m of radiance from the lantern in the tower shot
far out. There was almost no wind, and the grumble of the surf at the
foot of the bluff was a steady bass monotone.

Zacheus, who had waited to walk over with them, was in a fault-finding
state of mind. It developed that he could not attend the meeting in the
parlor; his superior had ordered that he "tend light."

"The old man says I hadn't no business comin' to the other sea-ants
thing," said Zach. "Says him and me ain't both supposed never to leave
the light alone. I cal'late he's right, but that don't make it any
better. There's a whole lot of things that's right that hadn't ought to
be. I presume likely it's right enough for you to play that mouth organ
of yours, Posy. They ain't passed no law against it yet. But--"

"Oh, be still, Zach Bloomer! You're always talkin' about my playin' the
mouth organ. I notice you can't play anything, no, nor sing neither."

"You're right, Pansy Blossom. But the difference between you and me
is that I know I can't.... Hey? Why, yes, Martha, I shouldn't be a bit
surprised if the fog came in any time. If it does that means I've got to
tend foghorn as well as light. Godfreys!"

Before they opened the side door of the Hallett home, the buzz of voices
in the parlor was distinctly audible. Lulie heard the door open and met
them in the dining room. She was looking anxious and disturbed. Martha
drew her aside and questioned her concerning her father. Lulie glanced
toward the parlor door and then whispered:

"I don't know, Martha. Father seems queer to-night, awfully queer. I
can't make him out."

"Queer? In what way? He is always nervous and worked up before these
silly affairs, isn't he?"

"Yes, but I don't mean that, exactly. He has been that way for over a
week. But for the last two days he has been--well, different. He seems
to be troubled and--and suspicious."

"Suspicious? Suspicious of what?"

"I don't know. Of every one."

"Humph! Well, if he would only begin to get suspicious of Marietta and
her spirit chasers I should feel like givin' three cheers. But I suppose
those are exactly the ones he isn't suspicious of."

Lulie again glanced toward the parlor door.

"I am not so sure," she said. "It seemed to me that he wasn't as cordial
to them as usual when they came to-night. He keeps looking at Marietta
and pulling his beard and scowling, the way he does when he is puzzled
and troubled. I'm not sure, but I think something