Galusha softly patted her shoulder. “I won't finish my story,” he said, in a low tone. “It isn't necessary, because I can tell you the--ah--moral, so to speak, and that will do as well. We found those tombs at last by doing a thing which, we were all sure, was the worst thing we could possibly do. It turned out to be that 'worst thing' which saved us. And--and I wish you would think that over, Lulie,” he added, earnestly. “It looked to be the very worst thing and--and it turned out to be the best.... Ah--good-night.” But she detained him. “I don't understand, Mr. Bangs,” she said. “What do you mean? You said you were going to tell me the moral of your story. That isn't a moral, is it?” “Eh? No--ah--no. I suppose it isn't. But--but you think it over, to please me, you know. A--a something which looked to be the worst that could happen was the miracle that gave us our tombs. Perhaps the--perhaps what you dread most may give you yours. Not your tomb; dear me, no! I hope not. But may be the means of--of saving the situation. There, there, I must go. Good-night.” “Wait, wait, Mr. Bangs.... Oh, yes, father, I'm coming now.... Mr. Bangs, what DO you mean? What I dread the most? What I dread--I think I dread that silly seance next Saturday night more than anything else. Mr. Bangs, you don't mean--” “Now, now, now, Lulie. I mustn't say a word more. I--I have said too much, I know. Just think over the--ah--moral, that's all. Think it over--but don't mention it to any one else, please. Good-night. Good-night, Captain Hallett.” He hurried away. Lulie stared after him, wonderingly; then she turned and walked slowly and thoughtfully to the door. Her father regarded her with a troubled expression. “I dreamed,” he said, slowly, “that Julia come to me and said somethin' about you. I don't seem to recollect just what 'twas she said. But 'twas somethin' about you--somethin' about me lookin' out for you.... Seem's if,” he added, doubtfully, “as if she said you'd look out for me, but that's just foolishness and wouldn't mean nothin'. It couldn't be, that couldn't.... Humph! Well, come on in.” The remainder of that week the seance to be held in the light keeper's cottage on Saturday evening was much talked about. The devout, including the Beebes, the Hardings and the Blounts were quite excited about it. The scoffers derided and waxed sarcastic. Of these scoffers the most outspoken was Horatio Pulcifer. He declared that the whole fool business made him tired. Old Cap'n Jeth Hallett must be getting cracked as one of them antique plates. He wasn't sure that the selectmen hadn't ought to stop the thing, a lot of ninnies sitting in a round circle holding hands and pretending to get spirit messages. Huh! Just let 'em get a message that proved something, that meant something to somebody, and he'd believe, too, he'd be glad to believe. But he was from Missouri and they'd got to show him. With much more to the same effect.