“That’s it,” said the other.
“Of course it is,” said Caleb. “Come along.”
With that he proceeded to take the stranger by the sleeve, and then it was that he says you might have knocked him down with a feather. His hand went right into the place where the sleeve seemed to be, and Caleb distinctly saw two of the stranger’s buttons on the top of his own knuckles.
He hastily withdrew his hand, which began to feel icy cold, and sat still, not knowing what to say next. He found that the stranger was gently chuckling with laughter, and this annoyed him.
“What are you laughing at?” he enquired peevishly.
“It’s not funny enough for two,” answered the other.
“Who are you, anyhow?” said Caleb.
“I am the kirk spook,” was the reply.
Now Caleb had not the least notion what a “kirk spook” was. He was not willing to admit his ignorance, but his curiosity was too much for his pride, and he asked for information.
“Every Church has a spook,” said the stranger, “and I am the spook of this one.”