Galusha the Magnificent

by Joseph Crosby Lincoln

  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 r
oom 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."