xactly, Primmie. A mummy is--"

He proceeded to tell her much concerning mummies. From that he went on
to describe the finding of the particular mummy from whose finger the
scarab had been taken. Miss Cash listened, her mouth and eyes opening
wider and wider. She appeared to be slowly stiffening in her chair.
Galusha, growing interested in his own story, was waxing almost
eloquent, when he was interrupted by a gasp from his listener. She was
staring 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 tell
me that you hauled that poor critter that had been buried six thousand
years 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 and
there, turning, looked at him in awe-stricken amazement.

"And to think," she said, slowly, "that I always cal'lated you was meek
and gentle and--and all like that--as Moses's grandmother. WELL, it just
shows you can't tell much by a person's LOOKS. Haulin' 'em out of their
graves and--and unwrappin' 'em like--like bundles, and cartin' 'em off
to museums. And thinkin' no more of it than I would of--of scalin' a
flatfish. My savin' soul!"

She breathed heavily once more and departed. That evening she came
to 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's
doin'. Broodin' and broodin' over them poor remains in the showcases
in the museums. He may be a good man; I don't say he ain't. He's just
lovely 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 time
where he got that bug thing--a Arab, he calls it--that he wears on his
watch chain. Just ask him. You'll hear somethin' THEN, I bet you! Whew!"

Galusha found considerable amusement in talks like those. Primmie was
a distinct relief, for she never mentioned the troublesome Development
Company. Talk in the village concerning it was dying down and Mr.
Pulcifer's assertion that he had bought only the shares of the small
holders was becoming more generally believed. But in the Gould's Bluffs
settlement this belief was scoffed at. Captain Jeth Hallett told Galusha
the truth and his statement was merely a confirmation of Martha Phipps'.

"Raish is hotfoot after that stoc