“Of course. Why did you? Oh, I know she was hard up and feared she couldn't keep her home and all that; she has told me her story. And she is a good woman and you were sorry for her. But, my boy, to take five thousand dollars--even for YOU to take five thousand cold, hard, legal tender dollars and toss them away for something which, so far as you knew, was not worth five cents--that argues a little more than sympathy, doesn't it? And when you add eight thousand more of those dollars to the original five, then--Why did you do it, Loosh?” Galusha's gaze fell. He looked solemnly at the battered cherub upon the gravestone and the cherub's grin was broad. “I bought Captain Hallett's stock,” he explained, “because I did not wish Miss Mar--Miss Phipps to know that I had lied--and all the rest.” “Yes, yes, so you said. But why did you lie, Loosh? Why didn't you tell her that you couldn't sell her stock for her? She would have been disappointed, of course, but she would have understood; she is a sensible woman.” Galusha, apparently, was considering the matter. It was a perceptible interval before he answered. “I don't know, Cousin Gussie,” he confessed, after the interval was over. “Really, I don't know. I think I felt, as I told you last night, as if I had encouraged her to believe I should surely sell her shares and--and that, therefore, I would be responsible for her disappointment. And I--well, really, I simply could not face the thought of that disappointment and all it would mean to her. I could not, indeed, no. I suppose you consider it quite extraordinary, my feeling that so acutely. Dear me, I suppose most people would. But I felt it. And I should do the same thing again, I know I should.” “For her, you mean?” “Yes--yes, of course, for her.” “Humph! Say, Loosh, may I ask you a purely personal question? Will you promise not to be offended if I do?” “Eh? Why, of course, Cousin Gussie. Of course. Dear me, ask anything you like.” “All right. Loosh, are you in love with Miss Phipps?” Galusha started so violently as to throw him off his balance upon the fence rail. He slid forward until his feet touched the ground. His coat-tails, however, caught upon a projecting knot and the garment remained aloft, a crumpled bundle, between his shoulder blades and the back of his neck. He was not aware of it. His face expressed only one emotion, great astonishment. And as his cousin watched, that expression slowly changed to bewilderment and dawning doubt. “Well, how about it?” queried Cabot. “Are you in love with her, Loosh?” Galusha's mouth opened. “Why--good gracious!” he gasped. “Dear me--ah--Why--why, I don't know.” The banker had expected almost any sort of reply, except that. “You don't KNOW!” he repeated. “No, I--I don't. I--I never thought of such a thing.” Cousin Gussie slowly shook his head.