herself, but that didn't make it
any 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. Zach
Bloomer--he's the assistant light keeper--is comin' to tell us when it's
time to go to the seance."

In the sitting room they talked of various things. Galusha, listening to
his cousin's stories and jokes, had almost forgotten his powder barrel.
And then, all at once, a spark fell, flashed, and the danger became
imminent.

Said the banker, addressing Martha and referring to her lodger: "What
does this cousin of mine find to do down here, Miss Phipps? How does he
manage to spend so much money?"

"Money?" repeated Martha. "He--spend money? Why, I didn't know that he
did, Mr. Cabot. He is very prompt in paying his board. Perhaps I charge
him 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 you
talkin' 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 the
Cape, he has managed to get rid of over thirteen thousand dollars. He
SAYS he has given it to some of his mummy-hunting friends, but I am
rather suspicious. He hasn't been organizing a clam trust, has he, Miss
Phipps?"

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 not
sure. To her, thirteen thousand dollars was an enormous sum. The idea
that her lodger, gentle, retiring little Galusha Bangs, possessed a half
of that fortune was a joke in itself. But... And then she saw Galusha's
face 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, Miss
Phipps. By Jove, Loosh, you are discovered! Galusha Bangs, the Clam
King! Ha, ha, ha! Look at him, Miss Phipps! Look at him! Did you ever
see a plainer case of conscious guilt? Ha, ha!"

He was enjoying himself hugely. And really Galusha was a humorous
spectacle. He was very red in the face, he was trembling, and he
appeared to be struggling for words and finding none.

"I--I insist," he stammered. "I--I mean I protest. It is
ridiculous--ah--ah--absurd! I-