“Be still!” he shouted.  “Stop!  Stop!  By the everlastin’, I’ll—­ I’ll—­ Julia!  Julia!”

But Julia did not answer this time.  Neither did Little Cherry Blossom.  Whether Miss Hoag was frightened at the effect of her message or whether she figured that she had caused sensation sufficient for one day are matters for conjecture.  At all events she stirred in her chair and announced faintly, and in her natural, everyday tones and accent, that she wished a drink of water.

“Where—­where be I?” she gasped.  “I—­ Oh, fetch me a drink, somebody, won’t you, please?”

The light keeper, paying no need whatever, was shouting his wife’s name.

“Julia!  Julia!” he cried.  “Don’t go!  I want you!  I need you!”

Lulie called “Father” and hastened toward him.  Zacheus whispered in Galusha’s ear that he cal’lated ’twouldn’t do no harm to turn on the glim and proceeded forthwith to turn up the wick of one of the lamps.  The sudden illumination showed Captain Jethro standing in the middle of the floor, his face flushed, his brows drawn together and his lips twitching.  He was glaring about the room and the expression upon his face was so fierce that Mr. Bangs said, “Oh, dear me!” again when he saw it.

Lulie put her arm about the light keeper’s shoulder.  “Father, father,” she pleaded, “please don’t look that way.  Come and sit down.  Please do!”

But sitting down was far from the captain’s thoughts just then.  He impatiently tossed his daughter’s arm aside.

“So he’s here, is he,” he growled, between his teeth.  “He’s in my house, is he?  By the everlastin’, I’ll show him!”

Martha Phipps pushed her way toward the pair.

“There, there, Jethro,” she said, quietly, “don’t act this way.  Don’t you see you’re frightenin’ Lulie half out of her wits?  There’s nothin’ for you to look so savage about.  Come over and sit down and rest.  You’re tired.”

“No, I ain’t tired, either.  Be quiet, woman.  By the Lord, if he’s in this house I’ll find him.  And when I find him—­”

“Sshh, sshh!  What in the world are you talkin’ about?  Marietta didn’t say—­”

“Julia—­my spirit wife—­told me that that skulkin’ swab of a Nelse Howard was here in this house.  You heard her.  Let go of me, both of you!  Now where is he?”

He was turning directly toward the door leading to the front hall.  Lulie was very white and seemed on the point of collapse.  Even Miss Phipps, usually so calm and equal to the emergency, appeared to find this one a trifle too much for her, for she glanced desperately about as if in search of help.  Zach Bloomer repeated “Godfreys” several times and looked, for him, almost excited.  As for Primmie, she was so frightened as to be speechless, a miracle far more amazing than any other which the seance had thus far produced.  The remaining members of the circle were whispering in agitation and staring wide-eyed at the captain and those about him.