Galusha the Magnificent | Page 7

right. Yes, SIR! If Ras ain't in the store he'll be in his
house right back of it. Might as well get out here, Mr. Bangs, because
there's a hill just ahead and I kind of like to get a runnin' start for it.
Shall I help you with the suitcase? No, well, all right . . . Sorry you
made the mistake, but we're all liable to make 'em some time or another.
Eh? haw, haw!"
Poor Mr. Bangs clambered from the automobile almost as wearily and
stiffly as he had climbed into it. The engine of the Pulcifer car had not
stopped running so Raish was not obliged to get out and crank. He took

a fresh grip on the steering wheel and looked down upon his late
passenger.
"Well, good-night, Mr. Bangs," he said.
"Good-night--ah--good-night, Mr. Pulcifer. I'm very much obliged to
you, I am indeed. I'm sorry my mistake made you so much trouble."
"Oh, that's all right, that's all right. Don't say a word . . .
Well--er--good-night."
"Good-night, sir . . . good-night."
But still the little car did not start. It's owner's next remark was
explanatory of the delay.
"Course I HOPE you and I'll meet again, Mr. Bangs," said Raish. "May
see you in Wellmouth, you know. Still, such things are--er-- kind of
uncertain and--er--sendin' bills is a nuisance, so perhaps 'twould be
better--er--easier for both of us--if we settled that little matter of ours
right now. Eh?"
"I beg your pardon. Little matter? I'm afraid I don't quite--"
"Oh, that little matter of the three dollars for fetchin' you over. Course
it don't amount to nothin', but I kind of like to get them little things off
my mind, don't you? Eh?"
Mr. Bangs was very much "fussed." He hurriedly dragged forth the big
pocketbook.
"I beg your pardon--really I BEG your pardon," he stammered over and
over again. "I quite forgot. It was inexcusable of me. I'm SO sorry."
Evidently he felt that he had committed a crime. Mr. Pulcifer took the
three one dollar bills and waved the apologies aside with them.
"Don't say a word, Mr. Bangs," he called, cheerily, as the car began to
move. "Anybody's liable to forget. Do it myself sometimes. Well, so

long. Hope to see you again one of these days. Good-night."
The flivver moved rapidly away, gaining speed as it rushed for the hill.
Galusha Bangs watched its tail-light soar and dwindle until it
disappeared over the crest. Then, with a weary sigh, he picked up the
heavy suitcase, plodded across the road and on until he reached the step
and platform of Erastus Beebe's "General and Variety Store." There
was a kerosene lamp burning dimly upon the counter within, but the
door was locked. He pounded on the door and shook it, but no one
answered. Then, remembering Mr. Pulcifer's instructions, he entered
the yard behind the store, found the door of Mr. Beebe's house and
knocked upon that. There was not even a light in the house. The Beebes
had gone--as most of East Wellmouth had gone--to the baked beans and
brown-bread supper and sociable at the church. Galusha Bangs was not
aware of this, of course. What he was aware of--painfully, distressingly
aware-- was the fact that he was alone and supperless, very, very weak
and tired, and almost discouraged.
However, there was no use in standing in the wet grass of the Beebe
yard and giving way to his discouragement. Galusha Bangs was a
plucky little soul, although just now a weak and long-suffering one. He
waded and slopped back to the store platform, where he put down his
suitcase and started on a short tour of exploration. Through the fog and
darkness he could dimly perceive a signpost standing at the corner of
the crossroad where the store was located. He tramped over to look at
it.
There were two signs affixed to the post. By the aid of the pocket
flashlight he read them. That at the top read thus: "TO THE
LIGHTHOUSE--1 1/2 MILES." There was an arrow pointing along the
crossroad and off to the right. Galusha paid little attention to this sign;
it was the other nailed beneath it which caught and held his attention. It
was a rather gaudy sign of red, white, and blue, and it read thus: "THE
RESTABIT INN AT GOULD'S BLUFFS--1 MILE." And the arrow
pointed in the same direction as the other.
Mr. Bangs uttered his favorite exclamation.

"Dear me! Why, dear me!"
He read the sign again. There was no mistake, his first reading had been
correct.
He trotted back to the platform of Mr. Beebe's store. Then, once more
dragging forth the big pocketbook, he fumbled in its various
compartments. After spilling a good many scraps of paper