ge used to live here. The house belongs
to Captain Abner Cahoon's heirs, I believe, and--"

Again Thankful interrupted.

"I knew it!" she cried, excitedly. "I wondered if it mightn't be so
and when I see that picture of Uncle Abner I was sure. All right,
Mr. Whoever-you-are, then I'm here because I own the house. My name's
Barnes, Thankful Barnes of South Middleboro, and I'm Abner Cahoon's
heir. Emily, this--this rattle-trap you and I broke into is the
'property' we've talked so much about."

CHAPTER III

Emily said--well, the first thing she said was, "Oh, Aunt Thankful!"
Then she added that she couldn't believe it.

"It's so," declared Mrs. Barnes, "whether we believe it or not. When you
come to think it over there's nothin' so wonderful about it, after all.
I had a sneakin' suspicion when I was sittin' here by you, after you'd
gone to sleep. What I saw afterwards made me almost sure. I--Hum! I
guess likely that'll keep till we get to the hotel, if we ever do get
there. Perhaps Mr.--Mr.--"

"Bangs is my name, ma'am," said the big man with the lantern. "Obed
Bangs."

"Thank you, Mr. Bangs. Or it's 'Cap'n Bangs,' ain't it?"

"They generally call me Cap'n, ma'am, though I ain't been doin' any
active seafarin' for some time."

"I thought as much. Down here on Cape Cod, and givin' orders the way I
heard you afore you come into this room, 'twas nine chances to one you
was a cap'n, or you had been one. Bangs--Bangs--Obed Bangs? Why, that
name sounds kind of familiar. Seems as if--Cap'n Bangs, you didn't use
to know Eben Barnes of Provincetown, did you?"

"Eben Barnes? Cap'n Eben of the White Foam, lost off Cape Hatteras in a
gale?"

"Yes, that's the one. I thought I heard him speak of you. He was my
husband."

Captain Obed Bangs uttered an exclamation. Then he stepped forward and
seized Mrs. Barnes' hand. The lady's hand was not a very small one but
the Captain's was so large that, as Thankful remarked afterward, it
might have shaken hers twice at the same time.

"Eben Barnes' wife!" exclaimed Captain Obed. "Why, Eben and I was
messmates on I don't know how many v'yages! Well, well, well, ma'am, I'm
real glad to see you."

"You ain't so glad as we are to see you--and your friend," observed
Thankful, drily. "Is he a captain, too?"

He didn't look like one, certainly. He had removed his sou'wester,
uncovering a round head, with reddish-gray hair surrounding a bald spot
at the crown. He had a double