she asked.

Jethro hesitated. He passed a hand across his forehead. His head felt
tired. Somehow he didn't want to talk any more. Even as important a
topic as Nelson Howard did not arouse his interest.

"Oh, nothin', nothin'," he assured. "Cal'late maybe I'll lay down and
turn in a little spell afore dinner. Is Zach on deck?"

"Yes, he is out in the kitchen, or was a minute ago. Primmie was over
on an errand and I heard their tongues going. Shall I speak to Zach,
father?"

He told her no, and went into the house. There was a couch in the dining
room and he stretched himself upon it. The head of the couch was near
the door leading to the kitchen. That door was closed, but from behind
it sounded voices, voices which were audible and distinct. A dispute
seemed to be in progress between Mr. Bloomer and Miss Cash and, although
Zacheus continued to grumble on in an even key, Primmie's tone became
higher and shriller with each retort.

"I tell you 'tis so, Zach Bloomer.... Well, maybe 'twan't a hundred and
fifty thousand, but I bet you 'twas more money than you ever see in YOUR
life. So now!"

The assistant light keeper was heard to cough. Primmie seemed to discern
a hint of skepticism even in the cough.

"Oh, you can set there and keep on turnin' up your nose and--and
coughin'," she declared, "but--"

Zacheus interrupted to say that he hardly ever turned up his nose when
he coughed.

"Seems to come handier to turn it down, Posy," he said.

"Oh, be still, foolish! Well, anyhow, it's true, every word of it. I see
more money at one time and in one--er--er junk, as you might say, than
ever I see afore--yes, or I bet you ever see neither, Zach Bloomer."

"We-ll, course what I ever see never amounted to much, but if it's more
than YOU see, Rosebud, then it must have been consider'ble of a lot.
Over in them Mashpaug woods, where you hail from, money kind of grows
on the bushes, like huckleberries, I presume likely. Martha Phipps been
over there berryin', has she?"

"No, she ain't. Besides, I never said Miss Martha brought the money into
the house. All's I said was that 'twas in there and I see it with my own
eyes."

"Sho! With your own eyes, eh? Well, well! What do you cal'late 'twould
have looked like if you'd borrered somebody else's eyes? Say, Posy,
was it you fetched the billion and a half, or whatever 'twas, into the
house?"

"Me? ME with all that money? My savin' soul!"

"Well, who did fetch it? Santy Clau