nd to care for money, anyhow. Pa used to say I
wan't. None of our folks was. Matter of that, we never had none to care
for. But you make her keep me, Mr. Bangs."

She began to sob once more. Poor Galusha was very much distressed. The
cause of Martha Phipps' worry was plain enough now. And her financial
stress must be very keen indeed to cause her to take such drastic action
as the discharge of Primmie the faithful.

"You'll make her keep me, won't you, Mr. Bangs?" pleaded Primmie, once
more.

Galusha rubbed his chin. "Dear me," he said, perplexedly, "I--Well, I
shall be glad to do all I can, of course, but how I can make her keep
you when she has made up her mind not to, I--really, I don't see.
You don't think, do you," he added, "that my being here is in any way
responsible for a portion of Miss Phipps' financial trouble? You don't
think it might be--ah--easier for her if I was to--ah--go?"

Primmie shook her head. "Oh, no, no," she declared, with decision, "You
ain't a mite of bother, Mr. Bangs. I've heard Miss Martha say more'n a
dozen times what a nice man you was and how easy 'twas to provide
for you. She likes you, Miss Martha does, and I do, too. Even when we
thought you was an undertaker huntin' 'round for remains we liked you
just the same."

Galusha could not help feeling a certain satisfaction in this
whole-hearted declaration. It was pleasant to learn that he was liked
and that his hostess considered him a nice man.

"Thank you, Primmie," he said. "But what I meant was--was--Well, I
pay what seems to me a ridiculously small sum for board and lodging. I
begged to be allowed to pay more, but Miss Phipps wouldn't permit it.
Now I am sure she must be losing money in the transaction and if I were
to go--ah--elsewhere perhaps it might be--ah--easier for her. Candidly,
don't you think so, Primmie?"

Miss Cash appeared to consider. Then she shook her head again. "No," she
said, "I don't. You pay your board and I've heard her say more'n once
that she felt as if you was payin' too much. No, 'tain't that. It's
more'n that. It ain't anything to do really with you or me, Mr. Bangs.
Miss Martha's lost some money somehow, I believe. She ain't got enough
to get along on, 'cause she told me she hadn't. Now, she used to have
and I believe she's lost some of it somewheres. And I believe that--"

Galusha felt it his duty to interrupt.

"Primmie," he continued, "you mustn't tell me anything which Miss Phipps
wouldn't