, and go live along with them, but after he got feeling better he said hewouldent but would stick to the ship and keep on the course long as hecould stay aflote. That's what Zach says he said and I tell you I ammity glad, because if I was Lulie and Nelse I wouldent want anybody evenif it was my own father coming to live along with me and bossing things, because Captain Jeth couldent no more stop bossing than he could stoppulling his whiskers and he won't never stop that long as he ain'tparulised. So he will live here along with Zach and them two will tendlight and Lulie can come over and see her pa every little spell and theycan telyfone back and forth between times. And she and Nelse have beenup to Boston to pick out fernichure and ain't they enjoying it, my lordof isryel. Lulie is about as loony over getting married as ever I seeanybody unless it was you and Mr. Bangs, Mrs. Martha. I seen RaishPulcifer down street yesterday and he said give you his love when Iwrote. I told him I guessed likely you could get along without anyspecial love of his and he said never mind I could keep it myself then. I told him I could get along without it a considerable sight betternI could with it. He is as sassy and fresh as ever and more so to onaccount of Mr. Cabot paying him so much money for his stock. And the newhotel is going to be bilt over on the land by the Crick and all handssays it's going to be the best in the state. Raish has got a whole newrigout of clothes and goes struting around as if everything was due tohis smartness. Zach says Raish Pulcifer is running for the job of firstmate to the Allmighty but he don't hardly calculate he will be elected. Maryetter Hoag is going to heave up speritulism so Tamson Black toldme she heard and going to help in a millunary store over to Onset nextsummer. Maybe it's so and maybe it ain't, because Tamson is such anawful liar you can't depend on nothing she says. Zach says if an eeltried to follow one of Tamson's yarns he would get his backboan insuch a snarl it would choak him to death. And Zach says he calculatesMaryetter will take little Cherry Blossom in silent partener. Zach comesover to see me sometimes nights after supper and we set in the kitchenand talk and talk about you and Mr. Galusha mostly, but about Lulie andNelse and Captain Jeth, too, and about everybody else we happen to runafoul of or that comes handy. Zach is real good company, although hedoes call me Posy and Pink and Geranyum and dear land knows what andkeeps his talk agoing so nobody else can't scarcely get a word inbetween breaths. He says tell you that he will keep a weather eye onme and see that I didn't get the lockjor nor swallow my mouthorgan nornothing. I tell him nobody could get lockjor where he was on account ofwatching how he keeps his own jor agoing. He means well but he is kindof ignorant Zach is. Speaking of weather reminds me that the northeastgale we had last week blowed the trellis off the back part of the houseand ripped the gutter off the starboard side of the barn. I had JimFletcher put it on again and he charged me three dollars, the old skin. I ain't paid him yet and he can whisle for his money till he whisles onedollar off the bill anyhow. There, Mrs. Martha, I have got to stop. Luceis around screeching and carrying on for his dinner till you would thinkhe hadent had anything for a month instead of only since breakfast. Iwill write again pretty soon. Lots of love to you and Mr. Bangs and dotell me when you go to ride on a camel. That would be some sight, I willsay, and Zach he says so, too, but he bets you can do it if you setout to and so do I. Anyhow, you can if Mr. Galusha skippers the cruisebecause that man can do anything. And to think that I used to calculatehe had the dropsy or was a undertaker or a plain fool or something. Well, you can't never tell by a person's looks, can you, Mrs. Martha. Zach says so, too. 

Yours truly, PRIMROSE CASH. 

P. S. Have you seen Mr. Bangs dig up any mummies yet? How he can do itand keep out of jale, my saving soul, I don't know. To say nothing ofmaybe catching whatever it was they died of. 

P. S. Won't you please try and see if you can't have a tintype took whenyou ride the camel and send me one?

(Extracts from a letter from Mr. Galusha Bangs to Mr. Augustus Cabot. )

. . . And so, as you see, Cousin Gussie, we are getting on well withthe work of preparation and shall be ready to leave soon. Our excavatingthis season will be but preliminary, of course owing to our late start. I am enjoying it all immensely and it is wonderfully exhilarating andinspiring to be back once more in the field. But my greatest inspirationis my wife. She is a remarkable woman. A most extraordinary woman, I assure you. How in the world I managed to exist without hercompanionship and guidance and amazingly practical help all theseyears I cannot imagine. And I did not really exist, of course, I merelyblundered along. She is--well, I really despair of telling you howwonderful she is. And when I think how much of my present happiness Iowe to you, Cousin Gussie, I. .. 

 * * * * *

But the greatest miracle, the miraculousness--I don't know there is sucha word, but there should be--of which sets me wondering continually, isthat she should have been willing to marry an odd, inconsequential sortof stick like me. And I find myself saying over and over: "WHAT have Iever done to deserve it?. .. "

Mr. Cabot was reading the letter from which these extracts were made toa relative, a Miss Deborah Cabot, known to him and the family as "ThirdCousin Deborah. " At this point in the reading he looked up and laughed. 

"By Jove!" he exclaimed. "Isn't that characteristic? Isn't that likehim? Well, I told him once that he was magnificent. And he is, not as Imeant it then, but literally. "

Third Cousin Deborah sniffed through her thin nostrils. "Well, perhaps, "she admitted, "but such a performance as this marriage of his is alittle too much. _I_ can't understand him, Augustus. I confess he isquite beyond ME. "

Cabot smiled. "In many things--and possibly the things that count most, after all, Deborah, " he observed, "I have come to the conclusion thatold Galusha is far beyond the majority of us. "