Mr. Bangs squirmed slightly. “He said I ought to,” he answered.
“Who said so?”
“That man—that Mr. Pulcifer. Mr.—ah—Deedee—Beebe, I mean—was busy, and Mr. Pulcifer insisted on showing me the caps. I didn't like this one at all, but he talked so much that—that I couldn't stay and hear him any longer. He makes me very nervous,” he added, apologetically. “I suppose it is my fault, but—ah—he does, you know.”
“And do you mean to say that you took this—this outrage because Raish Pulcifer talked you into it?”
Galusha smiled sadly. “Well, he—he talked me into it—yes,” he admitted. “Into the—ah—cap and out of the store. Dear me, yes.”
Miss Martha drew a long breath.
“My heavens and earth!” she exclaimed. “And what did you do with father's hat, the one you wore down there?”
Her lodger gasped. “Oh, dear, dear!” he exclaimed. “Oh, dear me! I must have left it in the shop. I'm SO sorry. How could I do such a careless thing? I'll go for it at once, Miss Phipps.”
He would have gone forthwith, but she stopped him.
“I'm goin' there myself in a little while,” she said. “I've got some other errands there. And, if you don't mind,” she added, “I'd like to take this new cap of yours with me. That is, if you can bear to part with it.”