ke
a man who would know much about such things. And from what I've seen
of you, goodness knows, you don't ACT like one! Perhaps I shouldn't say
that," she added, hastily. "I didn't mean it just as it sounded."

"Oh, that's all right, that's all right, Miss Phipps. I know I am
a--ah--donkey in most matters."

"You're a long way from bein' a donkey, Mr. Bangs. And I didn't say
you were, of course. But--oh, well, never mind that. So you don't know
anything about stocks and investments and such?"

"No, I don't. I am awfully sorry. But--but, you see, all that sort of
thing is so very distasteful to me. It bores me--ah--dreadfully. And so
I--I dodge it whenever I can."

Martha sighed. "Some of the rest of us would like to dodge it, too," she
said, "if we only could. And yet--" she paused and regarded him with the
odd expression she had worn more than once when he puzzled her--"and yet
I--I just can't make you out, Mr. Bangs. You say you don't know anything
about money and managin' money, and yet those Egypt trips of yours must
cost a lot of money. And somebody must manage them. SOMEBODY must 'tend
to payin' the bills and the wages and all. Who does that?"

Galusha smiled. "Why, I do," he admitted, "after a fashion. But it is a
very poor fashion. I almost never--I think I may safely say never come
in from one of those trips without having exceeded the--ah--estimate of
expenses. I always exceed it more or less--generally more."

He smiled again. She looked more puzzled than ever.

"But some one has to pay the extra, don't they?" she asked. "Who does
pay it, the museum people?"

"Why--ah--no, not exactly. It is--ah--ah--generally provided. But," he
added, rather hastily, as if afraid she might ask more questions along
this line, "if I might make a suggestion, Miss Martha--Miss Phipps, I
mean--"

"Plain Martha will do well enough. I think you're the only one in
East Wellmouth that calls me anything else. Of course you can make a
suggestion. Go ahead."

"Well--ah--well, Miss Phipps--ah--Miss Martha, since you permit me to
call you so.... What is it?"

"Oh, nothin', nothin'. I was goin' to say that the 'Miss' wasn't
necessary, but never mind. Go on."

"Well--ah--Mar--ah--Miss Martha, I was about to suggest that you tell me
what you intended telling me. I am very anxious to help--ah--even if I
can't, you know. Only I beg of you not to think I am actuated by idle
curiosity."

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Even if y