ks, you know--in novels--the
few I have read--the archaeologist or the scientific man or the college
professor is always peculiar."

She shook her head. "That isn't just what I meant," she said. "So far as
that goes I've generally noticed that folks with little brains are fond
of criticizin' those with bigger ones. Part of such criticisms is 'don't
understand' and the rest is plain jealousy. But what I meant by callin'
you surprisin' was--was--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. And yet right down
here on Cape Cod you need somebody to keep Ras Beebe and Raish Pulcifer
from cheatin' you out of your last cent. That's what I thought.
'Mr. Bangs is wonderful,' I said to myself, 'but I'm afraid he isn't
practical.' And yet to-night, over there, you were the only practical
one amongst us."

Galusha protested. "Oh, no, Miss Phipps," he said. "Dear me, no. My
claiming to be the small, dark man was, as I said, merely a silly notion
which came to me. I acted on the spur of the moment. It was nothing."

"It was about everything," stoutly. "It was your notion, as you call it,
that saved Cap'n Jethro from findin' Nelson Howard in that front hall;
and savin' him from that saved us from havin' a crazy man on our hands,
I truly believe. And you did it so right on the instant, so matter of
fact and common sense. Really, Mr. Bangs, I--I don't know what to say to
you."

Galusha smiled. "You said it before," he observed, "when you said you
were surprised. I am surprised myself. Dear me, yes."

"Don't! That was a foolish thing for me to say and you mustn't take
it the wrong way. And your bringing Nelson's hat over here instead 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 saw Nelson hang
it there, myself, when he came in. But did _I_ think to take it out of
sight? Did _I_--Why, what is it? What's the matter?"

Her lodger was protesting violently. "Don't, don't, don't, Miss Phipps,"
he begged. "Please don't! You see, that hat--that cap of Mr. Howard's--"

"Yes, you brought it over here."

"Yes, I--I brought it over. I brought it--but--"

"But what?"

"But I didn't know that I