Galusha the Magnificent

uttered an exclamation, dropped the window shade and turned toward her young friend. Mr. Bangs looked from one to the other and was plainly very anxious to help in some way

o? Shall I stay and face it out? I don't mind. Th

ried, "you mustn't. You had better go, right away. Th

said. "There is no reason in the world why he shouldn't come to see you, and ma

ather's account? You know how he-you know how excited and-and almost violent he gets when any one cros

Lulie," he declared. "You're per

m door, but Primmie, dancing up and do

n't. They're almost to the door now. He'll ca

ch to the dining room was rattling at that moment. Fortunate

et through to the kitchen and o

curtains strung up higher'n Haman

osite side. As she did so there sounded a prodigious thumping from the side p

out for things here. Quick, Nelson, out this way, t

ide of the house. Lulie, after one desperate glance at her love

?" he whispered.

demanding to know why Lulie had kept him waiting so long. Nelson, with a somewhat rueful smile and a wave of the hand to Martha and Galusha, dodged into the blackness of the front hall. Miss

," whispered Zacheus, hoarsely. "This is the time to

pouring through the entry and, as all were talking at once, the clatter of tongues would have drowned out any shriek of ordinary volume. A moment later the Halletts, father and daught

er somewhat superfluous explanation.

" he observed. "How are you, Martha? Evenin', Mr.

Bloomer's nautical repl

d. Turning, he called over his

s afterward, "If you had run a net from one end of Ostable County to the other you wouldn't have landed more freaks than there were in that

ethro. "Lulie, you better help me fetch in

ged Lulie, "what a

we're goin' to do. Set down, all of you that c

. "Be still," he ordered, irritably. "Marietta, you set over h

dropped into it." She wore a blue hat with a red bow and a profusion of small objects-red cherries and purple grapes-bobbing on wires above it. The general

ncient parlor organ and announced: "Yes, indeed, it'll do real well, thank you, Cap'n Jethro." Her voice was a sharp soprano wi

' way over to Trumet and back for nothin'. No need to waste any more. Set down, all

hter again, "I don't understa

ve a meetin'

sort of

been called back home unexpected and had left on this afternoon's train. So we came back here and Marietta's goin' to try to get in communication herself

swer was qu

the evenin' with Lulie. We didn't know you and Marietta and Ophelia and the rest were goin' to hold any-e

y appeared to irritate the light k

you to. 'Twill do you good. No, you ain't goi

d the light in his eye so omino

u please stay, you and Mr. Bangs? I think it

at her lodger.

to remain," he observe

right, Lulie," she said

mmie, eyes and mouth open and agog with excitement, had al

Eh? Who's that comin'? Oh, it's y

so unceremoniously. He glanced at Galusha Bangs, winked the ey

master of ceremonies, "if you're all ready, Mar

; evidently she was not ready

OW I can't? Everybody's got to take hands-and the lights mu

ight, seem to be kind of-of upset or somethin'. Zach, turn them lamps down; more'n that, way down low.... That'll

sity and savage earnestness. "We always have music, you know, to establish the

an garbed in black. Her facial expression was as mournful as her raiment. She

been out of order for-why, for years. No one could possibly play on it

Jethro tugge

.. Humph! I-I forgot that. Well, we'll have to have some

Then a thin masculine voice fr

it said; and then added, a

asked if anybody could play on anything and I-" "Be still, I tell you! I declare if there's any chance for a person to make a jumpin' num

and more violent. Captain Jethr

" He waited an instant and then asked, "Who was it said

fish purveyor, resident in South W

I said I could play the fiddle, a

can't play nothin' but two jig tunes and he plays them

id I? I said I can play some, and I can. If you'd

sections of the circle subsided. Captain Jethro's indignant gaze swept the group. Primmie said afterward, "You couldn't see him

roat. "Why," he stammered, "it's-it's to ho

en mile away or such matter. How much good is your bein' able to

n's voice was audible, saying, "There, I told you so, foo

an't behave accordin' as we should we'll give it up. Marietta says she can't get into conta

ould. "I always HAVE had some sort of instrumental music, Cap'n J

y play ANYTHING?" he demanded. "Anything

then a voice said, timidly,

o was next Galusha Bangs, the unexpectedness of it made the latter

said, sharply,

. Zach knows it, too. You've heard me,

e heard you," he said. And added, ferv

tha, again, but Capt

talkin', all hands. Marietta, do you cal'late y

. Maybe I could if-if

ay hymn tun

Corner Where You Be' and 'Pack up Your Troubles in Your

our mouth

t pocket out yond

fetc

clamations and confusion, indicated that Miss Cash was going in se

been 'way over to Trumet and back and you must be tired. You aren't very we

hat I'm doin'. This is my house and I'll do as I please in it.

