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 organ
music?"

"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 Where
You Be' and 'Pack up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag.' No, that ain't
one, 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 by
exclamations and confusion, indicated that Miss Cash was going in search
of 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. You
aren'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'm
doin'. This is my house and I'll do as I please in it. Stop! I don't
want to hear any more. Where's that Cash girl?"

Primmie was returning bearing the mouth organ. She plowed through the
circle like an armored tank through a wire entanglement and reached the
light keeper's side.

"Here I be," she announced, "and here 'tis. Shall I commence to begin
now? Where do you want me to set?"

She was given a seat in the front row, facing the medium. Captain
Hallett, after some final instructions to Zacheus concerning the turning
lower of one of the lamps and a last order for stillness, gave the
command.

"All ready! Heave ahead!"

Miss Hoag leaned back in her rocking-chair and closed her eyes. Primmie
drew a long breath and the first bars of the "Sweet By and By" were
forcibly 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 a
comf'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 her
down. Play low. And stop stompin' out th