wish told. I wouldn't for the world have you think that I am
unduly curious concerning her personal affairs. If there is any trait
which I--ah--detest above others it is that of unwarranted curiosity
concerning the--ah--private affairs of one's acquaintances. I... Why do
you look at me like that? Were you about to speak?"

Primmie was staring at him in what seemed to be awe-stricken admiration.
She drew a long breath.

"My Lord of Isrul!" she exclaimed, fervently, "I never heard anybody
string talk along the way you can in all my born days, Mr. Bangs. I bet
you've said as many as seven words already that I never heard afore,
never heard ary one of 'em, I ain't. Education's wonderful, ain't it? Pa
used to say 'twas, but all he had he picked up off fishin' and clammin'
and cranberrin' and around. All our family had a kind of picked-up
education, seemed so."

"Yes, yes, Primmie, but--"

"But why don't I mind my own business and stick to what I was goin' to
say, you mean? All right, I will. I was goin' to say that I believe Miss
Martha's lost money somehow and I believe that dressed-up stuffed image
of a Raish Pulcifer is responsible for her losin' it, that's what I
believe."

"Mr. Pulcifer! Why, Primmie, why do you say that? What proof have you?"

"Ain't got no proof. If folks could get proof on Raish Pulcifer he'd
have been in jail long ago. Zach Bloomer said that only the other day.
But a body can guess, can't they, even if they ain't got proof, and
that's what I'm doin'--guessin'. Every once in a while Miss Martha goes
up to the village to see this Pulcifer thing, don't she? Yes, she does.
Went up twice inside of a fortni't that I know of. Does she go 'cause
she likes him? I cal'late she don't. She likes him about the way I do
and I ain't got no more use for him than a hen has for a toothbrush. And
t'other day she sent for him and asked him to come here and see her. How
do I know she did? 'Cause she telephoned him and I heard her doin' it,
that's how. And he didn't want to come and she just begged him to, said
she would try not to bother him again if he would come that once. And he
came and after he went away she cried, same as I told you she did."

"But, Primmie, all that may be and yet Mr. Pulcifer's visit may have no
connection with Miss Martha's monetary trouble."

"I want to know! Well, if that's so, why was she and him talkin' so hard
when he was here this afternoon? And why was she askin' him to please
s