n him wear, I was wondering--Dear me, yes, that might explain."

"Explain what?"

"Why, it occurred to me that as that cap was hanging in
the--ah--entry--the little hall off Captain Hallett's dining room--when
the people came in, and as the medium person--Miss--ah--bless me, what
IS her name?--as she came in with the rest, it occurred to me that she
might have seen the cap and--"

Miss Phipps clapped her hands. "She saw it and knew whose it was," she
cried, excitedly. "Of course she did! THAT'S how she guessed the
small, dark man was in the house. THAT'S how 'Little Toddy Blossom,' or
whatever her name is, got so smart all at once. Well, well! Of course,
of course!"

"It--ah--occurred to me that that might possibly explain," observed
Galusha, placidly.

"It does. But, Nelson, what set Marietta and her spirits after you in
particular? Has she got any grudge against you?"

"Not that I know of, Martha. She knows I don't take any stock in her
kind of spirit messages. I don't think she likes me very well on that
account."

"Well, perhaps, that is reason enough. Or perhaps she just happened the
first time to mention the small dark man hit or miss and Cap'n Jethro
pinned the tag to you; after that she did her best to keep it there.
Well, thanks to Mr. Bangs, the cap'n isn't as sure as he was, that's
some comfort."

Martha accompanied Nelson to the door. After he had gone and she
returned to the sitting room she found her lodger standing, lamp in
hand, at the foot of the stairs.

"Goin' to turn in, Mr. Bangs?" she asked. "Goin' to bed, I mean? Father
always used to call it turnin' in; it's a saltwater way of sayin' it,
just as so many of his expressions were. I guess you must be pretty
tired. I know I am. Take it by and large--that is another of father's
expressions--we've had an excitin' evenin'."

Galusha admitted the fact. His landlady regarded him with an odd
expression.

"Do you know," she said, suddenly, "you are the most surprisin' person I
ever met, Mr. Bangs?... There! I didn't mean to say that," she added.
"I was thinkin' it and it sort of spoke itself, as you might say. I beg
your pardon."

"Oh, that's quite all right, quite, Miss Phipps," Galusha assured her.
"I have no doubt you are perfectly correct. No doubt I am surprising;
at least 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 profession. In boo