, a voice said, brusquely: "Hello! Hello, there! Is that you,
Loosh?"

Galusha recognized the voice. He had not heard it for a long time, but
he recognized it at once. And, recognizing it, something like panic
seized him.

"Hello!" shouted the voice again. "Hello, Galusha! Is that you?"

Galusha glanced fearfully over his shoulder. Martha was gazing at him.
She looked alarmed.

"Oh, what is it, Mr. Bangs?" she asked. "It--it's not bad news, is it?"

"No--ah--no," he faltered. "I--I--"

"Eh? What's that?" demanded the voice in the receiver, impatiently.
"Hello! Who is this, anyway?"

"Is there somebody sick or--or anything?" asked Martha. "No--no, Miss
Martha. It's all right, really. Yes, indeed, I--Oh, quite right. Yes."

"But you look so frightened."

"Do I? Oh, not in the least. That is, I... Yes, yes, I hear. Yes, this
is Bangs speaking."

"Oh, it is! Well, I'm glad you're speaking at last. You're Galusha
Bangs, you say?"

"Yes. Yes, I--I think so."

"You THINK so! That's good! Don't you know whether you are or not?"

"I meant I--I thought I said so. I am Galusha Bangs. Yes."

"Good! Then we've settled so much. You know who I am, of course?"

Did he? Oh, if he only did not! He cast another alarmed glance in his
landlady's direction. He wondered if the voice which was so distinctly
audible in his ear could be heard and understood in the room. Oh, this
was dreadful, dreadful!

"HELLO!" roared the voice again. "Hello, Bangs! Are you there?"

"Oh, yes--ah--yes. I am here. Quite so--yes."

"Well, I'm glad. I thought you might have gone clamming or something.
Well, I asked if you knew who this was? Do you?"

Galusha swallowed, shut his eyes, and then faced the inevitable.

"It--it is Cousin Gussie, isn't it?" he faltered.

He heard, or imagined that he did, a little gasp of surprise from Miss
Phipps. He did not dare look again in her direction.

"That's right," said the voice. "You're a good guesser. How are you,
anyway?"

Galusha stammered that he was very well. He added that he was glad to
see his relative. The relative promptly observed that his eyesight must
be remarkably good.

"You know what I've called you up for, of course?" she added.

Martha had risen and was leaving the room on tiptoe.

"You and your cousin can talk better alone, I know," she whispered. "I
want to see Primmie a minute, anyway."

Her lodger regarded her mutely. The expression of dumb misery on his
face caused he