wed through the circle like an armored tank through a

ere 'tis. Shall I commence to begi

tt, after some final instructions to Zacheus concerning the turning low

dy! Heav

eath and the first bars of the "Sweet By and By" were forcibly evicted from the harmon

sperit would you leave a comf'table berth up a

cian warmed to her work. Miss Hoag stirred uneas

o LOUD," whispered Mari

Go easy on it, soften her down. Play low. An

remely sorry for Lulie, poor girl, who was compelled to be present at this ridiculous exhibition of her father's obsession. Heavy breathing sounded near at hand, growing steadily heavier until it became a snore. The snore broke off in the middle and wit

' soul!" into the mouth organ. Marietta continued to groan, also to pound the floor with her heels. In he

er "control," began to receive and transmit "messages." The control spoke in a kind of husky how

st favored with a sample of thi

ed. "Oh, dear! WHY does s

le. "It's her sperit control talkin' now," she

erry Blossom," whi

several voice

e," announced Little Cherry Blossom.

was drowned 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

nted on everything. Sitting next Mr. Bangs, he put his lips close to the ear of the last-named gentleman and breathed

ad a cold," whispered Zach. "Better tak

loudly paging a

lkee with Noah," she cr

d Mr. Bloomer. "Be hollerin' for Jonah

n Jethro Hallett. There was a slight hubbub in the circle, owing to the fact that two of its members simultaneously recognized and laid claim to the same sp

is gettin' kind of tiresome, ain't it?

eaning. "For-for whom?" he

ard must be gettin' more tired than we be,

d left the house long ago, didn't

when she told him to skip out that way. He can't GET out. He's in that front entry now and he'll have to stay there

but still more uncomfortable was the mental picture of what might happen should his presence there be discovered by Captain Hallett. The old light keeper was bigoted and absurdly prejudiced against his daughter's lover at all

g tortures at that moment. Nelson, of course, could take care of himself and was in no danger of physical injury; the danger was in the effect of the discovery upon

as long as that at the ticket office of a ball park on a pleasant Saturday. And suddenly Mr. Bangs was startled o

ry Blossom. "Jethro. Some one

From beyond, where Lulie sat, Galusha caught a quick gasp and a frightened "Oh, dear!" Zacheus whispere

a quaver in his deep voice, "I

icked and cruel. Marietta Hoag and her ridiculous control ceased to be ridiculous and funny. He longed to shake the fat little creature, shake her until her silly craze for the limelight and desire to be t

big voice trembling as he said i

between her teeth as if in pain. Her hand squeezed Lulie's tight. She was suffering with the gi

e captain. "You know it, too, I guess

ss and delight and bliss in the realm beyond. Galusha did not hear much of this, he w

ial message you've

daughter." There was some

hin' you want to tell

ered the exclamation. "Father," she cr

reply was a

. "Be still! Don't y

ather,

. are you there? What is

given with a trifle less assurance. It was an incoherent repetition and re-re

hro caught

what you mean, Julia? I'm to look out on accoun

one more de

't! Of course there isn't any dan

ttle Cherry Blossom with some hesitation indicated that

d the light keeper, eagerly. "

there was no reply. The captai

urt?" he suggested. "Being run o

at was

m somebody-

itement in the circle. The l

u mean that-that our girl's

t stand this. I

t, you set do

's arm. "Don't excite him," she whisper

h of gibberish concerning some man, "bad, wicked manee," who was trying to influence "daughter" in so

he outsider, the small, dark m

dibly, "It's Nelson Howard she means, don't she?" His wife even more audibly ordered him to "shut up, for the land sakes." Prim

hought so. I've got my eye on him, Julia, and

ar

... In this HOUS

, and then, "Ye-es, I

stled 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 lat

op! STOP! By the everlastin

essage or whether she figured that she had caused sensation sufficient for one day are matters for conjecture. At all events s

ed. "I-Oh, fetch me a drink,

no need whatever, was s

ried. "Don't go! I w

th to turn up the wick of one of the lamps. The sudden illumination showed Captain Jethro standing in the middle of the floor, his face flushed, his brows drawn to

lder. "Father, father," she pleaded, "please do

tain's thoughts just then. He impatie

ween his teeth. "He's in my house, is

ushed her way t

see you're frightenin' Lulie half out of her wits? There's nothin' for y

woman. By the Lord, if he's in this ho

world are you talkin' abo

ab of a Nelse Howard was here in this house. You he

trifle too much for her, for she glanced desperately about as if in search of help. Zach Bloomer repeated "Godfreys" several times and looked, for him, almost excited. As for Primmie, she was so frightened as to be

masculine voice, said, "I beg your pardon, C

more effect in securing the light keeper's attention than any sh

nted. "Eh? W

from the back row of the circle to the open space befo

k a question. You see, I have been very much interested by the-ah-m

he ordered, savagely. "I'm goin' to find that s

an effort to do so, he was directly in the captain's way-that is, between the latter and the do

