“Yes—ah—yes, but I fear we should gain little by doing that. We shouldn't get at our 'spirit' that way. But perhaps we may find a way. There are obstacles, but there were obstacles above and about that tomb also. Dear me, yes. We must consider, Miss Lulie; we must, so to speak, consider.”
His advice to Nelson was similar.
“I should say the situation was a bit more encouraging, Mr. Howard,” he said. They had been discussing Lulie's talk with her father. Nelson nodded.
“Perhaps it is, a little bit,” he admitted. “It seems barely possible that the old man is not quite as bitter against me as he was. For instance, I met him yesterday at the post office and said 'Good-morning, Cap'n Jeth.' I always speak to him whenever I meet him, make it a point to, but he never speaks to me. He didn't speak yesterday, but he did bow. It was more of a bob than a bow and he looked savage enough to bite me; but, at least, he went so far as to show he knew I was on earth. That was rather funny, too, his doing that. I wonder why he did.”
Galusha reflected a moment. Then he said: “I shouldn't be greatly surprised if your new position at the radio station may be the cause, Captain Hallett is—ah—not unmindful of success in business. Miss Mar—ah—that is, Miss Phipps says he is a very shrewd business man. My own experience,” he added, meditatively, “would lead me to that conclusion, also.”
Nelson was surprised.
“Have you had business dealings with the cap'n?” he asked. “I never thought of you as a business man, Mr. Bangs.”
Galusha started and seemed embarrassed.
“Oh—ah—ah—I'm not, Mr. Howard,” he declared, hastily. “Indeed, no.”
“But you spoke of your business experience with Cap'n Jeth; or I thought you did.”