. I beg your pardon, Captain Hallett. Now there is one point in this lady's

you now. I'm goin' to-WIL

ectly in my direction that I felt constrained to speak. You see, when she, or her-control, is it?-mentioned my being h

er, his wife did not take him to task for it. For the matter of that, she had uttered an exclamation also. So had Oph

angs' face which looked so earnestly and gravely up into hi

bout?" he demanded. "Who-wh

ountenance to that of Miss Marietta Hoag. The medium's

r daughter. Then she said this person was here in your house. Now, as I am the only person present who answers to that description, naturally I-well, I-really, I

you talkin' about? 'Twan't you she said. 'Twas that Howar

the-ah-control referred. Mr. Howard is somewhat dark, perhaps, but he is not small. I am both dark and smal

! She said Nelson How

dark man, an outsider, was in this house. She mentioned

ow's she did; adding hastily that she never remembered nothin' of what she said in the trance state. Af

n by the medium I feel somewhat-ah-distressed. I must insist that I am unjustly accused. I must ask Miss Phipps here and your daughter herself to

ne heeded it. Lulie, still white and trembling, was intent only upon he

believe my ears when Marietta said you were an evil influence towards Lulie. You ought to be careful about sayin' s

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 in the trance state, don't

oups, all talking at once. Mr. Bloomer seized the opportunity to turn up the wick of anoth

he urged. "Sit down,

ssed his hand across his forehead several times and his expre

, somehow or 'nother. I don't want to talk any more, Mr. Bangs," he added, wearily. "I-I'll hav

sed from group to

out, I'm afraid. Everybody's things are there in the dinin' room

xample. A few minutes more and the last of the "ghost seiners" had left the house and were cl

any right to say 'twas him I meant.... I mean the control meant. It wasn't him at all.... I mean

ipps' homestead ahead of its owner, bu

" she said. "Zach will look

usha, with signi

g been sentenced to go to her own room and to bed. Miss Cash had no desire for bed; her deare

oag-or that Chinee critter-or Cap'n Jeth's ghost's wife-or whoever 'twas talkin' that spirit jabbe

e, go t

I remembered that

ed this

do you 'spose

and, returning, closed each door she passed through beh

," she said. "After he is out of the way Nelson can come o

somewhat disturbed when that-ah-medium person announced

said. "Especially those of us who knew. But how did Marietta

wpane. Martha, going to the door, admitted Nelson Howa

ot I hung my hat and coat in that entry off the dining room

looked

tion and everywhere?" she asked. "I hope no one

afraid of. I... Eh?

de Mr. Bangs' overcoat. Howard pick

for me, Mr. Bangs,

did," stammered Gal

her proclamation that the 'small dark man' was in that house I came nearer to believing in her kind of spiritualism than I ever thought I should. I was scared-not on my own account, I hope-but for Lulie and her father. If the old cap'n had f

asylums for," she said, emphatically. "He was, there is no doubt about that. It's a mer

veyard doesn't seem to be safe. But I must go. Tell Lulie I got away safe and sound, thanks to Mr. Bangs here. And tell her to 'ph

rtha int

now, not till he gets that 'small

you've just about saved-well, if you haven't saved everybody's life you've come pretty near to

o me that-ah-that the medium person hadn't said WHO the small, dark man was. And as I am rather dark perhaps-and small, certainly-it occur

y jingo, it was! Say, you don't suppose Cap'n Jeth will

"I was wonderin' th

o danger of that, really. But, Mr. Howard, in regard to tha

Mr. Bangs?" asked Marth

and he say, he is in the habit of wearing, and that many people have

ain w

Hallett's dining room-when the people came in, and as the medium person-Miss-ah-bless me, what IS

rse she did! THAT'S how she guessed the small, dark man was in the house. THAT'S how 'Little Tod

hat might possibly explain,"

a and her spirits after you in particul

ke any stock in her kind of spirit messages. I do

small dark man hit or miss and Cap'n Jethro pinned the tag to you; after that she did her best to

e and she returned to the sitting room she found her lo

it's a saltwater way of sayin' it, just as so many of his expressions were. I guess you must be pretty tire

. His landlady regarded h

r met, Mr. Bangs?... There! I didn't mean to say that," she added. "I was th

st most people seem to find a peculiar quality in most of my-ah-actions." He smiled his gentle smile, and added, "I presume it must be a part of my

s-Well," with a half laugh, "I might just as well say it plain. Ever since you've been here, Mr. Bangs, the feelin' has been growin' on me that you were probably the wisest man in the world about some things and the most simple and impractical about others. Over there in Egypt you know everything, I do believe

aiming to be the small, dark man was, as I said, merely a silly notion

rd in that front hall; and savin' him from that saved us from havin' a crazy man on our hands, I truly believe. And you d

observed, "when you said you were surpris

d of leavin' it in that entry for more of Marietta's crowd to notice and, ten to one, recognize! We all knew it was hangin' there. I

n't, don't, Miss Phipps," he begged. "Please do

brought it

ht it over. I b

t w

oat. It was only by accident that I took the-ah-young man's cap. I was under the impression that it was my own. I presume my own cap is hangi